"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."