The String of Pearls (1850), p. 138

Sir Richard knew the little peculiarities of his visual organs. When he had concluded his statement, Sir Richard said-
"Well, Crotchet, what do you think of all that? What does Sweeney Todd do with his customers?'
Mr. Crotchet gave a singular and peculiar kind of grin, as he said, still looking apparently out of the window, although his eyes were really fixed upon the magistrate-
"He smugs 'em."
"What?"
"Uses 'em up, yer worship; it's as clear to me as mud in a wine-glass, that it is. Lor' bless you! I've been thinking he did that 'ere sort of thing a deuce of a while, but I didn't like to interfere too soon, you see."
"What do you advise, Crotchet? I know I can trust to your sagacity in such a case."
"Why, your worship, I'll think it over a bit in the course of the day, and let your worship know what I think. It's a awkward job rather, for a wariety of reasons, but howsomdever there's always a something to be done, and if we don't do it, I'll be hung if I know who can, that's all!"
"True, true, you are right there; and, perhaps, before you see me again, you will walk down Fleet-street, and see if you can make any observations that will be of advantage in the matter. It is an affair which requires great caution indeed."
"Trust me, yer worship: I'll do it, and no mistake. Lor' bless you, it's easy for anybody now to go lounging about Fleet-street, without being taken much notice of; for the fact is, the whole place is agog about the horrid smell as has been for never so long in the old church of St. Dunstan."
"Smell-smell-in St. Dunstan's church! I never heard of that before, Crotchet."
"Oh, Lor' yes, it's enough to pison the devil himself, Sir Richard; and t'other day when the blessed bishop went to 'firm a lot of people,' he as good as told 'em they might all be damned first, afore he 'firm nobody in such a place."
The magistrate was in a deep thought for a few minutes, and then he said suddenly-
"Well, well, Crotchet, you turn the matter over in your mind and see what you can make of it; I will think it over likewise. Do you hear?-mind you are with me at six this evening punctually; I do not intend to let the matter rest, and you may depend, that from this moment I will give it my greatest
attention."
"Wery good, yer worship; wery good indeed; I'll be here, and something seems to strike me uncommon forcible that we shall unearth this fox very soon, yer worship."
"I sincerely hope so."
Mr. Crotchet took his leave, and when he was alone the magistrate rose and paced his apartment for some time with rapid strides, as if he was much agitated by the reflections that were passing through his mind. At length he flung himself into a chair with something like a groan, as he said-
"A horrible idea forces itself upon my consideration-most horrible! most horrible! most horrible! Well, well, we shall see-we shall see. It may not be so: and yet what a hideous probability stares me in the face! I will go down at once to St. Dunstan's and see what they are really about. Yes, yes, I shall
not get much sleep I think now, until some of these mysteries are developed. A most horrible idea, truly!"
The magistrate left some directions at home concerning some business calls which he fully expected in the course of the next two hours, and then he put on a plain, sad-coloured cloak and a hat destitute of all ornament, and left his house with a rapid step. He took the most direct route towards St. Dunstan's church,
and finding the door of the sacred edifice yielded to the touch, he at once entered