"Oh, yes, it's all that frightful Martha's fault. I'll—I'll kill—no—I'll discharge that odious hussy without a character, and leave her to drown herself! For Heaven's sake go down stairs all of you, and I'll go and speak to the old gentleman, and apologise to him."
"Let me go," said Ben, "and roll on him on the bed, and if that don't settle him I don't know what will."
"Shall I apologise to him?" said Sir Richard.
Todd nearly fainted when he heard this proposition; but when Mrs. Hardman rejected it, and insisted upon going herself, he felt quite a gush of gratitude towards her, and breathed a little more freely once again.
CHAPTER CLVIII.
TODD'S FEARFUL ADVENTURES ON THE RIVER.
"Shall I lay hold of her," thought Todd, "and choke her the moment she comes into the room, or shall I answer her, and let her go again? Which will be the safest course? I suppose I must let her go, for she might possibly make a noise. Ah! how I should like to have my hand upon all their throats!"
Mrs. Hardman came into the room on tip-toe, leaving the folding-door just a little ajar.
"My dear sir," she said, "are you awake?"
"Oh, go to the deuce," said Todd.
"What did you remark, my dear sir?"