Surely any heart but
Johanna's must have shrunk aghast from ever again even in thought,
approaching that dreadful place. And yet she went. Yes upon her mission
of justice she went. To be sure, she was told that as far as human means
went, she would be upheld and supported from those without; but what
could that assure to her further than that if she fell she should not
fall unavenged? Truly, if some higher, some far nobler impulse than that
derived from any consciousness that she was looked after, had not
strengthened her, the girl's spirit, must have sunk beneath the weight
of many terrors. With a sad smile she once again crossed the threshold
of that house, which she now no longer suspected to be the murderer's
haunt. She knew it. CHAPTER LXXXII. TODD PLANS. How she sped with Todd we are already aware. Let us take a peep at the
arch-demon in that parlour, which he considered his sanctuary, his city
of refuge as it were. At least Todd considered it to be such, whether it
was or not. He sits at a table, the table beneath which there was no
floor, and covering up his face with his huge hands, he sets about
thinking. Yes, that man now abandons himself to thought, as to how he
is, with a blaze of wickedness, to disappear from the scene of his
iniquities. It was not remorse that now filled his brain. It was not any
feeling of bitter heart-felt regret for what he had done that oppressed
him now. No such feeling might possibly find a home in his heart at the
hour of success, but now when he saw and felt that he was surrounded by
many difficulties, it had no home in his brain. But yet he thought that
they were only difficulties that now surrounded; he did not as yet dream
of positive danger. He still reasoned, as you have heard him reason
before, namely, that if anything beyond mere suspicion were entertained
regarding his mode of life, he would be at once apprehended. He thought
that somebody--most likely Colonel Jeffery--was trying to find out
something, and the fact that he, Todd, was there in his own parlour, a
free man, appeared to him proof-sufficient that nothing was found out. "How fallacious!" If he had but known that he was virtually in custody even then, as he,
indeed, really was, for Fleet-street was alive with officers and the
emissaries of the police. If he had but guessed so much for a moment
what a wild tumult would have been raised in his brain. But he knew
nothing and suspected little. After a time from generalizing upon his
condition, Todd began to be particular, and then he laid down, as it
were, one proposition or fact which he intended should be the groundwork
of all in other proceedings. That proposition was contained in the
words--

"Before the dawn of to-morrow I must be off!" "That's settled," said
Todd, and he gave the table a blow with his hand. "Yes, that's settled." The table creaked ominously, and Todd rose to peep into the shop to see
what his boy was doing. Charley Green, alias, Johanna Oakley, was
sitting upon a low stool reading a bill that some one had thrown into
the shop, and which detailed the merits of some merchandize. How far
away from the contents of that bill which she held before her face, were
her thoughts? "Good," said Todd. "That boy, at all events, suspects nothing, and yet
his death is one of the things which had better not be left to chance. He shall fall in the general way of this place. What proper feeling
errand-boy would wish to survive his master's absence. Ha!" Of late Todd had not been very profuse in his laughs, but now he came
out with one quite of the old sort. The sound startled himself, and he retired to the table again. By the dim light he opened a desk and supplied himself with writing
materials; the twilight was creeping on, and he could only just see. Spreading a piece of paper before him, he proceeded to make a memoranda
of what he had to do. It was no bad plan this of Todd's, and the paper, when it was finished
was quite a curiosity in its way. It ran thus--

_Mem._--To go to Colonel Jeffery's, and by some means get into the house
and murder Tobias. _Mem._--To pack off goods to the wharf where the Hamburg vessel, called
the Dianna, sails from. _Mem._--To arrange combustibles for setting fire to the house. _Mem._--To cut Charley Green's throat, if any suspicion arise--if not to
let him be smothered in the fire. _Mem._--To have a letter ready to post to Sir Richard Blunt, the
magistrate, accusing Mrs. Lovett of her own crimes, and mine likewise. "I think that is all," said Todd. He folded the paper and placed it in his bosom, after which he came out
of the parlour into the shop, and called to Johanna. "Charles?" "Yes, sir." "Go to the market, and get me a couple of stout porter--I want something
carried a short distance." "Yes, sir." Away went Johanna, but before she got half way down to Fleet Market she
met Sir Richard, who said--

"What is it?" "He wants a couple of porters to carry something." "Very well, get them. Depend upon me." "I do, sir. I feel now in good heart to go through with anything, for
you are near to me, and I know that I am safe." "You are safe. It will need to be some very extraordinary circumstances,
indeed, that could compromise you. But go at once for these porters; I,
and my men will take good care to find where they go to." There was no difficulty in finding parties in abundance at the end of
Fleet Market, and Johanna speedily returned, followed by two sturdy
fellows. Todd had quite a smile upon his face, as he received them. "This way," he said--"This way. I hope you have been lucky to day, and
have had plenty of work." "No, master," said one, "we haven't, I'm sorry to say." "Indeed," added Todd. "Well, I am very glad I have a little job for you. You see these two little boxes. You can carry one each of you, and I
will go with you and show you where to." One of the porters raised one of the boxes, and then he gave a long
whistle, as he said--

"I say, master is there penny pieces or paving stones in this here, its
deuced heavy, that it is." "And so is this, Bill," said the other. "Oh, my eyes ain't it. There
must be a quarter of a pound of goose feathers in here." "Ha! ha!" said Todd, "How funny you both are." "Funny?" "Yes, to be sure, but come. This will put strength into you if you had
none before." He took a bottle and glass from a cupboard, and gave each of the men a
full measure of such frightfully strong spirits, that they winked again,
and the tears came into their eyes, as they drank it. "Now shoulder the little boxes, and come along," he said, "and I tell
you what I'll do. If you step in here in the evening, and I should
happen to be at home, I'll give each of you a shave for nothing, and
polish you off in such a manner, that you will recollect it as long you
live." "Thank you, master--thank you. We'll come." One of the porters helped his companion with the chest on to his back
and head, and Todd then lent a helping hand with the other. "Charley," he said.