The String of Pearls (1850), p. 150

"'In a few days, then?'
"'Before next Sunday; because we can enjoy ourselves on that day without any restraint, or without any uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty about us.'
*******
"'I waited to hear no more: I had heard enough to tell me what I had to expect. I went back to my own room, and having put on my bonnet and shawl I went out to see the individual to whom I have alluded, and saw him. I then informed him of all that had taken place, and heard him exclaim against them in terms of rising indignation.
"'Come to me,' he said; 'come to me at once.'
"'Not at once.'
"'Don't stop a day.'
"'Hush!' said I, 'there's no danger; I will come the day after tomorrow; and then I will bid adieu to all these unhappy moments, to all these persecutions; and in three years' time I shall be able to demand my fortune, which will be yours.'
*******
"We were to meet the next day but one, early in the morning; there was not, in fact, to be more than thirty hours elapse before I was to leave home—if home I could call it—however, there was no time to be lost. 1 made up a small bundle and had all in readiness before I went to bed, and placed in security, intending to rise early, and let myself out and leave the house. That, however, was never to happen. While I slept, at a late hour of the night, I was awakened by two
men standing by my bedside, who desired me to get up and follow them. I refused, and they pulled me rudely out of bed. I called out for aid, and exclaimed against the barbarity of their proceedings.
"'It is useless to listen to her,' said my father, 'you know what a mad woman will say.'
"'Ay, we do,' replied the men, 'they are the cunningest devils we ever heard. We have seen enough of them to know that.'
"'To make the matter plain, I was seized, gagged, and thrust into a coach, and brought here, where I have remained ever since.'

CHAPTER XXIX.

TOBIAS'S RAPID JOURNEY TO LONDON.

There was something extremely touching in the tone, and apparently in the manner in which the poor persecuted one detailed the story of her wrongs, and she had a tribute of a willing tear from Tobias.
"'After the generous confidence you have had in me," he said, " I ought to tell you something of myself."
"'Do so," she replied, "we are companions in misfortune."
"We are indeed."
Tobias then related to her at large all about Sweeney Todd's villanies, and how at length he, Tobias had been placed where he was for the purpose of silencing his testimony of the evil and desperate practices of the barber. After that, he
related to her what he had overheard about the intention to murder him that very night, and he concluded by saying&—
"If you have any plan of escape from this horrible place, let me implore you to tell it to me, and let us put it into practice tonight, and if we fail, death is at any time preferable to continued existence here.
"'It is—it is—listen to me.'
"I will indeed," said Tobias: "you will say you never had such attention as I will now pay to you."