"Yes, I am with Sweeney Todd, the barber of Fleet-street, close to St. Dunstan's."
"The deuce you are! well, I am going to a party to-night, and I'll drop in and get dressed and shaved, and patronise your master."
Tobias put his mouth close to the ear of the young lawyer, and in a fearful sort of whisper said the one word—"Don't."
"Don't! what for?"
Tobias made no answer; and, throwing down his twopence, scampered out of the shop as fast as he could. He had only sent a message by Sweeney Todd in the neighbourhood; but, as he heard the clock strike twelve, and two penny pieces were lying at the bottom of his pocket, it was not in human nature to resist running into Lovett's and converting them into a pork pie.
"What an odd thing!" thought the young lawyer. "I'll just drop in at Sweeney Todd's now on purpose, and ask Tobias what he means. I quite forgot, too, while he was here, to ask him what all that riot was about a dog at Todd's door."
"A veal!" said a young man, rushing in; "a twopenny veal, Mrs. Lovett." When he got it he consumed it with voracity, and then noticing an acquaintance in the shop, he whispered to him,—
"I can't stand it any more. I have cut the spectacle-maker—Johanna is faithless, and I know not what to do."
"Have another pie."
"But what's a pie to Johanna Oakley? You know, Dilki, that I only went there to be near the charmer. Damn the shutters and curse the spectacles! She loves another, and I'm a desperate individual! I should like to do some horrible and desperate act. Oh, Johanna, Johanna! you have driven me to the verge of what do you call it—I'll take another veal, if you please, Mrs. Lovett."