Silas puts his point in the improved form of 'What will you take for
me?'

'Well,' replies Venus, still blowing his tea, 'I'm not prepared, at a
moment's notice, to tell you, Mr Wegg.'

'Come! According to your own account I'm not worth much,' Wegg reasons
persuasively.

'Not for miscellaneous working in, I grant you, Mr Wegg; but you might
turn out valuable yet, as a--' here Mr Venus takes a gulp of tea, so
hot that it makes him choke, and sets his weak eyes watering; 'as a
Monstrosity, if you'll excuse me.'

Repressing an indignant look, indicative of anything but a disposition
to excuse him, Silas pursues his point.

'I think you know me, Mr Venus, and I think you know I never bargain.'

Mr Venus takes gulps of hot tea, shutting his eyes at every gulp, and
opening them again in a spasmodic manner; but does not commit himself to
assent.

'I have a prospect of getting on in life and elevating myself by my own
independent exertions,' says Wegg, feelingly, 'and I shouldn't like--I
tell you openly I should NOT like--under such circumstances, to be what
I may call dispersed, a part of me here, and a part of me there, but
should wish to collect myself like a genteel person.'

'It's a prospect at present, is it, Mr Wegg? Then you haven't got the