The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 248: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= a Sei = Sas ay et a EO renal hr eS : ee een ne sme Sa a sagt 4 cine i ect CEE Bim a OT * Bensitcgitl ‘ eu eT 240 THE STRING OF PEARLS. oe cae oe Ss jai in es yar ela A The magistrate took a draught, and then he handed it to the churchwarden, as | he said— Tl fill itagain.”’ ‘¢ All’s right.” The churchwarden took a pull at the brandy, and then the beadle was allowed to finish it. They were both wonderfully recovered. ‘¢ch, Sir Richard,” said the churchwarden, ‘‘ what have you seen ?” ‘¢ Nothing particular.” ‘* Indeed!” “No. You can have the stone replaced as soon as you like, over the opening to the vaults.” : : “And you have seen nothing ?”” said the beadle. “ Nothing to speak of. If you have any doubts or any curiosity, you can easily satisfy yourself. There’s the opening. Pray descend. You seel have escaped, so it cannot be very dangerous to do so. I will not myself go again, but I will wa‘t for either of you, if you please. Now, gentlemen, go, and you will be able to make your own discoveries.”’ ‘“Me?” cried the beadle. ‘‘ Me? Oh, conwulsions! I thinks I sees me.” “Not I,” said the churchwarden, ‘Cover it up—ccover it up. I don’t want to go down. 1 would not do so for a thousand pounds.” A cov. rt smile was upon the lips of Sir Ricuard Blunt as he heard this, and he added -~- ‘“ Very well; I have no objection, of course, to it’s being at once covered up; and I think the least that is said about it, will be the better.’’ ‘- No doubt of that,” said the churchwarden. “Conwulsions! ves,” said the beadle. ‘If I was only quite sure as all my rbs was whole, I shouldn’t mind; but somebody stood a-top of me for a good quarter of an hour, |’m sure.” ; _ Some of the workmen now began to arrive, and Sir Richard Blunt pointed to them, as he said to the churchwarden-— . i* ‘Then the stone can be reslaced without any difficulty, pow; and,-sir, let me again caution you to say nothing about what has passed here to-day.” “Not a word—not a word. If you fancy somebody stood upon your ribs, Mr. Beadle, I am qui e sure somebody did upen mine.” The workmen were now directed to replace the stone in its former position ; atid when that was completely done, and some mortar pressed into the crevices, Sir Richard Blunt gave a signal to Crotchet to follow him, and they both left the church together. ‘ Now, Crotchet, understand me.” ‘* Til try,”’ said Crotchet. “No one, for the future, is to be shaved in Sweeney Todd's shop alone.” ** AJone ?’ 7 “Yes. You will associate with King, Morgan, and Godfrey ; I will stand all necessary expenses, and one or the other of you will always follow whoever goes in"o the shop, and there wait until he comes outagain. Make what excuses you like, Manage it how yeu will; but only reme.aber, Todd is never again to have a customer all to himself.” *Humph!” “Why do you say humph?”’ ‘Oh, nothing partick'er; only hadn’t we better grab him at once?” “No; he has an accomplice or accomplices, and their discovery is most important. I don’t like to do things by halves, Crotchet; and so long as } know | that no mischief will result from a little delay, and it will not, if you obey my instructions, | think it better to wait.” “Very good.” 7 7 “Go at once, then, and get your brother officers, and remember that nothing | is to withdraw your and their attention from this piece of business.” ‘““All’s right. You know, Sir Richard, you have only to say what’s to be =e } nis eS Win 4 + 4 ibs OH eouy | hie i th ee Che) og ae by 7) eae a ; By } | p| hea tei ' bi { | i} 1) Hi Me eta] } 4 ate) tia j pall Hy ie ; | Pal | Wh m ils aha ; feats bis ) i un tall a fi i u 5 Le eg PR t BAY) aa Al Baha ‘hh? bea St » Ge i ipl 4 ay j ela 84 + hae Ae Gel a aed HS shal jail > aha! Fai s.8 Ht ere ble yy 4 +} ete BLAM! ease Cb CRP YE | mpi 4 i hae Erinn § Py pa it i it Tin . ihe ye DRL x Bie ie ay a wel bh eit 4 it De h 2) Hh ae Ne ne i) i" i j mt) a ite ad on Rk GDad Tt! £ H Hib] hee ane a oN ob } 4 ih Pb ht ‘ ih chat b eB; Bei ies! or na Th) ari #4 : i ae F 4 et can AY . 1 ie tur F ut, » By ef Me be Hal i cps as : ' ha if i} wit ho Khe bi ian yf tae hee He pK Wey Wie j j Fe ee ee Te re er eee ee em ne. cceecen ids Sianeli ale a TG a comicbooks.com