"You may depend," said the grazier, who had been shaved, "that we shall do all we can for you, and shall not lose sight of you."
Todd bowed like a Frenchman, and the graziers left the shop. No sooner was the door closed upon them, than his countenance altered, as if by magic, and the most wofully diabolical expression came over it, as with eyes flashing with rage, he cried—
"Curses on you both! But I will have one of you, yet. May the bitterest curse of—but, no matter, I—"
"What, sir?" said Johanna. "What do you say, sir?"
"Hell's fury! what is that to you? Do dare you, you devil's cub, to ask me what I said? By all that's furious, I'll tear out your teeth with red-hot pincers, and scoop your eyes from their gory sockets with an old oyster knife. D—n you, I'll—I'll flay you!"
Johanna shrank back aghast. The pure spirit of the young girl, that had been used to little else but words of love and kindness, started at the furious and brutal abuse that was launched at it by Todd.
"Did I not tell you," he continued, "that I would have no prying—no peeping—no remarking about this or the other? I'll crush the life out of you, as I would that from a mad dog!"
A strange howling cry at the door at this moment came upon the ears of Todd. His countenance changed, and his lips moved as though he was still saying something, but he had not power to give it audibly. At length, somewhat mastering his emotion, he said—
"What—what's that?"
"A dog, sir."