 CHAPTER 6 THE CONFERENCE AND THE FEARFUL NERATION IN THE GARDEN The temple clock struck the hour of meeting, and Joanna looked anxiously around her for anyone who should seem to bear the appearance of being such a person, as she might suppose Mark in jestry would choose for his messenger. She turned her eyes towards the gate, for she thought she heard it close, and then she saw a gentlemanly-looking man, a tired in a cloak, and who was looking about him apparently in search of someone. In his eye fell upon her, he immediately produced from beneath his cloak a white rose, and in another minute they met. I have the honor, he said, of speaking to Miss Joanna Oakley. Yes, sir, and you are Mark in jestry's messenger? I am, that is to say, I am he who comes to bring you news of Mark in jestry, although I grieve to say I am not the messenger that was expressly deputed by him to do so. Sir, your looks are sad and serious. You seem as if you would announce that some misfortune had occurred. Tell me that it is not so, speak to me at once, or my heart will break. Compose yourself, lady, I pray you. I cannot dare not do so, unless you tell me he lives. Tell me that Mark in jestry lives, and then I shall be all patience. Tell me that, and you shall not hear a murmur from me. Speak the word at once, at once. It is cruel, believe me, to keep me in this suspense. This is one of the saddest errands I ever came upon, said the stranger, as he led Joanna to his seat. Recollect, lady, what creatures of accident and chance we are. Recollect how the slightest circumstances will affect us in driving us to the confines of despair, and remember by how frail a tenure the best of us whole existence. No more, no more, shriek Joanna, as she clasped her hands. I know all now, and I am desolate. She let her face drop upon her hands, and shook as with a conversion of grief. Mark, Mark, she cried, you have gone from me, I thought not this, I thought not this. Oh heaven, why have I lived so long as to have the capacity to listen to such fearful tidings? Lost, lost, all lost, God of heaven, what a wilderness the world is now to me. Let me pray you, lady, to subdue this passion of grief, and listen truly to what I shall unfold to you. There is much to hear, and much to speculate upon, and if from all that I have learnt I cannot dare not tell you that Mark industry lives, I likewise shrink from telling you he is no more. Speak again, say those words again. There is a hope then, oh, there is hope, there is a hope, and better it is that your mind should receive the first shock of the probability of the death of him whom you have so anxiously expected, and then afterwards from what I shall relate to you gather hope that it may not be so, then that from the first you should expect too much, and then have those expectations droodly destroyed. It is so, it is so, this is kind of you, and I cannot thank you as I ought, you will know that it is because I am in a state of too great affliction, so to do, and not from want of will, you will understand that, I am sure you will understand that. Take no excuses to me, believe me, I can fully appreciate all that you would say, and all that you must feel, I ought to tell you who I am, that you may have confidence in what I have to relate to you. My name is Jeffrey, and I am a colonel in the Indian Army. I am much beholden to you sir, but you bring with you a passport to my confidence in the name of Mark industry, which is at once sufficient. I live again in the hope that you have given me of his continued existence, and in that hope I will maintain a cheerful resignation that shall enable me to bear up against all you have to tell me, be that what it may, and with a feeling that through much suffering there may come joy at last. You shall find me very patient, extremely patient, so patient that you shall scarcely see the havoc that grief has already made here. She pressed her hands on her breast as she spoke, and looked in his face with such an expression of tearful melancholy that it was quite heart-rending to witness it, and he, although not used to the melting mood, was compelled to pause for a few moments here he could proceed in the task which he had set himself. I will be as brief, he said, as possible, consistent with stating all that is requisite for me to state, and I must commence by asking you, if you were aware under what circumstances Mark industry went abroad, I am aware of so much that a quarrel with his uncle Mr. Grant was that great cause, and that his main endeavour was to better his fortunes, so that we might be happy and independent of those who looked not with an eye of favour on our projected union. Yes, but what I meant was, were you aware of the sort of adventure he embarked into the Indian seas? No, I know nothing further. We met here on this part, we parted at Yonder Gate, and we have never met again. Then I have something to tell you, in order to make the narrative clear and explicit, I shall listen to you with an attention so profound that you shall see how my whole soul is wrapped up in what you say. They both sat upon the garden seat, and while Joanna fixed her eyes upon her companion's face, expressive as it was of the most generous emotions and noble feelings, he commenced relating to her the incidents which never left her memory, and in which she took so deep an interest. You must know, he said, that what it was which so much inflamed the imagination of Mark Injustry consisted in this. They came to London a man with a well authenticated and extremely well put together report that there had been discovered in one of the small islands near the Indian seas, a river which deposited an enormous quantity of gold dust in its progress to the ocean. He told his story so well, and seemed to be such a perfect master of all the circumstances connected with it that there was scarcely room for a doubt upon the subject. The thing was kept quiet and secret, and a meeting was held of some influential men. Influential on account of the money they possessed, among whom was one who had towards Mark Injustry most friendly feelings. So Mark attended the meeting with this friend of his, although he felt his utter incapacity from want of resources to take any part in the affair. But he was not aware of what his friend's generous intentions were in the matter until they were explained to him, and they consisted in this. He, the friend, was to provide the necessary means for embarking in the adventure. So far as regarded taking a share in it, and he told Mark Injustry that if he would go personally on to the expedition, he would share in the proceeds with him, be they what they might. Now to a young man like Injustry, totally destitute of personal resources, but of ardent and enthusiastic temperament, you can imagine how extremely tempting such an offer was likely to be. He embraced it at once with the greatest pleasure, and from that moment he took an interest in the affair of the closest and most powerful description. It seized completely hold of his imagination, presenting itself to him in the most tempting colors, and from the description that has been given me of his enthusiastic disposition, I can well imagine with what kindness and impetuosity he would enter into such an affair. You know him well, said Joanna gently. No, I never saw him. All that I say concerning him is from the description of another who did know him well, and who sailed with him in the vessel that ultimately left the port of London on the vague and wild adventure I have mentioned. That one, be he who he may, must have known Mark Injustry well and have enjoyed much of his confidence to be able to describe him so accurately. I believe that such was the case, and it is from the lips of that one instead of mine that you ought to have heard what I am now relating. That gentleman whose name was Tharnhill ought to have made to you this communication, but by some strange accident it seems he has been prevented, or you would not be here listening to me upon a subject which would have come better from his lips. And he was to have come yesterday to me? He was. Then Mark Injustry kept his word, and but for the adverse circumstances which delayed his messenger I should have heard yesterday what you were now relating to me. I pray you go on, sir, and pardon the interruption. I need not trouble you with all the negotiations, the trouble and the difficulty that arose before the expedition could be started fairly. Suffice it to say that at length, after much annoyance and trouble, it was started and a vessel was duly chartered and manned for the purpose of proceeding to the Indian seas in search of the treasure, which was reported to be there for the first adventurer who had the boldness to seek it. It was a gallant