But I was not satisfied.  Those missing fingers puzzled me, and I ventured to ask why the hands had been mutilated.  For answer he plunged his hand into one of his many pockets and produced a small object that looked like a leather purse.  This he opened and pulled out a human finger, the stump being mounted with silver!  For a moment he held it before my eyes; then, as if too precious to be exposed to the light of day, he carefully replaced it in its wrappings.