English
Itwasachill,damp,windynight,whentheJew:buttoninghisgreat-coattightroundhisshrivelledbody,andpullingthecollarupoverhisearssoascompletelytoobscurethelowerpartofhisface:emergedfromhisden.
Hepausedonthestepasthedoorwaslockedandchainedbehindhim;andhavinglistenedwhiletheboysmadeallsecure,anduntiltheirretreatingfootstepswerenolongeraudible,slunkdownthestreetasquicklyashecould.
ThehousetowhichOliverhadbeenconveyed,wasintheneighborhoodofWhitechapel.
TheJewstoppedforaninstantatthecornerofthestreet;and,glancingsuspiciouslyround,crossedtheroad,andstruckoffinthedirectionoftheSpitalfields.
Themudlaythickuponthestones,andablackmisthungoverthestreets;therainfellsluggishlydown,andeverythingfeltcoldandclammytothetouch.
ItseemedjustthenightwhenitbefittedsuchabeingastheJewtobeabroad.
Asheglidedstealthilyalong,creepingbeneaththeshelterofthewallsanddoorways,thehideousoldmanseemedlikesomeloathsomereptile,engenderedintheslimeanddarknessthroughwhichhemoved:crawlingforth,bynight,insearchofsomerichoffalforameal.
Hekeptonhiscourse,throughmanywindingandnarrowways,untilhereachedBethnalGreen;then,turningsuddenlyofftotheleft,hesoonbecameinvolvedinamazeofthemeananddirtystreetswhichaboundinthatcloseanddensely-populatedquarter.
TheJewwasevidentlytoofamiliarwiththegroundhetraversedtobeatallbewildered,eitherbythedarknessofthenight,ortheintricaciesoftheway.
Hehurriedthroughseveralalleysandstreets,andatlengthturnedintoone,lightedonlybyasinglelampatthefartherend.
Atthedoorofahouseinthisstreet,heknocked;havingexchangedafewmutteredwordswiththepersonwhoopenedit,hewalkedupstairs.
Adoggrowledashetouchedthehandleofaroom-door;andaman’svoicedemandedwhowasthere.
‘Onlyme,Bill;onlyme,mydear,’saidtheJewlookingin.
‘Bringinyourbodythen,’saidSikes.‘Liedown,youstupidbrute!Don’tyouknowthedevilwhenhe’sgotagreat-coaton?’
Apparently,thedoghadbeensomewhatdeceivedbyMr.Fagin’soutergarment;forastheJewunbuttonedit,andthrewitoverthebackofachair,heretiredtothecornerfromwhichhehadrisen:wagginghistailashewent,toshowthathewasaswellsatisfiedasitwasinhisnaturetobe.
‘Well!’saidSikes.
‘Well,mydear,’repliedtheJew.—’Ah!Nancy.’
Thelatterrecognitionwasutteredwithjustenoughofembarrassmenttoimplyadoubtofitsreception;forMr.Faginandhisyoungfriendhadnotmet,sinceshehadinterferedinbehalfofOliver.
Alldoubtsuponthesubject,ifhehadany,werespeedilyremovedbytheyounglady’sbehaviour.
Shetookherfeetoffthefender,pushedbackherchair,andbadeFagindrawuphis,withoutsayingmoreaboutit:foritwasacoldnight,andnomistake.
‘Itiscold,Nancydear,’saidtheJew,ashewarmedhisskinnyhandsoverthefire.‘Itseemstogorightthroughone,’addedtheoldman,touchinghisside.
‘Itmustbeapiercer,ifitfindsitswaythroughyourheart,’saidMr.Sikes.‘Givehimsomethingtodrink,Nancy.Burnmybody,makehaste!
It’senoughtoturnamanill,toseehisleanoldcarcaseshiveringinthatway,likeauglyghostjustrosefromthegrave.’
Nancyquicklybroughtabottlefromacupboard,inwhichthereweremany:which,tojudgefromthediversityoftheirappearance,werefilledwithseveralkindsofliquids.
Sikespouringoutaglassofbrandy,badetheJewdrinkitoff.
‘Quiteenough,quite,thankye,Bill,’repliedtheJew,puttingdowntheglassafterjustsettinghislipstoit.
‘What!You’reafraidofourgettingthebetterofyou,areyou?’inquiredSikes,fixinghiseyesontheJew.‘Ugh!’
