Empty as the old room was in one respect it was full in another, and that was of a faint ancient smell of an indescribable nature. It was not very unpleasant; it was not the reverse; but it had one great peculiarity--to wit, that of exciting a desire on the part of a visitor to know what it was, till his or her eye rested upon the occupant of the tall armed Windsor chair, in which sat Jonadab Moredock, clerk and sexton of Duke's Hampton, when the idea came that the strange ancient odour must be that of decay. "Well, old chap, how are we this morning?" said the doctor cheerily. The red-eyed, yellow-skinned, withered old man placed his hands on the arms of his chair, raised himself an inch or two, gave his head a bob, and subsided again, as he shook his head. "Bad, doctor--mortal bad; and if you goes away again like that you'll find me dead and buried when back you comes." "Nonsense, Moredock; there are years upon years of good life in you yet." "Nay, doctor, nay," moaned the old fellow. "But I say yes. Why, you're only ninety." "Ninety-three, doctor--ninety-three, and 'most worn out." "Nonsense; there's a deal of work to be got out of you yet. Had your pipe?" "Pipe? No. How can a man have a pipe who has no tobacco?" "Ah well, never mind," said the doctor, "I've brought you some physic." "Then I won't take it," cried the old man angrily. "I won't take it, and I won't pay for it, not a penny." "Wait till you're asked," said the doctor drily, as he threw a packet of tobacco in the old fellow's lap. "There's your medicine. Now say you will not take it if you dare." The old man's red-rimmed eyes twinkled at the sight of the shredded-up weed, around which his hand closed like the claws of a hawk. Then rising slowly, he took down from the chimneypiece a curious-looking old tobacco-box, which seemed as if it had been hammered out of a piece of sheet lead, and began to stuff the tobacco in. "Where did you get that leaden box? Moredock?" said the visitor. "I--I made it," said the old man, with a furtive look. "Made it! I thought as much. Coffin lead, eh?" "Never you mind about that, doctor. I found the lead when I was digging." "And did you find that oak chest when you were digging, you old rascal?" "Nay, nay, nay, that's nowt to do wi' you, doctor. Physic's your business, and not bits o' furnitur' in people's houses." "Ah, well, we won't quarrel about that, Moredock; only I've taken a fancy to that old chest. I'll buy it of you." "Nay, you won't, doctor; it isn't for sale." "Then leave it to me in your will." "Nay, and I shan't do that. It's for my grandchild, Dalily, who's up yonder at the Rectory, you know--her as had the measles when she was seventeen." "Ah, yes, I know--the dark-eyed, rosy-cheeked hussy. Lucky girl to inherit that chest."