The String of Pearls (1850), p. 287

was all, Mr. T., and I wouldn't give you any trouble for the world. I only hope we shall often meet in this quiet comfortable way, Mr. T. I always did respect you, for, as I often said to Fogg, of all the customers that come here, Mr. Todd for me. He takes things in an easy way, and if he is a thundering rogue, he is at all events a clever one."
"How kind!"
"No offence, I hope, Mr. Todd?"
"Offence, my dear fellow? Oh, dear me! How could you think of such a thing ? Offence, indeed! You cannot possibly offend me!"
"I'm rejoiced to hear you say so, Mr. T., I am really ; and this is&£8212;this is&£8212;
the&£8212;very best&£8212;ah&£8212;brandy that ever I&£8212;where are you going, Mr. T.?"
"Only to get the biscuits. They are in the cupboard behind you; but don't stir, I beg. You are not at all in the way."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite."
Todd stepped easily between Peter's chair and the wall, and opening another of the mysterious small cupboards, he laid his hand upon a hammer, with a long handle, that was upon the shelf.
"If this," said Peter, "was the last word I had to say in the world, I would swear to the goodness of the brandy."
As he uttered the words he turned his head sharply, and faced Todd. The hammer was upraised, and would, if he had not so turned, have descended with fatal effect upon the top of his head. As it was, Peter had only time to utter one shriek, when down it came upon the lower part of his face. The crush was hideous. The lower jaw fell crushed and mangled, and, with a frightful oath,
Todd again raised the hammer: but the victim closed with him, and face to face they grappled. The hammer was useless, and Todd cast it from him as he felt that he required all his strength to grapple with the man who, at that moment, fastened on him with the strength of madness. Over chair&£8212;over the table, to the destruction of all that was on it, they went, coiled up in each others embrace&£8212;dashing here and there with a vehemence that threatened destruction to them both, and yet not a word spoken. The frightful injury that Peter had received effectually prevented him from articulating, and Todd had nothing to say. Down! down they both come; but Todd is uppermost. Yes; he has got his victim upon the floor, and his knee is upon his chest! He drags him a few inches further towards the fire-place&£8212;inches were sufficient, and then grappling him by the throat, he lifts his head and dashes it against the sharp edge of an iron fender! Crash!&£8212;crash&£8212;crash! The man is dead! Crash again! That last crash was only an injury to a corpse! Once more Todd raised the now lax and smashed skull, but he let it go again. It fell with a heavy blow upon the floor!
"That will do," said Todd.
He slowly rose, and left his cravat in the hands of the dead man. He shook himself, and again that awful oath, which cannot be transcribed, came from his lips. Rap! rap! rap! Todd listened. What's that? Somebody in theshop?
Yes, it must be&£8212;or some one wanting to come in, rather, fos he nad taken the
precaution to make the outer door fast. Rap! rap! rap!
"I must go," said Todd. Stop.&£8212;Let me see."
He snatched a glass from the wall, and looked at himself. There was blood upon his face. With his hand, he hastily wiped it off, and then, walking as composedly as he could into the shop, he opened the door. A man stood upon the threshold with quite a smile upon his face, as he said&£8212;
"Busy, I suppose?"
"Yes, sir," said Todd. " I was just finishing off a gentleman. Shaved or dressed, sir?"
"Shaved, if you please. But don't let me hurry you, by any means, I can wait a little."