English
‘Where’sOliver?’saidtheJew,risingwithamenacinglook.‘Where’stheboy?’
Theyoungthieveseyedtheirpreceptorasiftheywerealarmedathisviolence;andlookeduneasilyateachother.Buttheymadenoreply.
‘What’sbecomeoftheboy?’saidtheJew,seizingtheDodgertightlybythecollar,andthreateninghimwithhorridimprecations.‘Speakout,orI’llthrottleyou!’
Mr.Faginlookedsoverymuchinearnest,thatCharleyBates,whodeemeditprudentinallcasestobeonthesafeside,andwhoconceiveditbynomeansimprobablethatitmightbehisturntobethrottledsecond,droppeduponhisknees,andraisedaloud,well-sustained,andcontinuousroar—somethingbetweenamadbullandaspeakingtrumpet.
‘Willyouspeak?’thunderedtheJew:shakingtheDodgersomuchthathiskeepinginthebigcoatatall,seemedperfectlymiraculous.
‘Why,thetrapshavegothim,andthat’sallaboutit,’saidtheDodger,sullenly.‘Come,letgoo’me,willyou!’
And,swinginghimself,atonejerk,cleanoutofthebigcoat,whichheleftintheJew’shands,theDodgersnatchedupthetoastingfork,andmadeapassatthemerryoldgentleman’swaistcoat;which,ifithadtakeneffect,wouldhaveletalittlemoremerrimentoutthancouldhavebeeneasilyreplaced.
TheJewsteppedbackinthisemergency,withmoreagilitythancouldhavebeenanticipatedinamanofhisapparentdecrepitude;and,seizingupthepot,preparedtohurlitathisassailant’shead.
ButCharleyBates,atthismoment,callinghisattentionbyaperfectlyterrifichowl,hesuddenlyaltereditsdestination,andflungitfullatthatyounggentleman.
‘Why,whattheblazesisinthewindnow!’growledadeepvoice.‘Whopitchedthat‘ereatme?
It’swellit’sthebeer,andnotthepot,ashitme,orI’dhavesettledsomebody.
Imighthaveknow’d,asnobodybutaninfernal,rich,plundering,thunderingoldJewcouldaffordtothrowawayanydrinkbutwater—andnotthat,unlesshedonetheRiverCompanyeveryquarter.Wot’sitallabout,Fagin?
D—me,ifmyneck-handkercheran’tlinedwithbeer!
Comein,yousneakingwarmint;wotareyoustoppingoutsidefor,asifyouwasashamedofyourmaster!Comein!’
Themanwhogrowledoutthesewords,wasastoutly-builtfellowofaboutfive-and-thirty,inablackvelveteencoat,verysoileddrabbreeches,lace-uphalfboots,andgreycottonstockingswhichinclosedabulkypairoflegs,withlargeswellingcalves;—thekindoflegs,whichinsuchcostume,alwayslookinanunfinishedandincompletestatewithoutasetoffetterstogarnishthem.
Hehadabrownhatonhishead,andadirtybelcherhandkerchiefroundhisneck:withthelongfrayedendsofwhichhesmearedthebeerfromhisfaceashespoke.
Hedisclosed,whenhehaddoneso,abroadheavycountenancewithabeardofthreedays’growth,andtwoscowlingeyes;oneofwhichdisplayedvariousparti-colouredsymptomsofhavingbeenrecentlydamagedbyablow.
‘Comein,d’yehear?’growledthisengagingruffian.
Awhiteshaggydog,withhisfacescratchedandtornintwentydifferentplaces,skulkedintotheroom.
‘Whydidn’tyoucomeinafore?’saidtheman.‘You’regettingtooproudtoownmeaforecompany,areyou?Liedown!’
Thiscommandwasaccompaniedwithakick,whichsenttheanimaltotheotherendoftheroom.
Heappearedwellusedtoit,however;forhecoiledhimselfupinacornerveryquietly,withoututteringasound,andwinkinghisveryill-lookingeyestwentytimesinaminute,appearedtooccupyhimselfintakingasurveyoftheapartment.
‘Whatareyouupto?Ill-treatingtheboys,youcovetous,avaricious,in-sa-ti-a-bleoldfence?’
saidtheman,seatinghimselfdeliberately.‘Iwondertheydon’tmurderyou!IwouldifIwasthem.
IfI’dbeenyour‘prentice,I’dhavedoneitlongago,and—no,Icouldn’thavesoldyouafterwards,foryou’refitfornothingbutkeepingasacuriousityofuglinessinaglassbottle,andIsupposetheydon’tblowglassbottleslargeenough.’
