"To be sure, of course," said Matt, trying to converse in a cool pleasant way, but with one eye fixed upon the trembling searcher; for some of Matt's eagerness seemed now to be transferred to his companion. "There's a great piece of the book out here," said Septimus suddenly--"most of the year before the baptism." "Torn out, by Jove!" muttered Matt, shaking his head, and looking suspicion's self. "Dessay there is, sir," said the sexton coolly; "the damp here would spile the binding of any book." "But, I say; look here, you sir; here's a good four months gone: no Jennywerry, nor Feberwerry, nor March, nor April. Looks precious queer," said Matt. "Ah, so there is--good big bit gone; all but a leaf here and there." And then, to get a better look, the sexton took out an old leathern case, drew out his spectacles, replaced the case very carefully, wiped the glasses upon the tail of his coat, and then very leisurely put them on, a process not directly completed; for, like their master, the springs of the spectacles had grown weak, and were joined by a piece of black tape, which had to be passed carefully over the sexton's head to keep the glasses in their place. "Ah," he said again, while the searchers looked on, astonished at his coolness, "so there is--a good big bit gone; but 'tain't no wonder, for the thread's as rotten as tinder, and--" "I say, old un, don't tear any more out," cried Matt excitedly; for the sexton was experimentally disposed, and testing the endurance of the thread and glue. "There's plenty loose," said the old sexton, "and I shouldn't be a bit surprised if you find a lot more gone." Septimus Hardon looked at Matt, who returned the look, for the feeling of suspicion was now fully shared. However, they still went on carefully searching. "It's of no use," said Septimus at last, mournfully; "we may as well go. I never had any hope." "Don't be in a hurry, sir," said Matt. "You know there are other ways of killing the cat, as the old saying says; wait a bit. Looks suspicious, certainly," he said, treating himself to a fresh pinch of snuff.--"I say, guv'nor, you haven't got the loose leaves lying about anywheres, have you? Not been taken away that you know of, eh?" The sexton shook his head, thrust his hands to the bottoms of his trousers-pockets, shrugged his shoulders to his ears, and then stood gazing at his visitors with his spectacles high up on his forehead. "No," said he, "nobody never meddles with 'em, 'cept a lawyer's clerk now and then; and they're very civil, and just copies out something, and gives me a shilling, and then goes." Septimus Hardon took the hint in its first acceptation, while the mouldy old sexton removed one hand from his pocket to accept the proffered shilling held to him, before his visitors were about to take the second part of the hint.