The String of Pearls (1850), p. 653

"Oh, sir," said Crotchet, with an expression of disgust in his face, "beadles is humbugs, sir; and this beadle of St. Dunstan's is the very worst of the worst of beadles. Didn't you notice, sir, what an old humbug he was before, when we was a-coming here on the hunt about Todd and that beautiful creature Mrs. Lovett? Then, sir, we found out what sort of a beadle that was. I rather think I despises beadles, sir; I does, your worship."
Tap came the knock at the church door again.
"You forget, Crotchet," said Sir Richard, pointing to the door.
"Lor, yer worship, so I did. I begs his blessed pardon whosomever it is. Come in. There's nobody but the right sort here, whoever it is. Hilloa! It's our friend, Green."
"Ah, Green, are you looking for me?" said Sir Richard,
"I was, sir."
"Then you have news. What is it?"
"Todd is in the neighbourhood, sir, or was an hour or two ago, I am well assured."
"Todd?"
"Yes, sir. He was in his own house. A man came to the door of it to see the person minding it, and the door was opened a little way, and Todd tried to pull him in, and would have pulled him in, but his neckcloth gave way, and then the fire broke out directly after. The man has been in too great a fright till just a little while ago to venture into the street again."
"You have seen him?"
"I have, sir."
"Bring him here, Green."
Green immediately left the church, and Mr. Crotchet set up a long and melancholy whistle.
"In my heart I thought this might be," said Sir Richard, "and yet having no evidence to justify the suggestion of my fancy, I did not liket to nurse the idea. Todd in this neighbourhood—Todd in his own house! Oh, what a chance!"
"Your worship," said Crotchet, shaking his head and speaking slowly, with an appearance of great wisdom. "Your worship, it's mostly always the case. There's a special providence that always brings back folks as has done a murder back again to the place where they has done it; and the next time I'm on the lay for a cove as has done a slaughtering job, I shall sit myself down, yer worship, in the room where he did it and wait for him. It's a special thing
of Providence, it is, sir, I feel as sure as though I did it myself, as isn't Providence at all, but just Crotchet, and no sort of mistake."
"You are right, Crotchet, as far as examples go. We will only just listen to what this man that Green has gone for has got to say, and then we will be off and do our best."
"Yes, yer worship, we will; and here he is."
Green, the officer, now brought into the church the very man with whom Todd had had the little adventure at the door of his shop; and notwithstanding the time that had elapsed since that little incident, the man was still in a state of terror, which was quite manifest in every feature of his face.
"Why, what's the matter with you?" said Crotchet, as he dealt the man a blow on the back that nearly took all his breath away. You look as scared as if you had just seen a ghost, old fellow, that you do."
"It was worse than a ghost."
Sir Richard Blunt stepped up to the man, and said—
"Do you know me? I am Sir Richard Blunt the magistrate."
"Oh, yes, sir, I know you."
"Answer me then, clearly and distinctly, for much may depend upon it. What was it opened the door of Todd's house for you, and strove, as 1 hear, to dr*g
you into it?"
"Sweeney Todd, sir."
"Are you quite sure? Do you know him well by sight?"