'But there's another chance for you,' said Mr Boffin, smiling still, 'Do
you like the name of Nicodemus? Think it over. Nick, or Noddy.'

'It is not, sir,' Mr Wegg rejoined, as he sat down on his stool, with an
air of gentle resignation, combined with melancholy candour; it is not
a name as I could wish any one that I had a respect for, to call ME
by; but there may be persons that would not view it with the same
objections.--I don't know why,' Mr Wegg added, anticipating another
question.

'Noddy Boffin,' said that gentleman. 'Noddy. That's my name. Noddy--or
Nick--Boffin. What's your name?'

'Silas Wegg.--I don't,' said Mr Wegg, bestirring himself to take the
same precaution as before, 'I don't know why Silas, and I don't know why
Wegg.'

'Now, Wegg,' said Mr Boffin, hugging his stick closer, 'I want to make a
sort of offer to you. Do you remember when you first see me?'

The wooden Wegg looked at him with a meditative eye, and also with a
softened air as descrying possibility of profit. 'Let me think. I ain't
quite sure, and yet I generally take a powerful sight of notice, too.
Was it on a Monday morning, when the butcher-boy had been to our house
for orders, and bought a ballad of me, which, being unacquainted with
the tune, I run it over to him?'

'Right, Wegg, right! But he bought more than one.'

'Yes, to be sure, sir; he bought several; and wishing to lay out his