“Now, wait a bit, Boffin,” Wegg proceeded, “there’s something more. You’ve been a squandering this property⁠—laying some of it out on yourself. that won’t do. You’ve bought a house. You’ll be charged for it.”

“I shall be ruined, Wegg!” Mr. Boffin faintly protested.

“Now, wait a bit, Boffin; there’s something more. You’ll leave me in sole custody of these Mounds till they’re all laid low. If any waluables should be found in ’em, I’ll take care of such waluables. You’ll produce your contract for the sale of the Mounds, that we may know to a penny what they’re worth, and you’ll make out likewise an exact list of all the other property. When the Mounds is cleared away to the last shovel-full, the final diwision will come off.”

“Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful! I shall die in a workhouse!” cried the Golden Dustman, with his hands to his head.