The String of Pearls (1850), p. 708

"I am very much obliged," said Todd.
"Oh, don't mention it. I always myself, mind, defer anything of that sort till the last. It's a very rough and ugly way of settling matters, at the best; but when you can't reasonably, you know, do anything else, why, you must, and there's an end of it."
"Exactly," said Todd, " I perceive that you are quite a philosopher in such transactions. So now that we have a better understanding together, the sooner we get on board this Lively William you talk of, the better."
"Not a doubt of that. Come up."
The horse's head was turned up the lane again, and in a very few moments the high road was gained, and they went on at a rapid trot for Gravesend. The town was soon reached—that town what is all dirt in winter, and chalk-dust in summer—and the two men, by the manner in which they kept their eyes upon Todd while they passed several throngs of people, showed that it was a very difficult thing indeed to get rid of suspicion when once it took possession of them.
After, however, getting right through the town, and finding that Todd did not attempt to give the least alarm, but, on the contrary, shrunk from observation as much as he could, their confidence in him was complete, and they really believed him to be what he pretended to be.
Whether, if those men had really known who and what he was, they would have altered their views with regard to him, is a matter difficult to give an opinion upon but as it was, they had no scruples whatever, provided he would pay them a good price for his passage to Havre.
"Now," said one of them, "we know that you have not deceived us, and that it is all right, we don't mind telling you that we are the captain and owner of the Lively William, and that we are in the regular smuggling trade, between the French Ports and this country. We don't make a bad thing of it, one way and another."
"I am glad to hear it," said Todd.
"Ah, you view this sort of thing in a christian-like spirit, we see; and if you have no objection to a drop of as pure champagne brandy as ever you tasted, provided you have tasted some of the best, you can have a drop."
"I should like it much," said Todd.
"Just look out ahead, then, and fix your eyes on that old tree yonder, while we get it."
Todd did not care to know what mode of hiding spirits the two men had in their cart: so he did as they required of him, and fixed his eyes upon the old tree. After he had kept his eyes upon that object for some few minutes, they called out to him—
"All's right."
Todd looked round, and found one of the men with a small bladder of spirits, and a little horn drinking-cup.
"Here," he said, "you can give us your opinion of this."
Todd tossed off the contents of the cup.
"Excellent!" he cried. "Excellent! That, indeed, is brandy. I do not think that such is to be got in London."
"Scarcely," said the man, as he helped himself, and then handed the bladder and the cup to his companion; "but we are going to put up our horse and cart now, and if you will be so good as to look at the old tree again, we will send the brandy away."
"Certainly," said Todd.
The brandy was soon, in some mysterious manner, disposed of, and then the cart was stopped at the door of a little country-looking inn, the landlord of which seemed to have a perfect understanding with the two men belonging to the Lively William.
"Now," said one of them to Todd, " as you have no objection to go on board at once, we will put you there."
"Objection?" cried Todd. "My objection is to remain on land. I beg that