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.