Jo silently notices how white and small her hand is and what a jolly servant she must be to wear such sparkling rings.
She drops a piece of money in his hand without touching it, and shuddering as their hands approach.

"Now," she adds, "show me the spot again!" Jo thrusts the handle of his broom between the bars of the gate, and with his utmost power of elaboration, points it out.

At length, looking aside to see if he has made himself intelligible, he finds that he is alone.
His first proceeding is to hold the piece of money to the gas-light and to be overpowered at finding that it is yellow--gold.

His next is to give it a one-sided bite at the edge as a test of its quality.
His next, to put it in his mouth for safety and to sweep the step and passage with great care.

His job done, he sets off for Tom-all-Alone's, stopping in the light of innumerable gas-lamps to produce the piece of gold and give it another one-sided bite as a reassurance of its being genuine.
The Mercury in powder is in no want of society to-night, for my Lady goes to a grand dinner and three or four balls.