"Thank you, you are very kind; but I am rather tired, and glad of the opportunity of having a rest."
"Certainly, sir. As you please. The Courant, sir, at your service."
"Thank you—thank you."
The clerical looking old gentleman sat down to read the Courant, while Todd commenced the operation of shaving his first customer. When that operation was half completed, he said—
"They report, sir, that St. Dunstan's is giving way."
"Giving way," said the clerical looking gentleman. "How do you mean about giving way?"
"Why, sir," said Todd, with an air quite of reverential respect, "they say that the old church has a leaning towards Temple Bar, and that, if you stand at the opposite side of the way, you may just see it. I can't, but they do say so."
"Bless me," said the clerical looking gentleman. "That is a very sad thing indeed, and nobody can be more sorry than I am to hear such a tale of the old church."
"Well sir, it may not be true."
"I hope not, indeed. Nothing would give me greater pain than to be assured it was true. The stench in the body of the church that so much has been said about in the parish is nothing to what you say, for who ought to put his nose into competition with his eternal welfare?"