'It was Secretary that you named; wasn't it ?' 'I said Secretary,' assented Mr Rokesmith.
'It rather puzzled me at the time,' said Mr Boffin, 'and it rather puzzled me and Mrs Boffin when we spoke of it afterwards, because (not to make a mystery of our belief) we have always believed a Secretary to be a piece of furniture, mostly of mahogany, lined with green baize or leather, with a lot of little drawers in it.

Now, you won't think I take a liberty when I mention that you certainly ain't THAT.' Certainly not, said Mr Rokesmith.

But he had used the word in the sense of Steward.
'Why, as to Steward, you see,' returned Mr Boffin, with his hand still to his chin, 'the odds are that Mrs Boffin and me may never go upon the water.

Being both bad sailors, we should want a Steward if we did; but there's generally one provided.' Mr Rokesmith again explained; defining the duties he sought to undertake, as those of general superintendent, or manager, or overlooker, or man of business.
'Now, for instance--come!' said Mr Boffin, in his pouncing way.

'If you entered my employment, what would you do ?' 'I would keep exact accounts of all the expenditure you sanctioned, Mr Boffin.