‘Hush!hush!Mr.Sikes,’saidtheJew,trembling;‘don’tspeaksoloud!’
‘Noneofyourmistering,’repliedtheruffian;‘youalwaysmeanmischiefwhenyoucomethat.Youknowmyname:outwithit!Ishan’tdisgraceitwhenthetimecomes.’
‘Well,well,then—BillSikes,’saidtheJew,withabjecthumility.‘Youseemoutofhumour,Bill.’
‘PerhapsIam,’repliedSikes;‘Ishouldthinkyouwasratheroutofsortstoo,unlessyoumeanaslittleharmwhenyouthrowpewterpotsabout,asyoudowhenyoublaband—’
‘Areyoumad?’saidtheJew,catchingthemanbythesleeve,andpointingtowardstheboys.
Mr.Sikescontentedhimselfwithtyinganimaginaryknotunderhisleftear,andjerkinghisheadoverontherightshoulder;apieceofdumbshowwhichtheJewappearedtounderstandperfectly.
Hethen,incantterms,withwhichhiswholeconversationwasplentifullybesprinkled,butwhichwouldbequiteunintelligibleiftheywererecordedhere,demandedaglassofliquor.
‘Andmindyoudon’tpoisonit,’saidMr.Sikes,layinghishatuponthetable.
Thiswassaidinjest;butifthespeakercouldhaveseentheevilleerwithwhichtheJewbithispalelipasheturnedroundtothecupboard,hemighthavethoughtthecautionnotwhollyunnecessary,orthewish(atallevents)toimproveuponthedistiller’singenuitynotveryfarfromtheoldgentleman’smerryheart.
Afterswallowingtwoofthreeglassesofspirits,Mr.Sikescondescendedtotakesomenoticeoftheyounggentlemen;whichgraciousactledtoaconversation,inwhichthecauseandmannerofOliver’scapturewerecircumstantiallydetailed,withsuchalterationsandimprovementsonthetruth,astotheDodgerappearedmostadvisableunderthecircumstances.
‘I’mafraid,’saidtheJew,‘thathemaysaysomethingwhichwillgetusintotrouble.’
‘That’sverylikely,’returnedSikeswithamaliciousgrin.‘You’reblowedupon,Fagin.’
‘AndI’mafraid,yousee,’addedtheJew,speakingasifhehadnotnoticedtheinterruption;andregardingtheothercloselyashedidso,—’I’mafraidthat,ifthegamewasupwithus,itmightbeupwithagoodmanymore,andthatitwouldcomeoutratherworseforyouthanitwouldforme,mydear.’
Themanstarted,andturnedroundupontheJew.Buttheoldgentleman’sshoulderswereshruggeduptohisears;andhiseyeswerevacantlystaringontheoppositewall.
Therewasalongpause.Everymemberoftherespectablecoterieappearedplungedinhisownreflections;notexceptingthedog,whobyacertainmaliciouslickingofhislipsseemedtobemeditatinganattackuponthelegsofthefirstgentlemanorladyhemightencounterinthestreetswhenhewentout.
‘Somebodymustfindoutwot’sbeendoneattheoffice,’saidMr.Sikesinamuchlowertonethanhehadtakensincehecamein.
TheJewnoddedassent.
‘Ifhehasn’tpeached,andiscommitted,there’snofeartillhecomesoutagain,’saidMr.Sikes,‘andthenhemustbetakencareon.Youmustgetholdofhimsomehow.’
AgaintheJewnodded.
Theprudenceofthislineofaction,indeed,wasobvious;but,unfortunately,therewasoneverystrongobjectiontoitsbeingadopted.
Thiswas,thattheDodger,andCharleyBates,andFagin,andMr.WilliamSikes,happened,oneandall,toentertainaviolentanddeeply-rootedantipathytogoingnearapolice-officeonanygroundorpretextwhatever.
Howlongtheymighthavesatandlookedateachother,inastateofuncertaintynotthemostpleasantofitskind,itisdifficulttoguess.
Itisnotnecessarytomakeanyguessesonthesubject,however;forthesuddenentranceofthetwoyoungladieswhomOliverhadseenonaformeroccasion,causedtheconversationtoflowafresh.
‘Theverything!’saidtheJew.‘Betwillgo;won’tyou,mydear?’
‘Wheres?’inquiredtheyounglady.
‘Onlyjustuptotheoffice,mydear,’saidtheJewcoaxingly.
