Without moving eye or finger, Mr. Boffin gave another nod, and placidly repeated, “Quite so, Venus.”

“Not that I was ever hearty in it, sir,” the penitent anatomist went on, “or that I ever viewed myself with anything but reproach for having turned out of the paths of science into the paths of⁠—” he was going to say “villany,” but, unwilling to press too hard upon himself, substituted with great emphasis⁠—“Weggery.”

Placid and whimsical of look as ever, Mr. Boffin answered:

“Quite so, Venus.”