Todd did shrink aghast. This wild vehemence of Mrs. Lovett's was something that he did not expect. Every word that she uttered filled him with alarm. He began really to think that she had gone mad, and that he might have everything to dread from her wild vehemence, and that probably he had gone too far in cheating her out of the result of her labours. "Peace," he said. "Peace, and you shall be satisfied."
"I will be satisfied."
"Well, well, of course you shall. But you cannot be if you destroy both yourself and me, which your present conduct threatens."
"I tell you I joined with you in murder for the love of gold, and I will have my recompense. Give me that which is mine own. I will have it, or I will drag you with me to the halter. Do you understand that, Sweeney Todd? I ask you, do you understand that?"
"It is plain enough," said Todd.
"Then give me my gold—gold for blood. Give it to me, and let me go."
"You are really so precipitate. Upon my word, Mrs. Lovett, you are quite an altered woman, that you are. I certainly never did expect to hear such language from you. Any one would think that you had an idea I meant to cheat you."
Mrs. Lovett made an impatient gesture, but Todd continued—
"Now, anything more repugnant to my feelings than that could not possibly be, I assure you; and I consider you fully entitled to ￡22,000 8s. 3d., which is precisely your half of the proceeds of the little business."
"Give me the money."
"Now, do you suppose, Mrs. Lovett, that I am so green as to keep here in the house no less a sum than ￡22,000 8s. 3d.? You really must think I have taken leave of my senses, to dream for one moment of such a thing."
"Where is it, then?—where is it? I see you are bent upon driving me mad."
"Why, really, Mrs. L., it would be insulting you to say that you were perfectly in your right senses at this moment; but come, sit down, and we will see what can be done. Sit down, and compose yourself."
"In the shaving chair"
"Ha—ha, that's a good joke. In the shaving chair! Ha—ha! No Mrs. L., I don't exactly want to polish you off. Sit down where you like, but not in the shaving chair, if you don't fancy it, Mrs. L. Pray sit down."
"For you to cut my throat?"
"What?"
"I say, for you to cut my throat? Do you think I am not sharp sighted enough to see that razor partially hidden in your sleeve? No, Todd, I am well aware that you are panting to murder me. I tell you I know it, and it is useless your making the faintest attempt to conceal it. The fact is broad and evident; but I am upon my guard, and I am armed likewise, Todd."
"Armed?"
"Yes, Todd, I am armed, and you are terrified at the idea, as I knew you would be. Nothing to you is so horrible as death. You who have sent so many from the world, will yourself go from it howling with fright. I am armed, but I do not mean to tell you how."
"You are wrong, Mrs. Lovett. What on earth would be the use of my taking your life?"
"You would have all then."
"All? What do I want with all? I am not a young man now, and all I wish is the means of enjoyment for the remainder of my days. That I can well command with a less sum than my half of that which we have to divide will come to. I have no one that I care to leave a sixpence to, and therefore what need I trouble myself to hoard? You are quite mistaken, Mrs. Lovett."
"Give me my money then."
"I will, of course; but I tell you it is at the banker's, Messrs. Grunt, Mack, Stickinton, and Fubbs. Yes, that is the name of the highly respectable firm in whose hands for the present both my money and yours is deposited; and from the high character of the house, I should say it could not possibly be in safer hands."
"My share will be quite safe with me, or if unsafe, you need not care. I will have it."
"Step into the parlour, and I will write you an order for your half, and you can get it in half an hour."
"No Todd. You will make the attempt to murder me if I step into the parlour. I will not even come further into your shop, than here upon the threshold of it, with the door in my hand. Why do you keep a razor concealed in your sleeve?"
"Oh—I—It's a little habit of mine; but allow me to assure you how very incorrect your suspicions are, Mrs. Lovett; and if you will not come in, I will write the order, and bring it to you; or what do you say to my going with you to the bankers, where you can yourself ask what is the amount of the sum standing in my name there; and when you have ascertained it, you can have half of it to a sixpence."
"Come, then. I confess, Todd, I am sufficiently suspicious of you, that I would rather not lose sight of you."
"Dear me, how dreadful it is for friends to be in such a state of feeling towards each other, to be sure. But the time will come, Mrs. Lovett, when you will see my conduct in a different light, and you will smile at the suspicion which you say you now entertain, but which sometimes I cannot help thinking are not the genuine sentiments of your heart."
"Come—come, at once."
"I must wait for the boy; I cannot leave the shop until the boy is here to mind it in my absence.—Oh, here he is."
At this moment, Johanna, who had not troubled herself to go to the market at all, came back.
"Well, what is the exact time," said Todd, "by St. Dunstan's?"
"A quarter-past eleven, sir."
"How very satisfactory. I am only going a little way with this lady,............