The String of Pearls (1850), p. 664

Todd knocked at the door.
It was answered by a woman of the true landlady species, who, upon hearing that it was the lodging Todd was after, was all smiles and sweetness immediately.
"I have come up from the country, madam," said Todd, "and my luggage is at an inn in Gracechurch Street. I intend to send for it in the morning; and as I am weary, if you can accommodate me with a lodging, as I have some business to transact for my son, the Deacon, in London, I shall be much obliged."
"Oh, dear, yes sir; walk in. We have every accommodation. The drawing-room floor, sir, at three guineas and a few extras."
"That will just do," said Todd. "Will you be so good as to show me the rooms, madam?"
Todd saw the rooms, and of course admired them very much; and then he said, in the blandest manner—
"I think the rooms very cheap, madam, and will take them at once, it you please. The reference I will give you, is to the Principal of Magdalen College, Oxford, the Reverend Peter Sly, madam. My own name is Bones, and my son is the Reverend Archdeacon Bones. I will pay you now a week in advance; and all I have to beg of you is, that you do yourself justice as to charges. I will lie down and rest for a few hours, if you please, madam."
"Oh, dear, sir! yes, certainly, Mr. Bones. I here shall be no noise to disturb you, and anything you want, if you will be so good as to ring for, I will supply you with the greatest pleasure."
"Thank you, madam."
Thus then was it that Todd secured himself what appeared to be a wonderfully safe asylum until night. He got into the bed with all his clothes on; for he did not know how sudden the emergency might be that might induce him to rise; and he soon fell into a deep sleep, for he had undergone the greatest fatigues of late.

CHAPTER CLVI.
SIR RICHARD BLUNT IS VERY NEAR TAKING HIS PRISONER.

We left the poor beadle in anything but a pleasant situation in the pulpit of St. Dunstan's Church.
Now it so happened that the beadle was particularly wanted at home; and as he did not make his appearance, his wife repaired to the church to search for him; but it was locked by Todd, who had swung the door shut after him, and as he had taken the key with him, she could not make her way into the sacred edifice.
As she stood at the door, however, she distinctly heard deep groans issuing from some one within the church; and in a state of great alarm, she ran off to one of the churchwardens, who had a duplicate key, and related what she had heard.
The churchwarden not being one of the most valorous of men, rather, upon the whole, declined to go into the church with no other escort than the beadle's wife; and as he, too, upon listenting at the key-hole, heard the groans distinctly, he called upon the passers-by to assist, and got together quickly enough about twenty people to go into the church with him.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I don't know what it is, but there's groans; and in these horrid times, when, for all we know, Sweeney Todd is about the neighbourhood, one can't be too cautious."
"Certainly," said everybody.
"Then, gentlemen, if we all go in together when I open the door, it will be the very best plan."
This was duly agreed to; and the churchwarden, with a trembling hand, turned his key in the lock, and opened the door. He then stepped aside, and let

664 THE STRING OF PEARLS .

Todd knocked at the door.

It was answered by a woman of the true landlady species, who, upon hearing
that it was the lodging Todd was after, was all smiles and sweetness immedi-
ately.

"I have come up from the country, madam," said Todd, " and my luggage is
at an inn in Gracechurch Street. I intend to send for it in the morning ; and as I
am weary, if you can accommodate me with a lodging, as I have some business
to transact for my son, the Deacon, in London, I shall be much obliged."

" Oh, dear, yes sir; walk in. We have every accommodation. The drawing-
room floor, sir, at three guineas and a few extras."

"That will just do," said Todd. "Will you be so good as to show me the
rooms, madam ?"

Todd saw the rooms, and of course admired them very much ; and then he said,
in the blandest manner—

"I think the rooms very cheap, madam, and will take them at once, it you
please. The reference I will give you, is to the Principal of Magdalen College,
Oxford, the Reverend Peter Sly, madam. My own name is Bones, and my son
is the Reverend Archdeacon Bones. I will pay you now a week in advance;
and all I have to beg of you is, that you do yourself justice as to charges. I
will lie down and rest for a few hours, if you please, madam."

"Oh, dear, sir ! yes, certainly, Mr. Bones. I here shall be no noise to disturb
you, and anything you want, if you will be so good as to ring for, I will supply
you with the greatest pleasure."

" Thank you, madam."

Thus then was it that Todd secured himself what appeared to be a wonder-
fully safe asylum until night. He got into the bed with all his clothes on ; for
he did not know how sudden the emergency might be that might induce him to
rise ; and he soon fell into a deep sleep, for he had undergone the greatest fatigues
of late.

CHAPTER CLVI.

SIR RICHARD BLUNT IS VERY NEAR TAKING HIS PRISONER.

We left the poor beadle in anything but a pleasant situation in the pulpit of
St. Dunstan's Church.

Now it so happened that the beadle was particularly wanted at home ; and as
he did not make his appearance, his wife repaired to the church to search for
him ; but it was locked by Todd, who had swung the door shut after him, and
as he had taken the key with him, she could not make her way into the sacred
edifice.

As she stood at the door, however, she distinctly heard deep groans issuing
from some one within the church ; and in a state of great alarm, she ran off to
one of the churchwardens, who had a duplicate key, and related what she had
heard.

The churchwarden not being one of the most valorous of men, rather, upon
the whole, declined to go into the church with no other escort than the beadle's
wife ; and as he, too, upon listenting at the key-hole, heard the groans distinctly,
he called upon the passers-by to assist, and got together quickly enough about
twenty people to go into the church with him.

" Gentlemen, " he said, "I don't know what it is, but there's groans ; and
in these horrid times, when, for all we know, Sweeney Todd is about the neigh-
bourhood, one can't be too cautious."

"Certainly," said everybody.

" Then, gentlemen, if we all go in together when I open the door, it will be
the very best plan."

This was duly agreed to ; and the churchwarden, with a trembling hand,
turned his key in the lock, and opened the door. He then stepped aside, and let