vessel. I saw it sail many a mile from England, here it sunk beneath the waves, never to rise again. Sunk? Yes, it was an ill-fated ship, and it did sink, but I must not anticipate. Let me proceed in my narrative with regularity. The ship was called the Star, and if those who went with it looked upon it as the Star of their destiny, they were correct enough, and it might be considered an evil star for them. In as much as nothing but disappointment and bitterness became their ultimate portion. And Mark industry, I am told, was the most hopeful man on board. Already in imagination, he could fancy himself homeward bound with the vessel, ballasted and crammed with the rich produce of that shining river. Already he fancied what he could do with his abundant wealth, and I have not a doubt but that, in common with many who went on that adventure, he enjoyed to the full the spending of the wealth he should obtain in imagination, perhaps indeed more than if he had obtained it in reality. Among the adventurers was one Thornil, who had been a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and between him and the young industry there arose a remarkable friendship. A friendship so strong and powerful that there can be no doubt they communicated to each other all their hopes and fears, and if anything could materially tend to begill the tedium of such a very voyage as those adventurers had undertaken, it suddenly would be the free communication and confidential intercourse between two such kindred spirits as Thornil and Mark industry. You will bear in mind, Ms. Oakley, that in making this communication to you, I am putting together what I myself heard at different times so as to make it for you a distinct narrative which you can have no difficulty in comprehending, because as I before stated I never saw Mark industry, and it was only once for about five minutes that I saw the vessel in which he went upon his perilous adventure. For perilous it turned out to be to the Indian seas. It was from Thornil I got my information during the many weary and monotonous hours consumed in a homeward voyage from India. It appears that without accident or cross of any description the star reached the Indian ocean, and the supposed immediate locality of the spot where the treasure was to be found, and there she was spoken with by a vessel homeward bound from India called the Neptune. It was evening, and the sun had sunk in the horizon with some appearance that be tokened a storm. I was on board that Indian vessel, we did not expect anything serious, although we made every preparation for rough weather, and as it turned out it was well indeed we did, for never within the memory of the oldest seaman had such a storm ravished the coast. A furious gale, which it was impossible to withstand, drove us southward, and but for the utmost precautions aided by the courage and temerity on the part of the seaman such as I have never before witnessed in the merchant service. We escaped with trifling damage, but we were driven at least 200 miles out of our course, and instead of getting as we ought to have done to the Cape by a sudden time, we were an immense distance east of it. It was just as the storm which lasted three nights and two days began to abate that towards the horizon we saw a dull red light, and as it was not in a quarter of the sky where any such appearance might be imagined, nor where we in a latitude where electric phenomena might be expected, we steered towards it, surmising what turned out afterwards to be fully correct. It was a ship on fire, said Johanna. It was, Allah's, Allah's, I guessed it, a frightful suspicion from the first cross my mind. It was a ship on fire, and that ship was the star, still bound upon its adventurous course, although driven far out of it by adverse winds and waves. After about half an hour sailing, we came within sight distinctly of a blazing vessel. We could hear the roar of the flames, and through our glasses we could see them curling up the cordage and dancing from mast to mast like fury serpents, exerting in the destruction they were making. We made all sail and strained every inch of canvas to reach the ill-fated vessel for distances at sea that look small are in reality very great, and an hour's hard sailing in a fair wind with every stitch of canvas set would not do more than enable us to reach that ill-fated bark, but fancy in an hour what ravages the flames might make. Oh, the vessel was doomed! The fiat had gone forth, and that it was to be among the things that had been, and long before we could reach the spot upon which it floated, idly on the now comparatively calm waters we saw a bright shower of sparks rush up into the air. Then came a loud roaring sound over the surface of the deep, and all was still. The ship had disappeared, and the water had closed over her forever. But how knew you, said Joanna as she clasped her hands, and the pallid expression of her countenance betrayed the deep interest she took in the narration? How knew you that ship was the star? Might it not have been some other ill-fated vessel that met with so dreadful of fate? I will tell you, although we had seen the ship go down, we kept on our course straining every effort to reach the spot with the hope of picking up some of the crew who surely had made an effort by the boats to leave the burning vessel. The captain of the India man kept his glass at his eye, and presently he said to me, There is a floating piece of wreck and something clinging to it. I know not if there be a man, but what I can perceive seems to me to be the head of a dog. I looked through the glass myself, and saw the same object. But as we neared it, we found that it was a large piece of the wreck with a dog and a man supported by it, who were clinging with all the energy of desperation. In ten minutes more we had them on board the vessel. The man was the lieutenant tharnhill I have before mentioned, and the dog belonged to him. He related to us that the ship we had seen burning was a star, that it had never reached its destination, and that he believed all had perished but himself and the dog. For although one of the boats had been launched, so desperate a rush was made into it by the crew that it had swamped and all perished. Such was his own state of exhaustion that after he had made to us this short statement, it was some days before he left his hammock. But when he did, and began to mingle with us, we found an intelligent cheerful companion, such a one indeed as we were glad to have on board, and in confidence he related to the captain and myself the object of the voyage of the star, and the previous particulars with which I have made you acquainted. And then during a night watch when the soft and beautiful moonlight was more than usually inviting, and he and I were on the deck enjoying the coolness of the night after the intense heat of the day in the tropics, he said to me, I have a very sad mission to perform when I get to London. On board our vessel was a young man named Mark Injustry, and some time before the vessel in which we were went down, he begged of me to call upon a young lady named Joanna Oakley, the daughter of a spectacle maker in London, providing I should be saved, and he perished, and of the latter event he felt so strong a presentiment that he gave me a string of pearls, which I was to present to her in his name, but where he got them, I have not the least idea, for they are of immense value. Mr. Thornhill showed me the pearls, which were of different sizes, roughly strong together, but of great value, and when we reached the river Thames, which was only three days since, he left us with his dog, carrying his string of pearls with him to find out where you reside. Alas, he never came. No, from all the inquiries we can make, and all the information we can learn, it seems that he disappeared somewhere about Fleet Street. Disappeared? Yes, we can trace him to the temple stairs, and from thence to a barber's shop, kept by a man named Sweeney Todd, but beyond there no information of him can be obtained. Sweeney Todd? Yes, and what makes the affair more extraordinary is that neither force nor persuasion will induce Thornhill's dog to leave the place. I saw it. I saw the creature, and it looked imploringly, but kindly in my face, but little did I think when I paused a moment to look upon that melancholy but faithful animal that it held apart in my destiny. Oh, Mark Injustry! Mark Injustry, dare I hope that you live when all else have perished? I have told you all that I can tell you, and according, as your own judgment may dictate to you, you can encourage, hope, or extinguish it forever. I have kept back nothing from you which can make the affair worse or better. I have added nothing, but you have it