What does the incident with the bank notes indicate about Joe?

The strange man at the pub clearly knew something about Pip assisting the convict and wanted Pip to know that he did. At one point, the man stirs his drink with Joe's file -- the file Pip stole to give to the convict! As Joe and Pip depart, the stranger hands Pip a coin wrapped in paper. When they get home, Pip realizes that the paper is actually a two pound note.