THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN SINKS AGAIN
The evening of that day being one of the reading evenings
at the Bower, Mr Boffin kissed Mrs Boffin after a
five o’clock dinner, and trotted out, nursing
his big stick in both arms, so that, as of old, it
seemed to be whispering in his ear. He carried
so very attentive an expression on his countenance
that it appeared as if the confidential discourse of
the big stick required to be followed closely.
Mr Boffin’s face was like the face of a thoughtful
listener to an intricate communication, and, in trotting
along, he occasionally glanced at that companion with
the look of a man who was interposing the remark:
‘You don’t mean it!’
Mr Boffin and his stick went on alone together, until
they arrived at certain cross-ways where they would
be likely to fall in with any one coming, at about
the same time, from Clerkenwell to the Bower.
Here they stopped, and Mr Boffin consulted his watch.
‘It wants five minutes, good, to Venus’s
appointment,’ said he. ’I’m
rather early.’
But Venus was a punctual man, and, even as Mr Boffin
replaced his watch in its pocket, was to be descried
coming towards him. He quickened his pace on
seeing Mr Boffin already at the place of meeting, and
was soon at his side.
‘Thank’ee, Venus,’ said Mr Boffin.
‘Thank’ee, thank’ee, thank’ee!’
It would not have been very evident why he thanked
the anatomist, but for his furnishing the explanation
in what he went on to say.
’All right, Venus, all right. Now, that
you’ve been to see me, and have consented to
keep up the appearance before Wegg of remaining in
it for a time, I have got a sort of a backer.
All right, Venus. Thank’ee, Venus.
Thank’ee, thank’ee, thank’ee!’
Mr Venus shook the proffered hand with a modest air,
and they pursued the direction of the Bower.
‘Do you think Wegg is likely to drop down upon
me to-night, Venus?’ inquired Mr Boffin, wistfully,
as they went along.
‘I think he is, sir.’
‘Have you any particular reason for thinking
so, Venus?’
‘Well, sir,’ returned that personage,
’the fact is, he has given me another look-in,
to make sure of what he calls our stock-in-trade being
correct, and he has mentioned his intention that he
was not to be put off beginning with you the very
next time you should come. And this,’ hinted
Mr Venus, delicately, ‘being the very next time,
you know, sir—’
—’Why, therefore you suppose he’ll
turn to at the grindstone, eh, Wegg?’ said Mr
Boffin.
‘Just so, sir.’
Mr Boffin took his nose in his hand, as if it were
already excoriated, and the sparks were beginning
to fly out of that feature. ’He’s
a terrible fellow, Venus; he’s an awful fellow.
I don’t know how ever I shall go through with
it. You must stand by me, Venus like a good man
and true. You’ll do all you can to stand
by me, Venus; won’t you?’