simply as it was told to me. He is lost. He is lost. I am one, lady, who always thinks certainty of any sort preferable to suspense, and although while there is no positive news of death, the continuance of life ought fairly to be assumed. Yet you must perceive from a review of all the circumstances upon how very slender a foundation all your hopes must rest. I have no hope. I have no hope. He is lost to me forever. It were madness to think he lived. Oh, Mark! Mark! And is this the end of all our fond affection? Did I indeed look my last upon that face when on this part we parted? The uncertainty said Colonel Geoffrey, wishing to withdraw as much as possible from a consideration of our own sorrows. The uncertainty too, that prevails with regard to that fate of poor Mr. Thornhill, is a sad thing. I much fear that those precious pearls he had have been seen by someone who has not scrupled to obtain possession of them by his death. Yes, it would seem so indeed, but what are pearls to me? Oh! Would that they had sunk to the bottom of that Indian sea from whence they had been plucked? Alas! Alas! It has been their thirst for gain that has produced all these evils. We might have been poor here, but we should have been happy. Rich we ought to have been in contentment, but now all is lost, and the world to me can present nothing that is to be desired, but one small spot large enough to be my grave. She leaned upon the arm of the garden seat and gave herself up to such a passion of tears that Colonel Geoffrey felt he dared not interrupt her. There is something exceedingly sacred about real grief, which awes the beholder, and it was with an involuntary feeling of respect that Colonel Geoffrey stepped a few paces off, and waited until that burst of agony had passed away. It was during those few brief moments that he overheard some words uttered by one who seemed likewise to be suffering from that prolific source of all affliction, disappointed affection. Seated at some short distance was a maiden, and one not young enough to be called a youth, but still not far enough advanced in existence to have had all his better feelings crushed by an admixture with the cold world, and he was listening while the maiden spoke. It is the neglect, she said, which touched me to the heart, but one word spoken or written, one message of affection, to tell me that the memory of a love I thought would be eternal, still lingered in your heart, would have been a world of consolation, but it came not, and all was despair. Listen to me, said her companion, and if ever in this world you can believe that one who truly loves can be cruel to be kind, believe that I am that one. I yielded for a time to that fascination of a passion which should never have found a home within my heart, but yet it was far more of a sentiment than a passion, in as much as never for one moment did an evil thought mingle with its pure aspirations. It was a dream of joy which for a time obliterated a remembrance that ought never to have been forgotten, but when I was rudely awakened to the fact that those whose opinions were of more importance to your welfare and your happiness knew nothing of love, but in its grossest aspect, it became necessary at once to crush a feeling which, in its continuance, could shadow forth nothing but evil. You may not imagine, and you may never know, for I cannot tell the heart pangs it has caused me to persevere in a line of conduct which I felt was due to you, whatever heart pangs it might cost me. I have been content to imagine that your affection would turn to indifference per chance to hatred, that a consciousness of being slighted would arouse in your defense all a woman's pride, and that thus you would be lifted above regret. Farewell forever, I dare not love you honestly and truly, and better is it, thus to part, than to persevere in a delusive dream that can but terminate indigredation and sadness. Do you hear those words? Whispered Colonel Jeffrey to Joanna, you perceive that others suffer, and from the same cause, the perils of affection? I do, I will go home and pray for strength to maintain my heart against this sad affliction. The course of true love never yet ran smooth, wonder not, therefore, Joanna Oakley, that yours has suffered such a plight? It is the great curse of the highest and noblest feelings of which humanity is capable, that while under felicitous circumstances they produce an extraordinary amount of happiness, when anything adverse occurs they are most prolific sources of misery. Shall I accompany you? Joanna felt grateful for the support of the Colonel's arm towards her own home, and as they passed the barber's shop they were surprised to see that the dog and that hat were gone. It is night and a man, one of the most celebrated lapidaries in London, and yet a man frugal with all, although rich, is putting up the shutters of his shop. This lapidary is an old man, his scanty hair is white, and his hands shake as he secures the fastenings, and then over and over again feels and shakes each shutter to be assured that his shop is well secured. This shop of his is in Moorfields, then a place very much frequented by dealers in bullion and precious stones. He was about entering his door, just having cast a satisfied look upon the fastenings of his shop, when a tall and gainly-looking man stepped up to him. This man had a three-cornered hat, much too small for him, perched upon the top of his great, hideous-looking head, while the Coatty War had ample skirts enough to have made another of ordinary dimensions. Our readers will have no difficulty in recognising Sweeney Todd, and well might the little old lapidary start as such a very unprepossessing-looking personage addressed him. You deal, he said, in precious stones. Yes, I do, was the reply. But it's rather late. Do you want to buy or sell? To sell. Ah! I dare say it's something not in my line. The only order I get is for pearls, and they are not in the market. And I have nothing but pearls to sell, said Sweeney Todd. I mean to keep all my diamonds, my garnets, topazes, brilliance, emeralds, and rubies. The deuce you do. Why, you don't mean to say you have any of them? Be off with you. I am too old to jake with, and am waiting for my supper. Will you look at the pearls I have? Little seed-pearls, I suppose, they are of no value, and I don't want them. We have plenty of those. It's real, genuine, large pearls we want, pearls worth thousands. Will you look at mine? No. Good night. Very good. Then I will take them to Mr. Coventry up the street. He will, perhaps, deal with me for them if you cannot. The lapidery hesitated. Stop, he said. What's the use of going to Mr. Coventry? He has not the means of purchasing what I can present cash for. Come in, come in. I will at all events look at what you have for sale. Thus encouraged, Sweeney Todd entered the little low dusky shop, and the lapidery, having procured a light, and taken care to keep his customer outside the counter, put on his spectacles, and said, Now, sir, where are your pearls? There, said Sweeney Todd, as he laid a string of twenty-four pearls before the lapidery. The old man's eye opened to an enormous width, and he pushed his spectacles right up upon his forehead, as he glared in the face of Sweeney Todd with undisguised astonishment. Then down he pulled his spectacles again, and taking up the string of pearls, he rapidly examined every one of them, after which he exclaimed, Real, real by heaven, all real! Then he pushed his spectacles up again to the top of his head, and took another long stare at Sweeney Todd. I know they are real, said the latter. Will you deal with me, or will you not? Will I deal with you? Yes, I am quite sure that they are real. Let me look again. Oh, I see counterfeits, but so well done, that really, for the curiosity of the thing, I will give fifty pounds for them. I am fond of curiosity, said Sweeney Todd, and as they are not real, I'll keep them. They will do for a present to some child or other. What give those to a child you must be mad, that is to say, not mad, but certainly indiscreet, come now, at a word, I'll give you a hundred pounds for them. Hark ye, said Sweeney Todd, it neither suits my inclination nor my time to stand here chaffing with you. I know the value of the pearls, and as a matter of ordinary and everyday business, I will sell them to you so that you may get a handsome prophet. What do you call a handsome prophet? The pearls are worth twelve thousand pounds, and I will let you have them for ten. What do you think of that for an offer? What odd noise was that? Oh, it was only I who laughed. Come, what do you say, at once, are we to do business, or are we not? Hark ye, my friend, since you do know the value of your pearls, and this is to be a