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Adeptasshewas,inalltheartsofcunninganddissimulation,thegirlNancycouldnotwhollyconcealtheeffectwhichtheknowledgeofthestepshehadtaken,wroughtuponhermind.
SherememberedthatboththecraftyJewandthebrutalSikeshadconfidedtoherschemes,whichhadbeenhiddenfromallothers:inthefullconfidencethatshewastrustworthyandbeyondthereachoftheirsuspicion.
Vileasthoseschemeswere,desperateasweretheiroriginators,andbitteraswereherfeelingstowardsFagin,whohadledher,stepbystep,deeperanddeeperdownintoanabyssofcrimeandmisery,whencewasnoescape;still,thereweretimeswhen,eventowardshim,shefeltsomerelenting,lestherdisclosureshouldbringhimwithintheirongrasphehadsolongeluded,andheshouldfallatlast—richlyashemeritedsuchafate—byherhand.
But,thesewerethemerewanderingsofamindunablewhollytodetachitselffromoldcompanionsandassociations,thoughenabledtofixitselfsteadilyononeobject,andresolvednottobeturnedasidebyanyconsideration.
HerfearsforSikeswouldhavebeenmorepowerfulinducementstorecoilwhiletherewasyettime;butshehadstipulatedthathersecretshouldberigidlykept,shehaddroppednocluewhichcouldleadtohisdiscovery,shehadrefused,evenforhissake,arefugefromalltheguiltandwretchednessthatencompassesher—andwhatmorecouldshedo!Shewasresolved.
Thoughallhermentalstrugglesterminatedinthisconclusion,theyforcedthemselvesuponher,againandagain,andlefttheirtracestoo.
Shegrewpaleandthin,evenwithinafewdays.
Attimes,shetooknoheedofwhatwaspassingbeforeher,ornopartinconversationswhereonce,shewouldhavebeentheloudest.
Atothertimes,shelaughedwithoutmerriment,andwasnoisywithoutamomentafterwards—shesatsilentanddejected,broodingwithherheaduponherhands,whiletheveryeffortbywhichsherousedherself,told,moreforciblythaneventheseindications,thatshewasillatease,andthatherthoughtswereoccupiedwithmattersverydifferentanddistantfromthoseinthecourseofdiscussionbyhercompanions.
ItwasSundaynight,andthebellofthenearestchurchstruckthehour.
SikesandtheJewweretalking,buttheypausedtolisten.
Thegirllookedupfromthelowseatonwhichshecrouched,andlistenedtoo.Eleven.
‘Anhourthissideofmidnight,’saidSikes,raisingtheblindtolookoutandreturningtohisseat.‘Darkandheavyitistoo.Agoodnightforbusinessthis.’
‘Ah!’repliedFagin.‘Whatapity,Bill,mydear,thatthere’snonequitereadytobedone.’
‘You’rerightforonce,’repliedSikesgruffly.‘Itisapity,forI’minthehumourtoo.’
Faginsighed,andshookhisheaddespondingly.
‘Wemustmakeupforlosttimewhenwe’vegotthingsintoagoodtrain.That’sallIknow,’saidSikes.
‘That’sthewaytotalk,mydear,’repliedFagin,venturingtopathimontheshoulder.‘Itdoesmegoodtohearyou.’
‘Doesyougood,doesit!’criedSikes.‘Well,sobeit.’
‘Ha!ha!ha!’laughedFagin,asifhewererelievedbyeventhisconcession.‘You’relikeyourselfto-night,Bill.Quitelikeyourself.’
‘Idon’tfeellikemyselfwhenyoulaythatwitheredoldclawonmyshoulder,sotakeitaway,’saidSikes,castingofftheJew’shand.
‘Itmakeyounervous,Bill,—remindsyouofbeingnabbed,doesit?’saidFagin,determinednottobeoffended.
‘Remindsmeofbeingnabbedbythedevil,’returnedSikes.
‘Thereneverwasanothermanwithsuchafaceasyours,unlessitwasyourfather,andIsupposeheissingeinghisgrizzledredbeardbythistime,unlessyoucamestraightfromtheold‘unwithoutanyfatheratallbetwixtyou;whichIshouldn’twonderat,abit.’
Faginofferednoreplytothiscompliment:but,pullingSikesbythesleeve,pointedhisfingertowardsNancy,whohadtakenadvantageoftheforegoingconversationtoputonherbonnet,andwasnowleavingtheroom.
‘Hallo!’criedSikes.‘Nance.Where’sthegalgoingtoatthistimeofnight?’
‘Notfar.’
‘Whatanswer’sthat?’retortedSikes.‘Doyouhearme?’
‘Idon’tknowwhere,’repliedthegirl.
‘ThenIdo,’saidSikes,moreinthespiritofobstinacythanbecausehehadanyrealobjectiontothegirlgoingwhereshelisted.‘Nowhere.Sitdown.’
