"It was of the utmost importance," continued Sir Richard Blunt, speaking
quite calmly, "that all who were in any way comprehended in the list of
what Sweeney Todd would call his enemies, should be speedily informed of
this fact, and that is what has brought me to Chelsea at so early an
hour in the morning." "We thank you from our hearts," said Johanna. "We do, indeed," said Mark. "But let him beware of me. He dare not,
villain as he is, come within the reach of my arm. The spirit of my poor
murdered friend, Thornhill, will cry aloud for vengeance, and nothing
should save the murderer from death." "Oh, Mark--Mark!" said Johanna, "do not speak in such a strain. You do
not know Todd. You know nothing of the character and of the capabilities
of that man. He is not only one of the most wicked, but he is likewise
one of the most crafty and unscrupulous." "That is true," said the magistrate. "He does not know him. Do you
suppose for one moment, Mr. Ingestrie, that I would have ridden over
here to give you such a special warning concerning this man, if I
apprehended any open attack? No--that I could have trusted to you to
ward off. Your life has been one of danger and adventure; but not you,
nor I, nor all the world, can be prepared against what Todd may, in the
profound depths of his imagination, attempt." "All that is true," said Johanna, "most true." "You now really alarm me!" said Mark. "Then I did not mean to do so. All I wished was that you should be made
aware of the real extent of the possible danger. For myself, I look upon
all such men as Sweeney Todd as mad men, to a certain extent; and now
that he is deprived of his money, there is no knowing but he may be
willing to sacrifice his life for the gratification of, no doubt, one of
the most powerful feelings of his mind, which is revenge!" "No doubt," said Johanna. A flush of colour came over the cheek of the young husband, and he took
the hand of Johanna in his, as he said--

"Oh, Sir Richard, only tell me now I may best secure this treasure
against the machinations of that monster in human shape." "Nay, now, Mr. Ingestrie," said Sir Richard, "do not fall into the other
extreme, and make too much of this danger. We are very apt to pet some
peril, until we make it to our imagination assume a much larger shape
than really belongs to it. I hope that Todd will be in custody again
soon." "Is it likely, sir?" "I fancy so. From this day I abandon all other objects and pursuits, and
devote myself to that task alone." "Then there is a hope," said Johanna. "Yes," added Sir Richard. "My impression is that he has no money, and
that I shall soon apprehend him; but if, unknown to me, he has any
secret funds, he may make an attempt to leave the kingdom, and so foil
me." "And if he does?" "I follow him, for I am determined that sooner or later, dead or alive,
Todd shall be given up to the law." "But you will advise us what to do," said Mark Ingestrie. "In your
experience you can suggest to us the best mode of proceeding in this
emergency." "I have been thinking of that as I came along, and my advice is that you
leave London immediately. I do not think that the danger, admitting that
there is any at all, is immediate. Todd for some days will be far too
intent upon evading pursuit and recognition to think of much else,
besides his personal safety, so that you will have ample time to leave." "We will do so," said Johanna, "at once. Where would you advise us to
go?" "There is a little fishing village on the south coast, called
Brighthelmstone. It lies in a pleasant enough valley stretching to the
sea. There you can remain quite unsuspected of Todd, and enjoy the fair
sea breezes that make the place delightful, without a thought of danger,
for it is not that way he will go, as the place is not a port from which
he could take shipping if he wished to leave England; and if he did not
wish to leave at all, nothing could be further from his thoughts than
going so far from London, and the spot upon which all his revenge could
alone be attempted to be gratified." "We will go," said Johanna, appealingly looking at Mark Ingestrie as she
spoke. "Certainly," he replied. "Well, then," said Sir Richard, "since that is so far settled, I have a
favour to ask of you both." "You have but to name it," said Ingestrie. "You ought rather to say that
you have a command to give us both." "Yes," said Johanna, "that is so." "No. If I thought that, I should not like to mention it. But I appeal to
your candour to say 'yes,' or 'no,' to the request, according as you
really feel inclined when you hear it. You know how anxious Todd has
been to take the life of the poor lad, Tobias, who has suffered so much
at his hands." "Oh, yes--yes," said Johanna. "Well. Have you any objection to take him with you?" "None in the least," cried Mark. Johanna turned to him with a smile, as she said--

"Mark, I thank you with all my heart for that ready reply and
acquiescence with the proposal of Sir Richard Blunt, and I echo it by
likewise saying, 'None in the least.'" "You have met the proposal as I anticipated you both would," said the
magistrate, "or I should not have made it. You will find poor Tobias one
of the most gentle and inoffensive of beings; but his nature has been so
acted upon by Todd, that it would drive him to the verge of madness if
he thought that the villain were at large; so I do not wish that he
should know as much until it can be coupled with information of his
recapture." "The secret shall be kept." "Then my business is concluded, and I am sorry to say my pleasure also;
for it has been a real one to visit you both; and I must be off at once. I will communicate with Colonel Jeffery about Tobias, and manage how he
shall come to you. A post-chaise will take you in six hours to the place
I have mentioned, which you will find marked on the map." "I know it," said Ingestrie. "That is well. And now good-day." The Ingestries took a warm and affectionate leave of Sir Richard, who,
in ten minutes more, was on his road to London. CHAPTER CXLII. RETURNS TO TODD IN THE WOOD AT HAMPSTEAD. While all this was going on, contingent upon his elopement from Newgate,
Todd was still in the wood at Hampstead--that wood in which he had
committed so barbarous a murder, in ridding the world of almost as great
a rascal as himself, in the shape of Mr. Lupin. Todd was as anxious as possible to leave the wood, but he felt that to
do so in daylight would be jeopardising himself much too seriously. He
was not without money, as the reader is aware; and after placing some
distance between himself and the dead body of Mr. Lupin, he sat down
upon the roots of an old tree to think.