“I wouldn’t say more than further, if I was you,” Mr. Wegg suggests, pacifically.

—“Before I’d have given that packet into your hand without being paid my price for it. I don’t pretend to know how the point of law may stand, but I’m thoroughly confident upon the point of fact.”

As Mr. Venus is irritable (no doubt owing to his disappointment in love), and as it is not the cue of Mr. Wegg to have him out of temper, the latter gentleman soothingly remarks, “I only put it as a little case; I only put it ha’porthetically.”

“Then I’d rather, Mr. Wegg, you put it another time, penn’orth-etically,” is Mr. Venus’s retort, “for I tell you candidly I don’t like your little cases.”