THE OAK EGGAR, OR BANDED MONK Yes: I was to find it.

I even had it already in my possession.

An urchin of seven years, with an alert countenance, not washed every day, bare feet, and dilapidated breeches supported by a piece of string, who frequented the house as a dealer in turnips and tomatoes, arrived one day with his basket of vegetables.

Having received the few halfpence expected by his mother as the price of the garden-stuff, and having counted them one by one into the hollow of his hand, he took from his pocket an object which he had discovered the day before beneath a hedge when gathering greenstuff for his rabbits.
"And this--will you have this ?" he said, handing me the object.

"Why, certainly I will have it.