Nothing was said either by himself, his host, or the few laborers who strayed into the tap-room, which could, in the slightest degree, excite the very small and very dull imaginative faculty which Isaac Scatchard possessed.
At a little after eleven the house was closed.

Isaac went round with the landlord and held the candle while the doors and lower windows were being secured.

He noticed with surprise the strength of the bolts and bars, and iron-sheathed shutters.
"You see, we are rather lonely here," said the landlord.

"We never have had any attempts made to break in yet, but it's always as well to be on the safe side.

When nobody is sleeping here, I am the only man in the house.