SHOWS HOW THE NEWS OF TODD'S ESCAPE WAS RECEIVED BY ALL CONCERNED.
Having traced Todd and Lupin thus far in their escape from the meshes in
which the law had so properly bound them, we will now for a time leave
the arch-villain Todd in Caen Wood, Hampstead Heath, while we take a
glance at what ensued in London, upon the escape of the two worthies
from Newgate.
It has often been remarked, that one person in London does not trouble
himself about his neighbour's affairs, as is done in smaller
communities, or know what is happening in his immediate vicinity; but it
is likewise true, that nowhere does news travel so fast, or acquire so
many exaggerations, as in London.
Thus, then, in the course of a few hours, there was scarcely a person in
the metropolis that was not aware of the escape of Sweeney Todd and Mr.
Josiah Lupin from Newgate. And not only were they aware of the mere fact
of the escape, but women had added so many extravagances to the whole
affair, that it was quite wonderful to think of the fertility of
invention of the illiterate persons who had added so many wonders and
exaggerations to the real facts of the case, which, after all, lay, as
the reader knows well, in a very small compass indeed, considering the
magnitude of the result.
Nor were the newspapers published on the ensuing morning at all backward
in pandering to popular taste by making the affair as striking and as
wonderful as they possibly could.
In one quarter of the town it was firmly believed that not only had Todd
and Lupin set Newgate on fire, but that they had murdered the governor
and half a dozen turnkeys, and then made their way into the Old Bailey
through the ruins of the prison over the dead bodies of their victims.
In another part of London it was currently reported that an infuriated
mob had attacked the prison, for the purpose of taking out Todd and
hanging him forthwith, and that in the midst of the confusion incidental
to such a scene, he had succeeded in making his escape in the disguise
of a turnkey, with a huge bunch of keys in his hand as a symbol of his
profession.
Then again, in the highly religious district of Islington, it was fully
believed, and, in fact, cried through the streets, that his Infernal
Majesty, in his own proper person, had called at Newgate at about half
past twelve at night, and taken away both the prisoners at once without
any further ceremony.
But all these idle rumours might be safely left to sink or swim as the
incredulity or the credulity of their authors and hearers might
determine, since it was after all only to a very few persons that the
escape of Sweeney Todd was of the smallest importance, and, to still
from that, the fate of Mr. Lupin was of any importance at all.
The persons with whose feelings and wishes we and our readers feel
interested, are those to whom the escape of Todd presented grounds for
some anxious and painful reflections; and it is to them and their
proceedings that we would now draw the attention of our readers.
One of the first persons to whom the news was taken in a clear and
compact unexaggerated form, was Sir Richard Blunt, and at an early hour
of the morning he was roused from his rest by a messenger, who presented
him with a brief note, containing only the following words from the
Secretary of Newgate--
"Newgate.
"SIR,
"The prisoner, Sweeney Todd, has escaped from the jail, along with
one Josiah Lupin.
I am, Sir, Yours Obediently,
"JOHN SMITH."
"The deuce he has!" cried Sir Richard, as he sprung out of bed and began
to dress himself with unusual speed, for Sir Richard seldom did anything
in a hurry, as experience had long since told him how very little was
gained by hurry and how much was sometimes lost.
As soon as he got his things on, he descended to his private room, and
there found an officer from the prison waiting to give him the
particulars of the escape, which was done in a very few words.
"And they are clear off?" said Sir Richard.
"Quite so sir."
"Well, after this, I rather think the Secretary of State will agree with
my opinion, that it is not bolts and locks and bars that are to be
trusted to, to keep notorious and bold malefactors in prison, but a
stout and watchful personal superintendence; and until that is the case,
there will be continual prison escapes. Such a man as Todd should not
have been allowed to be for five minutes quite alone."
"I think so, too," said the officer; "and there's another thing must be
put a stop to before any good is done in Newgate."
"What's that, my friend?"
"Why, Sir Richard, the religious ladies must be stopped from coming in.
The moment now that any notorious malefactor is cast for death, the
prison is besieged by religious ladies, who, if they had their own way,
would eat, drink, and sleep with him in his cell; and they bring in all
sorts of things that are quite enough to help the fellow out of limbo.
