The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

ae THE STRING OF PEARLS. CH APTER LIV. SIR RICHARD BLUNT S PROGRESS. We will now return, and see with what zeal Sir Richard Blunt and his active co-operators are at work, and how that persevering gentleman has taken the cause of humanity in hand, with a determined will to bring the atrocious crimi- nals to a just tribunal. Sir Richard and his men continued to pass and repass Todd’s window, and one or other had an eye upon the door, so that it was almost impossible for any one to go in without the officers seeing them; and as some one of the officers followed each customer into the shop, under some pre- tence, and did not return till the strangers had been shaved, it was impossible that he could continue his murderous trade. The barouet, however, could not continue to remain long in the vivinity of Todd’s shop* without exciting the suspicions of that crafty “demon in human form. Todd seemed very ill at ease, and his eye was more frequently at the hole which commanded a view of everything within range of his window, and in spite of the various guises the officers assumed, he seemed to take a more close survey of their features thau he had done when they had first visited his shop. It was rarely that his customers came in pairs, otherwise it would have continually prevented his schemes ; but now none came alone, each one had his companion or attendant. One morning, almost 4s soOn a8 the barber had opened his shutters, a seafaring man entered his shop in haste, and throwing himself on a chair, requested to be shaved immediately. He appeared to have but lately returned from India, or some other hot climate, for his features were well bronzed, and from his general aspect and conversation, he appeared to be a man of superior station in life. However, in this manner, the barber reasoned and came to the conclusion that he should have a good morning’s work if none of his tormentors came to avert his intentions. “* A fine morning, sir,” said Todd. “Very,” said the stranger; ‘‘ but make haste and accomplish your task; I have a payment to make to a merchant in the city this morning Ly nine o'clock, and it is now more than half-past eight.” “I will polish you off in no time,” said the barber, with a grin; ‘‘ then you can proceed and transact your business in good time. Sit a little nearer this way, sir, the chair will only stand firmly in one position, and it is exceed- ingly uncomfortable for gentlemen to remain, even for a few moments, on an un- steady chair.”’ Todd adjusted the chair, by dint of what appeared to the stranger to be a deal || Of unnecessary trouble, and he said— “« You seem remarkably anxious to put the chair in what you call a comfortable position, but we sailors are rather rough, therefore you need not make so much fuss about my comfort for so short a time, but proceed with the business.’ Todd seemed rather disconcerted at the stranger’s remarks, and could not un- derstand whether his words were uttered by chance, or imported more than Todd liked.’’ «‘It is a maxim of mine, sir,” said Todd, ‘‘to make everybody that comes to my shop as comfor'able as possible during the short time they remain with me. One half-inch further this way, sir, and you will be in a better position.” As he spoke he drew the chair to the spot he wished it, which circumstance yl seemed to please him, for he looked around him, and indulged i in one of those hideous grins he executed just when he was on the point of committing some i diabolical act. The gurgling noise he made in his throat caused the seaman to give a sudden start, which Todd perceiving, saii— ~ : + eR SY senna - - ~< a . - — . - = ~: : - = 2 = = -- —— — -. ~ ba 4 << Re =: => 2 + — ~ — = ~ : ~ — s = i. = = ; 2 = ~ ~—————__—-— kl —_ / «Did you hear the noise my poor old cat made, sir? she often does so when strangers come in, sir.” « |¢ did not sound much like a cat; but if I had an animal that made such a oe comicbooks.com