"Augustus Snipes, sir, at your service. Brought home the clothes, sir. The full dress suit you were so good as to order to be ready to-day, sir."
"Oh, you are a tailor?"
"Oh, dear no, sir. We are not tailors now a days. We are artists."
"Curse you, whatever you are. I don't care. Some artist I'm afraid has done me out of ￡8000. Oh, dear. Put down the things. What do they come to?"
"Eighteen pounds ten shillings and threepence, sir."
John Mundell gave a deep groan2, and the tailor brushed past Todd to place the clothes upon a side table. As he returned he caught sight of Todd's face, and in an instant his face lighting3 up, he cried—
"Ah! how do? How do?"
"Eh!" said Todd.
"How did the Pompadour coloured coat and the velvet4 smalls do, eh?—Fit well? Lord, what a rum start for a barber to have a suit of clothes fit for a duke."
"Duke!" cried Mundell.
Todd lifted one of his huge feet and gave the "artist" a kick that sent him sprawling5 to the door of the room.
"That," he said, "will teach you to make game of a poor man with a large family, you scoundrel. What, you won't go, won't you? The—"
The artist shot out at the door like lightning, and flew down the stairs as though the devil himself was at his heels. Todd carefully closed the door again, and fastened it by a little bolt that was upon it. A strange expression was upon the countenance7 of John Mundell. His face looked perfectly8 convulsed, and he slowly rose from his chair. Todd placed one of his huge hands upon his breast and pushed him back again.
"What's the matter?" said Todd.
"He—he—knows you."
"Well."
"The Pompadour coloured coat! Ah, I recollect9 the Pompadour coloured coat, too. I thought I knew your face. There was a something, too, about your voice that haunted me like the remembrance of a dream. You—you—are—"
"What?"
"Help—help! Tell me if I be mad, or if you are a duke in the disguise of a barber, or a barber in the likeness10 of a duke. Ah, that Pompadour coloured coat, it sticks—sticks in my throat."
"I wish it did," growled11 Todd. "What do you mean, Mr. Mundell?—Pray express yourself. What do you mean by those incoherent expressions?"
"Are you human?"
"Dear me, I hope so. Really, sir, you look quite wild."
"Stop—stop—let me think—the face—the voice—the Pompadour coat—the costume fit for a duke. It must be so.—Man or devil, I will grapple with you, for you have got my pearls and my money. My ￡8000—my gold that I have lived, that I have toiled12 for—that I have schemed, and cheated to keep up—that I have shut my eyes to all sights for—and my heart to all tender emotions. You have my money, and I will denounce you!"
"Stop," said Todd.
The usurer paused in what he was saying, but he still glared at Todd fiercely, and his eyes protruded13 from their orbits, while the muscles of his mouth worked as though he were still trying to utter audible sounds, but by some power was denied the capacity to utter them.
"You say you have lost pearls?"
"Yes—yes.—Orient pearls."
Todd dived his hand into the breast of his apparel and produced the string of pearls. He held them before the ravished and dazzled eyes of John Mundell, as he said—
"Were they like these?"
With a cry of joy Mundell grasped at the pearls. Tears of gratified avarice14 gushed15 from his eyes.
"My own—my own pearls—my beautiful pearls!—Oh, blessed chance—my pearls back again. Ha! ha! ha!"
"Ha!" echoed Todd, as he stepped behind the chair on which John Mundell was sitting.
With his left hand he took one vigorous grasp of the remaining hair upon the head of the usurer, and forced his back against the chair. In another instant there was a sickening gushing16 sound. Todd, with the razor he held in his right hand, had nearly cut John Mundell's head off. Then he held him still by the hair. Gasp—gasp—gasp—bubble—gasp—bubble.—Ah! ah! ah!—Goggle—goggle. A slight convulsive movement of the lashes17, and the eyes set, and became opaquely18 dim. The warm blood still bubbled, but John Mundell was dead. Todd picked up the pearls and carefully replaced them in his bosom19 again.
"How many strange events," he said, "hang upon these baubles20. Ah, it's only one more—a dirty job rather—but business is business!"
He stood in the room as silent as a statue, and listened intently. Not the slightest sound indicative of the proximity21 of any one came upon his ears. He felt quite convinced that the deed of blood had been done in perfect secrecy22. But then there he was.—Who but he could be accused? There he stood, the self-convicted murderer. Had he not done the deed with the weapon of his handicraft that he had brought to the house? How was Todd to escape the seeming inevitable23 cold-blooded murder? We shall see. Huddled24 up in the chair, was the dead body. Mundell had not fallen out of the capacious easy seat in which he sat when he breathed his last. The blood rolled to the floor, where it lay in a steaming mass. Todd was careful—very careful not to tread in it, and he looked down his garments to see if there were any tell-tale spots of gore25; but standing26 behind the chair to do the deed, as he had done, he had been saved from anything of the sort. There he stood, externally spotless, like many a seeming and smirking27 sinner in this world—but oh, how black and stained within!
"Humph!" said Todd; "John Mundell was half distracted by a heavy loss. He was ill, and his mind was evidently affected28. He could not even shave himself. Oh, it is quite evident that John Mundell, unable to bear his miseries29, real or ideal, any longer, in a fit of partial insanity30, cut his throat. Yes, that will do."
