e. Then you want to know what the terms are. Is
that about the sum and substance of it? Will you or won't you answer,
Boffin?' For he had paused a moment.

'Dear me!' cried that unfortunate gentleman again, 'I am worrited to
that degree that I'm almost off my head. You hurry me so. Be so good as
name the terms, Wegg.'

'Now, mark, Boffin,' returned Silas: 'Mark 'em well, because they're
the lowest terms and the only terms. You'll throw your Mound (the little
Mound as comes to you any way) into the general estate, and then you'll
divide the whole property into three parts, and you'll keep one and hand
over the others.'

Mr Venus's mouth screwed itself up, as Mr Boffin's face lengthened
itself, Mr Venus not having been prepared for such a rapacious demand.

'Now, wait a bit, Boffin,' Wegg proceeded, 'there's something more.
You've been a squandering this property--laying some of it out on
yourself. THAT won't do. You've bought a house. You'll be charged for
it.'

'I shall be ruined, Wegg!' Mr Boffin faintly protested.

'Now, wait a bit, Boffin; there's something more. You'll leave me in
sole custody of these Mounds till they're all laid low. If any waluables
should be found in 'em, I'll take care of such waluables. You'll produce
your contract for the sale of the Mounds, that we may know to a penny
what they're worth, and you'll make out likewise an exact list of
all the other property. When the Mounds is cleared away to the last
shovel-full, the final diwision will come off.'

'Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful! I shall die in a workhouse!' cried the
Golden Dustman, with his hands to his head.

'Now, wait a bit, Boffin; there's something more. You've been unlawfully
ferreting about this yard. You've been seen in the act of ferreting
about this yard. Two pair of eyes at the present moment brought to bear
upon you, have seen you dig up a Dutch bottle.'

'It was mine, Wegg,' protested Mr Boffin. 'I put it there myself.'

'What was in it, Boffin?' inquired Silas.

'Not gold, not silver, not bank notes, not jewels, nothing that you
could turn into money, Wegg; upon my soul!'

'Prepared, Mr Venus,' said Wegg, turning to his partner with a knowing
and superior air, 'for an ewasive answer on the part of our dusty friend
here, I have hit out a little idea which I think will meet your views.
We charge that bottle against our dusty friend at a thousand pound.'

Mr Boffin drew a deep groan.

'Now, wait a bit, Boffin; the