The String of Pearls (1850), p. 82

or of that poor boy, his apprentice, who was so much to be pitied. He parted with Johanna near to her father's house, and he walked slowly away with his mind so fully impressed with the excellence and beauty of the spectacle-maker's daughter, that it was quite clear, as long as he lived, he would not be able to rid himself of the favourable impression she had made upon him.

"I love her,' he said, "I love her, but she seems in no respect willing to enchain her affections. Alas! alas! how sad it is for me, that the being who above all others I could wish to call my own, instead of being a joy to me, I have only encountered that she might impart a pang to my heart. Beautiful and excellent Johanna, I love you, but I can see that your own affections are withered for ever."

CHAPTER XVI.

THE BARBER MAKES ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SELL THE STRING OF PEARLS

It would seem as if Sweeney Todd, after his adventure in already trying to dispose of the string of pearls which he possessed, began to feel little doubtful
about his chances of success in that matter, for he waited patiently for a considerable period before he again made the attempt, and then he made it after a totally different fashion. Towards the close of night on that same evening when Johanna Oakley had met Colonel Jeffery, for the second time, in the Temple Garden, and while Tobias sat alone in the shop in his usual deep dejection, a stranger entered the place, with a large blue bag in his hand, and looked inquiringly about him.
"Hilloa, my lad!" said he, "is this Mr. Todd's?"
"Yes," said Tobias; "but he is not at home. What do you want?"
"Well, I'll be hanged," said the man, "if this don't beat everything; you don't mean to tell me he is a barber, do you?"
"Indeed I do; don't you see?"
"Yes, I see, to be sure; but I'd be shot if I thought of it beforehand. What
do you think he has been doing?"
"Doing," said Tobias, with animation; "do you think he will be hung?"'
"Why, no, I don't say it is a hanging matter, although you seem as if you
wished it was; but I'll just tell you now we are artists at the west-end of the
town."
"Artists! Do you mean to say you draw pictures?"
"No, no, we make clothes; but we call ourselves artists now, because tailors
are out of fashion."
"Oh, that's it, is it?"
"Yes, that's it; and you would scarcely believe it, but he came to our shop actually, and ordered a suit of clothes, which were to come to no less a sum than
thirty pounds, and told us to make them up in such a style that they were to do
for any nobleman? and he gave his name and address, as Mr. Todd, at this number in Fleet-street, but I hadn't the least idea that he was a barber; if I had, I am quire certain the clothes would not have been finished in the style they are, but quite the reverse."
"Well," said Tobias, " I can't think what he wants such clothing for, but I suppose it's all right. Was he a tall, ugly-looking fellow?"
"As ugly as the very devil. I'll just show you the things, as he is not at home. The coat is of the finest velvet, lined with silk, and trimmed with lace. Did you ever, in all your life, see such a coat for a barber?"
"Indeed, I never did; but it is some scheme of his, of course. It is a superb
coat."
"Yes, and all the rest of the dress is of the same style; what on earth he can be
going to do with it I can't think, for it's only fit to go to court in."