Bell Yard too was so completely blocked
up, that the lawyers who were in the habit of using it as a short cut
from the Temple to Lincoln's Inn, were forced to take the slight round
of Chancery Lane instead; and the confusion and general excitement in
the whole of the neighbourhood was immense. But it was in Bow Street, and round the doors of the police-office, that
the densest crowd, and the greatest excitement prevailed. There it was
only with the greatest difficulty that the officers and others
officially connected with the public office could get in and out of it
as occasion required; and the three or four magistrates who thought
proper to attend upon that occasion, had quite a struggle to get into
the court at all. By dint of great perseverance, our friends, with Sir Richard Blunt, at
length succeeded in forcing a passage through the crowd, to the
magistrates private entrance, and having once passed that, they were no
longer in the smallest degree incommoded. "Well, Crotchet," said Sir Richard, as he encountered that individual,
"Have you been to Newgate this morning?" "Rather, Sir Richard." "Any news?" "No. Only that Todd has been a trying it on a little, that's all." "What do you mean?" "Why he's only petikler anxious to save Jack Ketch any trouble on his
account, that's all, Sir Richard; so he's been trying to put himself out
o' this here world, and shove himself into t'other, without going
through all the trouble of being hung, that's all, sir." "I fully expected that both Todd and Mrs. Lovett would make some such
attempts; but I hope the governor of Newgate has been sufficiently
careful to prevent the possibility of either of them succeeding." "It's all right," added Crotchet. "I seed 'em both, and they is as
lively as black beetles as has been trod on by somebody as isn't a very
light weight." The doors of the court had not been opened, but when they were, the
struggle for admission was tremendous, and it required the utmost
exertions of the officers of the establishment to keep anything like a
semblance of order. The few night charges were rapidly disposed of, and
while a gentleman who looked very foolish, was fined five shillings for
being drunk and disorderly the evening previous, a roaring shout from
the mob in the street proclaimed the arrival of the two important
prisoners from Newgate. Up to some time after his arrest, Todd, notwithstanding some stray words
that would indicate a contrary state of things, fully believed that he
had succeeded in murdering Mrs. Lovett, and it was not until the morning
that he became aware of her escape from drowning in the Thames. It did not require a conjuror to tell the authorities that there would
be some trouble in getting the prisoners to Bow Street, so it was
thought better to make one job of it, and to place Todd and Mrs. Lovett
in the same coach along with four officers. With this intent the coach was brought close to the wicket-gate of
Newgate, and Todd and Mrs. Lovett, well guarded, were brought to the
lobby at the same moment. The moment Todd caught sight of Mrs. Lovett, a
kind of spasm seemed to shake his frame, and pointing to her, he cried--

"Does that woman indeed live, or is she but some fiend in the shape of
such a one come to torment me?" "That is Mrs. Lovett," said the Governor. "Oh, no--no--no," added Todd, "it is not so--it cannot be. The dark
rolling river cannot so give up its dead." "You were well disposed that it should not," said Mrs. Lovett, bending
upon Todd a most ferocious glance. "She is saved!" gasped Todd. "Yes, I am saved to your confusion. I call you all to witness," she then
added in a loud voice, "that I had no idea of the extent of Todd's
iniquity; but what I do know I will freely tell as evidence for the
crown against him." Mrs. Lovett looked peculiarly at the Governor while she uttered these
words, for she was anxious to know what he thought of them, but that
functionary took not the remotest notice. At this moment one of the warders announced the sheriff, and one of the
Sheriffs of London with his gold chain of office on, appeared in the
lobby. To him Mrs. Lovett immediately turned, saying--

"Sir, I offer myself as king's evidence. Do you understand me?" "Perfectly, madam; but I have nothing to do with the matter." "Nothing to do, sir? Then why do you wear that bauble?" "My office, so far as you are concerned, madam, will be to keep you in
safe custody, and see that the sentence of the law is carried into
effect upon you, in case you should be convicted of the crimes laid to
your charge." "But I turn king's evidence. It is quite a common thing that you have
all heard of that often enough." "Now, madam, the coach is ready," said a turnkey. "Where are you going to take me? Is not this Newgate?" "Yes, but you must undergo an examination at the police-office in Bow
Street." Without any further ceremony, Mrs. Lovett was handed into the coach, and
Todd after her. She was at first placed in the seat immediately opposite
to him, but she insisted upon changing it, saying, that she could not
bear to look at him all the way that she went, and as it was a matter of
no moment which way she sat, the officers so far indulged her as to
permit her to change her place. In this way then, both of them upon the same seat, while three officers
sat opposite to them, and one with them, dividing them, they arrived at
Bow Street, and were met by that roaring shout, that everybody had
heard, from without the court. Of course every precaution had been taken to prevent the mob from
wreaking their vengeance upon the criminals, which they were
well-disposed to do. A number of people were knocked down and some of
the officers rather roughly treated; but the result was, that Todd and
Mrs. Lovett were got into the office in safety. Sweeney Todd, as he ascended the steps of the office, turned his head
for a moment, and looked at the sea of angry faces that was in the
street. He shuddered and passed on. Mrs. Lovett did not look round at
all. With great difficulty the door of the office was closed, and then in a
few moments Todd and Mrs. Lovett were placed side by side at the bar of
justice. There was one person sitting on the bench near to Sir Richard Blunt,
upon whom Todd fixed his eyes in amazement. That person was Johanna
Oakley. The features came at once to his recollection, and as though he
really doubted if he were awake or not, he more than once pressed his
hand upon his eyes. [Illustration: Todd And Mrs. Lovett At Bow Street Police Office.] His and every one else's attention were, however, speedily taken up by
the conduct of Mrs. Lovett. The moment comparative order was restored in
the crowded court, so that what she said could be distinctly and clearly
heard, she spoke--

"I am willing to turn king's evidence upon this occasion, and to declare
all I know of Todd's nefarious transactions.