Itisduetotheyoungladytosaythatshedidnotpositivelyaffirmthatshewouldnot,butthatshemerelyexpressedanemphaticandearnestdesiretobe‘blessed’ifshewould;apoliteanddelicateevasionoftherequest,whichshowstheyoungladytohavebeenpossessedofthatnaturalgoodbreedingwhichcannotbeartoinflictuponafellow-creature,thepainofadirectandpointedrefusal.
TheJew’scountenancefell.Heturnedfromthisyounglady,whowasgaily,nottosaygorgeouslyattired,inaredgown,greenboots,andyellowcurl-papers,totheotherfemale.
‘Nancy,mydear,’saidtheJewinasoothingmanner,‘whatdoYOUsay?’
‘Thatitwon’tdo;soit’snousea-tryingiton,Fagin,’repliedNancy.
‘Whatdoyoumeanbythat?’saidMr.Sikes,lookingupinasurlymanner.
‘WhatIsay,Bill,’repliedtheladycollectedly.
‘Why,you’rejusttheverypersonforit,’reasonedMr.Sikes:‘nobodyabouthereknowsanythingofyou.’
‘AndasIdon’twant‘emto,neither,’repliedNancyinthesamecomposedmanner,‘it’srathermorenothanyeswithme,Bill.’
‘She’llgo,Fagin,’saidSikes.
‘No,shewon’t,Fagin,’saidNancy.
‘Yes,shewill,Fagin,’saidSikes.
AndMr.Sikeswasright.Bydintofalternatethreats,promises,andbribes,theladyinquestionwasultimatelyprevailedupontoundertakethecommission.
Shewasnot,indeed,withheldbythesameconsiderationsasheragreeablefriend;for,havingrecentlyremovedintotheneighborhoodofFieldLanefromtheremotebutgenteelsuburbofRatcliffe,shewasnotunderthesameapprehensionofbeingrecognisedbyanyofhernumerousacquaintances.
Accordingly,withacleanwhiteaprontiedoverhergown,andhercurl-paperstuckedupunderastrawbonnet,—botharticlesofdressbeingprovidedfromtheJew’sinexhaustiblestock,—MissNancypreparedtoissueforthonhererrand.
‘Stopaminute,mydear,’saidtheJew,producing,alittlecoveredbasket.‘Carrythatinonehand.Itlooksmorerespectable,mydear.’
‘Giveheradoor-keytocarryinhert’otherone,Fagin,’saidSikes;‘itlooksrealandgenivinelike.’
‘Yes,yes,mydear,soitdoes,’saidtheJew,hangingalargestreet-doorkeyontheforefingeroftheyounglady’srighthand.
‘There;verygood!Verygoodindeed,mydear!’saidtheJew,rubbinghishands.
‘Oh,mybrother!Mypoor,dear,sweet,innocentlittlebrother!’
exclaimedNancy,burstingintotears,andwringingthelittlebasketandthestreet-doorkeyinanagonyofdistress.‘Whathasbecomeofhim!Wherehavetheytakenhimto!
Oh,dohavepity,andtellmewhat’sbeendonewiththedearboy,gentlemen;do,gentlemen,ifyouplease,gentlemen!’
Havingutteredthosewordsinamostlamentableandheart-brokentone:totheimmeasurabledelightofherhearers:MissNancypaused,winkedtothecompany,noddedsmilinglyround,anddisappeared.
‘Ah,she’saclevergirl,mydears,’saidtheJew,turningroundtohisyoungfriends,andshakinghisheadgravely,asifinmuteadmonitiontothemtofollowthebrightexampletheyhadjustbeheld.
‘She’sahonourtohersex,’saidMr.Sikes,fillinghisglass,andsmitingthetablewithhisenormousfist.‘Here’sherhealth,andwishingtheywasalllikeher!’
Whilethese,andmanyotherencomiums,werebeingpassedontheaccomplishedNancy,thatyoungladymadethebestofherwaytothepolice-office;whither,notwithstandingalittlenaturaltimidityconsequentuponwalkingthroughthestreetsaloneandunprotected,shearrivedinperfectsafetyshortlyafterwards.
Enteringbythebackway,shetappedsoftlywiththekeyatoneofthecell-doors,andlistened.Therewasnosoundwithin:soshecoughedandlistenedagain.Stilltherewasnoreply:soshespoke.
‘Nolly,dear?’murmuredNancyinagentlevoice;‘Nolly?’
