"He! he!" laughed Todd—"ho! ho!"
How he wished at that moment that he could have taken Lupin by the throat and strangled him!
The brandy was duly discussed, and Lupin having paid for it out of the contents of the old gentleman's purse, took a courteous adieu of the landlord, and with Todd left the house.
"Gracious goodness!" exclaimed Todd, "how could you dream of saying what you did about me at the bar?"
"My good friend, that was for the express purpose of drowning suspicion for you. I saw the landlady staring at you most fixedly, and so I said it on purpose, for fear she should really begin to think you could be no other than Todd the murderer—the execrable Todd, with whom they frighten the children."
"Oh, well," said Todd, "don't say anything more about it. I am quite satisfied. Indeed, I am more than satisfied, my dear friend."
"I thought you would be, when you come to think—"
"Oh, dear, yes."
"You may depend, Todd, that the greatest safety always runs alongside of the greatest danger; and that when you think that your fortunes are at the lowest, you may not unfrequently be upon the point of a highly favourable change: and it's all by the goodness of Providence."
"Bother you!" said Todd. "I do believe, if you were to live for a hundred years, you would not forget your chapel experience."