CHAPTER XL.
CROTCHET ASTONISHES MR. TODD.
The key was soon procured, but it will be recollected that Crotchet had fastened the door rather too securely for it to be opened by any such ordinary implement as a key, and so disappointment was the portion of the shoemaker’s wife.
“Don’t you think, my love,” said the shoemaker, “that it will be just as well to leave this affair until the morning, before taking any further notice of it?”
“And pray, then, am I to sleep all night, if I don’t know the rights of it, I should like to know? Perhaps, if you can tell me that, you are a little wiser than I think you. Marry, come up!”
“Oh, well, I only—”
“You only! Then only don’t. That’s the only favour I ask of you, sir, is to only don’t.”
What extraordinary favour this was, the lady did not conde
