"Be this Mister Todd's?"
"Well," said Todd, "what then?"
"Why, then, this be for him like. It's a letter, but larning waren't much i' the fashion in my young days, so I can't read what's on it."
Todd stretched out his hand. An instant examination showed him it bore the Peckham post-mark.
"Ah!" he muttered, "from Fogg. Thank you, my man, that will do. That will do. What do you wait for?"
"Please to remember the carter, your honour!"
Todd looked daggers at him, and slowly handed out twopence, which the man took with a very ill grace.
"What," said Todd, "would you charge me more for carrying a letter than King George the Third does, you extortionate rascal?"
The carter gave a nod.
"Get out with you, or by—"