The String of Pearls (1850), p. 479

But this must not meet Todd's eye. Ah! that footstep, I know it too well. He comes—he comes."
She had just hidden the letter, when Sweeney Todd made his appearance.
"Anybody been?" he asked.
"Yes, one man, but he would not wait."
"Ah, wanted to be shaved, I suppose; but no matter—no matter; and I hope you have been quiet, and not been attempting to indulge your curiosity in any way, since I have been gone. Hush! here's somebody coming. Why, it's old Mr. Wrankley, the tobacconist, I declare. Good-day to you, sir—shaved, I suppose? I'm glad you have come, sir, for I have been out till this moment. Hot water, Charley, directly, and hand me that razor."
Johanna, in handing Todd the razor, knocked the edge of it against the chair, and it being uncommonly sharp, cut a great slice of the wood off one of the arms of it.
"What shameful carelessness," said Todd; "I have half a mind to lay the strop over your back, sir; here you have spoilt a capital razor—not a bit of edge left upon it." "Oh, excuse him, Mr. Todd—excuse him," said the old gentleman; "he's only a little lad, after all. Let me intercede for him."
"Very good, sir; if you wish me to look over it, of course I will; and, thank God, we have a stock of razors, of course, always at hand. Is there any news stirring, sir?"
"Nothing that I know of, Mr. Todd, except it's the illness of Mr. Cummings, the overseer. They say he got home about twelve to his own house, in Chancery-lane, and ever since then he has been as sick as a dog, and all they can get him to say is, 'Oh, those pies—oh, those pies!'"
"Very odd, sir."
"Very. I think Mr. Cummings must be touched in the upper story, do you know, Mr. Todd. He's a very respectable man, but, between you and I, was never over bright."
"Certainly not, sir—certainly not. But it's a very odd case. What pies can he possibly mean, sir? Did you call when you came from home?"
"No. Ha, ha! I cant help laughing; but, ha, ha! I have come away from home on the sly, you see. The fact is, my wife's cousin—hilloa!—I think you have cut me."
"No, no—we can't cut anybody for three-halfpence, sir. I think I will just give you another lather, sir, before I polish you off. And so you have the pearls with you; well, how odd things come round, to be sure."
"What do you mean?"
"This shaving-brush is just in a good state now. Always as a shaving-brush is on the point of wearing out, it's the best. Charley, you will go at once to Mr. Cummings, and ask if he is any better; you need not hurry, that's a good lad. I am not at all angry with you now. And so, sir, they think at home that you have gone after some business over the water, do they, and have not the least idea that you have come to be shaved? There, be off, Charley—shut the door, that's a good lad, bless you."
* * * * * * *
When Johanna came back, the tobacconist was gone.
"Well," said Sweeney Todd, as he sharpened a razor very leisurely, "how is Mr. Cummings?"
"I found out his house, sir, with some difficulty, and they say he is better, having gone to sleep."
"Oh, very good! I am going to look over some accounts in the parlour, so don't choose to be disturbed, you understand ; and for the next ten minutes, if anybody comes, you will say I am out."
Sweeney Todd walked quite coolly into the parlour, and Johanna heard him lock the door on the inside; a strange, undefined sensation of terror crept over her, she knew not why , and she shuddered, as she looked around her. The