Therewasnobodyinsidebutamiserableshoelesscriminal,whohadbeentakenupforplayingtheflute,andwho,theoffenceagainstsocietyhavingbeenclearlyproved,hadbeenveryproperlycommittedbyMr.FangtotheHouseofCorrectionforonemonth;withtheappropriateandamusingremarkthatsincehehadsomuchbreathtospare,itwouldbemorewholesomelyexpendedonthetreadmillthaninamusicalinstrument.
Hemadenoanswer:beingoccupiedmentallybewailingthelossoftheflute,whichhadbeenconfiscatedfortheuseofthecounty:soNancypassedontothenextcell,andknockedthere.
‘Well!’criedafaintandfeeblevoice.
‘Istherealittleboyhere?’inquiredNancy,withapreliminarysob.
‘No,’repliedthevoice;‘Godforbid.’
Thiswasavagrantofsixty-five,whowasgoingtoprisonfornotplayingtheflute;or,inotherwords,forbegginginthestreets,anddoingnothingforhislivelihood.
Inthenextcellwasanotherman,whowasgoingtothesameprisonforhawkingtinsaucepanswithoutlicense;therebydoingsomethingforhisliving,indefianceoftheStamp-office.
But,asneitherofthesecriminalsansweredtothenameofOliver,orknewanythingabouthim,Nancymadestraightuptothebluffofficerinthestripedwaistcoat;andwiththemostpiteouswailingsandlamentations,renderedmorepiteousbyapromptandefficientuseofthestreet-doorkeyandthelittlebasket,demandedherowndearbrother.
‘Ihaven’tgothim,mydear,’saidtheoldman.
‘Whereishe?’screamedNancy,inadistractedmanner.
‘Why,thegentleman’sgothim,’repliedtheofficer.
‘Whatgentleman!Oh,graciousheavens!Whatgentleman?’exclaimedNancy.
Inreplytothisincoherentquestioning,theoldmaninformedthedeeplyaffectedsisterthatOliverhadbeentakenillintheoffice,anddischargedinconsequenceofawitnesshavingprovedtherobberytohavebeencommittedbyanotherboy,notincustody;andthattheprosecutorhadcarriedhimaway,inaninsensiblecondition,tohisownresidence:ofandconcerningwhich,alltheinformantknewwas,thatitwassomewhereinPentonville,hehavingheardthatwordmentionedinthedirectionstothecoachman.
Inadreadfulstateofdoubtanduncertainty,theagonisedyoungwomanstaggeredtothegate,andthen,exchangingherfalteringwalkforaswiftrun,returnedbythemostdeviousandcomplicatedrouteshecouldthinkof,tothedomicileoftheJew.
Mr.BillSikesnosoonerheardtheaccountoftheexpeditiondelivered,thanheveryhastilycalledupthewhitedog,and,puttingonhishat,expeditiouslydeparted:withoutdevotinganytimetotheformalityofwishingthecompanygood-morning.
‘Wemustknowwhereheis,mydears;hemustbefound,’saidtheJewgreatlyexcited.
‘Charley,donothingbutskulkabout,tillyoubringhomesomenewsofhim!Nancy,mydear,Imusthavehimfound.
Itrusttoyou,mydear,—toyouandtheArtfulforeverything!
Stay,stay,’addedtheJew,unlockingadrawerwithashakinghand;‘there’smoney,mydears.Ishallshutupthisshopto-night.You’llknowwheretofindme!Don’tstophereaminute.Notaninstant,mydears!’
Withthesewords,hepushedthemfromtheroom:andcarefullydouble-lockingandbarringthedoorbehindthem,drewfromitsplaceofconcealmenttheboxwhichhehadunintentionallydisclosedtoOliver.
Then,hehastilyproceededtodisposethewatchesandjewellerybeneathhisclothing.
Arapatthedoorstartledhiminthisoccupation.‘Who’sthere?’hecriedinashrilltone.
‘Me!’repliedthevoiceoftheDodger,throughthekey-hole.
‘Whatnow?’criedtheJewimpatiently.
‘Ishetobekidnappedtotheotherken,Nancysays?’inquiredtheDodger.
‘Yes,’repliedtheJew,‘wherevershelayshandsonhim.Findhim,findhimout,that’sall.Ishallknowwhattodonext;neverfear.’
Theboymurmuredareplyofintelligence:andhurrieddownstairsafterhiscompanions.
‘Hehasnotpeachedsofar,’saidtheJewashepursuedhisoccupation.‘Ifhemeanstoblabusamonghisnewfriends,wemaystophismouthyet.’
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