Some thought him a careless enough, harmless
fellow, with not much sense in him, and at times they almost considered
he was a little cracked; but there were others who shook their heads
when they spoke of him; and while they could say nothing to his
prejudice, except that they certainly considered he was odd, yet, when
they came to consider what a great crime and misdemeanour it really is
in this world, to be odd, we shall not be surprised at the ill-odour in
which Sweeney Todd was held. But for all that he did a most thriving business, and considered by his
neighbours to be a very well-to-do sort of man, and decidedly, in city
phraseology, warm. It was so handy for the young students in the Temple to pop over to
Sweeney Todd's to get their chins new rasped; so that from morning to
night he drove a good business, and was evidently a thriving man. There was only one thing that seemed in any way to detract from the
great prudence of Sweeney Todd's character, and that was that he rented
a large house, of which he occupied nothing but the shop and parlour,
leaving the upper part entirely useless, and obstinately refusing to let
it on any terms whatever. Such was the state of things, A.D. 1785, as regarded Sweeney Todd. The day is drawing to a close, and a small drizzling kind of rain is
falling, so that there are not many passengers in the streets, and
Sweeney Todd is sitting in his shop looking keenly in the face of a boy,
who stands in an attitude of trembling subjection before him. "You will remember," said Sweeney Todd, and he gave his countenance a
most horrible twist as he spoke, "you will remember Tobias Ragg, that
you are now my apprentice, that you have of me had board, washing, and
lodging, with the exception that you don't sleep here, that you take
your meals at home, and that your mother, Mrs. Ragg, does your washing,
which she may very well do, being a laundress in the Temple, and making
no end of money; as for lodging, you lodge here, you know, very
comfortably in the shop all day. Now, are you not a happy dog?" "Yes, sir," said the boy timidly. "You will acquire a first-rate profession, quite as good as the law,
which your mother tells me she would have put you to, only that a little
weakness of the head-piece unqualified you. And now, Tobias, listen to
me, and treasure up every word I say." "Yes, sir." "I'll cut your throat from ear to ear, if you repeat one word of what
passes in this shop, or dare to make any supposition, or draw any
conclusion from anything you may see, or hear, or fancy you see or hear. Now you understand me,--I'll cut your throat from ear to ear,--do you
understand me?" "Yes, sir, I won't say nothing. I wish, sir, as I may be made into veal
pies at Lovett's in Bell-yard if I as much as says a word." Sweeney Todd rose from his seat; and opening his huge mouth, he looked
at the boy for a minute or two in silence, as if he fully intended
swallowing him, but had not quite made up his mind where to begin. "Very good," at length he said, "I am satisfied, I am quite satisfied;
and mark me--the shop, and the shop only, is your place." "Yes, sir." "And if any customer gives you a penny, you can keep it, so that if you
get enough of them you will become a rich man; only I will take care of
them for you, and when I think you want them I will let you have them. Run out and see what's o'clock by St Dunstan's." There was a small crowd collected opposite the church, for the figures
were about to strike three-quarters past six; and among that crowd was
one man who gazed with as much curiosity as anybody at the exhibition. "Now for it!" he said, "they are going to begin; well, that is
ingenious. Look at the fellow lifting up his club, and down it comes
bang upon the old bell." The three-quarters were struck by the figures; and then the people who
had loitered to see it done, many of whom had day by day looked at the
same exhibition for years past, walked away, with the exception of the
man who seemed so deeply interested. He remained, and crouching at his feet was a noble-looking dog, who
looked likewise up at the figures; and who, observing his master's
attention to be closely fixed upon them, endeavoured to show as great an
appearance of interest as he possibly could. "What do you think of that, Hector?" said the man. The dog gave a short low whine, and then his master proceeded,--

"There is a barber's shop opposite, so before I go any farther, as I
have got to see the ladies, although it's on a very melancholy errand,
for I have got to tell them that poor Mark Ingestrie is no more, and
Heaven knows what poor Johanna will say--I think I should know her by
his description of her, poor fellow! It grieves me to think how he used
to talk about her in the long night-watches, when all was still, and not
a breath of air touched a curl upon his cheek. I could almost think I
saw her sometimes, as he used to tell me of her soft beaming eyes, her
little gentle pouting lips, and the dimples that played about her mouth. Well, well, it's of no use grieving; he is dead and gone, poor fellow,
and the salt water washes over as brave a heart as ever beat. His
sweetheart, Johanna, though, shall have the string of pearls for all
that; and if she cannot be Mark Ingestrie's wife in this world, she
shall be rich and happy, poor young thing, while she stays in it, that
is to say as happy as she can be; and she must just look forward to
meeting him aloft, where there are no squalls or tempests.--And so I'll
go and get shaved at once." He crossed the road towards Sweeney Todd's shop, and, stepping down the
low doorway, he stood face to face with the odd-looking barber. The dog gave a low growl and sniffed the air. "Why Hector," said his master, "what's the matter? Down, sir, down!" "I have a mortal fear of dogs," said Sweeney Todd. "Would you mind him,
sir, sitting outside the door and waiting for you, if it's all the same? Only look at him, he is going to fly at me!" "Then you are the first person he ever touched without provocation,"
said the man; "but I suppose he don't like your looks, and I must
confess I aint much surprised at that. I have seen a few rum-looking
guys in my time, but hang me if ever I saw such a figure-head as yours. What the devil noise was that?" "It was only me," said Sweeney Todd; "I laughed." "Laughed! do you call that a laugh? I suppose you caught it of somebody
who died of it. If that's your way of laughing, I beg you won't do it
any more." "Stop the dog! stop the dog! I can't have dogs running into my back
parlour." "Here, Hector, here!" cried his master; "get out!" Most unwillingly the dog left the shop, and crouched down close to the
outer door, which the barber took care to close, muttering something
about a draught of air coming in, and then, turning to the apprentice
boy, who was screwed up in a corner, he said,--

"Tobias, my lad, go to Leadenhall-street, and bring a small bag of the
thick biscuits from Mr. Peterson's; say they are for me.