Lupin was constitutionally, by far the greater coward of the two, and when he saw the bright barrel of the pistol in such startling and unexpected contiguity2 to his head, he at once stepped back, and missing his footing, fell down the stairs to the landing-place immediately below that flight.
Todd thought that there would be just a chance of dashing in upon the young lady and disarming4 her of her pistols; but now that both of them were levelled at him, and she began to cry out "Help! help! thieves!" again, louder than before, he reluctantly abandoned the idea, and turning, he bounded down the staircase.
The young lady leant over the stair-head and fired one of the pistols after him, which so accelerated the movements of Todd, that he tumbled right over Mr. Lupin, and fell down all the way to the hall with Lupin after him.
Under any other circumstances than the dangerous and exciting ones in which they were in, no doubt they would both of them have been too much hurt to do anything but lie on their backs in the hall; but the feeling that if they were taken it would be to death, was sufficient to rouse them, and they both scrambled5 to their feet.
Lupin got the street-door open, and dashed out closely followed by Todd. A watchman tried to stop them, but him they felled with a blow, and then off went Lupin down a cross-street, that led him into Old-street Road, and with Todd at his heels, who was very faint.
"Stop, stop!" panted Todd, "stop!"
"What for?" said Lupin.
"I cannot run so fast. Are you hurt? Oh, that I had a knife at that girl's throat!"
Lupin paused, and held by a post at the corner of a street, and swore dreadfully, as he too panted a little for breath, although he was by no means so much used-up as Todd was. But then Lupin was a younger man, and much lighter6 on his feet, than our old friend of murdering notoriety.
"Oh, dear," said Todd. "What's to be done now?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing, did you say? But, my dear friend, something must be done. We have positively7 wasted half the night, and we are without money, and half dead. I am covered with bruises8 from head to foot by the fall down the staircase, and it will be daylight in another half hour or so at the utmost."
"Ah," said Lupin, "we must breakfast somewhere, I'm thinking, my friend."
"And so am I."
"Well, well, we have made certainly a mess of our adventure at the alderman's; but it can't be helped now. The idea, only to think of it now, Todd, of you and I, two such men as we are, and as the world refutes us to be, being beaten back, and, you may say, thrown down two pair of stairs, by a girl of sixteen or thereabouts."
"It was the will of Providence11," said Lupin. "But who is this? Stand aside, Todd, and let this old gentleman pass on. We may as well not be seen and described by any one."
"Do you think he may likely have enough about him," whispered Todd, "to pay our expenses for the day?"
"A lucky thought. It is more than likely that he has. Knock him down and rob him, Todd. There's not a soul in sight. Give him one of the knocks you used to give the poor devils you made the pies of, you know."
"Be quiet," said Todd, "I am amazed that a man of your profound sense and sagacity, should give ear to such idle rumours12 about me! I am really both shocked and surprised, Mr. Lupin!"
"Amen!" said Lupin. "You rob the old man, and we won't quarrel about any such nonsense, Todd. Here he comes, grinning like an old polecat. What business has a man of that age out at such a time as this?"
"None," said Todd, "except to provide us with a little money."
Todd cast a keen glance around him, and was convinced that the report of Mr. Lupin that no one was in sight was quite correct, so he stepped up to the old man, and said—
"Good morning, sir."
"Thieves! thieves!" cried the old man, and began to run, but Todd put out one of his long legs and tripped him up. Then pouncing13 upon him, he extracted a well-filled purse from his pocket, and holding it up to Lupin, he said—
"This will do?"
"Rather," replied Lupin. "Come on."
Off set Lupin again on a run, rather to the discomfiture14 of Todd, who had not had such a scampering15 about for a long time indeed; but yet he felt the necessity of getting as soon as possible out of the immediate3 vicinity of the old man whom they had just robbed, so they did not stop until they got right away on the northern side of Finsbury Square.
That side of the ancient square of Finsbury was not built then; and beyond it, where there is now such a squalid and uninviting neighbourhood, there was nothing but fields.
"Now," said Lupin. "Let us look at the purse!"
"Here it is," said Todd.
"It's very light!"
The fact was, that notwithstanding the speed at which he was compelled to run to keep up with Lupin, or rather to keep a few paces only behind him, Todd had contrived16 to abstract the better part of the contents from the purse, and to pocket them; for the story with which he had tickled17 the ears of Lupin of his having any money concealed18 in Caen Wood, Hampstead, was a mere19 delusion20, got up for the purpose of making him, Lupin, more than commonly solicitous21 concerning his, Todd's, safety in the escape from Newgate.
"Yes," replied Todd, "it is light, but such as it is it may be of some service to us. Take it, Mr. Lupin, and you can be the treasurer22: you know I can trust to you."
"Implicitly," said Lupin, as turning out the contents of the purse into his hand, he said—"Here are four guineas and a half, and about six or seven shillings in loose silver."
"Better than nothing," said Todd, with a look of great philosophy. "Our first care now is to get a breakfast."
"I don't know," said Lupin. "I took quite enough at the alderman's to last me some time. I should say, get out of London as quickly as we possibly can; and when we are at Caen Wood, we can, at our ease, consider what course we will feel inclined to take with our money in our pockets."
"A couple of thousands," said Todd.
"Exactly so. I move that we strike across the fields now at once, and make for Highgate and Hampstead, so that at each step we shall be leaving some danger behind us."
"Agreed," said Todd. "Come on! For my part I should like very much to find a conveyance23 of some sort; but that, I suppose, is impossible."
"Quite! Besides, on foot we are much less likely to be recognised and described. Come on, Todd; you ought to be able to walk to Hampstead, surely, after the little trifling24 exercise that you have had only."
