"Humph!" he said. "The boy is quiet enough, and probably, after all, may suspect nothing; although I don't at all like his manner at times; yet it is safer to kill him before I go. It is absolute security. He shall help me to arrange everything to set the house on fire, and then when I have completed all my arrangements, it will be easy to knock him on the head."
With this he opened the door.
Johanna started.
"Well," said Todd, "well, any one been?"
"Only a man to be shaved, sir. I told him you would be home soon, but he could not wait, so he left."
"Let him leave and get shaved at the devil!" said Todd. "You are sure no one has been here peeping and prying, and asking questions which you would be quite delighted to answer, eh?"
"Peeping and prying, sir?"
"Yes, peeping and prying. You know the meaning of that. Don't put on a look of surprise at me. It won't do. I known what you boys are. Curse you all! Yes, I know what you are."
Johanna made no answer.
Todd took off his hat, and shook the rain from it violently. Then in a voice that made Johanna start again, he cried—