The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

wo CEN NE \ bs sg eal become ST. Oa "set. \ Bik, pty ae AGS Ayan HE STRING OF PEARLS, “#8 <8 = @ eo “e sabia: : ‘ ee | magistrate— «© What 2”’ | & case.” indeed.” Crotchet.”’ suddenly — attention.’ || yer worship.” | | Sir Richard knew the little peculiarities of his visual organs. When he | had concluded his statement, Sir Richard said— ‘Well, Crotchet, what do you think of allthat? What does Sweeney Todd do with his customers ?” , | Mr. Crotchet gave a singular and peculiar kind of grin, as he said, still look- ing apparently out of the window, although his eyes were really fixed upon the ‘* He smugs “em.” | your worship know what I think. be of advantage in the matter. | Trust me, yer worship: I’lldo it, and no mistake. | easy for anybody now to go lounging ahout Fleet-street, without being taken much notice of; for the fact is, the whole place is agog about the horrid smell | as has been for never so long in the old church of St. Dunstan.” «¢ Smell— smell—in St. Dunstan’s church! «TI sincerely hope so.” Mr. Crotchet took his leave, and when he was alone the magistrate rose and paced his apartment for some time with rapid strides, as if he was much agitated by the reflections that were passing through his mind. At length he flung him- self into a chair with something like a groan, as he said— *‘A horrible idea forces itself upon my consideration—most horrible! most horrible ! most horrible ! be so: and yet what a hideous probability stares me in the face! I will go down 1 at once to St. Dunstan’s and see what they are’really about. | not get much sleep I think now, | A most horrible idea, truly ! The magistrate left some directions at home concerhing some business ‘calls. which he fully expected in the course of the next two hours, and then he put on . a plain, sad-coloured cloak and a hat destitute of all ornament, and left his house . witha rapid step. He took the most direct route towards St. Dunstan’s church, _ and finding the door of the sacred edifice yielded to the touch, he at once entered ‘Uses ’em up, yer worship ; it’s as clear to me as mud in a wine-glass, that itis. Lor’ bless you! I’ve been thinking he did that ’ere sort of thing a deuce | of a while, but I didn’t like to interfere too soon, you see.” «What do you advise, Crotchet? I knowl can trust to your sagacity in such «‘Why, your worship, 1’ll think it over a bit in the course of the day, and let It’s a awkward job rather, for a wariety of | reasons, but howsomdever there’s always a something to be done, and if we don't | do it, I’ll be hung if I know who can, that’s all!” | True, true, you are right there; and, perhaps, before you see me again, you l| will walk down Fleet-street, and see if youcan make any observations that will It is an affair which requires great caution | * Oh, Lor’ yes, it’s enough to pison the devil himself, Sir Richard ; and t’other | day when the blessed bishop went to ‘ firm a lot of people,’ he as good as told ’em they might all be damned first, afore he ‘ firm nobody in such a place.” | The magistrate was in adeep thought for afew minutes, and then he said | * Well, well, Crotchet, you turn the matter over in your mind and see what you can make of it; Iwill think it over. likewise. Do are with me at six this evening punctually ; I do not intend to let the matter rest, and you may depend, that from thismoment | will give it my greatest *f Wery good, yer worship ; wery good indeed; I’ll be here, and something seems to strike me uncommon forcible that we shall unearth this fox very ‘soon, Well, well, we shall see—we shall see. 1» Lor’ bless you, it’s I never heard of that before, you hear?—mind you It may not : Yes, yes, I shall | until some of these mysteries are developed. a er ae cel enna met ne ee a a a tt Se ee ee comicbooks.com |