The String of Pearls (1850), p. 192

very unlikely that Todd would take the trouble to construct a trap-door in any other attic than the one which was so easily accessible from the parapet.
"Old clothes—old clothes!" said Crotchet. "There seems to be nothing else in these rooms."
"So it would appear," said Sir Richard.
He lifted up some of the topmost of a heap of garments upon the floor, and a cloud of moths flew upwards in confusion.
"There's the toggery," said Mr. Crotchet, "of the mugged 'uns!"
"You really think so."
"Knows it."
"Well, Crotchet, I don't think from what I know myself that we shall disagree about Todd's guilt. The grand thing is to discover how, and in what way he is guilty."
"Just so. I'm quite sure we have seed all as there is to see up here, so suppose we toddle down stairs now, sir. There's, perhaps, quite a lot o' wonders and natur', and art, down below."
"Stop a bit. Hold the lamp."
Crotchet did so, while Sir Richard took from his pocket a pair of thick linsey-woolsey stockings, and carefully drew them on over his boots, for the purpose of
deadening the sound of his footsteps; and then he held the light, while Mr. Crotchet, who was similarly provided with linsey-woolseys, went through the same process. After this, they moved like spectres, so perfectly noiseless were their footsteps upon the stairs. Sir Richard went first, while Crotchet now
carried the light, holding it sufficiently high that the magistrate could see the stairs before him very well, as he proceeded. It was quite evident, from the state of those stairs, as regarded undisturbed dust, that they had not been ascended for a considerable time; and indeed, Todd, considering the top of his
house as perfectly safe after the precautions he had taken, did not trouble himself to visit it. Our adventurers reached the landing upon the second floor in perfect safety ; and after giving a few minutes more to the precautionary measure
of listening, they opened the first door that presented itself to the observation, and entered the room. They both paused in astonishment, for such a miscellaneous collection of matters as was in this room, could only have been expected to be
met with in the shop of a general dealer. Several chairs and tables were loaded with wearing apparel of all kinds and conditions. The corners of the room were literally crowded with mobs of swords, walking sticks, and umbrellas; while a countless heap of hats lay upon the floor in disorder. You could not
have stepped into that room for miscellaneous personal appointments of one sort or another; and Mr. Crotchet and Sir Richard Blunt trod upon the hats as they walked across the floor, from sheer inability to get out of the way.
'"Well," said Crotchet, "if so be as shaving should go out of fashion, Todd could set up a clothier's shop, and not want for stock to begin with."
"I can imagine," muttered the magistrate to himself, " what a trouble and anxiety all these things must be to Todd, and woollen goods are so difficult to burn. Crotchet, select some of the swords, and look if there are maker's names upon the blades."
While Crotchet was preparing this order, Sir Richard was making a hasty but sufficiently precise examination of the room.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE MYSTERIOUS CUPBOARD.

"Here they are," said Crotchet. "Some of these are worth something."
"Get a cane or two, likewise."
"All's right, sir. I tell you what it is, sir. If there's such things as ghosts