"Trifling, do you call it?" said Todd, making one of his most hideous25 faces. "Trifling! I have not a bone in my body that don't ache. Trifling? I am one mass of bruises from top to toe, and I never, in all my life, felt so exhausted26; but yet the love of life and of liberty will lend me strength; so, come on; I will go on to Hampstead, and I will reach it, my friend, unless I drop by the way."
"Well spoke," said Lupin.
They now pursued a course which led them rapidly by the back of the City Road, and through the now well-populated district called Hoxton; and keeping on in that way they crossed the high-road near to Stamford Hill, and soon began to get a good view of the heights of Highgate and Hampstead in the distance.
"Brandy," said Todd, "brandy!"
"Why, what's the matter?"
"My good friend, I can't get on without some brandy. I am rather used to a little stimulant27 at times, so I must have it. Then we have no risk now to run by going into a public-house."
"I don't know that, Todd. But if you can't do without, some brandy you must have. To be sure, we are in luck's way, so far, that we are provided with hats and coats from the alderman's hall, and, therefore, people cannot have a description of us. The first quiet little hotel we come to, Todd, I promise you that I will not object to our stopping at, so that you may have your drop."
"Yes," said Todd, "that will do. My good friend, it is the only thing that keeps me up. When I used to feel a little down in spirits I poured some other spirits down, and then I get up again."
"Exactly. Here we are, at an old roadside house called the Adam and Eve, which will be the very thing. They may take you for Adam and me for Cain or Abel.—Come along."
They halted at the door of the little public-house, but upon going in they found the landlord and landlady28 bargaining with a man who was hawking29 something, and the following words came upon the startled ears of Todd.
"Only threepence, sir, I assure you, and the most exact likeness30 of Sweeney Todd, the murderer; taken while he was on his trial at the Old Bailey. You will see what a look he has, and the artist has been most successful in the squint31: and only threepence."
"He will be hanged on Monday, of course?" said the publican's wife.
"Oh yes, ma'am, in course, and there's expected such a crowd as never was known at the execution."
"No doubt of it. Well, I'll give twopence."
"And a drop of ale," said the publican.
"Here you are, master, you shall have it. A capital likeness. If you was only now to catch a sight of the original Todd, you'd know him in a moment by the look of this picture, particularly the squint."
"Come in," whispered Lupin to Todd.
"Oh no—no—I don't want the brandy now."
"But I do. Your speaking about it, has got me into the mind of wanting some now; so come on and let us have it, my friend, at once. Why, you are not afraid that the portrait is too good a likeness, are you?"
"Oh dear, I don't know," said Todd. "I believe I have a remarkable32 nose, and rather an engaging look about the eyes.—Come along."
"A quartern of the best brandy," said Lupin.
Todd felt that now the safest thing he could do, was to brave the matter out, as anything in the shape of a retreat would be much worse than actually making an appearance at the bar of the public-house; and then it was truly ridiculous to see the manner in which Todd strove to alter the cast of his features, by protruding33 one lip, and putting on what he thought as a kind of satisfied smirking34 smile, extremely difficult, indeed, for his usual expression of face.
There was only one slight comfort he felt, and that was in the circumstance that the news of their escape from Newgate had not yet reached that place.
"Very, by the goodness of providence," said Lupin.
"Amen!" said Todd.
"I have just, gentlemen, been buying a portrait of the execrable Todd; and if either of you have happened to see him in London, perhaps you can tell me if it is at all like the villain36. We frighten our children now, if they misbehave themselves at all, and tell them that Todd is coming to make them into pies, and then they are as quiet as possible. Ha! ha!"
"How funny," said Todd,
"Well," said Lupin, as he looked at the twopenny portrait of Todd, with a pretended critical air, "I don't think it's like him at all. I saw him at Newgate; and my friend here, is more like him than this picture."
"You don't say so, sir?" said the landlord.
"He! he!" laughed Todd—"ho! ho!"
How he wished at that moment that he could have taken Lupin by the throat and strangled him!
The brandy was duly discussed, and Lupin having paid for it out of the contents of the old gentleman's purse, took a courteous37 adieu of the landlord, and with Todd left the house.
"Gracious goodness!" exclaimed Todd, "how could you dream of saying what you did about me at the bar?"
"My good friend, that was for the express purpose of drowning suspicion for you. I saw the landlady staring at you most fixedly38, and so I said it on purpose, for fear she should really begin to think you could be no other than Todd the murderer—the execrable Todd, with whom they frighten the children."
"Oh, well," said Todd, "don't say anything more about it. I am quite satisfied. Indeed, I am more than satisfied, my dear friend."
"I thought you would be, when you come to think—"
"Oh, dear, yes."
"You may depend, Todd, that the greatest safety always runs alongside of the greatest danger; and that when you think that your fortunes are at the lowest, you may not unfrequently be upon the point of a highly favourable39 change: and it's all by the goodness of Providence."
"Bother you!" said Todd. "I do believe, if you were to live for a hundred years, you would not forget your chapel40 experience."
"Perhaps not; but I made a good bit of money that way, taking one thing with another, Mr. Todd."
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1
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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2
contiguity
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| n.邻近，接壤 | |
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3
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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4
disarming
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| adj.消除敌意的，使人消气的v.裁军( disarm的现在分词 )；使息怒 | |
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5
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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6
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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7
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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8
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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9
growled
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| 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 | |
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10
malediction
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| n.诅咒 | |
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11
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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12
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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13
pouncing
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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14
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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15
scampering
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
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16
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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17
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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18
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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19
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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20
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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21
solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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22
treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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23
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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24
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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26
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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27
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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28
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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29
hawking
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| 利用鹰行猎 | |
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30
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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31
squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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32
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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33
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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34
smirking
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| v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 ) | |
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35
bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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36
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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37
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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38
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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39
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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40
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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