The Gift of the Sailor: The String of Pearls & Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

he came to Sweeney Todd’s shop, and there he paused. Now we have previously remarked that there was one great peculiarity in the shop-window of Todd, and that was that the articles in it were so well arranged that some one always was in the way of obtaining any view from the outside into the establishment. Todd was therefore secure against the dangers arising from peeping and prying. Big Ben placed himself close to the window, and made an attempt, by flattening his nose against the panes of glass, to peep in; but it was all in vain. He could not obtain the smallest glimpse into the inside. “Confound it,” he cried, “what a cunning sort of animal this is, to be sure—he won’t let one peep through the bars of his cage, that he won’t.” Now Sweeney Todd became aware, by the additional darkness of his shop, that some one must be quite close to the window, and therefore, availing himself of a peep-hole that he had expressly for the purpose of reconnoitring the passing world without, he took a long look at Big Ben. It was some moments before Ben caught sight of a great eye in the window of Sweeney Todd glancing at him. This eye appeared as if it were set in the centre of a placard, which announced in glowing language the virtues of some condiment for the hair or the skin, and it had a most ferocious aspect. Big Ben looked fascinated and transfixed to the spot, and then he muttered to himself— “Well, if that’s his eye, it’s a rum ’un. howsomdever, it’s no use staying outside: I’Il pop in and get shaved, and then I shall be able to look about me. Who’s afraid?” As Ben turned round, he saw a plainly-attired man close to his elbow; but he took no notice of him, although from his close proximity to him it was quite impossible that the plain-looking man could have failed to overhear what Ben said. In another moment Big Ben was in Todd’s shop. “Shaved or dressed, sir?” said Todd. “Shaved,” said Ben, as he cast his eyes round the shop. “Looking for anything, sir?” said Todd. “Oh, no—nothing at all. Only a friend of mine, you see, said this was such a nice shop, you understand, to be shaved in.” “Was your friend finished off here, sir?” “Well, I rather think he was.” “Pray sit down. Fine weather, sir, for the season. Now, pussy, my dear, get out of the way of the hot water.” Todd was addressing an imaginary cat. “Are you fond of animals, sir? Lord bless me, I’m fond of all the world. God made us all, sir, from a creeping beetle to a beef-eater.” “Very likely,” said Big Ben, as he seated himself in the barber’s chair. “And so,” added Todd, as he mixed up a lather, and made the most horrible faces, “we ought to love each other in this world of care. How is your friend, sir, who was so kind as to recommend my shop?” “T should like to know.” “What, is he in eternity? Dear me!” “Well, I rather think he is.” “Was it the gentleman who was hung last Monday, sir?” “Confound you, no. But there’s somebody else who I think will be hung some Monday. I tell you what it is, Mr. Barber, my friend never got further than this infernal shop, so I’m come to enquire about him.” “What sort of man, sir?” said Todd, with the most imperturbable coolness. “What kind of man?” “Yes, sir. If you favour me with his description, perhaps I may be able to tell you something about him. By the bye, if you will excuse me for one moment, I’ll bring you something that a gentleman left here one day.” “What is it?” “T will satisfy you directly, sir, and I’m quite certain your mind will be at rest about your friend, sir, whoever he was. Remarkable weather, sir, for the time of year.” Todd had got only half way from the shop to the parlour, when the shop-door opened, and the plain-looking man walked in—the very same plain man who had stood so close to Big Ben at Todd’s window. “Shaved,” he said. Todd paused. “Tf, sir, you will call again in a few minutes, or if you have any call to make and can conveniently look in as you come back—” “No, [ll take a seat.” The plain-looking man sat down close to the door, and looked as calm and as unconcerned as any one possibly could. The look with which Todd regarded him for a moment, and only one moment, was truly horrible. He then quietly went into his back parlour. In a moment he entered with a common kid glove, and said to Ben— “Did this belong to your friend?—a gentleman left it here one day.” Ben shook his head. “T really don’t know,” he said. “Come, Mr. Barber, finish the shaving, for that gentleman is waiting.” Ben was duly shaved, while the plain-looking man sat quietly in the chair by the door, and when the operation was finished, Ben looked in Todd’s face, and said, solemnly— CORniclooo S CO)