"Your mind's eye"
her aspect, than as if we were to try a paragraph upon the subject. How that he! he! he! of Mr. Brown's rung in her ears. It was at any time almost enough to provoke a saint, and we need not say that this time of all others was not one at which Mrs. Lovett's feelings were attuned1 to gentleness and patience. Besides, she certainly was no saint. A rather heavy inkstand stood upon the table between Mrs. Lovett and the stock-broker. The next moment it narrowly escaped his head, leaving in its progress over his frontispiece a long streak2 of ink down his visage.
"Murder!" cried Mr. Brown.
Mrs. Lovett covered her face with both her hands for a moment, as though, to enable her to think clearly, it were necessary to shut out the external world; and then starting up, she advanced to the door of the room.
"Murder!" said the stock-broker again.
"Silence!"
"If you dare to say one word of this interview, I will return, and tear you limb from limb."
Mrs. Lovett opened the door of the private room with such a vengeance5 that the nose of the clerk, who had been listening upon the other side, was seriously damaged thereby6. He started back with a howl of pain.
"Fool!" said Mrs. Lovett, as she passed him, and that was all she condescended7 to say to him;—not by any means an agreeable reminiscence of his last words with a lady to a gentleman who prided himself upon his looks—rather!
Mrs. Lovett reached the street, and walked for some distance as though street it was not. She was only roused to a sense of the world in which she was, by hearing the sound of a voice calling—
"Mum—mum! Here yer is—mum—mum! woo!"
She turned and saw the coach in which she had come to the stock-broker.
"Going back, mum?" said the man.
"Yes, yes."
She stepped into the vehicle, looking more like an animated8 statue than aught human. The man stood touching9 what was once the brim of a hat, as he said—
"Where to, mum?"
Mrs. Lovett looked at him with an air of such abstraction that it was quite clear she did not see him, but she heard the question, that came to her like an echo in the air.
"Where to, mum?"
"To Fleet-street!"
Wheeze—creak—wheeze—creak—sway—sway, and the coach moved on again. Mrs. Lovett sunk down among the straw with which the lower part of the vehicle was plentifully10 strewed12; and then, with her head resting upon the seat, her throbbing13 temples clasped in her hands, she tried to think. Yes—she called upon all that calmness—that decision—that talent or tact14, call it which you will that had saved her for so long, not to desert her now in this hour of her dire15 extremity16. She called upon everything for aid but upon Heaven! and then, to ease her mind, she cursed a little. Somebody says—
"Swearing when the passions are at war,
Has an effect quite moral—a kind of safety valve,
Sparing what might be a tremendous crash!"
and so Mrs. Lovett got cooler, but not a whit18 the less determined19, as the crazy vehicle conveyed her to Fleet-street. She fully11 intended now to measure conclusions with Todd. The distance was so short that even a hackney-coach performed it with tolerable promptitude. Mrs. Lovett did not wish to alight exactly at the door of Todd's shop; so she was rather glad upon finding the coach stop at the corner of Fleet-street by the old Market, and the driver demanded what number?
"This will do."
She was in the street in another minute. It took a minute to get out of a hackney-coach. It was like watching the moment to spring from a boat to the shore in a heavy surf. And yet, oh much vilified20 old hackney-coach! how much superior wert thou to thy bastard21 son, the present odious22 rattling23, bumping, angular, bone-dislocating, horrid24 cab! The driver received about double his fare, and a cab-man of the present day would have gathered a mob by his vociferations, and blackguarded you into a shop, if you had treated him in such a way. Nothing less than three times what he's entitled to ever lights up the smallest spark of civility in the soul of a modern cab-driver, but the old hackney-coach-man was always content with double; so upon this occasion Mrs. Lovett got a "thank ye, mum;" and a long straw that had taken an affection for the skirt of her dress was arrested by jarvey and restored to the coach again.
