“Old lady,” returned Mr. Boffin, “you keep still. I say to this Rokesmith here, much he cares about the truth. I tell him again, much he cares about the truth.”

“Our connection being at an end, Mr. Boffin,” said the Secretary, “it can be of very little moment to me what you say.”

“Oh! You are knowing enough,” retorted Mr. Boffin, with a sly look, “to have found out that our connection’s at an end, eh? But you can’t get beforehand with me. Look at this in my hand. This is your pay, on your discharge. You can only follow suit. You can’t deprive me of the lead. Let’s have no pretending that you discharge yourself. I discharge you.”

“So that I go,” remarked the Secretary, waving the point aside with his hand, “it is all one to me.”