The Gift of the Sailor: The String of Pearls & Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

“Come—come, at once.” “T must wait for the boy; I cannot leave the shop until the boy is here to mind it in my absence.—Oh, here he is.” At this moment, Johanna, who had not troubled herself to go to the market at all, came back. “Well, what is the exact time,” said Todd, “by St. Dunstan’s?” “A quarter-past eleven, sir.” “How very satisfactory. I am only going a little way with this lady, and will soon be back—You can keep up the fire, Charley, and in that corner you will find some religious tracts, which will I hope improve your mind. Above all things, my lad, never neglect your religious exercises. I hope you said your prayers last night, Charley?” “T did, sir,” said Johanna, and she said it with a look that added the query, “did you say yours?” Todd hesitated a moment, as though something were passing through his mind respecting Johanna, and then he muttered to himself —“There is time enough, yet.” No doubt he had begun to entertain serious suspicions of Master Charley, and in those few words was alluding to his intention of taking his life before the coming night. “Now, my dear Mrs. Lovett,” said Todd, as he put on his hat, and pressed it down unusually over his brows, “I am ready.” “And I,” she said. Todd only glanced round the shop, to be certain that he had left everything as he wished it, and he tried the parlour door. Then he at once stalked into Fleet Street, followed by Mrs. Lovett. “Tt will look better for you to take my arm,” he said. “T don’t care how it looks,” she replied. “All I want is my money. Do not touch me, or you will see good cause shortly to me having done so. Go on and I will follow you; but if you attempt to escape me, I will raise the street in pursuit of you, by screaming out that you are Todd the mur . “Hush—hush, woman. Do you know where you are?” “Yes, in the street, but I do not care. All I want is my money, and I will have it.” “Curses on you and your money too,” muttered Todd, as he crossed Fleet Street, and turned up Bridge Street at a rapid pace. He passed all the turnings leading to the city, and kept on his way towards the bridge. Mrs. Lovett followed him closely. “Stop!” she said. “Stop!” Todd stopped and turned about. He was mortally afraid that she would carry out some of her threats if he exhibited anything of a restive spirit towards her. “Whither are you going?” she said. “This is not the way to the City.” “Tt is by the Thames.” “By the Thames?” “Yes, I go by water; I do not wish to run the risk of meeting all sorts of people in the streets. I have not communicated to you that we are in great danger, but it is a fact. I do not now think that I shall get fairly off, but you will, if I am not interfered with before you get your money. By taking a boat at the stairs here by Blackfriars Bridge, we can be landed at a spot within about twenty yards of the banking-house, which will be by far the safer route.” Mrs. Lovett did not much fancy the river excursion; but she considered that after all there would be a waterman in the boat, and that the river at that time of the day was populous, so she thought that Todd dared not attempt anything. “Very well,” she said; “so that we are quick, I care not.” “T am to the full,” said Todd, “as anxious as you can be to get the job settled.” Mrs. Lovett thought that there was something ominous in the way in which he pronounced the word “job;” but then she thought perhaps she was too critical, and she followed him to the stairs by the side of the old bridge, certainly not without suspicions, but they were only general ones. The idea struck her, however, that she should be safer with two watermen, and she said— “We will have two men, and by so doing we shall go quicker down the stream.” “So we shall,” said Todd; “it is a good idea. Hilloa! first oars, here—first oars!” “Here you are, sir,” said a waterman. “We want a couple of you,” said Todd. “Yes, your honour. Here we are—me and my mate. All’s right, your honour. Now, Bill, look alive-—Mind the step, ma’am. That’s yer sort. Where to, your honour?” “To Pigs Quay.” “Ay, ay. Give way, Bill, give way. A nice day for the water, your honour; a fine fresh air, and not too much of it. Easy, Bill.” “Very,” said Todd, as he took his place beside Mrs. Lovett in the stern of the boat, which in a moment, propelled by the vigorous strokes of the two rowers, shot out into the middle of the stream. He whispered to Mrs. Lovett— “Now, how delightful it would be if you and I, with all our money, were going from England to-day!” “No.” “No? Why, I cannot conceive anything more pleasant. Ha! ha!” CORniclooo S CO)