An' I can pen you a waver covva (I can tell you another thing) that's _hopper_--them's the glasses that you look through--_hoppera_-glasses." And here in bounding triumph he gave the little wooden bear a drink of ale, as if it had uttered this chunk of solid wisdom, and then treated himself to a good long pull.

But the glance of triumph which shot from his black-basilisk eyes, and the joyous smile which followed these feats of philology, were absolutely irresistible.

All that remained for me to do was to yield in silence.
One day we spoke of _huckeny pokee_, or _huckeny ponkee_, as it is sometimes called.

It means in Rommany "sleight of hand," and also the adroit substitution of a bundle of lead or stones for another containing money or valuables, as practised by Gipsy women.

The Gipsy woman goes to a house, and after telling the simple-minded and credulous housewife that there is a treasure buried in the cellar, persuades her that as "silver draws silver," she must deposit all her money or jewels in a bag near the place where the treasure lies.