"And see whether HE thinks it a laughing matter, too." With that parting shot, my daughter left me.
I settled it with myself, when she was gone, that I really would ask Mr.
Franklin--mainly to set Penelope's mind at rest.

What was said between us, when I did ask him, later on that same day, you will find set out fully in its proper place.

But as I don't wish to raise your expectations and then disappoint them, I will take leave to warn you here--before we go any further--that you won't find the ghost of a joke in our conversation on the subject of the jugglers.

To my great surprise, Mr.Franklin, like Penelope, took the thing seriously.

How seriously, you will understand, when I tell you that, in his opinion, "It" meant the Moonstone..