downright business transaction, I think I can find a customer who will give eleven thousand for them, and if so, I have no objection to give you eight thousand. Give me the eight thousand, said Sweeney Todd, and let me go, I hate bargaining. Stop a bit, there are some rather important things to consider. You must know, my friend, that a string of pearls of this value are not to be bought like a few ounces of old silver of anybody who might come with it, such a string of pearls as these are like a house or an estate, and when they change hands the vendor of them must give every satisfaction as to how he came by them, and prove how he can give to the purchaser a good right entitled to them. Said Sweeney Todd, who will question you? Who are well known to be in the trade, and to be continually dealing in such things? That's all very fine, but I don't see why I should give you the full value of an article without evidence as to how you came by it. In other words, you mean you don't care how I came by them, provided I sell them to you at a thief's price, but if I want their value you mean to be particular. My good sir, you may conclude what you like. Show me you have a right to dispose of the pearls, and you need go no further than my shop for a customer. I am not disposed to take that trouble, so I shall bid you good night, and when you want any pearls again I would certainly advise you not to be so wonderfully particular where you get them. Sweeney Todd strode towards the door, but the lapidery was not going to part with him so easy, for springing over his counter with an agility one would not have expected from so old a man, he was at the door in a moment, and shouted at the top of his lungs, Stop Thief! Stop Thief! Stop him! There he goes, the big fellow with the three-cornered hat. Stop Thief! Stop Thief! These cries uttered with great vehemence, as they were, could not be totally ineffective, but they roused the whole neighbourhood, and before Sweeney Todd had preceded many yards, a man made an attempt to collar him, but was repulsed by such a terrific blow in his face that another person, who had run half-way across the road with a similar object, turned and went back again, thinking it's scarcely prudent to risk his own safety in apprehending a criminal for the good of the public. Having thus got rid of one of his foes, Sweeney Todd, with an inward determination to come back some day and be the death of the old lapidery, looked anxiously about for some court down which he could plunge, and so get out of sight of the many pursuers who are sure to attack him in the public streets. His ignorance of the locality, however, was a great bar to such a proceeding, for the great dread he had was that he might get down some blind alley, and so be completely caged, and at the mercy of those who followed him. He pelted on at a tremendous speed, but it was quite astonishing to see how the little old lapidery ran after him, falling down every now and then, and never stopping to pick himself up, as people say, but rolling on and getting on his feet in some miraculous manner, there was quite wonderful to behold, particularly in one so aged, and so apparently unable to undertake any active exertion. There was one thing, however, he could not continue doing, and that was to cry stop thief, for he had lost his wind, and was quite incapable of uttering a word. How long he would have continued the chase's doubtful, but his career was suddenly put an end to, as regards that, by tripping his foot over a projecting stone in the pavement, and shooting headlong down a cellar which was open. But abler persons than the little old lapidery had taken up the chase, and Sweeney Todd was hard-pressed, and although he ran very fast, the provoking thing was, that in consequence of the cries and shouts of his pursuers, knew people took up the chase, who were fresh, and vigorous, and close to him. There is something awful in seeing a human being thus hunted by his fellows, and although we can have no sympathy with a man such as Sweeney Todd, because, from all that has happened, we begin to have some very horrible suspicions concerning him. Still, as a general principle, it does not decrease the fact that it is a dreadful thing to see a human being hunted through the streets. On he flew at the top of his speed, striking down whoever opposed him, until at last many who could have outrun him gave up the chase, not liking to encounter the knock-down blow which such a hand as his seemed capable of inflicting. His teeth were set, and his breathing came short and laborious, just as a man sprung out at a shop door, and succeeded in laying hold of him. I have got you, have I," he said. Sweeney Todd uttered not a word, but puffing forth an amount of strength that was perfectly prodigious, he seized the man by a great handful of his hair, and by his clothes behind, and flung him through the shop window, smashing glass, framework, and everything in his progress. The man gave a shriek for it was his own shop, and he was a dealer in fancy goods of the most flimsy texture, so that the smash with which he came down among his stock in trade produced at once what the haberdashes are so delighted with in the present day, a ruinous sacrifice. This occurrence had a great effect upon Sweeney Todd's pursuers, it taught them the practical wisdom of not interfering with a man possessed evidently of such tremendous powers of mischief, and consequently, as just about this period the defeat of the little lapidery took place, he got considerably the start of his pursuers. But he was by no means yet safe, the cry of stop thief still sounded in his ears, and on he flew, panting with the exertion he made, until he heard a man behind him say, turn into the second court on your right, and you'll be safe, I'll follow you, they shan't nab you if I can help it. Sweeney Todd had not much confidence in human nature, it was not likely he would, but panting and exhausted as he was, the voice of any one speaking in friendly accents was welcome, and rather impulsively than from reflection he darted down the second court to his right. CHAPTER VIII. THE THIEVES HOME. In a very few minutes Sweeney Todd found that this court had no thoroughfare, and therefore there was no outlet or escape. But he immediately concluded that something more was to be found than was at first sight to be seen, and casting a furtive glance beside him in the direction in which he had come, rested his hand upon a door which stood close by. The door gave way, and Sweeney Todd hearing as he imagined a noise in the street dashed in and closed the door, and then he, heedless of all consequences, walked to the end of a long dirty passage, and pushing open a door descended a short flight of steps to the bottom of which he had scarcely got, when the door which faced him at the bottom of the steps opened by some hand, and he suddenly found himself in the presence of a number of men seated round a large table. In an instant all eyes were turned towards Sweeney Todd, who was quite unprepared for such a scene, and for a minute he knew not what to say. But as indecision was not Sweeney Todd's characteristic he at once advanced to the table and sat down. There was some surprise evinced by the persons who were seated in that room, of whom there were many more than a score, and much talking was going on among them, which did not appear to seize on his entrance. Those who were near him looked hard at him, but nothing was said for some minutes, and Sweeney Todd looked about to understand, if he could, how he was placed, though it could not be much of a matter of doubt as to the character of the individuals present. Their looks were often an index to their vocations, for all grades of the worst of characters were there, and some of them were by no means complementary to human nature, for there were some of the most desperate characters that were to be found in London. They were dressed in various fashions, some after the manner of the city, some more gay, and some half-military, while not a few wore the garb of countrymen, but there was in all that an air of scampish, offhand behaviour not unmixed with brutality. Friend said one, who sat near him, How came you here? Are you known here? I came here because I found the door open, and I was told by someone to come here, and I was pursued. Pursued? Eh, someone running after me, you know. I know what being pursued is, replied the man, and yet I know nothing of you. So, that is not at all astonishing, said Sweeney, seeing that I never saw you before, nor you me, but that makes no difference. I am in difficulties, and I suppose a man may do his best to escape the consequences. Yes, he may, yet there is no reason why he should come here. This is the place for free