back into the room again, a
little reddened by his late exertion, 'is now freer for the purposes of
respiration. Mr Venus, sir, take a chair. Boffin, you may sit down.'

Mr Boffin, still with his hands ruefully stuck in his pockets, sat on
the edge of the settle, shrunk into a small compass, and eyed the potent
Silas with conciliatory looks.

'This gentleman,' said Silas Wegg, pointing out Venus, 'this gentleman,
Boffin, is more milk and watery with you than I'll be. But he hasn't
borne the Roman yoke as I have, nor yet he hasn't been required to
pander to your depraved appetite for miserly characters.'

'I never meant, my dear Wegg--' Mr Boffin was beginning, when Silas
stopped him.

'Hold your tongue, Boffin! Answer when you're called upon to answer.
You'll find you've got quite enough to do. Now, you're aware--are
you--that you're in possession of property to which you've no right at
all? Are you aware of that?'

'Venus tells me so,' said Mr Boffin, glancing towards him for any
support he could give.

'I tell you so,' returned Silas. 'Now, here's my hat, Boffin, and here's
my walking-stick. Trifle with me, and instead of making a bargain with
you, I'll put on my hat and take up my walking-stick, and go out, and
make a bargain with the rightful owner. Now, what do you say?'

'I say,' returned Mr Boffin, leaning forward in alarmed appeal, with his
hands on his knees, 'that I am sure I don't want to trifle. Wegg. I have
said so to Venus.'

'You certainly have, sir,' said Venus.

'You're too milk and watery with our friend, you are indeed,'
remonstrated Silas, with a disapproving shake of his wooden head. Then
at once you confess yourself desirous to come to terms, do you Boffin?
Before you answer, keep this hat well in your mind and also this
walking-stick.'

'I am willing, Wegg, to come to terms.'

'Willing won't do, Boffin. I won't take willing. Are you desirous to
come to terms? Do you ask to be allowed as a favour to come to terms?'
Mr Wegg again planted his arm, and put his head on one side.

'Yes.'

'Yes what?' said the inexorable Wegg: 'I won't take yes. I'll have it
out of you in full, Boffin.'

'Dear me!' cried that unfortunate gentleman. 'I am so worrited! I ask to
be allowed to come to terms, supposing your document is all correct.'

'Don't you be afraid of that,' said Silas, poking his head at him. 'You
shall be satisfied by seeing it. Mr Venus will show it you, and I'll
hold you the whil