Withahoarsegruntofcontempt,Mr.Sikesseizedtheglass,andthrewtheremainderofitscontentsintotheashes:asapreparatoryceremonytofillingitagainforhimself:whichhedidatonce.
TheJewglancedroundtheroom,ashiscompaniontosseddownthesecondglassful;notincuriousity,forhehadseenitoftenbefore;butinarestlessandsuspiciousmannerhabitualtohim.
Itwasameanlyfurnishedapartment,withnothingbutthecontentsoftheclosettoinducethebeliefthatitsoccupierwasanythingbutaworkingman;andwithnomoresuspiciousarticlesdisplayedtoviewthantwoorthreeheavybludgeonswhichstoodinacorner,anda‘life-preserver’thathungoverthechimney-piece.
‘There,’saidSikes,smackinghislips.‘NowI’mready.’
‘Forbusiness?’inquiredtheJew.
‘Forbusiness,’repliedSikes;‘sosaywhatyou’vegottosay.’
‘AboutthecribatChertsey,Bill?’saidtheJew,drawinghischairforward,andspeakinginaverylowvoice.
‘Yes.Wotaboutit?’inquiredSikes.
‘Ah!youknowwhatImean,mydear,’saidtheJew.‘HeknowswhatImean,Nancy;don’the?’
‘No,hedon’t,’sneeredMr.Sikes.‘Orhewon’t,andthat’sthesamething.
Speakout,andcallthingsbytheirrightnames;don’tsitthere,winkingandblinking,andtalkingtomeinhints,asifyouwarn’ttheveryfirstthatthoughtabouttherobbery.Wotd’yemean?’
‘Hush,Bill,hush!’saidtheJew,whohadinvainattemptedtostopthisburstofindignation;‘somebodywillhearus,mydear.Somebodywillhearus.’
‘Let‘emhear!’saidSikes;‘Idon’tcare.’ButasMr.SikesDIDcare,onreflection,hedroppedhisvoiceashesaidthewords,andgrewcalmer.
‘There,there,’saidtheJew,coaxingly.‘Itwasonlymycaution,nothingmore.
Now,mydear,aboutthatcribatChertsey;whenisittobedone,Bill,eh?Whenisittobedone?Suchplate,mydear,suchplate!’
saidtheJew:rubbinghishands,andelevatinghiseyebrowsinaraptureofanticipation.
‘Notatall,’repliedSikescoldly.
‘Nottobedoneatall!’echoedtheJew,leaningbackinhischair.
‘No,notatall,’rejoinedSikes.‘Atleastitcan’tbeaput-upjob,asweexpected.’
‘Thenithasn’tbeenproperlygoneabout,’saidtheJew,turningpalewithanger.‘Don’ttellme!’
‘ButIwilltellyou,’retortedSikes.‘Whoareyouthat’snottobetold?ItellyouthatTobyCrackithasbeenhangingabouttheplaceforafortnight,andhecan’tgetoneoftheservantsinline.’
‘Doyoumeantotellme,Bill,’saidtheJew:softeningastheothergrewheated:‘thatneitherofthetwomeninthehousecanbegotover?’
‘Yes,Idomeantotellyouso,’repliedSikes.‘Theoldladyhashad‘emthesetwentyyears;andifyouweretogive‘emfivehundredpound,theywouldn’tbeinit.’
‘Butdoyoumeantosay,mydear,’remonstratedtheJew,‘thatthewomencan’tbegotover?’
‘Notabitofit,’repliedSikes.
‘NotbyflashTobyCrackit?’saidtheJewincredulously.‘Thinkwhatwomenare,Bill,’
‘No;notevenbyflashTobyCrackit,’repliedSikes.‘Hesayshe’swornshamwhiskers,andacanarywaistcoat,thewholeblessedtimehe’sbeenloiteringdownthere,andit’sallofnouse.’
‘Heshouldhavetriedmustachiosandapairofmilitarytrousers,mydear,’saidtheJew.
‘Sohedid,’rejoinedSikes,‘andtheywarn’tofnomoreusethantheotherplant.’
TheJewlookedblankatthisinformation.
Afterruminatingforsomeminuteswithhischinsunkonhisbreast,heraisedhisheadandsaid,withadeepsigh,thatifflashTobyCrackitreportedaright,hefearedthegamewasup.
‘Andyet,’saidtheoldman,droppinghishandsonhisknees,‘it’sasadthing,mydear,tolosesomuchwhenwehadsetourheartsuponit.’
