"You don't seem to be very well, sir," said one of the men.
"Oh, dear me, no," said Todd. "When you are as old as I am, young man, you won't wonder at infirmities coming upon you."
"Young man, do you call me? I am forty."
"Ah, forty! When I was forty, and that was thirty years ago, I thought myself quite a youth. Oh, dear me, but what with the gout, and the lumbago, and two or three more little things, I am nearly done for now. Oh, dear me, life's a burthen."
"What would you like to have, sir?" said a girl who waited upon the parlour guests, and who came in for Todd's order.
"Anything, my dear, you have in the house to eat, and some brandy to drink, if you please."
"Sit by the fire, sir," said one of the men; "you will be more comfortable. We ought to make way for age."
"Oh, dear no, I thank you. I must be somewhere where I can rest my poor back at times, so I like this corner." It was a dark corner, and Todd preferred it. "It will do very well for me, if you please. Oh, dear me; don't disturb yourselves, gentlemen, on my account, I beg of you. I am an old broken-down man, and have not long to live now in this world of care and sorrow."
CHAPTER CLV.
TODD GETS THE BETTER OF THE SHARPERS, AND TAKES A BOAT.
The girl brought Todd a plate of roast-beef, a loaf, and some brandy, with which he regaled himself tolerably well; but he was uncomfortably conscious that the two men were looking at him all the while.