Todd felt quite certain that if the man caught but the slightest glance at him, it would be sufficient to convince him that it was not Joe, and, therefore, he only now opened the door wide enough to let him slip into the shop, and kept himself back partially behind it, so as to be, with the exception of one arm, quite out of sight.
The man hesitated.
"Come in," said Todd. "Come in."
"Why, what's the matter with you," said the man, "that makes you so mighty mysterious, eh? What is it, old fellow?"
"Oh, nothing. Come in."
The man stepped one foot across the threshold, and put his head in at the shop-door.
"Come, now," he said. "None of your jokes, Joe. Where are you?"
Todd felt that that was a critical moment, and that if he failed to take advantage of it, the least thing would give the man the alarm, and he might draw back from the door altogether, and so stop him from executing that summary proceeding against him which he, Todd, thought essential to his interests.
"No, old fellow. There's no trick. Come in."
"Oh, but I—"