One day, Holmes needed to go to Fleet Street, to solve a case. Doctor Watson stayed at home, with his wife. Some days later, Holmes came back to Baker Street and told Watson about a strange man he had seen in that street: a barber.

─ Look, Watson! I'm must tell you about him. He is so, so strange! He is Sweeney Todd, I guess. He works with a woman that makes pies and sells them. I was there, I ate on of those pies… oh Watson, they were awful!

─ But what did they have with the case? ─ asked Watson, drinking a cup of tea.

Holmes looked at him, very carefully and whispered:

─ They are creepy, too creepy for me. I guess they have a secret…a dark secret, Watson.

And Watson nodded his head and said:

─ And what have I with that?

─ Oh Watson, you know my old friend. We could go there and watch…

The next day, the two of them leave Baker Street and went to Fleet Street. They made some bags, in case they need to stay there. And in the end of the day they knocked at the door of the pies shop. The shop was empty and there was only a person: a woman.

Her hair was curly, middle red, middle brown; her eyes were dark and empty and her red dark dress was not very clean. She was doing pies.

─ Good evening, Mrs. Lovett. ─ said Holmes, taking his hat off.

The woman looked at them and made a smile. But her eyes didn't.

─ Good evening, Mister. Do you want a pie? Or your friend? ─ her voice was sweet and calm.

─ Maybe a pie, please. ─ asked Holmes.

Watson didn't take his eyes from her. She was creepy, really creepy, but so beautiful. He didn't know what to say to her, so he made a big smile and took his hat off too. Mrs. Lovett returned the smile at Watson and took two pies from the oven and put them in two plates. They sat down in the chairs and wait for her to give them the pies.

─ Please, have a nice meal. ─ said her, returning to the table to make more pies.

Holmes looked to Watson and they looked to the plates with the pies. The pies were ugly… Holmes took his pies and gave a little biting to it. Watson did the same.

─ Holmes… ─ said very low ─ this is nasty! I can't eat it!

─ Eat Watson, you must eat it, or she will get disappointed. I saw your smile at her!

─ Oh, please, be quiet! ─ Watson kicked Holmes legs below the table.

And they continued to eat Mrs. Lovett pies, trying don't taste them very "deeply". When they finished, Holmes called her and asked how much the meal coasted.

─ Oh, you can pay by giving me some company. It's hard to be alone here… ─ said her.

─ Ok, we can stay. ─ and Holmes started to talk with her.

They talked about the weather, they talked about the people in the street, they talked about a lot of things. And then Holmes asked about the man from upstairs.

─ Someone told me that a barber lives near here. Is it a good barber? ─ asked Holmes, carefully.

Mrs. Lovett nodded with her head and said:

─ Oh, of course he is! He is my friend, Mr. Todd. He is an excellent barber, the best in London! He lives upstairs, because that is his really home… if you want, I ask him to come here and talk to you, misters. He loves his job! ─ and smiled. But when her eyes fell down in Watson's eyes, her smile turned ice.

─ Please Mrs. Lovett, if you may. It will be a pleasure for us! ─ said Holmes, smiling. And Watson nodded.

And so, Mrs. Lovett went upstairs to call Mr. Todd. Meanwhile, Watson set down on the chair with a strange expression in his face.

─ What's wrong, Watson? ─ asked Holmes, looking at his friend. Watson begun to sweat.

─ Oh Holmes, is nothing…

─ I know you, doctor! You are not feeling well! ─ Holmes put his hand on Watson forehead. ─ You are hot, Watson!

Watson closed his eyes for a second and blacked out.

─ No Watson! Not here, we are in the middle of mad people…! Come back! ─ and started to shook him, trying to wake him. But Watson nothing…

So Holmes begun to search for some kind of drink that could gave Watson drink. When he found a bottle of wine, he discovered a man looking at him. The man was tall and thin, with a big dark hair, with a little piece of white hair. He was not very well dressed for a barber, but what most confuse Holmes were his eyes: troubled eyes.

─ What are you doing there? ─ asked Mr. Todd in a great deep voice, covered by anger and dark.

Holmes stood up, with a bottle of wine in his left hand and said:

─ Oh, pardon me, sir! I didn't want to trouble your mind or the bakery…no! It's only because my friend fainted and I want to help him!

Mr. Todd looked at Watson, which was lying on the chair.

─ What happened to him? ─ asked Mrs. Lovett.

─ I don't know, my lady…he was talking to me; after you went call Mr. Todd, and then he started to sweat and then fainted.

Mrs. Lovett looked at Watson and approached him, to start shaking him. But Mr. Todd raised his voice and said:

─ What will you do? I can handle this. I take him for my room, upstairs.

Mrs. Lovett opened her eyes a lot and her mouth and no sound came out. She was in shock!

─ I help. ─ said Holmes.

─ No, I do it alone, sir.

And then he approached Watson and lifts him to carry him to upstairs.

─ Can I go after? ─ asked Holmes to Mrs. Lovett.

But she didn't answer.

─ Mrs. Lovett?

And she covered her face with her hands to hide the tears that were falling from her big brown eyes. Holmes put a hand on her shoulder and said:

─ Why are crying, my lady?

─ I…I…can't tell you, mister! Please go away! Leave this place…!

─ I can't leave without my friend! Why are you asking me that?

─ You…are a great detective and a good man, I can… see it in your eyes, but you can't stay here…! No, please, you don't know what happens here…in the dark, in the shadows! ─ whispered her, trying to stop her tears.

─ Never! I will not leave Watson here, my lady. I will go now upstairs! ─ and started to go.