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 into 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 Todd, '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 Todd, '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 rendezvous for thieves, cutpurses, highwaymen, footpads, 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 work 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 here?'
'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.'
'Psha!'
'I will 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 collar 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 favour 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 close 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 awed when a heavy wet mop was dashed into their faces.
They were completely paralysed for a moment; indeed, they began to look upon it something between a joke and a serious 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 blows showered 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 assailants; 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 for ever; 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 cessation 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 sure as fate.'
'Well, then, rush upon him and down with him. Never let him out! On to 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 were strong and powerful.
'Now,' he muttered, 'for means to escape.'