CHAPTER LIV.

SIR RICHARD BLUNT'S PROGRESS.

We will now return, and see with what zeal Sir Richard Blunt and his

active co-operators are at work, and how that persevering gentleman has

taken the cause of humanity in hand, with a determined will to bring the

atrocious criminals to a just tribunal. Sir Richard and his men

continued to pass and repass Todd's window, and one or other had an eye

upon the door, so that it was almost impossible for any one to go in

without the officers seeing them; and as some one of the officers

followed each customer into the shop, under some pretence, and did not

return till the strangers had been shaved, it was impossible that he

could continue his murderous trade. The barouet, however, could not

continue to remain long in the vicinity of Todd's shop without exciting

the suspicions of that crafty demon in human form. Todd seemed very ill

at ease, and his eye was more frequently at the hole which commanded a

view of everything within range of his window, and in spite of the

various guises the officers assumed, he seemed to take a more close

survey of their features than he had done when they had first visited

his shop. It was rarely that his customers came in pairs, otherwise it

would have continually prevented his schemes; but now none came alone,

each one had his companion or attendant. One morning, almost as soon as

the barber had opened his shutters, a seafaring man entered his shop in

haste, and throwing himself on a chair, requested to be shaved

immediately. He appeared to have but lately returned from India, or some

other hot climate, for his features were well bronzed, and from his

general aspect and conversation, he appeared to be a man of superior

station in life. However, in this manner, the barber reasoned and came

to the conclusion that he should have a good morning's work if none of

his tormentors came to avert his intentions.

"A fine morning, sir," said Todd.

"Very," said the stranger; "but make haste and accomplish your task; I

have a payment to make to a merchant in the city this morning by nine

o'clock, and it is now more than half-past eight."

"I will polish you off in no time," said the barber, with a grin; "then

you can proceed and transact your business in good time. Sit a little

nearer this way, sir, the chair will only stand firmly in one position,

and it is exceedingly uncomfortable for gentlemen to remain, even for a

few moments, on an unsteady chair."

Todd adjusted the chair, by dint of what appeared to the stranger to be

a deal of unnecessary trouble, and he said--

"You seem remarkably anxious to put the chair in what you call a

comfortable position, but we sailors are rather rough, therefore you

need not make so much fuss about my comfort for so short a time, but

proceed with the business."

Todd seemed rather disconcerted at the stranger's remarks, and could not

understand whether his words were uttered by chance, or imported more

than Todd liked.

"It is a maxim of mine, sir," said Todd, "to make everybody that comes

to my shop as comfortable as possible during the short time they remain

with me. One half-inch further this way, sir, and you will be in a

better position."

As he spoke he drew the chair to the spot he wished it, which

circumstance seemed to please him, for he looked around him, and

indulged in one of those hideous grins he executed just when he was on

the point of committing some diabolical act. The gurgling noise he made

in his throat caused the seaman to give a sudden start, which Todd

perceiving, said--

"Did you hear the noise my poor old cat made, sir? she often does so

when strangers come in, sir."

"It did not sound much like a cat; but if I had an animal that made such

a demoniacal noise, I should soon send her to rest. Every one to their

taste, though; I suppose you term the noise, that almost startled me,

agreeable."

"Yes, sir," said the barber; "I like to hear her, because I think she is

enjoying herself; and you know men and beasts require a something to

stimulate the system."

By this time the lather was over the seaman's face. He could not speak,

except at the imminent risk of swallowing a considerable quantity of the

soap that Todd had covered his face with. The barber seemed dexterously

to ply a razor on the seaman's face, which caused him to make wry faces,

indicating that the operation was painful; the grimaces grew more

fantastic to the beholder, but evidently less able to be withstood by

the person operated upon.

"Good God, barber," he at length ejaculated, "why the devil don't you

keep better materials?--I cannot stand this. The razor you are

attempting to shave me with has not been ground, I should think, for a

twelvemonth. Get another and finish me off, as you term it, in no time."

"Exactly, sir--I will get one more suited to your beard, and will return

in one minute, when you will be polished off to my satisfaction."

