“I say!” remonstrated Sloppy, jerking his head forward. “No fellows, or I ’ll throw you out of winder!”

Mr. Boffin appeased him with a wave of his hand, and said: “I employed him, Wegg.”

“Oh! You employed him, Boffin? Very good. Mr. Venus, we raise our terms, and we can’t do better than proceed to business. Bof⁠—fin! I want the room cleared of these two scum.”

“That’s not going to be done, Wegg,” replied Mr. Boffin, sitting composedly on the library-table, at one end, while the Secretary sat composedly on it at the other.

“Bof⁠—fin! Not going to be done?” repeated Wegg. “Not at your peril?”