‘Soitis,’saidMr.Sikes.‘Worseluck!’
Alongsilenceensued;duringwhichtheJewwasplungedindeepthought,withhisfacewrinkledintoanexpressionofvillainyperfectlydemoniacal.
Sikeseyedhimfurtivelyfromtimetotime.
Nancy,apparentlyfearfulofirritatingthehousebreaker,satwithhereyesfixeduponthefire,asifshehadbeendeaftoallthatpassed.
‘Fagin,’saidSikes,abruptlybreakingthestillnessthatprevailed;‘isitworthfiftyshinersextra,ifit’ssafelydonefromtheoutside?’
‘Yes,’saidtheJew,assuddenlyrousinghimself.
‘Isitabargain?’inquiredSikes.
‘Yes,mydear,yes,’rejoinedtheJew;hiseyesglistening,andeverymuscleinhisfaceworking,withtheexcitementthattheinquiryhadawakened.
‘Then,’saidSikes,thrustingasidetheJew’shand,withsomedisdain,‘letitcomeoffassoonasyoulike.
Tobyandmewereoverthegarden-wallthenightaforelast,soundingthepanelsofthedoorandshutters.
Thecrib’sbarredupatnightlikeajail;butthere’sonepartwecancrack,safeandsoftly.’
‘Whichisthat,Bill?’askedtheJeweagerly.
‘Why,’whisperedSikes,‘asyoucrossthelawn—’
‘Yes?’saidtheJew,bendinghisheadforward,withhiseyesalmoststartingoutofit.
‘Umph!’criedSikes,stoppingshort,asthegirl,scarcelymovingherhead,lookedsuddenlyround,andpointedforaninstanttotheJew’sface.‘Nevermindwhichpartitis.
Youcan’tdoitwithoutme,Iknow;butit’sbesttobeonthesafesidewhenonedealswithyou.’
‘Asyoulike,mydear,asyoulike’repliedtheJew.‘Istherenohelpwanted,butyoursandToby’s?’
‘None,’saidSikes.‘Ceptacentre-bitandaboy.Thefirstwe’vebothgot;thesecondyoumustfindus.’
‘Aboy!’exclaimedtheJew.‘Oh!thenit’sapanel,eh?’
‘Nevermindwotitis!’repliedSikes.
‘Iwantaboy,andhemusn’tbeabig‘un.Lord!’
saidMr.Sikes,reflectively,‘ifI’donlygotthatyoungboyofNed,thechimbley-sweeper’s!
Hekepthimsmallonpurpose,andlethimoutbythejob.
Butthefathergetslagged;andthentheJuvenileDelinquentSocietycomes,andtakestheboyawayfromatradewherehewasearningmoney,teacheshimtoreadandwrite,andintimemakesa‘prenticeofhim.
Andsotheygoon,’saidMr.Sikes,hiswrathrisingwiththerecollectionofhiswrongs,‘sotheygoon;and,ifthey’dgotmoneyenough(whichit’saProvidencetheyhaven’t,)weshouldn’thavehalfadozenboysleftinthewholetrade,inayearortwo.’
‘Nomoreweshould,’acquiescedtheJew,whohadbeenconsideringduringthisspeech,andhadonlycaughtthelastsentence.‘Bill!’
‘Whatnow?’inquiredSikes.
TheJewnoddedhisheadtowardsNancy,whowasstillgazingatthefire;andintimated,byasign,thathewouldhavehertoldtoleavetheroom.
Sikesshruggedhisshouldersimpatiently,asifhethoughttheprecautionunnecessary;butcomplied,nevertheless,byrequestingMissNancytofetchhimajugofbeer.
‘Youdon’twantanybeer,’saidNancy,foldingherarms,andretainingherseatverycomposedly.
‘ItellyouIdo!’repliedSikes.
‘Nonsense,’rejoinedthegirlcoolly,‘Goon,Fagin.Iknowwhathe’sgoingtosay,Bill;heneedn’tmindme.’
TheJewstillhesitated.Sikeslookedfromonetotheotherinsomesurprise.
‘Why,youdon’tmindtheoldgirl,doyou,Fagin?’heaskedatlength.‘You’veknownherlongenoughtotrusther,ortheDevil’sinit.Sheain’tonetoblab.AreyouNancy?’
