‘No more than in anything else,’ said I; ‘you were talking of convictions—I have no convictions. It is not easy to believe in the Bible till one is convinced that there is a Bible.’ ‘He seems to be insane,’ said the prim-looking man; ‘we had better order the porter to turn him out.’ ‘I am by no means certain,’ said I, ‘that the porter could turn me out; always provided there is a porter, and this system of ours be not a lie, and a dream.’ ‘Come,’ said the lion-looking man, impatiently, ‘a truce with this nonsense. If the porter cannot turn you out, perhaps some other person can; but to the point—you want a Bible?’ ‘I do,’ said I, ‘but not for myself; I was sent by another person to offer something in exchange for one.’ ‘And who is that person?’ ‘A poor old woman, who has had what you call convictions,—heard voices, or thought she heard them—I forgot to ask her whether they were loud ones.’ ‘What has she sent to offer in exchange?’ said the man, without taking any notice of the concluding part of my speech. ‘A book,’ said I. ‘Let me see it.’ ‘Nay, brother,’ said the precise man, ‘this will never do; if we once adopt the system of barter, we shall have all the holders of useless rubbish in the town applying to us.’ ‘I wish to see what he has brought,’ said the other; ‘perhaps Baxter, or Jewell’s _Apology_, either of which would make a valuable addition to our collection. Well, young man, what’s the matter with you?’ I stood like one petrified; I had put my hand into my pocket—the book was gone. ‘What’s the matter?’ repeated the man with the lion countenance, in a voice very much resembling thunder. ‘I have it not—I have lost it!’ ‘A pretty story, truly,’ said the precise-looking man, ‘lost it!’ ‘You had better retire,’ said the other. ‘How shall I appear before the party who entrusted me with the book? She will certainly think that I have purloined it, notwithstanding all I can say; nor, indeed, can I blame her,—appearances are certainly against me.’ ‘They are so—you had better retire.’ I moved towards the door. ‘Stay, young man, one word more; there is only one way of proceeding which would induce me to believe that you are sincere.’ ‘What is that?’ said I, stopping and looking at him anxiously. ‘The purchase of a Bible.’ ‘Purchase!’ said I, ‘purchase! I came not to purchase, but to barter; such was my instruction, and how can I barter if I have lost the book?’ The other made no answer, and turning away I made for the door; all of a sudden I started, and turning round, ‘Dear me,’ said I, ‘it has just come into my head, that if the book was lost by my negligence, as it must have been, I have clearly a right to make it good.’ No answer. ‘Yes,’ I repeated, ‘I have clearly a right to make it good; how glad I am! see the effect of a little reflection. I will purchase a Bible instantly, that is, if I have not lost—’ and with considerable agitation I felt in my pocket.