The String of Pearls (1850), p. 282

"Well, sir, what now?"
"Eh?" said the stout burly man. "Ain't this a barber's shop?"
"To be sure it is; and, once for all, do you want to be shaved, or do you not?"
"Why, what else could I come in for?"
"I don't know; but you have been here more than once—more than twice—more than thrice, and yet you have never been shaved yet."
"Well, that is a good one."
"A good what?"
"Mistake, for I have only just come to London to-day; but I'll wait while
you shave this gentleman. I am in no hurry."
"No, sir," said Todd; "this gentleman is a private friend of mine, and don't come to be shaved at all."
The stout burly-looking man seemed rather confused for a moment, and then he turned to the stranger, and said—
"Are you really a private friend of Mr. Todd's?"
"Very," said the other.
"Then I scorn to interrupt any one in their confidential discourse, just because my beard happens to be a day old. No; I trust that time, and old English politeness, will ever prevent me from doing such a thing; so, Mr. Todd, I will look in upon some other occasion, if you please."
"No—no," said Todd, "sit down: business is business. Pray sit down. You don't know how disappointed I shall feel if I don't polish you off, now that you are here, sir."
"Could not think of it," said the other, in whom the reader has, no doubt, recognised one of Sir Richard Blunt's officers. "Could not for a moment think of it. Good day."
Before Todd could utter another remonstrance, he was out of the shop, and when he got about twelve paces off, he met Crotchet, who said—
"Well, what do yer bring it in now?"
"I must cut it. Todd is beginning to recollect me, and to think there is
something odd going on."
Mr. Crotchet gave a slight whistle, and then said—
"Wery good ; but did you leave a hindevidel in the shaving crib, to be done
for."
"Yes; but he said he was a private friend of Todd's."
"Good agin, that will do. He's safe enough, I dare say, and if he isn't, why he ought to be more petikler in a-dressing of his acquaintance. Do you know where the governor is?"
"No. I have not seen him; but will you tell him, Crotchet, why I think it's better for me to be scarce for a day or two?"
"To be sure, old fellow. You can go on some other day."
"Surely—surely."

CHAPTER LXI.

TODD RECEIVES SOME STARTLING INTELLIGENCE.

It took Todd, master as he was, or used to be, in the art of dissimulation, some few minutes to recover his composure, after the officer had left the shop, and during that time, the gentleman from Fogg's looked at him with the quiet sniggering kind of laugh so peculiar to him. Todd was evidently, day by day, losing that amount of nerve which had at one time formed his principal characteristic. It was getting, in fact, clear to himself that he was not near so well fitted for the business he was carrying on as he had been. Turning to the
man from Fogg's, he said, while he put on as bland a smile as he could—