friends who know and aid one another. And such I am willing to be, but at the same time I must have a beginning. I cannot be initiated without someone introducing me. I have sought protection, and I have found it. If there be any objection to my remaining here any longer, I will leave. No, no, said a tall man on the other side of the table. I have heard what you said, and we do not usually allow any such things. You have come here unasked, and now we must have a little explanation. Our own safety may demand it. At all events, we have our customs, and they must be complied with. And what are your customs, demanded Todd. This, you must answer the questions which we shall propound on to you. Now answer truly what we shall ask of you. Speak, said Todd, and I will answer all that you propose to me if possible. We will not tax you too hardly, depend upon it. Who are you? Candidly then, said Todd, that's a question I do not like to answer. Not do I think it is one that you ought to ask. It is an inconvenient thing to name oneself. You must pass by that inquiry. Shall we do so? Enquire the interrogator of those around him. And gathering his cue from their looks, he, after a brief pause, continued, Well, we will pass over that. Seeing it is not necessary. But you must tell us what you are. Cut purse, foot pad, or what not. I am neither. Then tell us in your own words, said the man, and be candid with us. What are you? I am an artificial pearl maker, or a sham pearl maker, whichever way you please to call it. A sham pearl maker? That may be an honest trade for all we know. And that will hardly be your passport to our house, friend. Sham pearl maker? That may be, as you say, replied Todd. But I will challenge any man to equal me in my calling. I have made pearls that would pass with almost a lapidary, and which would pass with nearly all the nobility. I begin to understand, you friend, but I would wish to have some proof of what you say. We may hear a very good tale, and yet none of it shall be true. We are not the men to be made dupes of. Besides, there are enough to take vengeance if we desire it. I, to be sure there is, said a gruff voice from the other end of the table, which was echoed from one to the other till it came to the top of the table. Proof, proof, proof, now resounded from one end of the room to the other. My friends, said Sweenitar, rising up, and advancing to the table, and thrusting his hand into his bosom, and drawing out the string of 24 pearls. I challenge you, or anyone, to make a set of artificial pearls equal to these. They are my make, and I will stand to it in any reasonable sum that you cannot bring a man who shall beat me in my calling. Just hand them to me, said the man who made himself interrogator. Sweenitar threw the pearls on the table carelessly, and then said, There, look at them well. They will bear it, and I recon, though there may be some good judges amongst you, that you cannot any of you tell them from real pearls if you had not been told so. Oh, yes, we know pretty well, said the man. What these things are, we have now, and then a good string in our possession, and that helps us to judge of them. Well, this is certainly a good imitation. Let me see it, said a fat man. I was bred a jeweler, and I might say born, only I couldn't stick to it. Nobody likes working for years upon little pay, and no fun with the gals. I say, hand it here. Well, said Todd, if you or anybody ever produced as good an imitation, I will swallow the whole string, and knowing there is poison in the composition, it would certainly not be a comfortable thing to think of. Certainly not, said the big man. Certainly not. But hand them over, and I'll tell you all about it. The pearls were given into his hands, and Sweeney Todd felt some misgivings about his precious charge, and yet he showed it not, for he turned to the man who sat beside him, saying, If he can tell true pearls from them, he knows more than I think he does, for I am a maker, and have often had the true pearl in my hand. And I suppose, said the man, you have tried your hand at puffing the one for the other, and so doing your confiding customers? Yes, yes, that is the dodge. I can see very well, said another man, winking at the first, and a good one too. I have known them to do so with diamonds. Yes, but never with pearls, however, there are some traits that it is desirable to know. You are right. The fat man now carefully examined the pearls, and set them down on the table, and looked hard at them. There now, I told you I could bother you. You are not so good a judge that you would not have known. If you had not been told, they were shampors. But what they were real? I must say, you have produced the best imitations I have ever seen. Why, you ought to make your fortune in a few years, a handsome fortune. So I should, but for one thing. And what is that? The difficulty, said Dodd, of getting rid of them. If you ask anything below their value, you are suspected, and you run the chance of being stopped, and losing them at the least, and perhaps entail a persecution. Very true, but there is risk in everything. We all run risks, but then the harvest. That may be, said Dodd, but this is peculiarly dangerous. I have not the means of getting introductions to the nobility themselves, and if I had, I should be doubted, for they would say a workman cannot come honestly by such valuable things, and then I must concord a tale to escape the mayor of London. Well then, you can take them to a goldsmith. There are not many of them who would do so. They would not deal in them. And moreover, I have been to one or two of them. As for lapidary, why he is not so easily cheated. Have you tried? I did, and had to make the best of my way out, pursued as quickly as they could run, and I thought at one time I must have been stopped, but a few lucky turns brought me clear, and when I was told to turn up this court, and I came in here. Well, said one man. Who had been examining the pearls, and did the lapidary find out they were not real? Yes, he did, and he wanted to stop me and the string all together, for trying to impose upon him. However, I made a rush at the door, which he tried to shut. But I was a stronger man, and here I am. It has been a close chance for you, said one. Yes, it has, replied Sweeney, taking up the string of pearls which he replaced in his clothes, and continued to converse with some of those around him. Things now subsided into their general course, and little notice was taken of Sweeney. There was some drink on the board of which all part took. Sweeney had some too, and took the precaution of emptying his pockets before them all, and gave a share of his money to pay their footing. This was policy, and they all ranked to his success, and were very good companions. Sweeney, however, was desirous of getting out as soon as he could, and more than once cast his eyes towards the door. But he saw there were eyes upon him, and dared not excite suspicion, for he might undo all that he had done. To lose the precious treasure he possessed would be maddening. He had succeeded to admiration in inducing the belief what he showed them was merely a counterfeit. But he knew so well that they were real, and that a latent feeling that they were humbugged might be hanging about, and that at the first suspicious movement he would be watched, and some desperate attempt would be made to make him give them up. It was with no small violence to his own feelings that he listened to their conversation, and appeared to take an interest in their proceedings. Well, said one, who sat next to him, I am just off for the North Road. Any fortune there? Not much, and yet I must not complain. These last three weeks the best I have had has been two sixties. Well, that would do very well. Yes, the last man I stopped was a regular lobby Londoner. He appeared like a dawn, complete tip-top man of fashion. But Lord, when I came to look over him, he hadn't as much as would carry me twenty-four miles on the road. Indeed, don't you think he had any hidden about him? They do so now. Aha! returned another. Well said, old fellow. It's a true remark that we can't always judge a man from appearances. Lord, bless me. Now, who that thought your swell cove proved to be out of luck? Well, I am sorry for you, but you know it's a long lane that has no turning, as Mr. Somebody says, so perhaps you will be more fortunate another time. But gum cheer up, will say, relate an adventure that occurred a little time ago. It was a slice of good luck, I assure you, for I had no difficulty in bouncing my victim out of a good swag of tin. For you know, farmers returning from market are not always too worry and careful, especially as the lots of wine they take at the market dinners make the cozy