“I’ve taken your advice, sir, and have commenced to do something useful. I have gone into trade.”

“God bless my soul! Trade!”

“Yes. I’m dealing in articles—if I may call them so—of virtue.”

“You’re joking.”

“Never more serious, I assure you. To prove it I will sell you something.”

“What?”

“A snuff-box.”

The philanthropist laughed.

“And so it is you who have been hiding my favourite box. Hand it over this minute, you rascal.”

But Tom shook his head.