“Now, wait a bit, Boffin; there’s something more. You’ve been unlawfully ferreting about this yard. You’ve been seen in the act of ferreting about this yard. Two pair of eyes at the present moment brought to bear upon you, have seen you dig up a Dutch bottle.”

“It was mine, Wegg,” protested Mr. Boffin. “I put it there myself.”

“What was in it, Boffin?” inquired Silas.

“Not gold, not silver, not bank notes, not jewels, nothing that you could turn into money, Wegg; upon my soul!”

“Prepared, Mr. Venus,” said Wegg, turning to his partner with a knowing and superior air, “for an ewasive answer on the part of our dusty friend here, I have hit out a little idea which I think will meet your views. We charge that bottle against our dusty friend at a thousand pound.”