The String of Pearls (1850), p. 539

me, and cautiously made his offer; but he did not tell me that those arrangements were then complete, as that he doubtless thought would have placed him too much in my power, in the event of my refusing to co-operate with him in his iniquity. He need not have given himself that amount of trouble: I was willing. The plan he proposed was, that the pie-shop should be opened, for the sole purpose of getting rid of the bodies of people, whom he might think proper to murder, in or under his shop. He said that fearing nothing, and believing nothing, he had come to the conclusion, that money was the great thing to be desired in this world, inasmuch as to it he had found that all people bowed down. He said that after the murder of any one, he would take the flesh from the bones quickly, and convey to the shelves of the bake-house in Bell Yard the pieces, as materials for the pies. Minor arrangments he left to me. He murdered many. The business went on and prospered, and we both grew rich. He refused me my share of the spoil; and so I believe we both fell to our present state."
"Have you any more to add?" said the magistrate.
"Nothing. But I will answer you any question you may choose to ask of me upon the subject."
"No. It is not my province to ask anything. This is clearly a voluntary statement and confession. No questions need be, or ought to be, asked concerning it at all."
"Very well."
"You are aware that it will be used against you."
"And against Todd?"
"Yes, it is a strong corroboration of the evidence against him; and as such, if there had been any doubt, would have gone far towards making his conviction certain."
"Then I am satisfied, sir."
The magistrate slightly inclined his head and left the cell with the Governor.
When they were outside he said to the latter—
"I would advise you to keep a sharp watch upon that woman. My firm opinion is, that she contemplates suicide, and that this statement is merely made for the purpose of damaging Todd as much as possible."
"No doubt, sir. You may depend upon our keeping a good watch upon her. It is quite impossible she can do herself a mischief. There is literally nothing in the cell for her to convert to any such use besides, I doubt if really great criminals ever have the courage to die by their own hands."
"Well, it may be so; of course your experience of these people is very considerable, I only tell you my impression."
"For which, sir, I am much obliged, and will be doubly cautious."
Mrs. Lovett, when she was once more alone, paced her cell in the same restless manner that she had done before. It was not then so much as it is now the custon in Newgate to keep such a strict watch upon prisoners before conviction, and with the exception that there was a man in the passage close at
hand, boxed up in a sentry-box, and whose duty it was now and then to open the small square wicket in the cell door, and see that the prisoner was all right, Mrs. Lovett had no surveillance over her.
As she paced to and fro, she muttered to herself—
"Yes, I will do it. They think that I would go through the formal parade of a trial. They think that I will stand in one of their courts shrinking before a jury; but I will not — I will not. Oh no, Todd may do all that. It is fitting that he should; but I, having failed in my one great enterprise, will bid adieu to life."
She paused, for the man was at the wicket.
"Do you want anything?" he said.
"No, my friend. Only the poor privilege of being alone."
"Humph! I thought I heard you speaking."
"I was only rehearsing my defence."