‘Ishouldthinknot!’repliedtheyounglady:drawingherchairuptothetable,andputtingherelbowsuponit.
‘No,no,mydear,Iknowyou’renot,’saidtheJew;‘but—’andagaintheoldmanpaused.
‘Butwot?’inquiredSikes.
‘Ididn’tknowwhethershemightn’tp’r’apsbeoutofsorts,youknow,mydear,asshewastheothernight,’repliedtheJew.
Atthisconfession,MissNancyburstintoaloudlaugh;and,swallowingaglassofbrandy,shookherheadwithanairofdefiance,andburstintosundryexclamationsof‘Keepthegamea-going!’‘Neversaydie!’andthelike.
Theseseemedtohavetheeffectofre-assuringbothgentlemen;fortheJewnoddedhisheadwithasatisfiedair,andresumedhisseat:asdidMr.Sikeslikewise.
‘Now,Fagin,’saidNancywithalaugh.‘TellBillatonce,aboutOliver!’
‘Ha!you’reacleverone,mydear:thesharpestgirlIeversaw!’saidtheJew,pattingherontheneck.‘ItWASaboutOliverIwasgoingtospeak,sureenough.Ha!ha!ha!’
‘Whatabouthim?’demandedSikes.
‘He’stheboyforyou,mydear,’repliedtheJewinahoarsewhisper;layinghisfingeronthesideofhisnose,andgrinningfrightfully.
‘He!’exclaimed.Sikes.
‘Havehim,Bill!’saidNancy.‘Iwould,ifIwasinyourplace.
Hemayn’tbesomuchup,asanyoftheothers;butthat’snotwhatyouwant,ifhe’sonlytoopenadoorforyou.Dependuponithe’sasafeone,Bill.’
‘Iknowheis,’rejoinedFagin.‘He’sbeeningoodtrainingtheselastfewweeks,andit’stimehebegantoworkforhisbread.Besides,theothersarealltoobig.’
‘Well,heisjustthesizeIwant,’saidMr.Sikes,ruminating.
‘Andwilldoeverythingyouwant,Bill,mydear,’interposedtheJew;‘hecan’thelphimself.Thatis,ifyoufrightenhimenough.’
‘Frightenhim!’echoedSikes.
‘It’llbenoshamfrightening,mindyou.
Ifthere’sanythingqueerabouthimwhenweoncegetintothework;inforapenny,inforapound.Youwon’tseehimaliveagain,Fagin.Thinkofthat,beforeyousendhim.Markmywords!’
saidtherobber,poisingacrowbar,whichhehaddrawnfromunderthebedstead.
‘I’vethoughtofitall,’saidtheJewwithenergy.
‘I’ve—I’vehadmyeyeuponhim,mydears,close—close.
Oncelethimfeelthatheisoneofus;oncefillhismindwiththeideathathehasbeenathief;andhe’sours!Oursforhislife.Oho!Itcouldn’thavecomeaboutbetter!
Theoldmancrossedhisarmsuponhisbreast;and,drawinghisheadandshouldersintoaheap,literallyhuggedhimselfforjoy.
‘Ours!’saidSikes.‘Yours,youmean.’
‘PerhapsIdo,mydear,’saidtheJew,withashrillchuckle.‘Mine,ifyoulike,Bill.’
‘Andwot,’saidSikes,scowlingfiercelyonhisagreeablefriend,‘wotmakesyoutakesomuchpainsaboutonechalk-facedkid,whenyouknowtherearefiftyboyssnoozingaboutCommonGardeneverynight,asyoumightpickandchoosefrom?’
‘Becausethey’reofnousetome,mydear,’repliedtheJew,withsomeconfusion,‘notworththetaking.
Theirlooksconvict‘emwhentheygetintotrouble,andIlose‘emall.
Withthisboy,properlymanaged,mydears,IcoulddowhatIcouldn’twithtwentyofthem.
Besides,’saidtheJew,recoveringhisself-possession,‘hehasusnowifhecouldonlygiveusleg-bailagain;andhemustbeinthesameboatwithus.
Nevermindhowhecamethere;it’squiteenoughformypoweroverhimthathewasinarobbery;that’sallIwant.
Now,howmuchbetterthisis,thanbeingobligedtoputthepoorleetleboyoutoftheway—whichwouldbedangerous,andweshouldlosebyitbesides.’