old boys ripe and mellow for sleep. Well, I met one of this jolly gentleman mounted on horseback who declared he had nothing but a few paltry guineas about him. However, that would not do. I searched him and found a hundred and four pounds secreted about his person. Where did you find it? About him. I tore his clothes to ribbons. A pretty figure he looked upon horseback. I assured you. By Jove, I could hardly help laughing at him. In fact, I did laugh at him, which so enraged him that he immediately threatened to horse whip me. And yet he dared not defend his money, but I threatened to shoot him. And that soon brought him to his senses. I should imagine so. Did you ever have a fight for it? Enquire Sweeney Todd. Yes, several times. Ah, it's by no means an easy life. You may depend. It is free, but dangerous. I have been fired at six or seven times. So many? Yes, I was near York once when I stopped a gentleman. I taught him an easy conquest, but not so he turned out, for he was a regular devil. Resisted you? Yes, he did. I was coming along when I met him and I demanded his money. I can keep it myself, he said, and do not want any assistance to take care of it. But I wanted, said I, your money or your life. You must have both, for we are not to be parted, he said, presenting his pistol at me. And then I had only time to escape from the effect of the shot. I struck the pistol up with my riding whip and the bullet passed by my temples and almost stunned me. I cocked and fired. He did the same, but I hit him and he fell. He fired, however, but missed me. I was down upon him. He begged hard for life. Did you give it to him? Yes, I dragged him to one side of the road and then left him. Having done so much, I mounted my horse and came away as fast as I could. And then I made for London and spent a merry day or two there. I can imagine you must enjoy your trips in the country, and then you must have still greater relish for the change when you come to London. The change is so great and so entire. So it is. But have you never any run of luck in your line? I should think you must at times succeed in tricking the public. Yes, yes, said Dodd. Now and then we, but I tell you it is only now and then. And I have been afraid of doing too much. To small sums I have been a gainer, but I want to do something grand. I tried it on, but at the same time I have failed. That is bad, but you may have more opportunities by and by. Luck is all chance. Yes, replied Dodd. That is true, but the sooner the better, for I am growing impatient. Conversation now went on, each man speaking of his exploits, which were always some species of rascality and robbery accompanied by violence generally. Some were midnight robbers and breakers into people's houses. In fact, all the crimes that could be imagined. This place was, in fact, a complete home or renderable for thieves, cut purses, highwaymen, footpaths and burglars of every grade and description. A formidable set of men of the most determined and desperate appearance. Sweeney Todd knew hardly how to rise and leave the place. Though it was now growing very late and he was most anxious to get safe out of the den he was in, but how to do that was a problem yet to be solved. What is the time, he muttered to the man next to him. Past midnight was the reply. Then I must leave here, he answered, for I have worked that I must be at in a very short time, and I shall not have too much time. So saying he watched his opportunity and rising walked up to the door, which he opened and went out. After that he walked up the five steps that led to the passage, and this latter had hardly been gained when the street door opened and another man came in at the same moment and met him face to face. What do you hear? I am going out, said Sweeney Todd. You are going back, come back with me. I will not, said Todd. You must be a better man than I am. If you make me do my best to resist your attack, if you intend to make one. That I do, replied the man, and he made a determined rush upon Sweeney, who was scarcely prepared for such a sudden onslaught, and was pushed back till he came to the head of the stairs, where a struggle took place and both rolled down the steps. The door was immediately thrown open and everyone rushed out to see what was the matter, but it was some moments before they could make it out. What does he do here, said the first, as soon as he could speak and pointing to Sweeney Todd. It's all right, all wrong, I say. He's a sham pearl maker and has shown us a string of sham pearls that are beautiful. I'll insist on seeing them, give them to me, he said, or you do not leave this place. I will not, said Sweeney. You must, here, help me. But I don't want help, I can do it by myself. As he spoke, he made a desperate attempt to call her Sweeney and pull him to the earth, but he had miscalculated his strength when he imagined that he was superior to Todd, who was by far the more powerful man of the two, and resisted the attack with success. Suddenly, by a Herculean effort, he caught his adversary below the waist and lifting him up, he threw him upon the floor with great force, and then, not wishing to see how the gang would take this, whether they would take the part of their companion or of himself, he knew not. He thought he had an advantage in the distance, and he rushed upstairs as fast as he could, and reached the door before they could overtake him to prevent him. Indeed, for more than a minute, they were irresolute what to do, but they were somehow prejudiced in favor of their companion, and they rushed up after Sweeney just as he got to the door. He would have had time to escape them, but by some means the door became fast, and he could not open it, exert himself how he would. There was no time to lose, they were coming to the head of the stairs, and Sweeney had hardly time to reach the stairs, to fly upwards, when he felt himself grasped by the throat. This he soon released himself from, for he struck the man who seized him, a heavy blow, and he fell backwards, and Todd found his way up to the first floor, but he was closely pursued. Here was another struggle, and again Sweeney Todd was the victor, but he was hard-pressed by those who followed him. Fortunately for him there was a mop left in a pail of water, this he seized hold of, and swinging it over his head, he brought it full on the head of the first man who came near him. Dab it came, soft and wet, and splashed over some others who were closed at hand. It is astonishing what an effect a new weapon will sometimes have. There was not a man among them who would not have faced danger in more ways than one. That would not have rushed headlong upon deadly and destructive weapons, but who were quite odd when a heavy wet mop was dashed into their faces. They were completely paralyzed for a moment. Indeed they began to look upon it something between a joke and a seers matter, and either would have been taken just as they might be termed. Get the pearls, shouted the man who had first stopped him. Seize the spy, seize him, secure him, rush at him. You are men enough to hold one man. Sweeney Todd saw matters were growing serious, and he plied his mop most vigorously upon those who were ascending, but they had become somewhat used to the mop, and it had lost much of its novelty, and was by no means a dangerous weapon. They rushed on despite the heavy blow shard by Sweeney, and he was compelled to give way stair after stair. The head of the mop came off, and then there remained but the handle, which formed an efficient weapon, and which made fearful havoc of the heads of the assolents. And despite all that their slouched hats could do in the way of protecting them, yet the staff came with a crushing effect. The best fight in the world cannot last forever, and Sweeney again found numbers were not to be resisted for long. Indeed he could not have physical energy enough to sustain his own efforts, supposing he had received no blows in return. He turned and fled as he was forced back to the landing, and then came to the next stair head, and again he made a desperate stand. This went on for stair after stair, and continued for more than two or three hours. There were moments of secession when they all stood still and looked at each other. Fire upon him, said one. No, no, we shall have the authorities down upon us, and then all will go wrong. I think we had much better have let it alone in the first place as he was in. For you may be sure this won't make him keep a secret. We shall all be split upon as here is fate. Well then, rush upon him, and down with him. Never let him out. Onto him, hurrah! Away they went, but they were resolutely met by the staff of Sweeney Todd, who had gained new strength by the short rest he had had. Down with the spy! This was shouted out by the men, but as each of them approached, they were struck down, and at length finding himself on the second floor landing, and being fearful that someone was descending from above, he rushed into one of the inner rooms. In an instant he had locked the doors, which was strong and powerful. 