The String of Pearls (1850), p. 42

"Now," he muttered, "for means to escape."
He waited a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow, and then he crossed the floor to the windows, which were open. They were the old-fashioned bay-windows, with the heavy ornamental work which some houses possessed, and overhung the low door-ways, and protected them from the weather.
"This will do," he said, as he looked down to the pavement—"this will do. I will try this descent, if I fall."
The people on the other side of the door were exerting all their force to break it open, and it had already given one or two ominous creaks, and a few minutes more would probably let them into the room. The streets were clear—no human being was moving about, and there were faint signs of the approach of morning.
He paused a moment to inhale the fresh air, and then he got outside of the window. By means of the sound oaken ornaments, he contrived to get down to
the drawing-room balcony, and then he soon got down into the street. As he walked slowly away, he could hear the crash of the door, and a slight cheer, as
they entered the room ; and he could imagine to himself the appearance of the faces of those who entered, when they found the bird had flown, and the room was
empty. Sweeney Todd had not far to go; he soon turned into Fleet-street, and made for his own house. He looked about him, but there were none near him; he was tired and exhausted, and right glad was he when he found himself at his own door. Then, stealthily he put the key into the door and slowly -entered the house.

CHAPTER IX.
JOHANNA AT HOME, AND THE REVOLUTION.

Johanna Oakley would not allow Colonel Jeffery to accompany her all the way home, and he, appreciating the scruples of the young girl, aid not press his attention upon her, but left her at the corner of Fore-street, after getting from her a half promise that she would meet him again on that day week, at
the same hour, in the Temple-gardens.
"I ask this of you, Johanna Oakley," he said, "because I have resolved to make all the exertion in my power to discover what has become of Mr. Thornhill, in whose fate I am sure I have succeeded in interesting you, although you care so little for the string of pearls which he has in trust for you."
"I do, indeed, care little for them," said Johanna, "so little, that it may be said to amount to nothing."
"But still they are yours, and you ought to have the option of disposing of them as you please. It is not well to despise such gifts of fortune; for if you can yourself do nothing with them, there are surely some others whom you may know, upon whom they would bestow great happiness."
"A string of pearls, great happiness?" said Johanna, inquiringly.
"Your mind is so occupied by your grief that you quite forget such strings are of great value. I have seen those pearls, Johanna, and can assure you that they are in themselves a fortune."
"I suppose," she said sadly, "it is too much for human nature to expect two blessings at once. I had the fond, warm heart that loved me without the fortune, that would have enabled us to live in comfort and affluence; and now, when that is perchance within my grasp, the heart, that was by far the more costly possession, and the richest jewel of them all, lies beneath the wave with its bright influences, and its glorious and romantic aspirations, quenched for ever."
"You will meet me then, as I request of you, to hear if I have any news for you?"

THE STEING OF PEARLS.

" Now," he muttered, " for means to escape/'

He waited a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow, and then he crossed the
floor to the windows, which were open. They were the old-fashioned bay-windows,
with the heavy ornamental work which some houses possessed, and overhung the
low door-ways, and protected them from the weather.

u This will do," he said, as he looked down to the pavement—" this will do. I
will try this descent, if I fall."

The people on the other side of the door were exerting all their force to break
it open, and it had already given one or two ominous creaks, and a few minutes
more would probably let them into the room. The streets were clear — no human
being was moving about, and there were faint signs of the approach of morning.
He paused a moment to inhale the fresh air, and then he got outside of the
1 window. By means of the sound oaken ornaments, he contrived to get down to
the drawing-room balcony, and then he soon got down into the street. As he
walked slowly away, he could hear the crash of the door, and a slight cheer, as
they entered the room ; and he could imagine to himself the appearance of the
faces of those who entered, when they found the bird had flown, and the room was
empty. Sweeney Todd had not far to go ; he soon turned into Meet-street, and
made for his own house. He looked about him, but there were none near him ;
he was tired and exhausted, and right glad was he when he found himself at his
own door. Then, stealthily he put the key into the door* and slowly -entered the
bouse.

CHAPTER IX.

JOHANNA AT HOME, AND THE KEBOLVTION.

Johanna Oakley would not allow Colonel Jeffery to accompany her all the
way home, and he, appreciating the scruples of the young girl, aid not press
his attention upon her, but left her at the corner of Fore-street, after getting
from her a half promise that she would meet him again on that day week, at
the same hour, in the Temple-gardens.

" I ask this of you, Johanna Oakley," he said, " because I have resolved to
make all the exertion in my power to discover what has become of Mr. Thornhill,
in whose fate I am sure 1 have succeeded in interesting you, although you care
so little for the string of pearls which he has in trust for you/'

**Ido, indeed, care little for them," said Johanna, " so little, that it may be
said to amount to nothing."

"But still they are yours, and you ought to have the option of disposing of
them as you please. It is not well to despise such gifts of fortune; for if you
can yourself do nothing with them, there are surely some others whom you may
know, upon whom they would bestow great happiness."

"A string of pearls, great happiness?" said Johanna, inquiringly.
" Your m»nd is so occupied by your grief that you quite forget such strings
are of great value. I have seen those pearls, Johanna, and can assure you that
*they are in themselves a fortune."

" I suppose," she said sadly, "it is too much for human nature to expect two
blessings at once. I had the fond, warm heart that loved me without the fortune,
that would have enabled us to live in comfort and affluence ; and now, when
that is perchance within my grasp, the heart, that was by far the more costly
possession, and the richest jewel of them all, lies beneath the wave witn
ita bright influences, and its glorious and romantic aspirations, quenched for

evor."

You will meet me then, as I request of you, to hear i£ I ha?e any news

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