Mrs. Lovett walked to all appearance composedly up Fleet-street. Alas25! in this world who can trust to appearances? She had time, before reaching the shop of Sweeney Todd, to arrange slightly what she should say to that worthy26. Of course, he could know nothing of her visit to the City—of her interview with Mr. Brown, and she need not blurt27 that out too soon. She would argue with him a little, and then she would be down upon him with the knowledge of his knavery28 and treachery. She reached the shop. No wonder she paused there a moment or two to draw breath. You would have done the same; and after all, Mrs. Lovett was mortal. But she did not hesitate for long. The threshold was crossed—the handle of the door was in her hand—it was turned, and she stood in Todd's shop. Todd was looking at something in a bottle, which he was holding up to the light; and Mrs. Lovett saw, too, that a pretty genteel-looking lad was poking29 about the fire, as if to rouse it.
"Ah, Mrs. Lovett!" said Todd, "how do you do? Some more of that fine grease for the hair, I suppose, madam?" Todd winked30 towards the lad (our dear friend Johanna), as though he would have said—"Don't appear to know me too well before this boy. Be careful, if you please."
"I have something to say to you, Mr. Todd."
"Oh, certainly, madam. Pray walk in—this way, if you please, madam—to my humble31 bachelor-parlour, madam. It is not fit exactly to ask a lady into; but we poor miserable32 single men, you know, madam, can only do the best we can. Ha! ha! This way."
"No."
"Eh? Not come in?"
"No. I have something to say to you, Mr. Todd; but I will say it here."
And now Mrs. Lovett gave a sidelong glance at the seeming boy, as much as to say—
Todd saw the glance; and the diabolical34 look that he sent to Mrs. Lovett in return would indeed have appalled35 any one of less nerve than she was possessed36 of. But she had come to that place wound up firmly to a resolution, and she would not shrink. Todd had no resource.
"Charley," he said, "you can go and take a little turn—here is a penny to spend; get yourself something in the market. But be sure you are back within half an hour, for we shall have some customers, no doubt."
"Yes, sir."
Johanna did not exactly know whether to think that Mrs. Lovett came in anger or friendship; but, at all events, she felt that it would be hazardous37 to remain after so marked a dismissal from Todd, although she would gladly have heard what the subject of the conversation between those two was to be. Neither Mrs. Lovett nor Todd now spoke38 until Johanna had fairly gone and closed the door after her. Then Todd, as he folded his arms, and looked Mrs. Lovett fully in the face, said—
"Well?"
"The time has come."
"What time?"
"For the end of our partnership—the dissolution of our agreement. I will go on no further. You can do as you please; but I am content."
"Humph!" said Todd.
"After much thought, I have come to this conclusion, Todd. Of course, let me be where I may, the secret of our road to fortune remains39 hidden here (she struck her breast as she spoke). All I want is my half of the proceeds, and then we part, I hope, for ever."
"Humph!" said Todd.
"And—and the sooner we can forget, if that be possible, the past, the better it will be for us both—only tell me where you purpose going, and I will take care to avoid you."
"Humph!"
Passion was boiling in the heart of Mrs. Lovett; and that was just what Todd wanted; for well he knew that something had gone amiss, and that as long as Mrs. Lovett could keep herself calm and reasonable, he should stand but a poor chance of finding out what it was, unless she chose, as part of her arrangement, to tell it; but if he could but rouse her passion, he should know all. Therefore was it that he kept on replying to what she said with that cold insulting sort of "humph!"
"Man, do you hear me?"
"Humph!"
"Humph!"
Mrs. Lovett took from a side-table an iron, which, in the mystery of hair-dressing, was used for some purpose, and in a cool, calm voice, she said—
"If you do not answer me as you ought, I will throw this through your window, into the street; and the first person who comes in, in consequence, I will ask to seize Todd, the murderer! and offer myself as evidence of his numerous atrocities—contrite evidence—myself repenting41 of my share in them, and relying upon the mercy of the crown, which, in recompense for my denouncing you may graciously pardon me."
"And so it has come to this?" said Todd.
