I believe now it was where you kept your senses.' 'Mr Finsbury,' said the drawing-master, 'I have tried to reason this matter out, and, with your permission, I should like to lay before you the results.' 'Fire away,' said Michael; 'but please, Pitman, remember it's Sunday, and let's have no bad language.' 'There are three views open to us,' began Pitman.

'First this may be connected with the barrel; second, it may be connected with Mr Semitopolis's statue; and third, it may be from my wife's brother, who went to Australia.

In the first case, which is of course possible, I confess the matter would be best allowed to drop.' 'The court is with you there, Brother Pitman,' said Michael.
'In the second,' continued the other, 'it is plainly my duty to leave no stone unturned for the recovery of the lost antique.' 'My dear fellow, Semitopolis has come down like a trump; he has pocketed the loss and left you the profit.

What more would you have ?' enquired the lawyer.
'I conceive, sir, under correction, that Mr Semitopolis's generosity binds me to even greater exertion,' said the drawing-master.

'The whole business was unfortunate; it was--I need not disguise it from you--it was illegal from the first: the more reason that I should try to behave like a gentleman,' concluded Pitman, flushing.
'I have nothing to say to that,' returned the lawyer.