The String of Pearls (1850), p. 611

him, that's all; I'd make rather a tidy day's work then, I think. That would be a little better, sir, than the paste-pot, wouldn't it?"
"Rather," said Todd; "but he might be rather a dear bargain; for such a man, I should think, would not be very easily taken!"
"There's something in that, sir, as you say, but yet I would have a try. Five hundred pounds, you know, sir, is not to be picked up every day on the road-side."
"Certainly not! Is that Hampstead where the lights are, to the left, there?"
"Yes, right on. I live at west-end, and my way lays this way. Good night, sir!"
"Good night," said Todd. "I hope you may have the luck of meeting with this Todd, and so earning the five hundred pounds you mention; but I am afraid, after all , there is not much chance, for I heard he had gone down to the coast, and had got on board a vessel and was off by this time. That may not be true, though. Good night!"

CHAPTER CXLIII.
TODD TAKES A LOOK AT HIS OLD QUARTERS IN FLEET STREET.

The village of Hampstead was, at the time of which we write, really a village. It still retains many of its old houses and picturesque beauties, but it is not quite such a little retired spot as it was. If ever any one walked through Hampstead, however, who was less inclined than another to pause and speculate upon its beauties, certainly that man was our doubtful acquaintance, Sweeney Todd.
He did not think it quite prudent to stop in the High Street to solace himself with any worldly comforts, although he saw several public-houses very temptingly open, but passing right on, he descended Red Lion Hill, and paused at a little inn at the foot of it, that is to say, on the London side of the pretty village.
Brandy was Todd's request, and he was met by a prompt, "Yes, sir;" but Todd had, among his varied experiences, to find out what Hampstead brandy was, and the moment he placed a portion of it in his mouth, his eyes goggled furiously, and spitting it out, he said, m a voice of anger—
"This is some mistake."
"Mistake, sir?"
"Yes; I asked for brandy, and you have given me the rinsings of some bottles and dirty glasses."
"Oh, dear no, sir; that brandy is the very best that you will get in all Hampstead."
"The best in all Hampstead!" repeated Todd, with a groan; "what must the worst be, I wonder?"
"I assure you, sir, it is considered to be very good."
"Considered?'' said Todd. "Then, my friend, there's your money, and as the brandy is considered to be so good, you can drink it; but having some respect, from old companionship, for my inside, I decline it. Good evening. With these words, Todd laid a shilling upon the bar. and strode away.
"Well," said the publican, "how singular! that's the eighth person who has refused that one quartern of brandy and paid for it. Here, wife, put this back into the bottle again, and shake it up well."
Todd pursued his route down Haverstock Hill, until he came to the then straggling district of Camden Town, and there he did find a house at which he got just a tolerable glass of brandy, and feeling very much invigorated by the drop, he walked on more rapidly still; and a thought took possession of him, which, although it was perhaps not unattended with danger, might turn out to be a very felicitous one.

THE STRING OF PEARLS.

611

him, that's all ; I'd make rather a tidy day's work then, I think. That would
be a little better, sir, than the paste-pot, wouldn't it ?"

" Rather/ said Todd ; u but he might be rather a dear bargain ; for such a
man, I should think, would not be very easily taken !"

u There's something in that, sir, as you say, but yet I would have a try.
Five hundred pounds, you know, sir, is not to be picked up every day on the
road-side."

" Certainly not ! Is that Hampstead where the lights are, to the left, there V
" Yes, right on. I live at west-end, and my way lays this way. Good
night, sir ! 1

" Good night/' said Todd. " I hope you may have the luck of meeting with
this Todd, and so earning the five|hundred pounds you mention ; but I am afraid,
after all , there is not much chance, for I heard he had gone down to the coast,
and had got on board a vessel and was off by this time. That may not be true,
though. Good night !"

CHAPTER CXLIII.

TODD TAKES A LOOK AT HIS OLD QUARTERS IN FLEET STREET.

The village of Hampstead was, at the time of which we write, really a
village. It still retains many of its old houses and picturesque beauties, but it
is not quite such a little retired spot as it was. If ever any one walked through
Hampstead, however, who was less inclined than another to pause and speculate
upon its beauties, certainly that man was our doubtful acquaintance, Sweeney
Todd.

He did not think it quite prudent to stop in the High Street to solace himself
with any worldly comforts, although he saw several public-houses very tempt-
ingly open, but passing right on, he descended Red Lion Hill, and paused at a
little inn at the foot of it, that is to say, on the London side of the pretty
village:

Brandy was Todd's request, and he was met by a prompt, " Yes, sir y 9 but
Todd had, among his varied experiences, to find out what Hampstead brandy
was, and the moment he placed a portion of it in his mouth, his eyes goggled
furiously, and spitting it out, he said, m a voice of anger—

" This is some mistake/'

46 Mistake, sir V

* Yes ; I asked for brandy, and you have given me the rinsings of some

bottles and dirtv glasses/'
" Oh, dear no, sir ; that brandy is the very best that you will get in all

Hampstead."

"The best in all Hampstead i" repeated Todd, with a groan ; " what must

the worst be, I wonder ?'

" I assure you, sir, it is considered to be very good."

"Considered?'' said Todd. "Then, my friend, there's your money, and as
the brandy is considered to be so good, you can drink it; but having some
respect, from old companionship, for my inside, I decline it. Good evening.
With these words, Todd laid a shilling upon the bar. and strode away.
"Well," said the publican, "how singular! that's the eighth person who
has refused that one quartern of brandy and paid for it. Here, wife, put this
back into the bottle again, and shake it up well/' . ,

Todd pursued his route down Haverstock Hill, until he came to the then
strangling district of Camden Town, and there he did find a honse at which tie
got just a tolerable glaxs of brandy, and feeling very much invigorated by the
drop, he walked on more rapidly sal! ; and a thought took possession of him,
whch, although it was perhaps not unattended with danger, might turn out to
be a very felicitous one. ____ -