Your unfortunate suspicions, Mr Boffin--' began the Secretary.

'Precious unfortunate for you, I can tell you,' said Mr Boffin.

'--are not to be combated by any one, and I address myself to no such
hopeless task. But I will say a word upon the truth.'

'Yah! Much you care about the truth,' said Mr Boffin, with a snap of his
fingers.

'Noddy! My dear love!' expostulated his wife.

'Old lady,' returned Mr Boffin, 'you keep still. I say to this Rokesmith
here, much he cares about the truth. I tell him again, much he cares
about the truth.'

'Our connexion being at an end, Mr Boffin,' said the Secretary, 'it can
be of very little moment to me what you say.'

'Oh! You are knowing enough,' retorted Mr Boffin, with a sly look, 'to
have found out that our connexion's at an end, eh? But you can't get
beforehand with me. Look at this in my hand. This is your pay, on your
discharge. You can only follow suit. You can't deprive me of the lead.
Let's have no pretending that you discharge yourself. I discharge you.'

'So that I go,' remarked the Secretary, waving the point aside with his
hand, 'it is all one to me.'

'Is it?' said Mr Boffin. 'But it's two to me, let me tell you.
Allowing a fellow that's found out, to discharge himself, is one thing;
discharging him for insolence and presumption, and likewise for designs
upon his master's money, is another. One and one's two; not one. (Old
lady, don't you cut in. You keep still.)'

'Have you said all you wish to say to me?' demanded the Secretary.

'I don't know whether I have or not,' answered Mr Boffin. 'It depends.'

'Perhaps you will consider whether there are any other strong
expressions that you would like to bestow upon me?'

'I'll consider that,' said Mr Boffin, obstinately, 'at my convenience,
and not at yours. You want the last word. It may not be suitable to let
you have it.'

'Noddy! My dear, dear Noddy! You sound so hard!' cried poor Mrs Boffin,
not to be quite repressed.

'Old lady,' said her husband, but without harshness, 'if you cut in when
requested not, I'll get a pillow and carry you out of the room upon it.
What do you want to say, you Rokesmith?'

'To you, Mr Boffin, nothing. But to Miss Wilfer and to your good kind
wife, a word.'

'Out with it then,' replied Mr Boffin, 'and cut it short, for we've had
enough of you.'

'I have borne,' said the Secretary, in a low voice, 'with my false
position here, that I might not be separated from Miss Wi