The String of Pearls (1850), p. 324

sudden upset of that chair, which prevented me from hearing if the piece of cat-gut I had fastened to the handle of the door had been moved, before I touched it or not. I will kill him him. That is safe. It is the only plan; I will kill all who is now in my way. All—all. Yes, I will, if needs be, wade up to my neck in blood to the accomplishment of my wishes."
Todd went to a cupboard and got out a large knife, such as is used by slaughtermen in the shambles, and hid it under the table cover, but in such a place that he could lay hold of it and draw it out in a moment.
"Charley," he cried, "Charley."
"Yes, sir."
"Step in here a moment; I want you, my boy."
"Shall I or shall I not," thought Johanna. "Is this danger, or only the appearance of it? Heaven direct me now! Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?"
"Charley? Are you coming, my boy?"
"Yes, sir, I—I am coming. God protect me!"
"The barber at home?" cried a voice at the door; and in another moment a man with a ruddy, jolly-looking countenance, made his appearance in the shop.
"Barber at home, eh? my little lad?"
"Yes—yes."
Johanna heard a bitter execration come from the lips of Todd; and then with quite a serene smile upon his face, as though he were in the most unruffled mood
possible, he made his appearance.
"Could you make me a wig?" said the man, taking off his hat, and showing that his hair was closely cropped.
"Certainly, sir. If you will sit down and aUow me to measure you head, I shall have great pleasure—Charley!"
"Yes, Sir."
"You can go to Lovett's, in Bell-yard, and get your dinner now. There's two-pence for you, my lad, and if you have not yet tasted Mrs. Lovett's pies, you will say when you do, that they are the most delicious things in the whole world of cookery."
"Shaved, if you please," said another man, walking into the shop, and pouncing down upon a chair as thought it were his own property. "Ah dear me, I'm
tired rather. Don't hurry yourself, Mr. Todd, I can wait while you are doing what you have to do for that gentleman."
"Charley," said Todd, with quite a sweet expression of face. "You need not go just yet, I want the hot water. See to it."
"Yes, sir."
Todd then, in the most careful and business-like manner, proceeded to take the measure of the gentleman's head for a "real head of hair," and when he had finished, he said—
"Now, sir, if you will leave it all to me, I will match your hair to a shade."
"Match it?"
"Yes, sir."
"But that's just what I don't want. I have had my hair all cut off, and am going to wear a wig, for the sole reason that I have got tired of the old colour."
"Well then, sir, what colour do you propose now?"
"A few shades lighter than my own. But pray shave this gentleman, and I will tell you how I wish it to look at my leisure."
The man took a seat and crossed one leg over the other with the most home sort of look in the world; and the one who had come in to be shaved plumped
into the shaving chair, and gave his chin a rub as though he would say "I don't care how soon you begin."
Todd smiled.
"Charley, the lather."
"Yes, sir. Here it is."

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