"Them things," repeated Potts, putting a fat forefinger first on the one and then on the other pawn-ticket. "'Twasn't me, nor yet Bessie. 'Tis long since I was in my uncle's. All I had to do there was a-getting of 'em down the spout. I never sent much up it; my first wife, Joan--not Bessie, bless her! Now I ain't no witch, but I can see with 'alf a heye that you've got summat at your uncle's you don't like to leave there, when you're a-goin' a voyagin' to the ends o' the earth. Have you got the money as well as the tickets?" "Oh dear, no!" answered Thomas, almost crying. "Come now," said Potts, kindly, "sweep out the chimley. It's no use missing the crooks and corners, and having to send a boy up after all. Sweep it out. Tell me all about it, and I'll see what I can do--or can't do, it may be." Thomas told him that the tickets were for a watch--a gold watch, with a compensation balance--and a diamond ring. He didn't care about the watch; but he would give his life to get the ring again. "Let me look at the tickets. How much did you get on 'em separate?" Thomas said he did not know, but gave him the tickets to examine. Potts looked at them. "You don't care so much for the watch?" he said. "No, I don't," answered Thomas; "though my mother did give it to me," he added, ruefully. "Why don't you offer 'em both of the tickets for the ring, then?" said Potts. "What?" said Thomas. "I don't see--" "You give 'em to me," returned Potts. "Here, Bess! you go in and have a chat with the captain--I'm going out, Bessie, for an hour. Tell the captain not to go till I come back." So saying, Potts removed his white apron, put on a black frock coat and hat, and went out, taking the tickets with him. Mrs. Potts brought a tumbler of grog for her brother, and he sat sipping it. Thomas refused to join him; for he reaped this good from his sensitive organization, that since the night on which it had helped to ruin him, he could scarcely endure even the smell of strong drink. It was rather more than an hour before Mr. Potts returned, during which time Thomas had been very restless and anxious. But at last his host walked into the back room, laid a small screw of paper before him, and said: "There's your ring, sir. You won't want your watch this voyage. I've got it, though; but I'm forced to keep it, in case I should be behind with my rent. Any time you look in, I shall have it, or know where it is."