“Are you a judge of china?”

Mr. Venus again shook his head.

“Because if he had ever showed you a teapot, I should be glad to know of it,” said Mr. Boffin. And then, with his right hand at his lips, repeated thoughtfully, “a teapot, a teapot,” and glanced over the books on the floor, as if he knew there was something interesting connected with a teapot, somewhere among them.

Mr. Wegg and Mr. Venus looked at one another wonderingly: and Mr. Wegg, in fitting on his spectacles, opened his eyes wide, over their rims, and tapped the side of his nose: as an admonition to Venus to keep himself generally wide awake.