“Yes, sir,” said Mr. Wegg, careful to leave all the eagerness to him. “I see no difficulty if you wish it. You are provided with the needful implement⁠—a book, sir?”

“Bought him at a sale,” said Mr. Boffin. “Eight wollumes. Red and gold. Purple ribbon in every wollume, to keep the place where you leave off. Do you know him?”

“The book’s name, sir?” inquired Silas.

“I thought you might have know’d him without it,” said Mr. Boffin slightly disappointed. “His name is Decline-And-Fall-Off-The-Rooshan-Empire.” ( Mr. Boffin went over these stones slowly and with much caution.)