He entered the little parlour at the back of the shop, but previously he

took the precaution of putting his eye to the hole that gave a sight

into the street; turning round, apparently satisfied with his scrutiny,

he went in search of the superior razor he spoke of. A low grating

sound, like that of a ragged cord commencing the moving of pullies, was

to be heard, when Sir Richard Blunt threw the door open, and took a seat

in the shop near where the stranger was sitting. He was so disguised

that Todd could not recognise him as the same person that had been in

his shop so many times before. The barber's face was purple with rage

and disappointment; but he restrained it by an immense effort, and spoke

to Sir Richard in a tolerably calm tone--

"Hair cut, sir, or shaved, sir? I shall not be long before I have

finished this gentleman off--perhaps you would like to call in again in

a few minutes?"

"Thank you; I am not in a particular hurry, and being rather tired I

will rest myself in your shop, if you have no objection."

"My shop is but just open, and our ventilation being bad, it is much

more pleasant to inhale the street air for a few minutes, than the

vitiated air of houses in this neighbourhood."

"I am not much afraid of my health for a few minutes, therefore would

rather take rest."

Todd turned his face away and ground his teeth, when he found that all

his arguments were unavailing in moving the will of his new customer;

therefore he soon finished shaving the first customer.

"At your service, sir," said Todd to Sir Richard, who seemed absorbed in

reading a newspaper he took from his pocket. He looked up, and saw that

the stranger was nearly ready to leave, therefore he continued reading

till the stranger was in the act of passing out of the shop, when he

said--

"What time do the royal family pass through Temple-bar to the City this

morning?"

"Half-past nine," said Todd.

"Then I have not time to be shaved now--I will call in again. Good

morning." Saying which he also left the shop.

In a few minutes after leaving the shop of Todd, Sir Richard and the men

employed by him were in consultation; and he urged strongly that the men

should remain nearer to the shop than they had hitherto done, for if Sir

Richard had been two minutes later, most likely he who had escaped the

angry billows, would have been launched into eternity by the villanous

barber.

For the remainder of the day Todd was more closely besieged than ever,

and when night came on, Sir Richard Blunt, with two of his men, set

watch upon the house of Mrs. Lovett. Sir Richard had provided himself

with skeleton keys, candles, and other housebreaking implements, for the

purpose of entering Mrs. Lovett's house after that lady had retired, as

he had the full sanction of the law to use every means he could think of

in bringing the culprits to justice. About eleven o'clock Mrs. Lovett

was seen in her bedroom, with a candle in her hand, and making every

preparation for retiring; in a few minutes the light was put out, and

everything seemed still as death. Nothing was to be heard in the

adjoining streets but the monotonous tread of the watchmen, with an

occasional drawling forth of the hour of the night. This was the time

Sir Richard had waited for--it was the time for him to act. He

approached the street door and applied his implements with success, for

the door yielded to the baronet's tools, and he soon was in the shop of

the piemaker. As complete a silence reigned within as was maintained

without.

He waited for some time yet, though, before he moved. Finding, at

length, that all was profoundly still, and feeling quite convinced that

Mrs. Lovett had really retired for the night, the magistrate set about

procuring a light. By the aid of some chemical matches that he had with

him, this was soon accomplished, and a faint blue light shone upon the

various articles in the pie-shop of Mrs. Lovett. He then took a small

piece of wax taper from his pocket, and lit it. This gave him sufficient

light to enable him to distinguish with accuracy any object in the

place. Once again he listened, in order to be quite sure that Mrs.

Lovett was not stirring, and then, finding himself perfectly satisfied

upon that head, he fearlessly commenced an examination of the shop.

There was nothing to excite any very particular attention, except the

apparatus for lowering the platform upon which the pies were sent up

from the ovens below, and in a few moments the whole attention of Sir

Richard Blunt was concentrated upon that contrivance. He did not meddle

with it further, than looking at it sufficiently to fully comprehend it,

for he had other views just then. After, then, making himself quite

master of the details of that piece of machinery, he turned his whole

attention to the parlour. By the aid of a skeleton-key which he took

from his pocket, he opened the door with ease, and at once entered that

room, where lay the remains of the supper which Mrs. Lovett had so

liberally provided for Sweeney Todd. This parlour was rather a large

rambling-room, with a number of snug, handy looking cupboards in various

corners. It was towards those cupboards that Sir Richard Blunt directed

his attention. They were all locked, but with the means he had with him,

ordinary locks presented no impediment to the prosecution of his

research.