“There!” cried Mr. Boffin. “Even from him, you see! There was only two of ’em, and yet one of ’em hid from the other.”

Mr. Venus, who since his introduction to the French gentleman, had been stooping to peer up the chimney, had his attention recalled by the last sentence, and took the liberty of repeating it.

“Do you like it?” asked Mr. Boffin, turning suddenly.

“I beg your pardon, sir?”

“Do you like what Wegg’s been a-reading?”

Mr. Venus answered that he found it extremely interesting.