The effect of the poem on the Secretary being evidently to astonish him, Mr. Boffin was confirmed in his high opinion of it, and was greatly pleased.

“Now, you see, Rokesmith,” he went on, “a literary man⁠— with a wooden leg⁠—is liable to jealousy. I shall therefore cast about for comfortable ways and means of not calling up Wegg’s jealousy, but of keeping you in your department, and keeping him in his.”

“Lor!” cried Mrs. Boffin. “What I say is, the world’s wide enough for all of us!”