Why, Sir Richard, there was Michael Richardson that was cast for death
for murdering his wife; a religious lady came to pray with him, and
brought him in files and tools enough for him to get out of the stone
jug, and off they both went together to America."
"It is a serious evil."
"I believe you, Sir Richard; and, I think, the only way will be to let
'em all know that before they pass the lobby they will be well searched
by a couple of turnkeys."
"That ought to stop them," said Sir Richard, as he rung the bell
sharply. "You may depend upon it I will mention your suggestion to the
Secretary of State."
One of the magistrate's servants now made his appearance in answers to
the summons by the bell.
"My horse directly, Jones," said Sir Richard Blunt.
"Yes, sir."
In the course of ten minutes, Sir Richard Blunt was mounted, and off at
a good trot to the City. Any one would have thought that he was going to
Newgate; but such was not the case. The prisoners had flown, and he felt
that by going to the prison he could only gratify his curiosity by
seeing the precise mode in which they had effected their escape, when by
going where he did go, he might do some good.
He did not halt until he found himself at the shop of old Mr. Oakley,
and then, although the hour was a very early one, he knocked at the
door. Mr. Oakley put his head out at the window, and Sir Richard said--
"Don't be alarmed; I only want to speak to you for a few moments."
"Oh, dear me, yes," said the old man. "I'm coming down stairs
directly--I'm coming."
In a few moments the old spectacle-maker opened the door, and came out
to the side of the horse, from which the magistrate did not dismount,
but leaning down to Mr. Oakley, he said, in an earnest tone--
"There's no occasion for any alarm, but I have come to tell you that
Sweeney Todd has escaped from prison."
"Oh, Lord!"
"Hush! It is of no great moment. Where is your daughter and Mr.
Ingestrie? I must put them upon their guard against anything that may
arise, for there is no exactly saying what that rascal, Todd, may be
at."
"Oh, he will murder everybody."
"I think, Mr. Oakley that is going just a little too far, for I will
take good care that he don't murder me, nor any one else, if I can by
any possibility help it. I will soon have him, I think. Where is Mr.
Ingestrie, Mr. Oakley?"
"Oh, dear, they are at the new house in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. It's just
opposite to the water if you go--"
"I know all about it, thank you, Mr. Oakley. All's right. Be under no
apprehension, and above all things, don't you believe one word of
anything you hear about Todd from popular rumour or from the newspapers.
I will let you know everything that is of any consequence, personally or
by letter. Good morning. I hope Mrs. Oakley is quite well this morning?"
"Yes, charming; but, dear me!"
"Yes, it is dear me. Good morning."
Away rode the magistrate, and now he put his horse, which was a good
one, to a smart trot, and made his way to Colonel Jeffery's house in a
very short space of time; for London was not quite so large as it is
now, and it was not a day's journey to go from one house to another if
your friends happened to reside at different ends of the town. The
colonel, at that hour of the morning, was up and walking in his garden.
When Sir Richard Blunt was announced, he guessed at once that something
very unusual had taken place; and after shaking hands, he said--
"I know there's some news. Sir Richard. Is it pleasant, or the other
way?"
"In truth," said Sir Richard, "that is a question I can scarcely answer
you yet. All I have got to say is, that you had better look out, for
they have let Todd get out of Newgate."
"Escaped?"
"Exactly so."
"Now that is too bad. One would really have thought they would have
taken care of such a fellow as that. How in the name of all that's
abominable is it, that if any one escapes from Newgate, it is sure to be
some notorious rascal who ought by all means to be the most carefully
kept in it."
"Ah! that I don't know, but I quite agree with you that it is a fact
nevertheless."
"It's a very awkward thing, and I am particularly obliged to you for
coming to let me know."
"Why, the fact is, colonel, my opinion of Todd is just this: that now he
has lost all his money he is just like a wild beast, and that revenge
against all and every one who has been instrumental in bringing him to
his present condition, will be the dominant feeling in his breast."
"Not a doubt of it."
"Then by awaking you to a sense of this danger both to yourself and to
your _protege_, young Tobias, I am doing my duty. It is not courage that
will protect any one from Sweeney Todd. If that had been the case, this
is the last house I should have dreamt of coming to with a warning; but
it will be only by the greatest circumspection that his attempt to
assassinate may be avoided, and the villain foiled."
