The Gift of the Sailor: The String of Pearls & Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

JOHN JEFFERY. She read it aloud to Ben, and then said— “Tt is from the gentleman who, I told you, Ben, had interested himself so much in the fate of poor Mark.” “Oh, ah,” said Ben. “Easy does it. Tell him, if he’d like to see the beasts at the Tower any time, only to ask for me.” “Yes, Ben.” “Well, my dear, I came by the barber’s, and what do you think?” Johanna shook her head. “Guess again.” “Spare me, Ben. If you have any news for me, pray tell me. Do not keep me in suspense.” Ben considered a little whether what he had to say was news or not; and then taking rather an enlarged view of the word, he added— “Yes, I have. Todd wants a pious boy.” “A what?” “A pious boy. He’s got a bill in his window to say that he wants a pious boy. What do you think of that, now? Did you ever hear of such a villain? Easy does it. And he came out, too, and wanted to ‘polish me off.’” “Oh, Ben.” “Oh, Johanna. Take things easy.” “T mean that you should be very careful indeed not to go into that man’s shop. Promise me that you will never do so.” “All’s right. Never be afeard, or you’d never tame the beasteses. If I was only to go into that fellow’s shop and fix a eye on him so —you’d see!” Ben fixed one of his eyes upon Johanna in such a manner, that she was glad to escape from its glare, which was quite gratifying to him (Ben), inasmuch as it was a kind of tacit acknowledgment of the extraordinary powers of his vision. “Easy does it,” he said. “All’s right. Do you mean to meet this colonel?” “Yes, Ben.” “All’s right. Only take care of yourself down Fleet Street, that’s all.” “T will, indeed.” “What do you say to taking me with you?” “Where, Ben?” “Why, where you go to meet the colonel, my dear.” “Personally, I should not entertain the smallest objection; but there is no danger in the transaction. I know that Colonel Jeffery is a man of honour, and that in meeting him upon such an occasion I am perfectly safe.” “Good again,” said Ben. “Easy does it. Hilloa! what’s that in the shop?” “Only my mother come home.” “Only? The deuce! Excuse me, my dear, I must be off. Somehow or another, your mother and I don’t agree, you see, and ever since I had that dreadful stomach ache one night here, it gives me a twinge to see her, so I’ Il be off. But remember—easy does it.” Q90OO0OOOO GOnMG oOo SS CO)