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. There were the old-fashioned bag windows, with the heavy ornamental work, which some house possessed, and overhung the low doorways, 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 mourning. 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 out into the street. As he walked 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, and there was 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. End of Chapter 8 Recording by Red Abriss, May 2008 Chapter 9 of The String of Pearls This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Red Abriss The String of Pearls Author Unknown Chapter 9 Joanna At Home and The Resolution Joanna Oakley would not allow Colonel Geoffrey to accompany her all the way home, and he appreciating the scribbles of the young girl did not press his attention on her, but left her at the corner of 4th Street after getting 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, Joanna 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 entrust for you. I do indeed care little for them, said Joanna, so little that it might 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 Joanna, inquiringly. Your mind is so occupied by your grief that you quite forget such strings are of great value. I have seen those pearls, Joanna, 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 hearted 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 most costly position, and the richest jewel of them all lies beneath the wave, with its bright influences and its glorious and romantic aspirations quenched forever. You will meet me then, as I request of you, to hear if I have any news for you. I will endeavour to do so. I have all the will, but heaven knows if I may have the power. What mean you, Joanna? I cannot tell what a week's anxiety may do. I know not, but that a sick bed may be my resting place, until I exchange it for the tomb. I feel even now my strength fail me, and I am scarcely able to otter to my home. Farewell, sir. I owe you my best thanks, as well for the trouble you have taken, as for the kindly manner in which you have detailed to me what has passed. Remember, said Colonel Geoffrey, that I bid you adieu, with the hope of meeting you again. It was thus departed, and Joanna proceeded to her father's house. Who now that had met her, and chanced not to see that sweet face, which could never be forgotten, would have supposed her to be the once gay and sprightly Joanna Oakley. Her steps were sad and solemn, and all the juvenile elasticity of her frame seemed to be gone. She seemed like one prepared for death, and she hoped that she would be able to glide, silently and unobserved, to her own little bed-chamber. That chamber where she had slept since she was a little child, and on the little couch on which she had so often laid down to sleep, that holy and calm slumber, which such hearts as hers can only know. But she was doomed to be disappointed, for the reverend Mr. Lupin was still there, and as Mrs. Oakley had placed before that pious individual a great assortment of creature comforts, and among the rest some mulled wine, which seemed particularly to agree with him, he showed no disposition to depart. It unfortunately happened that this mine of which the reverend gentleman partook with such a holy relish was kept in a cellar, and Mrs. Oakley had had occasion twice to go down to procure a fresh supply, and it was on a third journey for the same purpose that she encountered poor Joanna, who had just let herself in at the private door. Oh, you have come home, have you? said Mrs. Oakley. I wonder where you have been to? Calvanting. But I suppose I may wander long enough before you will tell me. Go into the parlour. I want to speak to you. Now poor Joanna had quite forgotten the very existence of Mr. Lupin. So rather than explain it to her mother, which would be get more questions, she wished to go to bed at once, notwithstanding it was an hour before the usual time for so doing. She walked unsuspectingly into the parlour, and as Mr. Lupin was sitting, the slightest movement of his chair closed the door, so she could not escape. Under any other circumstances, probably Joanna would have insisted upon leaving the apartment, but a glance at the countenance of the pious individual was quite sufficient to convince her he had been sacrificing sufficiently to back us to be capable of any amount of effrontery, so that she dreaded passing him more especially as he swayed his arms about, like the sales of a windmill. She thought at least that when her mother returned, she would rescue her, but in that hope she was mistaken, and Joanna had no more idea of the extent to which religious fanatism will carry its victim than she had of the manners and customs of the inhabitants of the moon. When Mrs. Oakley did return, she had some difficulty in getting into the apartment, in as much as Mr. Lupin's chair occupied so large a portion of it, but when she did obtain admission. And Joanna said, Mother, I beg of you to protect me against this man, and allow me a free passage from the apartment. Mrs. Oakley affected to lift up her hands in amazement as she said, How dare you speak so disrespectfully of a chosen vessel? How dare you, I say, do such a thing? It's enough to drive anyone mad to see young girls nowadays. Don't snub her. Don't snub the virgin, said Mr. Lupin. She don't know the honor yet that's intended her. She don't deserve it, said Mrs. Oakley. She don't deserve it. Never mind, Madam. Never mind. We don't get all what we deserve in this world. Take a drop of something, Mr. Lupin. You have got the hiccups. Yes, I rather think I have a little. Isn't it a shame that anybody so intimate with the Lord should have the hiccups? What a lot of lights you have got burning, Mrs. Oakley. A lot of lights, Mr. Lupin. Why? There's only one. But perhaps you allude to the lights of the Gospel. No, I don't just at present, damn the lights of the Gospel. That is, I mean, damn all backsliders. But there is a lot of lights and no mistake, Mrs. Oakley. Give us a drop of something. I am as dry as dust. There is some more mulled wine, Mr. Lupin, but I am surprised that you think there is more than one light. It's a miracle, Madam. In consequence of my great faith, I have faith in six lights. And here they are. Do you see that, Johanna? Exclaim, Mrs. Oakley. Are you not convinced now of the holiness of Mr. Lupin? I am convinced of his drunkenness, Mother, and entreat of you to let me leave the room at once. Tell her of the honor, said Mr. Lupin. Tell her of the honor. I don't know, Mr. Lupin. But don't you think it would be better to take some other opportunity? Very well, then. This is the opportunity. If it's your pleasure, Mr. Lupin, I will. You must know, then, Johanna, that Mr. Lupin has been kind enough to consent to save my soul on condition that you marry him. And I am quite sure you can have no reasonable objection. Indeed, I think it is the least you can do, whether you have any objection or not. Well put, said Mr. Lupin. Excellently well put. Mother, said Johanna, if you are so far gone in the superstition as to believe this miserable drunkard ought to come between you and heaven, I am not so lost as not to be able to reject the offer with more scorn and contempt than ever I thought I could have entertained for any human being. But hypocrisy never, to my mind, wears so disgusting a grab as when it attires itself in the outward show of religion. This conduct is unbearable, cried Mrs. Oakley. Am I to have one of the large saints insulted under my own roof? If he were ten times a saint mother, instead of being nothing but a miserable drunk and profligate, it would be better that he should be insulted ten times over than that you should permit your own child to have passed through the indignity of having to reject such a preposition as that which has just been made. I must claim the protection of my father, he will not suffer one, towards whom he has ever shown his affection, the remembrance of which sinks deep into my heart to meet with so cruel an insult beneath his roof. That's right, my dear, cried Mr. Oakley at that moment, pushing open the parlor door. That's right, my dear, you never spoke trueer words in your life. A faint scream came from Mrs. Oakley, and the reverend Mr. Lupin immediately seized upon the fresh jug of mulled wine and finished it at a draught. Get behind me, satan, he said. Mr. Oakley, you