English
Intheobscureparlourofalowpublic-house,inthefilthiestpartofLittleSaffronHill;adarkandgloomyden,whereaflaringgas-lightburntalldayinthewinter-time;andwherenorayofsunevershoneinthesummer:theresat,broodingoveralittlepewtermeasureandasmallglass,stronglyimpregnatedwiththesmellofliquor,amaninavelveteencoat,drabshorts,half-bootsandstockings,whomevenbythatdimlightnoexperiencedagentofthepolicewouldhavehesitatedtorecogniseasMr.WilliamSikes.
Athisfeet,satawhite-coated,red-eyeddog;whooccupiedhimself,alternately,inwinkingathismasterwithbotheyesatthesametime;andinlickingalarge,freshcutononesideofhismouth,whichappearedtobetheresultofsomerecentconflict.
‘Keepquiet,youwarmint!Keepquiet!’
saidMr.Sikes,suddenlybreakingsilence.
Whetherhismeditationsweresointenseastobedisturbedbythedog’swinking,orwhetherhisfeelingsweresowroughtuponbyhisreflectionsthattheyrequiredallthereliefderivablefromkickinganunoffendinganimaltoallaythem,ismatterforargumentandconsideration.
Whateverwasthecause,theeffectwasakickandacurse,bestoweduponthedogsimultaneously.
Dogsarenotgenerallyapttorevengeinjuriesinflicteduponthembytheirmasters;butMr.Sikes’sdog,havingfaultsoftemperincommonwithhisowner,andlabouring,perhaps,atthismoment,underapowerfulsenseofinjury,madenomoreadobutatoncefixedhisteethinoneofthehalf-boots.
Havinggiveninaheartyshake,heretired,growling,underaform;justescapingthepewtermeasurewhichMr.Sikeslevelledathishead.
‘Youwould,wouldyou?’saidSikes,seizingthepokerinonehand,anddeliberatelyopeningwiththeotheralargeclasp-knife,whichhedrewfromhispocket.‘Comehere,youborndevil!Comehere!D’yehear?’
Thedognodoubtheard;becauseMr.Sikesspokeintheveryharshestkeyofaveryharshvoice;but,appearingtoentertainsomeunaccountableobjectiontohavinghisthroatcut,heremainedwherehewas,andgrowledmorefiercelythanbefore:atthesametimegraspingtheendofthepokerbetweenhisteeth,andbitingatitlikeawildbeast.
ThisresistanceonlyinfuriatedMr.Sikesthemore;who,droppingonhisknees,begantoassailtheanimalmostfuriously.
Thedogjumpedfromrighttoleft,andfromlefttoright;snapping,growling,andbarking;themanthrustandswore,andstruckandblasphemed;andthestrugglewasreachingamostcriticalpointforoneorother;when,thedoorsuddenlyopening,thedogdartedout:leavingBillSikeswiththepokerandtheclasp-knifeinhishands.
Theremustalwaysbetwopartiestoaquarrel,saystheoldadage.Mr.Sikes,beingdisappointedofthedog’sparticipation,atoncetransferredhisshareinthequarreltothenewcomer.
‘Whatthedevildoyoucomeinbetweenmeandmydogfor?’saidSikes,withafiercegesture.
‘Ididn’tknow,mydear,Ididn’tknow,’repliedFagin,humbly;fortheJewwasthenewcomer.
‘Didn’tknow,youwhite-liveredthief!’growledSikes.‘Couldn’tyouhearthenoise?’
‘Notasoundofit,asI’malivingman,Bill,’repliedtheJew.
‘Ohno!Youhearnothing,youdon’t,’retortedSikeswithafiercesneer.‘Sneakinginandout,soasnobodyhearshowyoucomeorgo!Iwishyouhadbeenthedog,Fagin,halfaminuteago.’
‘Why?’inquiredtheJewwithaforcedsmile.
‘Causethegovernment,ascaresforthelivesofsuchmenasyou,ashaven’thalfthepluckofcurs,letsamankilladoghowhelikes,’repliedSikes,shuttinguptheknifewithaveryexpressivelook;‘that’swhy.’
TheJewrubbedhishands;and,sittingdownatthetable,affectedtolaughatthepleasantryofhisfriend.Hewasobviouslyveryillatease,however.
‘Grinaway,’saidSikes,replacingthepoker,andsurveyinghimwithsavagecontempt;‘grinaway.
You’llneverhavethelaughatme,though,unlessit’sbehindanightcap.
I’vegottheupperhandoveryou,Fagin;and,d—me,I’llkeepit.There!IfIgo,yougo;sotakecareofme.’
‘Well,well,mydear,’saidtheJew,‘Iknowallthat;we—we—haveamutualinterest,Bill,—amutualinterest.’
‘Humph,’saidSikes,asifhethoughttheinterestlayrathermoreontheJew’ssidethanonhis.‘Well,whathaveyougottosaytome?’
