“⁠—What,” pursued Venus, “what the nature of the lady’s objection was, I may impart, without violating any of the tender confidences since sprung up between the lady and myself, how it has been met, through the kind interference of two good friends of mine: one, previously acquainted with the lady: and one, not. The pint was thrown out, sir, by those two friends when they did me the great service of waiting on the lady to try if a union betwixt the lady and me could not be brought to bear⁠—the pint, I say, was thrown out by them, sir, whether if, after marriage, I confined myself to the articulation of men, children, and the lower animals, it might not relieve the lady’s mind of her feeling respecting being as a lady⁠—regarded in a bony light. It was a happy thought, sir, and it took root.”

“It would seem, Mr. Venus,” observed Wegg, with a touch of distrust, “that you are flush of friends?”

“Pretty well, sir,” that gentleman answered, in a tone of placid mystery. “So-so, sir. Pretty well.”