This is a conversation between two people about Sweeny Todd. All they know about him comes from the news and police.
Oh, and the end part, with the italics, that's me.
Enjoy!
"Did you hear
Of that man?
A rich barber,
He had a hand.
In the death of that judge
We did hate."
"Oh, yes,
I have heard
Benjamin Barker
Had some nerve
But I hear he had reason to act."
"Sweeny Todd
Was his name
When he came back again
From an exile
Falsely sentenced."
"He, and his wife--
Mrs. Lovett--
Both had knives."
"But what of it?"
"England's safety
Was now at stake."
"Human pies
And a shave
Sent many to their grave--
But why-oh-why was it done?"
"The world may never know,
For judge and barber, on the floor,
Were found lying, cold and dead."
"And poor Mrs. Lovett
After search, wasn't found.
For now, she is ash on the ground."
The dreary people of London,
Left only do guess
Did only what the rest
Of mankind in their position would do.
The story of the murders
Grew fantastic from the murmurs,
But none were as horrible as truth.