The Gift of the Sailor: The String of Pearls & Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

certificate of her burial can be produced. You understand me?” “Certainly.” “Her death will be of little value to me, without the legal proof,” said the stranger; “so she must die at her own pleasure, or live while she can.” “Certainly,” said I. “But what terrifies me,” continued the stranger, “most is, her terror-stricken countenance, always staring us in our faces; and it arose from her being terrified; indeed I think if she were thoroughly frightened, she would fall dead. I am sure, if any wickedly- disposed person were to do so, death would no doubt result.” “Ah!” said I, “it would be a bad job; now tell me where I am to see you, and how about the particulars.” “Oh, I will tell you; now, can you be at the corner of Grosvenor Street, near Park Lane?” “Yes,” I replied, “I will.” “With a coach too. I wish you to have a coach, and one that you can depend upon, because there may be a little noise. I will try to avoid it, if possible, but we cannot always do what we desire; but you must have good horses.” “Now, I tell you what is my plan; that is, if you don’t mind the damages, if any happen.” “What are they?” “This:—suppose a horse falls, and is hurt, or an upset—would you stand the racket?” “T would, of course.” “Then listen to me; I have had more of these affairs than you have, no doubt. Well, then, I have had experience, which you have not. Now, I’ll get a trotting-horse, and a covered cart or chaise—one that will go along well at ten miles an hour, and no mistake about it.” “But will it hold enough?” “Yes, four or five or six, and, upon a push, I have known eight to cram in it; but then you know we were not particular how we were placed; but still it will hold as many as a hackney coach, only not so conveniently; but then we have nobody in the affair to drive us, and there can’t be too few.” “Well, that is perhaps best; but have you a man on whom you can depend?—because if you have, why, I would not be in the affair at all.” “You must,” said I; “in the first place, I can depend upon one man best; him I must leave here to mind the place; so if you can manage the girl, I will drive, and I know the road as well as the way to my own mouth—I would rather have as few in it as possible.” “Your precaution is very good, and I think I will try and so manage it, that there shall be only you and I acquainted with the transaction; at all events, should it become necessary, it will be time enough to let some other person into the secret at the moment their services are required. That, I think, will be the best arrangement that I can come to—what do you say?” “That will do very well—when we get her here, and when I have seen her a few days, I can tell what to do with her.” “Exactly; and now, good night—there is the money I promised, and now again, good night! I shall see you at the appointed time.” “You will,” said I—“one glass more, it will do you good, and keep the rain out.” He took off a glass of wine, and then pulled his hat over his face, and left the house. It was a dark, wet night, and the wind blew, and we heard the sound of his horse’s hoofs for some time; however, I shut the door and went in, thinking over in my own mind what would be the gain of my own exertions. eo e® @o Well, at the appointed hour, I borrowed a chaise cart, a covered one, with what you call a head to it, and I trotted to town in it. At the appointed time I was at the corner of Grosvenor Street; it was late, and yet I waited there an hour or more before I saw any one. I walked into a little house to get a glass of spirits to keep up the warmth of the body, and when I came out again, I saw some one standing at my horse’s head, I immediately went up. “Oh, you are here,” he said. “Yes I am,” said I, “I have been here the Lord knows how long. Are you ready?” “Yes, I am; come,” said he, as he got into the cart—“come to the place I shall tell you—I shall only get her into the cart, and you must do the rest.” “You’ll come back with me. I shall want help on the road, and I have no one with me.” “Yes, I will come with you, and manage the girl, but you must drive, and take all the casualties of the road, for I shall have enough to do to hold her and keep her from screaming when she does awake.” “What! is she asleep?” “T have given her a small dose of laudanum,* which will cause her to sleep comfortably for an hour or two, but the cold air and disturbance will most probably awaken her at first.” “Throw something over her, and keep her warm, and have something ready to thrust into her mouth, in case she takes to CORniclooo S CO)