The String of Pearls (1850), p. 423

easily be imagined how he chafed and fumed over such a state of things. If any convenient mode of taking the life of Mrs. Lovett had but presented itself to him, how gladly he would have embraced it; but none did; and after enduring the present state of affairs for about a quarter of an hour, he coolly opened the parlour door and walked into the shop as if nothing were amiss.
Mrs. Lovett was not at all taken by surprise at this proceeding. She merely rose and took -a step towards the door, as she said, in a cool sarcastic tone—
"I am glad you have come home."
"Come home?" said Todd, with a well-acted look of surprise. "Come home? What do you mean, my dear madam? I am particularly glad to see you, and was particularly desirous to do so."
"Indeed!"
"Yes, to be sure. Really, do you know, I told the lad here, to deny me to anybody but you."
"And he made the slight mistake of denying you to me only."
"Is it possible?—Can such things be? Oh, you careless rascal. Upon my word, some employers would pull you ears—that they would. I'm ashamed of
you—that I am. Really, Mrs. Lovett, these boys are always annoying one in some way or another; but walk in, if you please—walk in, and we will soon
settle our little affairs."
"Excuse me," said Mrs. Lovett, "I prefer the shop, Mr. Todd."
"You don't say so?"
"You here me say so, and you might know by this time, that when I say anything—I mean it."
"Of course, Mrs. Lovett, of course," said Todd; "I know you for a lady of infinite powers of mind—of great susceptibility—of feeling—of uncommon intellect and thrift. Please to step into the parlour, and I will settle with you at once, for I believe you call for a small trifle that you are entitled to from me, Mrs. Lovett."
"I do call for what I am entitled to, and I will have it here."
"Charley, just go to St. Dunstan's, my lad, and bring me word the exact time; and then, you can do it all under one, you know, just walk down Fleet-market, and see if you can find any love-apples, and if so, you can ask the price of them, and let me know."
"Yes, sir," said Johanna.
In another moment she was gone. Mrs. Lovett took another step nearer to the door, and actually laid her hand upon it to prevent it closing thoroughly.
She did not think that she would be safe if it were shut; and then addressing Todd, she said—
"All disguise between you and I, is useless now, Todd. Give me my half of the money that has been earned by blood. It may have the curse of murder clinging to it, but I will have it—I say I will have it."
"Are you mad?"
"Not yet—not yet. But I shall be, and then it will be time for you to beware of me."
"Mrs. Lovett—Mrs. Lovett, is it not a melancholy thing, that you and I, who may be said to be at war with all the world, should begin to quarrel with each other? If we are not true to one another, what can we expect from others? Have we not for so long carried on our snug little business in safety, merely because we were good friends?"
"No, Todd, no. We never were friends—you know that as well as I do. It is a principal of human nature, that those who are associated together for wicked purposes are never friends. You and I have not been exceptions to the rule. We hate each other—we always did and will, you know it."
"Dear, dear!" said Todd, lifting up his hands, and approaching a step nearer to Mrs. Lovett. "This is afflicting—this is truly afflicting to hear such words from you, Mrs. Lovett."