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hedgerow。 He found it out； however； by another circumstance
which he had not expected—namely； by certain gleams of light；
which he presently guessed to proceed from Silas Marner’s
cottage。 That cottage and the money hidden within it had been in
his mind continually during his walk； and he had been imagining
ways of cajoling and tempting the weaver to part with the
immediate possession of his money for the sake of receiving
interest。 Dunstan felt as if there must be a little frightening added
to the cajolery； for his own arithmetical convictions were not clear
enough to afford him any forcible demonstration as to the
advantages of interest； and as for security； he regarded it vaguely
as a means of cheating a man by making him believe that he would
be paid。 Altogether； the operation on the miser’s mind was a task
that Godfrey would be sure to hand over to his more daring and
cunning brother： Dunstan had made up his mind to that； and by
the time he saw the light gleaming through the chinks of Marner’s
shutters； the idea of a dialogue with the weaver had become so
familiar to him that it occurred to him as quite a natural thing to
make the acquaintance forthwith。 There might be several
conveniences attending this course： the weaver had possibly got a
lantern； and Dunstan was tired of feeling his way。 He was still
nearly three…quarters of a mile from home； and the lane was
becoming unpleasantly slippery； for the mist was passing into rain。
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He turned up the bank； not without some fear lest he might miss
the right way； since he was not certain whether the light were in
front or on the side of the cottage。 But he felt the ground before
him cautiously with his whip…handle； and at last arrived safely at
the door。 He knocked loudly； rather enjoying the idea that the old
fellow would be frightened at the sudden noise。 He heard no
movement in reply： all was silence in the cottage。 Was the weaver
gone to bed； then？ If so； why had he left a light？ That was a
strange forgetfulness in a miser。 Dunstan knocked still more
loudly； and； without pausing for a reply； pushed his fingers
through the latch…hole； intending to shake the door and pull the
latch…string up and down； not doubting that the door was fastened。
But； to his surprise； at this double motion the door opened； and he
found himself in front of a bright fire which lit up every corner of
the cottage—the bed； the loom； the three chairs； and the table—
and showed him that Marner was not there。
Nothing at that moment could be much more inviting to
Dunsey than the bright fire on the brick hearth： he walked in and
seated himself by it at once。 There was something in front of the
fire； too； that would have been inviting to a hungry man； if it had
been in a different stage of cooking。 It was a small bit of pork
suspended from the kettle…hanger by a string passed through a
large door…key； in a way known to primitive housekeepers
unpossessed of jacks。 But the pork had been hung at the farthest
extremity of the hanger； apparently to prevent the roasting from
proceeding too rapidly during the owner’s absence。
The old staring simpleton had hot meat for his supper； then？
thought Dunstan。 People had always said he lived on mouldy
bread； on purpose to check his appetite。 But where could he be at
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this time； and on such an evening； leaving his supper in this stage
of preparation； and his door unfastened？
Dunstan’s own recent difficulty in making his way suggested to
him that the weaver had perhaps gone outside his cottage to fetch
in fuel； or for some such brief purpose； and had slipped into the
Stone…pit。 That was an interesting idea to Dunstan； carrying
consequences of entire novelty。 If the weaver was dead； who had a
right to his money？ Who would know where his money was
hidden？ Who would know that anybody had come to take it away？
He went no further into the subtleties of evidence： the pressing
question； “Where is the money？” now took such entire possession
of him as to make him quite forget that the weaver’s death was not
a certainty。 A dull mind； once arriving at an inference that flatters
a desire； is rarely able to retain the impression that the notion
from which the inference started was purely problematic。 And
Dunstan’s mind was as dull as the mind of a possible felon usually
is。 There were only three hiding…places where he had ever heard
of cottagers’ hoards being found： the thatch； the bed； and a hole in
the floor。 Marner’s cottage had no thatch； and Dunstan’s first act；
after a train of thought made rapid by the stimulus of cupidity；
was to go up to the bed； but while he did so； his eyes travelled
eagerly over the floor； where the bricks； distinct in the firelight；
were discernible under the sprinkling of sand。 But not
everywhere； for there was one spot； and one only； which was quite
covered with sand； and sand showing the marks of fingers； which
had apparently been careful to spread it over a given space。
It was near the treadles of the loom。 In an instant Dunstan
darted to that spot； swept away the sand with his whip； and；
inserting the thin end of the hook between the bricks； found that
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they were loose。 In haste he lifted up two bricks； and saw what he
had no doubt was the object of his search； for what could there be
but money in those two leathern bags？ And； from their weight；
they must be filled with guineas。 Dunstan felt round the hole； to be
certain that it held no more；