The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

SI a i Ee _ uy am ae 90 THE STRING OF PEARLS, Liiievidadiiipian cihdiianihefipiitblildiane-iiacdndiiclctmeiaiatinited. FOE Se SaReac SENS Nee nen Eh woe rt “tO ERED cleanest of cloths. He gave a piece to the dog, who took it with a dejected air, and then crouched down at Sweeney Todd’s door again. Just then, as Tobias was about to enter the shop, he thought he heard from within, a strange shrieking sort of sound. On the impulse of the moment he recoiled a step or two, and then, from some other impulse, he dashed forward at | once, and entered the shop. The first object that presented itself to his attention, lying upon a side table, was a hat with a handsome gold-headed walking-cane lying across it. The arm-chair in which customers usually sat to be shaved was vacant, and Sweeney Todd’s face was just projected into the shop from the back parlour, and wearing a most singular and hideous expression. | | “Well, Tobias,” he said, as he advanced, rubbing his great hands together, “well, Tobias! so you could not resist the pie-shop ?”” _ : “How does he know?” thought Tobias, “Yes, sir, I have been to the pie- shop, but I didn’t stay a minute.” " x “Hark ye, Tobias! the only thing “can excuse in the way of delay upon an errand is, for you to get one of Mrs. Lovett’s pies; that £ can look over, so think no more about it. Are they not delicious, Tobias ?”’ “Yes, sir, they are; but some gentleman seems to have left his hat and ! stick.” _ absent for a short time ; and if any one comes, tel (Pane, . saeeiteuaunamnmmemnemmemeennremeen al a tte a Oe van a Yes,” said Sweeney Todd, “he has;’ and iifting the stick he struck Tobias — _ablow with it that felled him to the ground. ‘Lesson the second to Tobias | | Ragg, which teaches him to make no remarks about what does not concern | him. You may think what you like, Tobias Ragg, but you shall say only what _ T like. “ T won’t endure it,” cried the boy ; ‘I won’t be knocked about in this way, I | tell you, Sweeney Todd, I won’t.” “ You won’t! have you forgotten your mother ?”’ ve **You say you have a power over my mother ; but J don’t know what it is, and I cannot and will not btnes it; Pll leave you, and, come of it what may, I'll go to sea or anywhere rather than stay in such a place as this.” * Oh, you will, will you? Then, Tobias, you and I must come to some explana- | tion. I'll tell you what power I have over your mother, and then perhaps you will be satisfied. Last winter, when the frost had continued eighteen weeks, and _ you and your mother were starving, she was employed to clean out the chambers of a Mr. King, in the Temple, a cold-hearted, severe man, who never forgave any- thing in all his life, and never will.” **T remember,” said Tobias ; “‘ we were starving and owed a whole guinea for | rent; but mother borrowed it: and paid it, and after that got a situation where she now is.” Ah, you think so. The rent was paid; but, Tobias, my boy, a word in your _ ear—she took a silver candlestick from Mr. King’s chambers to pay it. I know it. Ian prove it. Think of that, Tobias, and be discreet.” “* Have mercy upon us,” said the boy ; “they would take her life !” “ Her life !" screamed Sweeney Todd; “ay, to be sure they would; they would hang her—hang her, I say ; and now mind, if you force me by any conduct of your own, to mention this thing, you are your mother’s executioner, I had _ better go and be deputy hangman at once, and turn her off.” ‘* Horrible, horrihle !”’ Oh, you don’t like that ? Indeed, that don’t suit you, Master Tobias? Be _ disereet then, and you have nothing to fear. Dojnot force me to show a power ' which will be as complete as it is terrific.” “1 will say nothing—I will think nothing.” Tis well ; now go and put that hat and stick in yonder cupboard. I shall be Vines 1 am called out, and shall not return for ‘an hour or perhaps longer, and mind you take good care of the shop.” | i cm rn a a i rm TS a Gyetl ah cE NS comicbooks.com