Todd still kept the razor in his grasp. What is he going to do?—Murder again the murdered?—Is he afraid that a man,
"With twenty murders on his head!"
will jostle him from his perilous31 pinnacle32 of guilty safety?—No. He takes one of the clammy dead hands in his own—he clasps the half rigid33 fingers over the handle of the razor, and then he holds them until, in the course of a minute or so, they have assumed the grasp he wishes, and the razor, with which he, Todd, did the deed of blood, is held listlessly, but most significantly, in the hand of the dead.
The Murder Of The Usurer.
The Murder Of The Usurer.
"That will do," said Todd.
The door is reached and unfastened, and the barber slips out of the room. He closes the door again upon the fetid hot aroma34 of the blood that is there, fresh from the veins35 of a human being like himself—no—no—not like himself.—No one can be like Sweeney Todd. He is a being of his own species—distinct, alone, an incarnation of evil! Todd was in no particular hurry to descend36 the stairs. He gained the passage with tolerable deliberation, and then he heard voices in the parlour.
"What a man you are!" said Mrs. Blisset.
"Ah, my dear, I am indeed. Who would not be a man for your sake? As for Mr. Blisset, I don't think him worth attention."
"Nor I," said the lady, snapping her fingers, "I don't value him that. The poor mean-spirited wretch—he's not to be compared to you, captain."
"I should think not, my love. Have you got any change in your pocket?"
"Yes. I—I-think I have about seven shillings or so."
"That will do. Much obliged to you, madam—I mean, my dear Mrs. B. Ah, if you would but smother37 Blisset, so that I might have the joy of making you Mrs. Captain Coggan, what a happy man I should be."
Todd tapped at the door.
"What was that?" cried the captain in evident alarm; "Is it Blisset?"
"No, captain—oh, no; I should like to see him interrupt me, indeed. A pretty thing that I cannot do what I like in the house I keep. Come in."
Todd just opened the door far enough to introduce his hideous38 head; and having done so, stared at the pair with such a selection of frightful39 physiognomical changes, that they both sat transfixed with horror. At length Todd broke the silence by saying—
"He's frightfully nervous."
"What?" repeated Mrs. Blisset.
"What's his name, upstairs, that I was sent for to shave just now."
"What, Mr. Mundell. Ah, poor man, he has been in a very nervous state ever since he has been here. He continually talks of a heavy loss he has had."
"Yes," said Todd, "I suppose he means you to pay me."
"Me?"
"Yes, ma'am. He says he is too nervous and excited for me to shave him just now, but he has borrowed a razor from me and says he will shave himself in the course of an hour or so, and send it back to me."
"Oh, very well. Your money will be sent with the razor, no doubt; for although Mr. Mundell is so continually talking of his losses, they tell me he is as rich as a Jew."
"Thank you, ma'am. Good morning; good morning, sir."
The captain cast a supercilious41 glance upon Todd, but did not deign42 to make the remotest reply to the mock civility with which he was bidden good morning. No one stands so much upon his dignity, as he whose title to any at all is exceedingly doubtful. The female heart, however, is mollified by devotion, and Mrs. Blisset returned the adieu of Todd. When he got into the passage, he uttered one of his extraordinary laughs, and then opening the street door, he let himself out. Todd by no means hurried back to Fleet Street, but as he walked along he now and then shrugged43 his shoulders and shook his huge hands, which, to those acquainted with his peculiarities44, would have been sufficient indications of the fact that he was enjoying himself greatly. At length he spoke—
"So—so—what a Providence45 we have, after all, watching over us. The moment I am in any real danger as regards the string of pearls, up starts some circumstance that enables me to ward46 it off. Well, well, some day I almost think I shall turn religious and build a church, and endow it. Ha!"
Todd was so tickled47 at the idea of his building a church and endowing it, that he stopped at the corner of Milford Lane, to enjoy an unusual amount of laughter; as he did so he saw no other than Mrs. Ragg, slowly coming towards him.
"Ah," he said, "Tobias's mother. The mother of the Tobias that was!—I will avoid her."
He darted48 on, and was through Temple Bar before Mrs. Ragg could make up her mind which way to run, for run she fully6 intended to do, when she saw Todd standing at the corner of Milford Lane. But she had no occasion for hurrying from him, as he walked in the direction of his shop as speedily as possible. Although he was perfectly satisfied with the clever manner he had ridded himself of the usurer, who probably might have been a source of annoyance49 to him, and who might eventually have been the means of bringing him to justice, he thought that he might be losing opportunities of making more victims for the accumulation of his ill-gotten wealth.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
buffoon
|
|
| n.演出时的丑角 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
sprawling
|
|
| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
recollect
|
|
| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
likeness
|
|
| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
toiled
|
|
| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
protruded
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
avarice
|
|
| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
gushed
|
|
| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
gushing
|
|
| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
lashes
|
|
| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
opaquely
|
|
| adv.不透明地，无光泽地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
baubles
|
|
| n.小玩意( bauble的名词复数 )；华而不实的小件装饰品；无价值的东西；丑角的手杖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
proximity
|
|
| n.接近，邻近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
secrecy
|
|
| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
gore
|
|
| n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
smirking
|
|
| v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
miseries
|
|
| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
insanity
|
|
| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
perilous
|
|
| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
pinnacle
|
|
| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
aroma
|
|
| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
smother
|
|
| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
supercilious
|
|
| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
deign
|
|
| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
peculiarities
|
|
| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
tickled
|
|
| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |