The String of Pearls (1850), p. 340

you, Mr. Ben; but since I have, I only ask of you, for Johanna's sake, for her life's sake, to do nothing."
Ben looked aghast.
"And—and how long is the little lamb to be left there?" he asked.
"Only a few hours I think now, Ben—only a few hours. Where are we now, Mr. Ben?"
"Why, this, my dear, is Bell-yard we have strolled into; and that is the famous pie shop of which they talk so much. They say the woman has made an immense fortune by selling them."
As Ben made a kind of movement towards Mrs Lovett's window, it was then that Sir Richard Blunt, who had followed him and Arabella Wilmot from Fleet-street, and who had, in fact, overheard some portion of their conversation, stepped up in the manner that Mrs Lovett had remarked from within the shop.
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We have before stated that the three personages, consisting of the magistrate, big Ben the beef-eater, and Arabella Wilmot, walked to Fleet-street together from Bell-yard. Sir Richard Blunt shook his head at Arabella Wilmot, as he said—
"Miss Wilmot, I cannot help saying that it would have been better in every respect, and possibly much more conducive to the safety of Miss Oakley, if you
had gone home quietly, and not lingered about Fleet-street.''
"I could not go, sir."
"But yet a consideration for Miss Oakley's safety should have induced you to put that violence upon your own feelings."
"I felt that when once you, sir, had pledged yourself for her safety, that safe she was and that my weeping perchance in a doorway in Fleet-street could not be so important as to compromise her."
"I am fairly enough answered," said Sir Richard Blunt, with a slight smile.
"But what say you to coming with me to the Temple?"
"The Temple?"
Arabella cast a lingering look towards Todd's shop, which Sir Richard at once translated, and replied to it by saying—
"Fear nothing for your young friend. She knows she is protected; but even she does not know the extent to which she is so protected. I tell you, Miss
Wilmot, that I pledge my own life for her safety—and that, although to all seeming she is in the power of Todd, such is not the case."
"Indeed?"
"I have a force of no less than twenty-five men in Fleet-street now—one half of whom have their eyes upon Todd's shop. By Heaven! I would not
have a hair of that young and noble girl's head injured for the worth of this great kingdom!"
"Bravo!" cried Ben, as he seized Sir Richard by the hand, and gave it a squeeze that nearly brought the tears into the eyes of the magistrate; "bravo! that's what I like to hear. All's right. Bless you, sir, easy does it. You are the man for my money!"
"Will you both come with me, then?"
"To be sure," said Ben; "to be sure; and as we go along, I'll tell you what a sad mistake I made about Miss Arabella here. You must know that I met her crying in Fleet- street, and she—"
Arabella shook her head, and frowned.
"And—and—and—she—nothing."
"Well," said Sir Richard, "I must confess I have heard anecdotes with a little more point to them."
"You don't say so!" said Ben.
"I think I will go home," said Arabella, gently.
"If you will," replied the magistrate, "of course, I cannot say anything to