The Gift of the Sailor: The String of Pearls & Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

We have before stated that the three personages, consisting of the magistrate, big Ben the beef-eater, and Arabella Wilmot, walked to Fleet Street together from Bell Yard. Sir Richard Blunt shook his head at Arabella Wilmot, as he said— “Miss Wilmot, I cannot help saying that it would have been better in every respect, and possibly much more conducive to the safety of Miss Oakley, if you had gone home quietly, and not lingered about Fleet Street.” “T could not go, sir.” “But yet a consideration for Miss Oakley’s safety should have induced you to put that violence upon your own feelings.” “T felt that when once you, sir, had pledged yourself for her safety, that safe she was and that my weeping perchance in a doorway in Fleet Street could not be so important as to compromise her.” “T am fairly enough answered,” said Sir Richard Blunt, with a slight smile. “But what say you to coming with me to the Temple?” “The Temple?” Arabella cast a lingering look towards Todd’s shop, which Sir Richard at once translated, and replied to it by saying— “Fear nothing for your young friend. She knows she is protected; but even she does not know the extent to which she is so protected. I tell you, Miss Wilmot, that I pledge my own life for her safety—and that, although to all seeming she is in the power of Todd, such is not the case.” “Indeed?” “T have a force of no less than twenty-five men in Fleet Street now—one half of whom have their eyes upon Todd’s shop. By Heaven! I would not have a hair of that young and noble girl’s head injured for the worth of this great kingdom!” “Bravo!” cried Ben, as he seized Sir Richard by the hand, and gave it a squeeze that nearly brought the tears into the eyes of the magistrate; “bravo! that’s what I like to hear. All’s right. Bless you, sir, easy does it. You are the man for my money!” “Will you both come with me, then?” “To be sure,” said Ben; “to be sure; and as we go along, I’Il tell you what a sad mistake I made about Miss Arabella here. You must know that I met her crying in Fleet Street, and she - Arabella shook her head, and frowned. “And—and—and—she—nothing.” “Well,” said Sir Richard, “I must confess I have heard anecdotes with a little more point to them.” “You don’t say so!” said Ben. “T think I will go home,” said Arabella, gently. “Tf you will,” replied the magistrate, “of course, I cannot say anything to stay you; but I think it will be a great disappointment to Colonel Jeffery not to meet with you to-day.” “Colonel Jeffery?” exclaimed Arabella, while her face became of the colour of a rose-bud; “Colonel Jeffery?” There was just the ghost of a smile upon the face of Sir Richard Blunt, as he calmly replied— “Yes; [am on my way to meet that gentleman in the garden of the Temple; and I am sure he would be glad to see you.” “Glad to see me?” “Yes, as so true a friend of Johanna’s, he will be more than glad; he will be delighted.” “Delighted?” “Do you doubt the Colonel’s friendly feeling towards you?” “Oh no—no. I—no—certainly not.” “Then let me beg of you to come.” “No. Not now; I will go home. It will look peculiar for me to go to the garden to meet him.” “Tt will look much more peculiar to refuse, I think, Miss Wilmot. You are with me, and with your old friend, and Johanna’s relative, Mr. ah—ah—” “They calls me Ben.” “Mr. Ben; and so you cannot refuse,” he said, “to go to meet Colonel Jeffery, you know. Come, come, I pray you come. Indeed, I know the Colonel wishes to speak to you; and as it would be obviously out of order for him to call upon you, I think you ought, seeing that you’re not alone, to give him, as a gentleman of wealth and honour, this opportunity of doing so.” “You say, he wishes to speak to me?” “He does, indeed. What do you say, Mr. Ben? Don’t you think Miss Wilmot might as well come with us?” “Easy does it,” said Ben, “and that’s my opinion all the world over.” “Then allow me to look upon it that we have prevailed with you, Miss Wilmot. Pray do me the favour to take my arm.” Arabella trembled, but she did take the arm of Sir Richard Blunt, and made no further opposition to proceeding to the Temple Gardens, where already such affecting interviews had taken place between the Colonel and poor Johanna. The gardens appeared to be empty when they reached it, but from behind some shrubs Colonel Jeffery in a moment made his appearance, for Sir Richard, in consequence of his meeting with Ben and Arabella, was considerably behind his time. Q9O9O0GOOO CORniclooo S CO)