"I was, sir."
"Then you have news. What is it?"
"Todd is in the neighbourhood, sir, or was an hour or two ago, I am well assured."
"Todd?"
"Yes, sir. He was in his own house. A man came to the door of it to see the person minding it, and the door was opened a little way, and Todd tried to pull him in, and would have pulled him in, but his neckcloth gave way, and then the fire broke out directly after. The man has been in too great a fright till just a little while ago to venture into the street again."
"You have seen him?"
"I have, sir."
"Bring him here, Green."
Green immediately left the church, and Mr. Crotchet set up a long and melancholy whistle.
"In my heart I thought this might be," said Sir Richard, "and yet having no evidence to justify the suggestion of my fancy, I did not like to nurse the idea. Todd in this neighbourhood—Todd in his own house! Oh, what a chance!"