"I really don't know," he said. "Come, Mr. Barber, finish the shaving, for that gentleman is waiting."
Ben was duly shaved; while the plain-looking man sat quietly in the chair by the door, and when the operation was finished, Ben looked in Todd's face, and said, solemnly—
"A string of pearls."
"Sir," said Todd, without changing countenance in the least.
"A string of pearls.—Murder!"
"A what, sir?"
Ben look staggered. He well knew that if he had cut any one's throat for a string of pearls, that such words said to him would have driven him frantic, but when he saw no change in Todd's face, he begun to think that, after all, the accusation must be unfounded, and muttering to himself—
"It must be nothing but the child's fancy after all," he hastily threw down twopence and left the shop.
"Now, sir," said Todd, to the plain-looking man.
"Thank you."