The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

a e em edipenesnteabeip ent erent nae. SO eg cee. men St eh ae ne TI NR ‘i oe ID mn if ee ee a A pt OA SE RE 263 THE STRING OF PEARLS. St cp tS Os NNN p/P SADA AG AI ELLAND een ot ae ae eee oe ; ee ae a ee “Oh! no—no. Iwillremain. For how long will it be?” «JT cannot say exactly, but the time may be counted by hours, and not one s hall be lost. Have but a little patience, and I will come to you again. When n ext you hear my voice at the erating, it will be to give the signal of liberty.” 7 «How can I thank you?” ‘Never mind that. Good night, and take care of yourself. All will be | well.” £. TD “Good night. Good night, CHAPTER LVII. BIG BEN MAKES A DISCOVERY. Av seven o’clock on the morning following these strange events, there were early prayers at St. Dunstan’s, and the bells called together the devout at half- past six. Todd was there! Is the reader surprised? Has he never yet in his mundane experience met with a case of sanctimonious villany? Does he think that going to prayer is incompatible with such a life as Todd’s? Pho—pho! Live and learn. “Todd met the beadle upon the steps of the church. «Ah, Mr. T.,” said that functionary. ‘“‘It does one good to see you, that ‘it does—a deal of good. I say that, of all the tradesmen in Fleet Street, you is the jousest.”’ oa We owe a duty to our creator,” said Todd, ‘‘ which all the pomps and vanities | of this world ought to make us neglect.” “Have you heard o’ the suicide in Norfolk Street?” Todd shook his head. ‘Why, the beetle of St. Clement's was asking of me only last night, what sort of man you was.” «6 I a “Yes, tobe sure. It’s a gentleman as you went to shave, and as you lent a razor to, as has cut his blessed throat in Norfolk Street.” “© God bless me,” said ‘Todd, “‘ you don’t mean that? Dear! dear! We are indeed here to-day and gone to-morrow. How true it is that flesh is grass ;—and so the gentleman cut his throat with my razor, did he ?” « Above a bit.” ‘Well, well, itis to be hoped that the Lord will be merciful to the little \ frailties of his creatures.” | ‘‘Conwulsions! Do you call that a little frailty.” Todd had passed on into the body of the church, and any minute observer might have noticed, that when he got there, there was a manifest and peculiar twitching of his nose, strongly resembling the evolutions of a certain ex-chan- cellor. Then, in a low tone to himself, Todd muttered— ‘ They make a great fuss about the smell in St. Dunstan’s, but I don’t think it is so very bad after all.” Perhaps one of Todd’s notions in going to early morning prayers was to satisfy himself upon the point of the stench in the church. The morning service was very short, so that Todd got back to his shop in ample time to open it for the business of the day. He gave a glance at the window, to be quite sure that the placard announcing the want of a pious lad was there, and then with all the calmness in the world he set about sharpening his razors. Not many minutes aint ere a man came in, leading by the hand a boy of about thirteen years of age. «© Mr. Todd,” he said, “‘ you want alad.” §225.8:08 “Ves.” —— ‘¢You don’t know me, but I am Cork, the greengrocer in the market.”’ 3." «© Oh,” said Todd. : “You see this is Fred, by the first Mrs. C., and the second Mrs. C. thinks he’d eT = SEE oe a comicbooks.com