The String of Pearls (1850), p. 86

CHAPTER XIV.

THE GREAT CHANGE IN THE PROSPECTS OP SWEENEY TODD.

As Sweeney Todd's object, so far as regarded the money-lender having seen the carriage, was fully answered, he had no objection to enter the house, which he accordingly did at once, being preceded by John Mundel, who became each moment more and more impressed with the fact, as he considered it, that
his guest was some person of very great rank and importance in society. He
ushered him into a splendidly-furnished apartment, and after offering him refreshments, which Sweeney Todd politely declined, he waited with no small degree of impatience for his visitor to be more explicit with regard to the object of his visit.
"I should," said Sweeney Todd, " have myself accommodated the illustrious
lady with the sum of money she requires, but as 1 could not do so without incumbering some estates, she positively forbade me to think of it."
"Certainly," said Mr. Mundel, "she is a very illustrious lady, I presume?"
"Very illustrious indeed, but it must be a condition of this transaction, if you at
all enter into it, that you are not to inquire precisely who she is, nor are you to
inquire precisely who I am."
"It's not my usual way of conducting business, but if everything else be satisfactory, I shall not cavil at that."
"Very good ; by everything else being satisfactory, I presume you mean the security offered?"
"Why, yes, that is of great importance, my lord."
"I informed the illustrious lady, that, as the affair was to—be wrapped up something of a mystery, the security must be extremely ample."
"That's a very proper view to take of the matter, my lord.
"I wonder," thought John Mundel, "if he is a duke ; I'll call him "your grace" next time, and see it he objects to it."
"Therefore," continued Sweeney Todd, "the illustrious lady placed m my hands
security to a third greater amount than she required."
"Certainly, certainly, a very proper arrangement, your grace; may I ask the
nature of the proffered security?"
"Jewels."
"Highly satisfactory and unexceptionable security; they go into a small space,
and do not deteriorate in value."
"And if they do," said the barber, "deteriorate in value, it would make no difference to you, for the illustrious person's honour would be committed to your redemption."
"I don't doubt that, your grace, in the least; I merely made the remark incidentally, quite incidentally."
"Of course, of course; and I trust, before going further, that you are quite in
a position to enter into this subject."
"Certainly I am, and, I am proud to say, to any amount. Show me the money's worth, your grace, and I will show you the money—that's my way of doing business; and no one can say that John Mundel ever shrunk from a matter that was brought fairly before him, and that he considered worth his going into."
"It was by hearing such a character of you that I was induced to come to you. What do you think of that?"
Sweeney Todd took from his pocket, with a careless air, the string of pearls, and cast them down before the eyes of the money-lender, who took them up and
ran them rapidly through his fingers for a few seconds before he said—
"I thought there was but one string like this in the kingdom, and those belonged
to the Queen."
" Well," said Sweeney Todd.