"I thank you with all my heart, and feel the truth of your observation.
I will not mention the matter to poor Tobias, for I feel that it would
drive him half mad with terror; but I will take care to keep such a
watch upon him, that no harm can come to him from Todd, now that I know
that there is danger. He may, of course, hear of the affair from other
sources, but he shall not from me."
"That is right. Mind you, colonel, I don't think this state of alarm
must last long, and as regards Tobias, I am in hope that at the same
time he hears of Todd's escape, he may hear of his recapture, for I am
going to set about that as soon as I possibly can, after I have warned
every one interested to keep themselves on the look-out concerning the
rascal."
"You think you will have him again?"
"Oh, yes. He must be without resources, or, at all events, comparatively
so; and under such circumstances, we shall soon trace him. Besides, he
is rather a remarkable man, and one who, once seen, is not only easily
known again, but easily described; so that when I set all the agencies
on foot which I have at my command to find him out, he cannot for long
elude me."
"I sincerely wish you every success."
"Thank you, colonel, for I must now be off, for I have to get to Chelsea
to warn the Ingestries of the possible, if not the probable danger of
Todd trying some delectable scheme of revenge against them, for he is
most furious I know against Johanna."
"Off with you, Sir Richard, at once. Do not let me detain you, when you
are upon such an errand. I would not have any harm come to Mrs.
Ingestrie for worlds."
"Nor I. Good morning."
The magistrate mounted his horse again, and waving his hand to the
colonel, he again started at a good round trot, and made the best of his
way by the nearest possible route he could to Chelsea, where Mr. and
Mrs. Ingestrie had set up housekeeping in Cheyne Walk.
That portion of Chelsea was then very fashionable, and from the
appearance of the houses even now, it is very easy to see that it must
have been a very desirable place at one time. All the evidences of
wealthy ease meet you on every hand, as you look at those broad,
well-put together, aristocratic residences, with their pretty bit of
highly cultivated garden in front of them, and their massive doorways.
It was in one of these houses that Johanna and her young husband had
taken up their residence. The string of pearls had been actually
purchased by royalty of Johanna, and had produced a sum of money that
had not only placed the young couple above all the ordinary pecuniary
accidents of life, but had enabled them to surround Mr. and Mrs. Oakley
with comforts, although the old spectacle-maker, from very habit, would
stick to his shop, declaring, and no doubt with great truth, that his
daily labour was now such a thing of habit that he would be miserable
without it.
It was a very different thing, though, for old Mr. Oakley now to work at
the bench in his shop, when he felt that he was placed above the real
necessity for doing so, to when he had worked very hard indeed to
support himself and Johanna, during the period, too, when in consequence
of Mrs. Oakley's rather insane predilection for the Reverend Josiah
Lupin, there was no comfort in the house, and, but for Johanna, all
would have gone to rack and ruin.
The frightfully dirty ditch that lies before and beyond Cheyne Walk,
Chelsea, was not then in existence, so that the really handsome row of
residences was not destroyed--as it is now--by such dubious
companionship. The river, too, was much clearer than now of craft, and
likewise much sweeter, so that really at times, when the sun shone upon
its ripples, it really deserved the title of "The Silver Thames."
It was still an early hour when Sir Richard Blunt reached Chelsea--that
is to say, it was what then was considered an early hour, for all the
world was not in the hurry that is the fashion now, and people did
everything in a much more easy and deliberate way than they do now.
What is gained, or pretended to be gained, by all the hurry-skurry and
jostling and driving that characterises society at present? We must
confess ourselves at a loss to imagine, and we are decidedly of opinion
that people were both happier and better when everything was taken in an
easy way, and when folks did not disturb their dignities by all sorts of
frantic manoeuvres to save time, as if the whole end and aim of life was
to get through as much of what is called business as possible, and as if
the principal business of everybody was not to be as quiet and
comfortable as possible.
The magistrate could not but pause for a moment as he reached Cheyne
Walk and saw the bright sun shining upon the water, and gilding with
beauty the sails of some small craft that were taking advantage of a
light pleasant breeze to get along without labour.
"A pretty enough place this," he said, "and I don't know any that I
should prefer to idle away my life in, if I had nothing to do, as I hope
to have some of these odd days--but not yet."