will be damned if you say a word to me. It's all the same then, said Mr. Oakley, for I'll be damned if I don't. Then, Ben, Ben, come, come in, Ben. I am coming, said a deep voice, and a man about six feet, four inches in height, and nearly two-thirds of that amount in width, entered the parlor. I am coming, Oakley, my boy, put on your blessed spectacles and tell me which is the fellow. I could have sworn, said Mrs. Oakley, as she gave the table a knock, with her fist. I could have sworn, sworn when you came in, Oakley. I could have sworn, you little snivelling, shriveled up wretch. You no more have dared to come into the parlor as never was with those words in your mouth, than you have dared to have flown if you hadn't had your cousin. Big Ben, the beef eater from the tower with you. Take it easy, ma'am, said Ben, as he sat down in a chair, which immediately broke all to pieces with his weight. Take it easy, ma'am. The devil, what's this? Never mind, Ben, said Mr. Oakley. It's only a chair. Get up. A chair, said Ben. Do you call that a chair? Never mind. Take it easy. Why, you big, bullying, idle, swyling and guffling ruffian? Go on, ma'am. Go on. You good for nothing, lump of carrion? A dog wears his own coat, but you wear your masters. You great, stupid, overgrown, lurking hound? You barish, brat up, wild beast? Go and mind your lions and elephants in the tower, and don't come into honest people's houses. You cutthroat, pulling pickpocketing wretch? Go on, ma'am. Go on. This was a kind of dialogue that could not last, and Mrs. Oakley sat down exhausted, and then Ben said, I tell you what, ma'am, I consider you. I looks upon you, ma'am. As a female variety of that, your animal eyes is very useful and sagacious, ma'am. There was no mistake in this illusion, and Mrs. Oakley was about to make some reply. When the reverend Mr. Lupin rose from his chair, saying, bless you all, I think I will go home. Not yet, Mr. Tulip said, Ben, you had better sit down again. We have got something to say to you. Young man, young man, let me pass. If you do not, you will endanger your soul. I ain't got none, said Ben. I'm only a bee-feater, and don't pretend to such luxuries that heathen, exclaimed Mrs. Oakley, the horrid heathen. But there's one consolation, and that is, that he will be fried in his own fat for everlasting. Oh, that's nothing, said Ben. I think I shall like it, especially if it's any pleasure to you. I suppose that's what you call a Christian consolation. Will you sit down, Mr. Tulip? My name ain't Tulip, but Lupin. But if you wished, I don't mind sitting down, of course. The bee-feater, the movement of his foot, kicked away the reverend gentleman's chair, and down he sat with a dab upon the floor. My dear, said Mr. Oakley to Joanna, you go to bed, and then your mother can't say you have anything to do with this affair. I intend to rid my house of this man. Good night, my dear. Good night. Joanna kissed her father on the cheek, and then left the room, not at all sorry that so vigorous a movement was being made for the suppression of Mr. Lupin. When she was gone, Mrs. Oakley spoke, saying, Mr. Lupin, I bid you good night. And of course, after the rough treatment of this wretches, I can hardly expect you to come again. Good night, Mr. Lupin. Good night. That's all very well, ma'am, said Ben. But before this year-wild beast of a person goes away, I want to admonish him. He don't seem to be wide awake, and I must rouse him up. Ben took hold of the reverend gentleman's nose, and gave it such an awful pinch that when he took his finger and thumb away, it was perfectly blue. Murder! Oh, murder! My nose! My nose! Freaked Mr. Lupin, and at that moment Mrs. Oakley, who was afraid to attack Ben, gave her husband such an open-handed whack on the side of his head that the little man reeled again, and saw a great many more lights than the reverend Mr. Lupin had done under the influence of the mulled wine. Very good, said Ben. Now we are getting into the thick of it. With this man took from his pocket a coil of rope, one end of which was a noose, and that he dexterously threw over Mrs. Oakley's head. Murder! She shrieked. Oakley, are you going to see me murder before your eyes? There is such a singing in my ears, said Mr. Oakley, that I can't see anything. This is the way, said Ben. We manage the wild bistices when they shot their ears to all sorts of argument. Now, ma'am, if you please, a little this way. Ben looked about until he found a strong hook in the wall, over which, in consequence of his great height, he was enabled to draw the rope. And then the other end of it, he tied securely to the leg of a heavy secretary that was in the room, so that Mrs. Oakley was well secured. Murder! She cried. Oakley, are you a man that you stand by and see me treated in this way by a big brute? I can't see anything, said Mr. Oakley. There is such a singing in my ears, I told you so before, I can't see anything. Now, ma'am, you may just say what you like. Said Ben. You don't matter a bit, any more than the grumbling of a bear with a sore head. And as for your Mr. Tulip, you will just get down on your knees and beg Mr. Oakley's pardon for coming and drinking his tea without his leave and having the infernal impudence to speak to his daughter. Don't do it, Mr. Lupin. Cried Mrs. Oakley. Don't do it. You hear, said Ben. What the lady advises? Now I am quite different. I advise you to do it, for if you don't, I shan't hurt you, but it strikes me I shall be obliged to fall on you and crush you. I think I will, said Mr. Lupin. The saints are always forced to yield to the Philistines. If you call me any names, said Ben. I'll just wring your neck. Young man, young man, let me exhort you. Allow me to go and I'll put a press for your conversion. Confound your impudence. What do you suppose the beasts in the tower do if I was converted? Why, that your tiger we have had lately would eat his own tail to think I had turned out such an ass. Come, I can't waste any more of my precious time and if you don't get down on your knees directly we'll see what we can do. I must, said Mr. Lupin. I must, I suppose, and down he plopped on his knees. Very good. Now repeat after me. I am a wolf that stole sheep's clothing. Yes, I am a wolf that stole sheep's clothing. The Lord forgive me. Perhaps he may and perhaps he may not. Now go on. All that's virtuous is my loathing. Oh dear, yes. All that's virtuous is my loathing. Mr. Oakley, I have offended. Yes, I am a miserable sinner. Mr. Oakley, I have offended. And ask his pardon on my bended. Oh dear, yes. I ask his pardon on my bended. The Lord have mercy on us miserable sinners. Knees, I won't do so more. Yes, knees, I won't do so more. As sure as I lie on this floor. Yes, as sure as I lie on this floor. Death and the devil, you have killed me. Ben took hold of the reverent gentleman by the back of the neck and pressed his head down upon the floor until his nose, which had before been such a sufferer, was nearly completely flattened with his face. Now you may go, said Ben. Mr. Lupin scrambled to his feet, but Ben followed him into the passage and did not yet let him go until he had accelerated his movements by two hurty kicks. And then the victorious beef eater returned to the parlor. Why, Ben, said Mr. Oakley, you are quite a poet. I believe you, Oakley, my boy, said Ben. And now let us be off and have a pint round the corner. What exclaimed Mrs. Oakley? And leave me here, you wretches. Yes, said Ben, unless you promise us never to be a female variety of the useful animal again, and begs pardon of Mr. Oakley for giving him all this trouble. As for me, I'll let you off cheap. You shall only have to give me a kiss and say you loves me. If I do, may I be damned, you mean? No, I don't. Choked, I was going to say, then you may be choked, for you have nothing to do but to let your legs go from under you, and you'll be hung as comfortable as possible. Come along, Oakley. Mr. Oakley, stop, stop, don't leave me here, I'm sorry. That's enough, said Mr. Oakley. And now, my dear, bear in mind one thing from me. I intend from this time forward to be master in my own house. If you and I are to live together, we must do so on very different terms to what we have been living. And if you won't make yourself agreeable, lawyer Hutchins tells me that I can turn you out and give you a maintenance. And in that case, I'll have home my sister Rachel to mind house for me. So now you know my determination, and what you have to expect. If you wish to begin, we'll do so at once, by getting something nice and tasty for Ben's supper. Mrs. Oakley made the required promise, and being released, she set about preparations for the supper in real earnest. But whether she was really subdued or not, we shall in due time see.