"You see and hear that it has."
It was rather a curious coincidence, that Mrs. Lovett had threatened Todd that she would awaken42 public attention to his shop by the same means that Sir Richard Blunt had recommended to Johanna to use in case of any emergency—namely, throwing something through the window into the street. If Mrs. Lovett had been goaded43 by Todd to throw the iron through a pane44 of his glass, the officers of Sir Richard would quickly have made their appearance to hear her denunciation of the barber. Unhappy woman! If she had but known what the future had in store for her, that act which she threatened Todd with, and which to her imagination seemed such a piece of pure desperation, would have been the most prudent45 thing she could have done. But it was not to be! There was a few moments silence now between them. It was broken by Todd.
"Are you mad?" he said.
"No."
"Then, what, in the name of all that is devilish, has got possession of you?"
"I have told you my determination. Give me twenty thousand pounds—you may profit by the odd sum—give me that amount, and I will go in peace. You know I am entitled to more; but there is no occasion for us to reckon closely. Give me the sum I seek, and you will see me no more.
"You take me by surprise. Just step into the parlour, and—"
"No—no."
"Why not? Do you suspect—"
"I suspect nothing; but I am sure of much. Now, for me to set foot within your parlour would be tantamount to the commission of suicide, and I am not yet come to that—you understand me?"
Todd understood her. His hand strayed to a razor that lay partially46 open close to him. Mrs. Lovett raised the iron.
Mrs. Lovett And Todd Quarrel.
Mrs. Lovett And Todd Quarrel.
"Beware!" she said.
Todd shrunk back.
"Pho! pho! this is child's play," he said. "You and I, Mrs. Lovett, ought to be above all this—far above it. You want your half of the proceeds of our joint47 business, and I must confess, at the moment, that the demand rather staggered and distressed48 me; but the more I think of it, the more reasonable it appears."
"Very well. Give it to me, then."
"Why, really now, my dear Mrs. Lovett, you quite forget that all our joint savings49 are in the hands of Mr. Brown."
Todd glared at her as though he would read her very soul. She felt that he more than suspected she knew all, and she adopted at once the bold policy of avowing50 it.
"I do not forget anything that it is essential should be remembered," she said; "and among other things, I know that, by forging my name, you have withdrawn51 the whole of the money from the hands of Brown. It is not worth our while to dispute concerning your motives52 for such an act. Let it suffice that I know it, and that I am here to demand my due."
"Ha! ha!"
"You laugh?"
"I do, indeed. Why, really now—ha! ha!—this is good; and so it is this withdrawal53 of the money from Brown that has made all this riot in your brain? Why, I withdrew it from him simply because I had certain secret information that his affairs were not in the best order; and from a fear, grounded upon that information, that he might be tempted54 to put his hand into our purse, if he found nothing in his own."
"Well, well; it matters not what were your reasons. Give me my half. It will be then out of your custody55, and you will have no anxiety concerning it, while I can have no suspicions."
"In a moment—"
"You will?"
"If I had it here; but I have re-invested the whole, you see, and cannot get it at a moment's notice. I have moved it from the hands of Brown to those of Black."
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1
attuned
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| v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音 | |
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2
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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3
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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4
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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5
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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6
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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7
condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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8
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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9
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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10
plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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11
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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12
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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13
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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14
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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15
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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16
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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17
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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18
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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19
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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20
vilified
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| v.中伤，诽谤( vilify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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22
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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23
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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24
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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25
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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26
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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27
blurt
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| vt.突然说出，脱口说出 | |
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28
knavery
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| n.恶行，欺诈的行为 | |
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29
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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30
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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31
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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32
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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33
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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34
diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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35
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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36
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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37
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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38
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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39
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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40
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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41
repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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42
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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43
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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44
pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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45
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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46
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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47
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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48
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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49
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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50
avowing
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| v.公开声明，承认( avow的现在分词 ) | |
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51
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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52
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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53
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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54
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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55
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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