"A nice-looking little lad, that," said Todd's customer.
"Very, sir; an orphan boy; I took him out of charity, poor little fellow; but then, we ought to try to do all the good we can."
"Just so; I'm glad I have come to be shaved here. Mine's rather a strong beard, I think, do you see."
"Why, sir, in a manner of speaking," replied Todd, "it is a strong beard. I suppose you didn't come to London alone, sir?"
CHAPTER CX.
TODD'S HOUR HAS COME.
The hideous face that Todd made above the head of his customer at this moment, was more like that which Mephistopheles might have made, after achieving the destruction of a human soul, than anything human. Sir Richard Blunt quickly replied to Todd's question, by saying—
"Oh, yes, quite alone; except the drovers I had no company with me; why do you ask?"
"Why, sir, I thought if you had any gentleman with you who might be waiting at the Bull's Head, you would recommend him to me if anything was wanting in my way, you know, sir; you might have just left him, saying you were going to Todd the barber's, to have a clean shave, sir."
"No, not at all; the fact is, I did not come out to have a shave, but a walk, and it wasn't till I gave my chin a stroke, and found what a beard I had, that I thought of it; and then passing your shop, in I popped, do you see."
"Exactly, sir, I comprehend; you are quite alone in London?"