“Ah!” with another roll of his eyes. “As to what was found in the dust now. Did you ever hear him mention how he found it, my dear friend? Living on the mysterious premises, one would like to know. For instance, where he found things? Or, for instance, how he set about it? Whether he began at the top of the mounds, or whether he began at the bottom. Whether he prodded”; Mr. Wegg’s pantomime is skilful and expressive here; “or whether he scooped? Should you say scooped, my dear Mr. Venus; or should you as a man⁠—say prodded?”

“I should say neither, Mr. Wegg.”

“As a fellow-man, Mr. Venus⁠—mix again⁠—why neither?”

“Because I suppose, sir, that what was found, was found in the sorting and sifting. All the mounds are sorted and sifted?”