CHAPTER XV 



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. Try to find 

 me more, as many as you can, and on Sunday you shall 

 have lots of rides on the wooden horses. In the mean- 

 time here is a penny for you. Don't forget it when you 

 make up your accounts ; don't mix it with your turnip- 

 money ; put it by itself." Beaming with satisfaction at 

 such wealth, little touzle-head promised to search indus- 

 triously, already foreseeing a fortune. 



When he had gone I examined the thing. It was 