‘Whenisittobedone?’askedNancy,stoppingsometurbulentexclamationonthepartofMr.Sikes,expressiveofthedisgustwithwhichhereceivedFagin’saffectationofhumanity.
‘Ah,tobesure,’saidtheJew;‘whenisittobedone,Bill?’
‘IplannedwithToby,thenightarterto-morrow,’rejoinedSikesinasurlyvoice,‘ifheheerdnothingfrommetothecontrairy.’
‘Good,’saidtheJew;‘there’snomoon.’
‘No,’rejoinedSikes.
‘It’sallarrangedaboutbringingofftheswag,isit?’askedtheJew.
Sikesnodded.
‘Andabout—’
‘Oh,ah,it’sallplanned,’rejoinedSikes,interruptinghim.‘Nevermindparticulars.
You’dbetterbringtheboyhereto-morrownight.
Ishallgetoffthestoneanhourarterdaybreak.
Thenyouholdyourtongue,andkeepthemelting-potready,andthat’sallyou’llhavetodo.’
Aftersomediscussion,inwhichallthreetookanactivepart,itwasdecidedthatNancyshouldrepairtotheJew’snexteveningwhenthenighthadsetin,andbringOliverawaywithher;Fagincraftilyobserving,that,ifheevincedanydisinclinationtothetask,hewouldbemorewillingtoaccompanythegirlwhohadsorecentlyinterferedinhisbehalf,thananybodyelse.
ItwasalsosolemnlyarrangedthatpoorOlivershould,forthepurposesofthecontemplatedexpedition,beunreservedlyconsignedtothecareandcustodyofMr.WilliamSikes;andfurther,thatthesaidSikesshoulddealwithhimashethoughtfit;andshouldnotbeheldresponsiblebytheJewforanymischanceorevilthatmightbenecessarytovisithim:itbeingunderstoodthat,torenderthecompactinthisrespectbinding,anyrepresentationsmadebyMr.Sikesonhisreturnshouldberequiredtobeconfirmedandcorroborated,inallimportantparticulars,bythetestimonyofflashTobyCrackit.
Thesepreliminariesadjusted,Mr.Sikesproceededtodrinkbrandyatafuriousrate,andtoflourishthecrowbarinanalarmingmanner;yellingforth,atthesametime,mostunmusicalsnatchesofsong,mingledwithwildexecrations.
Atlength,inafitofprofessionalenthusiasm,heinsisteduponproducinghisboxofhousebreakingtools:whichhehadnosoonerstumbledinwith,andopenedforthepurposeofexplainingthenatureandpropertiesofthevariousimplementsitcontained,andthepeculiarbeautiesoftheirconstruction,thanhefellovertheboxuponthefloor,andwenttosleepwherehefell.
‘Good-night,Nancy,’saidtheJew,mufflinghimselfupasbefore.
‘Good-night.’
Theireyesmet,andtheJewscrutinisedher,narrowly.Therewasnoflinchingaboutthegirl.ShewasastrueandearnestinthematterasTobyCrackithimselfcouldbe.
TheJewagainbadehergood-night,and,bestowingaslykickupontheprostrateformofMr.Sikeswhileherbackwasturned,gropeddownstairs.
‘Alwaystheway!’mutteredtheJewtohimselfasheturnedhomeward.
‘Theworstofthesewomenis,thataverylittlethingservestocallupsomelong-forgottenfeeling;and,thebestofthemis,thatitneverlasts.Ha!ha!
Themanagainstthechild,forabagofgold!’
Beguilingthetimewiththesepleasantreflections,Mr.Faginwendedhisway,throughmudandmire,tohisgloomyabode:wheretheDodgerwassittingup,impatientlyawaitinghisreturn.
‘IsOlivera-bed?Iwanttospeaktohim,’washisfirstremarkastheydescendedthestairs.
‘Hoursago,’repliedtheDodger,throwingopenadoor.‘Hereheis!’
Theboywaslying,fastasleep,onarudebeduponthefloor;sopalewithanxiety,andsadness,andtheclosenessofhisprison,thathelookedlikedeath;notdeathasitshowsinshroudandcoffin,butintheguiseitwearswhenlifehasjustdeparted;whenayoungandgentlespirithas,butaninstant,fledtoHeaven,andthegrossairoftheworldhasnothadtimetobreatheuponthechangingdustithallowed.
‘Notnow,’saidtheJew,turningsoftlyaway.‘To-morrow.To-morrow.’
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