‘It’sallpassedsafethroughthemelting-pot,’repliedFagin,‘andthisisyourshare.It’srathermorethanitoughttobe,mydear;butasIknowyou’lldomeagoodturnanothertime,and—’
‘Stowthatgammon,’interposedtherobber,impatiently.‘Whereisit?Handover!’
‘Yes,yes,Bill;givemetime,givemetime,’repliedtheJew,soothingly.‘Hereitis!Allsafe!’
Ashespoke,hedrewforthanoldcottonhandkerchieffromhisbreast;anduntyingalargeknotinonecorner,producedasmallbrown-paperpacket.
Sikes,snatchingitfromhim,hastilyopenedit;andproceededtocountthesovereignsitcontained.
‘Thisisall,isit?’inquiredSikes.
‘All,’repliedtheJew.
‘Youhaven’topenedtheparcelandswallowedoneortwoasyoucomealong,haveyou?’inquiredSikes,suspiciously.
‘Don’tputonaninjuredlookatthequestion;you’vedoneitmanyatime.Jerkthetinkler.’
Thesewords,inplainEnglish,conveyedaninjunctiontoringthebell.ItwasansweredbyanotherJew:youngerthanFagin,butnearlyasvileandrepulsiveinappearance.
BillSikesmerelypointedtotheemptymeasure.
TheJew,perfectlyunderstandingthehint,retiredtofillit:previouslyexchangingaremarkablelookwithFagin,whoraisedhiseyesforaninstant,asifinexpectationofit,andshookhisheadinreply;soslightlythattheactionwouldhavebeenalmostimperceptibletoanobservantthirdperson.
ItwaslostuponSikes,whowasstoopingatthemomenttotietheboot-lacewhichthedoghadtorn.
Possibly,ifhehadobservedthebriefinterchangeofsignals,hemighthavethoughtthatitbodednogoodtohim.
‘Isanybodyhere,Barney?’inquiredFagin;speaking,nowthatthatSikeswaslookingon,withoutraisinghiseyesfromtheground.
‘Dotashoul,’repliedBarney;whosewords:whethertheycamefromtheheartornot:madetheirwaythroughthenose.
‘Nobody?’inquiredFagin,inatoneofsurprise:whichperhapsmightmeanthatBarneywasatlibertytotellthetruth.
‘DobodybutBissDadsy,’repliedBarney.
‘Nancy!’exclaimedSikes.‘Where?Strikemeblind,ifIdon’thonourthat‘eregirl,forhernativetalents.’
‘She’sbidhavidaplateofboiledbeefidthebar,’repliedBarney.
‘Sendherhere,’saidSikes,pouringoutaglassofliquor.‘Sendherhere.’
BarneylookedtimidlyatFagin,asifforpermission;theJewremainingsilent,andnotliftinghiseyesfromtheground,heretired;andpresentlyreturned,usheringinNancy;whowasdecoratedwiththebonnet,apron,basket,andstreet-doorkey,complete.
‘Youareonthescent,areyou,Nancy?’inquiredSikes,profferingtheglass.
‘Yes,Iam,Bill,’repliedtheyounglady,disposingofitscontents;‘andtiredenoughofitIam,too.Theyoungbrat’sbeenillandconfinedtothecrib;and—’
‘Ah,Nancy,dear!’saidFagin,lookingup.
Now,whetherapeculiarcontractionoftheJew’sredeye-brows,andahalfclosingofhisdeeply-seteyes,warnedMissNancythatshewasdisposedtobetoocommunicative,isnotamatterofmuchimportance.
Thefactisallweneedcareforhere;andthefactis,thatshesuddenlycheckedherself,andwithseveralgracioussmilesuponMr.Sikes,turnedtheconversationtoothermatters.
Inabouttenminutes’time,Mr.Faginwasseizedwithafitofcoughing;uponwhichNancypulledhershawloverhershoulders,anddeclareditwastimetogo.
Mr.Sikes,findingthathewaswalkingashortpartofherwayhimself,expressedhisintentionofaccompanyingher;theywentawaytogether,followed,atalittledistant,bythedog,whoslunkoutofaback-yardassoonashismasterwasoutofsight.
TheJewthrusthisheadoutoftheroomdoorwhenSikeshadleftit;lookedafterhimaswewalkedupthedarkpassage;shookhisclenchedfist;mutteredadeepcurse;andthen,withahorriblegrin,reseatedhimselfatthetable;wherehewassoondeeplyabsorbedintheinterestingpagesoftheHue-and-Cry.
Meanwhile,OliverTwist,littledreamingthathewaswithinsoveryshortadistanceofthemerryoldgentleman,wasonhiswaytothebook-stall.
WhenhegotintoClerkenwell,heaccidentlyturneddownaby-streetwhichwasnotexactlyinhisway;butnotdiscoveringhismistakeuntilhehadgothalf-waydownit,andknowingitmustleadintherightdirection,hedidnotthinkitworthwhiletoturnback;andsomarchedon,asquicklyashecould,withthebooksunderhisarm.
