for what I know," he added, in a muttering tone.

"Jem Rodney!" said Silas, turning and fixing his strange eyes on
the suspected man.

"Aye, Master Marner, what do you want wi' me?" said Jem,
trembling a little, and seizing his drinking-can as a defensive
weapon.

"If it was you stole my money," said Silas, clasping his hands
entreatingly, and raising his voice to a cry, "give it me back--
and I won't meddle with you. I won't set the constable on you.
Give it me back, and I'll let you--I'll let you have a guinea."

"Me stole your money!" said Jem, angrily. "I'll pitch this can
at your eye if you talk o' _my_ stealing your money."

"Come, come, Master Marner," said the landlord, now rising
resolutely, and seizing Marner by the shoulder, "if you've got any
information to lay, speak it out sensible, and show as you're in
your right mind, if you expect anybody to listen to you. You're as
wet as a drownded rat. Sit down and dry yourself, and speak
straight forrard."

"Ah, to be sure, man," said the farrier, who began to feel that he
had not been quite on a par with himself and the occasion. "Let's
have no more staring and screaming, else we'll have you strapped for
a madman. That was why I didn't speak at the first--thinks I, the
man's run mad."