The String of Pearls (1850), p. 240

The magistrate took a draught, and then he handed it to the churchwarden, as he said---
"I'll fill it again."
"All's right."
The churchwarden took a pull at the brandy, and then the beadle was allowed
to finish it. They were both wonderfully recovered.
"Oh, Sir Richard," said the churchwarden, "what have you seen?"
"Nothing particular."
"Indeed!"
"No. You can have the stone replaced as soon as you like, over the opening
to the vaults."
"And you have seen nothing?" said the beadle.
"Nothing to speak of. If you have any doubts or any curiosity, you can easily satisfy yourself. There's the opening. Pray descend. You see I have escaped, so it cannot be very dangerous to do so. I will not myself go again, but I will wait for either of you, if you please. Now, gentlemen, go, and you will be able to make your own discoveries."
"Me?" cried the beadle. "Me? Oh, conwulsions! I thinks I sees me."
"Not I," said the churchwarden, "Cover it up---cover it up. I don't want
to go down. I would not do so for a thousand pounds."
A covert smile was upon the lips of Sir Richard Blunt as he heard this, and
he added---
"Very well; I have no objection, of course, to it's being at once covered up and I think the least that is said about it, will be the better."
"No doubt of that," said the churchwarden.
"conwulsions! yes," said the beadle. "If I was only quite sure as all my ribs was whole, I shouldn't mind; but somebody stood a-top of me for a good quarter of an hour, I'm sure."
Some of the workmen now began to arrive, and Sir Richard Blunt pointed to
them, as he said to the churchwarden----
"Then the stone can be replaced without any difficulty, now; and, sir, let me again caution you to say nothing about what has passed here to-day."
"Not a word---not a word. If you fancy somebody stood upon your ribs, Mr. Beadle, I am quite sure somebody did upon mine."
The workmen were now directed to replace the stone in its former position; and when that was completely done, and some mortar pressed into the crevices, I
Sir Richard Blunt gave a signal to Crotchet to follow him, and they both left
the church together.
"Now, Crotchet, understand me."
"I'll try," said Crotchet.
"No one, for the future, is to be shaved in Sweeney Todd's shop alone."
"Alone?"
"Yes. You will associate with King, Morgan, and Godfrey; I will stand all
necessary expenses, and one or the other of you will always follow whoever goes
into the shop, and there wait until he comes out again. Make what excuses you
like. Manage it how you will; but only remember, Todd is never again to have a customer all to himself."
"Humph!"
"Why do vou say humph?"
"Oh, nothing partickler; only hadn't we better grab him at once?"
"No; he has an accomplice or accomplices, and their discovery is most important. I don't like to do things by halves, Crotchet; and so long as I know that no mischief will result from a little delay, and it will not, if you obey my instructions, I think it better to wait."
"Very good."
"Go at once, then, and get your brother officers, and remember that nothing is to withdraw your and their attention from this piece of business."
"All's right. You know, Sir Richard, you have only to say what to be