Hewaswalkingalong,thinkinghowhappyandcontentedheoughttofeel;andhowmuchhewouldgiveforonlyonelookatpoorlittleDick,who,starvedandbeaten,mightbeweepingbitterlyatthatverymoment;whenhewasstartledbyayoungwomanscreamingoutveryloud.‘Oh,mydearbrother!’
Andhehadhardlylookedup,toseewhatthematterwas,whenhewasstoppedbyhavingapairofarmsthrowntightroundhisneck.
‘Don’t,’criedOliver,struggling.‘Letgoofme.Whoisit?Whatareyoustoppingmefor?’
Theonlyreplytothis,wasagreatnumberofloudlamentationsfromtheyoungwomanwhohadembracedhim;andwhohadalittlebasketandastreet-doorkeyinherhand.
‘Ohmygracious!’saidtheyoungwoman,‘Ihavefoundhim!Oh!Oliver!Oliver!
Ohyounaughtyboy,tomakemesuffersuchdistressonyouraccount!Comehome,dear,come.Oh,I’vefoundhim.
Thankgraciousgoodnessheavins,I’vefoundhim!’
Withtheseincoherentexclamations,theyoungwomanburstintoanotherfitofcrying,andgotsodreadfullyhysterical,thatacoupleofwomenwhocameupatthemomentaskedabutcher’sboywithashinyheadofhairanointedwithsuet,whowasalsolookingon,whetherhedidn’tthinkhehadbetterrunforthedoctor.
Towhich,thebutcher’sboy:whoappearedofalounging,nottosayindolentdisposition:replied,thathethoughtnot.
‘Oh,no,no,nevermind,’saidtheyoungwoman,graspingOliver’shand;‘I’mbetternow.Comehomedirectly,youcruelboy!Come!’
‘Oh,ma’am,’repliedtheyoungwoman,‘heranaway,nearamonthago,fromhisparents,whoarehard-workingandrespectablepeople;andwentandjoinedasetofthievesandbadcharacters;andalmostbrokehismother’sheart.’
‘Youngwretch!’saidonewoman.
‘Gohome,do,youlittlebrute,’saidtheother.
‘Iamnot,’repliedOliver,greatlyalarmed.‘Idon’tknowher.Ihaven’tanysister,orfatherandmothereither.I’manorphan;IliveatPentonville.’
‘Onlyhearhim,howhebravesitout!’criedtheyoungwoman.
‘Why,it’sNancy!’exclaimedOliver;whonowsawherfaceforthefirsttime;andstartedback,inirrepressibleastonishment.
‘Youseeheknowsme!’criedNancy,appealingtothebystanders.‘Hecan’thelphimself.Makehimcomehome,there’sgoodpeople,orhe’llkillhisdearmotherandfather,andbreakmyheart!’
‘Whatthedevil’sthis?’saidaman,burstingoutofabeer-shop,withawhitedogathisheels;‘youngOliver!Comehometoyourpoormother,youyoungdog!Comehomedirectly.’
‘Idon’tbelongtothem.Idon’tknowthem.Help!help!’criedOliver,strugglingintheman’spowerfulgrasp.
‘Help!’repeatedtheman.‘Yes;I’llhelpyou,youyoungrascal!
Whatbooksarethese?You’vebeenastealing‘em,haveyou?Give‘emhere.’Withthesewords,themantorethevolumesfromhisgrasp,andstruckhimonthehead.
‘That’sright!’criedalooker-on,fromagarret-window.‘That’stheonlywayofbringinghimtohissenses!’
‘Tobesure!’criedasleepy-facedcarpenter,castinganapprovinglookatthegarret-window.
‘It’lldohimgood!’saidthetwowomen.
‘Andheshallhaveit,too!’rejoinedtheman,administeringanotherblow,andseizingOliverbythecollar.‘Comeon,youyoungvillain!Here,Bull’s-eye,mindhim,boy!Mindhim!’
Weakwithrecentillness;stupifiedbytheblowsandthesuddennessoftheattack;terrifiedbythefiercegrowlingofthedog,andthebrutalityoftheman;overpoweredbytheconvictionofthebystandersthathereallywasthehardenedlittlewretchhewasdescribedtobe;whatcouldonepoorchilddo!
Darknesshadsetin;itwasalowneighborhood;nohelpwasnear;resistancewasuseless.
Inanothermomenthewasdraggedintoalabyrinthofdarknarrowcourts,andwasforcedalongthematapacewhichrenderedthefewcrieshedaredtogiveutteranceto,unintelligible.
Itwasoflittlemoment,indeed,whethertheywereintelligibleorno;fortherewasnobodytocareforthem,hadtheybeeneversoplain.
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Thegas-lampswerelighted;Mrs.Bedwinwaswaitinganxiouslyattheopendoor;theservanthadrunupthestreettwentytimestoseeiftherewereanytracesofOliver;andstillthetwooldgentlemensat,perseveringly,inthedarkparlour,withthewatchbetweenthem.
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