“⁠—Hear me out!” cried Wegg. “I said so. I paid a shilling (never mind your sixpence of it) to look up that will. Brother, that will is dated months before this will. And now, as a fellow-man, and as a partner in a friendly move,” added Wegg, benignantly taking him by both hands again, and clapping him on both knees again, “say have I completed my labour of love to your perfect satisfaction, and are you sap⁠—pur⁠— ized ?”

Mr. Venus contemplated his fellow-man and partner with doubting eyes, and then rejoined stiffly:

“This is great news indeed, Mr. Wegg. There’s no denying it. But I could have wished you had told it me before you got your fright tonight, and I could have wished you had ever asked me as your partner what we were to do, before you thought you were dividing a responsibility.”