“No, Wegg,” said Mr. Boffin, shaking his head good-humouredly. “Not at my peril, and not on any other terms.”

Wegg reflected a moment, and then said: “ Mr. Venus, will you be so good as hand me over that same dockyment?”

“Certainly, sir,” replied Venus, handing it to him with much politeness. “There it is. Having now, sir, parted with it, I wish to make a small observation: not so much because it is anyways necessary, or expresses any new doctrine or discovery, as because it is a comfort to my mind. Silas Wegg, you are a precious old rascal.”

Mr. Wegg, who, as if anticipating a compliment, had been beating time with the paper to the other’s politeness until this unexpected conclusion came upon him, stopped rather abruptly.