‘I’mnotwell.Itoldyouthatbefore,’rejoinedthegirl.‘Iwantabreathofair.’
‘Putyourheadoutofthewinder,’repliedSikes.
‘There’snotenoughthere,’saidthegirl.‘Iwantitinthestreet.’
‘Thenyouwon’thaveit,’repliedSikes.
Withwhichassuranceherose,lockedthedoor,tookthekeyout,andpullingherbonnetfromherhead,flungituptothetopofanoldpress.‘There,’saidtherobber.
‘Nowstopquietlywhereyouare,willyou?’
‘It’snotsuchamatterasabonnetwouldkeepme,’saidthegirlturningverypale.‘Whatdoyoumean,Bill?Doyouknowwhatyou’redoing?’
‘KnowwhatI’m—Oh!’criedSikes,turningtoFagin,‘she’soutofhersenses,youknow,orshedaren’ttalktomeinthatway.’
‘You’lldrivemeonthesomethingdesperate,’mutteredthegirlplacingbothhandsuponherbreast,asthoughtokeepdownbyforcesomeviolentoutbreak.
‘Letmego,willyou,—thisminute—thisinstant.’
‘No!’saidSikes.
‘Tellhimtoletmego,Fagin.Hehadbetter.It’llbebetterforhim.Doyouhearme?’criedNancystampingherfootupontheground.
‘Hearyou!’repeatedSikesturningroundinhischairtoconfronther.‘Aye!
AndifIhearyouforhalfaminutelonger,thedogshallhavesuchagriponyourthroatas’lltearsomeofthatscreamingvoiceout.Wothascomeoveryou,youjade!Wotisit?’
‘Letmego,’saidthegirlwithgreatearnestness;thensittingherselfdownonthefloor,beforethedoor,shesaid,‘Bill,letmego;youdon’tknowwhatyouaredoing.Youdon’t,indeed.Foronlyonehour—do—do!’
‘Cutmylimbsoffonebyone!’criedSikes,seizingherroughlybythearm,‘IfIdon’tthinkthegal’sstarkravingmad.Getup.’
‘Nottillyouletmego—nottillyouletmego—Never—never!’screamedthegirl.
Sikeslookedon,foraminute,watchinghisopportunity,andsuddenlypinioningherhandsdraggedher,strugglingandwrestlingwithhimbytheway,intoasmallroomadjoining,wherehesathimselfonabench,andthrustingherintoachair,heldherdownbyforce.
Shestruggledandimploredbyturnsuntiltwelveo’clockhadstruck,andthen,weariedandexhausted,ceasedtocontestthepointanyfurther.
Withacaution,backedbymanyoaths,tomakenomoreeffortstogooutthatnight,SikeslefthertorecoveratleisureandrejoinedFagin.
‘Whew!’saidthehousebreakerwipingtheperspirationfromhisface.‘Wotapreciousstrangegalthatis!’
‘Youmaysaythat,Bill,’repliedFaginthoughtfully.‘Youmaysaythat.’
‘Wotdidshetakeitintoherheadtogooutto-nightfor,doyouthink?’askedSikes.‘Come;youshouldknowherbetterthanme.Wotdoesitmean?’
‘Obstinacy;woman’sobstinacy,Isuppose,mydear.’
‘Well,Isupposeitis,’growledSikes.‘IthoughtIhadtamedher,butshe’sasbadasever.’
‘Worse,’saidFaginthoughtfully.‘Ineverknewherlikethis,forsuchalittlecause.’
‘NorI,’saidSikes.‘Ithinkshe’sgotatouchofthatfeverinherbloodyet,anditwon’tcomeout—eh?’
‘Likeenough.’
‘I’llletheralittleblood,withouttroublingthedoctor,ifshe’stookthatwayagain,’saidSikes.
Faginnoddedanexpressiveapprovalofthismodeoftreatment.
‘Shewashangingaboutmeallday,andnighttoo,whenIwasstretchedonmyback;andyou,likeablackheartedwolfasyouare,keptyourselfaloof,’saidSikes.
‘Wewaspoortoo,allthetime,andIthink,onewayorother,it’sworriedandfrettedher;andthatbeingshutupheresolonghasmadeherrestless—eh?’
‘That’sit,mydear,’repliedtheJewinawhisper.‘Hush!’
Asheutteredthesewords,thegirlherselfappearedandresumedherformerseat.
Hereyeswereswollenandred;sherockedherselftoandfro;tossedherhead;and,afteralittletime,burstoutlaughing.
‘Why,nowshe’sontheothertack!’exclaimedSikes,turningalookofexcessivesurpriseonhiscompanion.
Faginnoddedtohimtotakenofurthernoticejustthen;and,inafewminutes,thegirlsubsidedintoheraccustomeddemeanour.
WhisperingSikesthattherewasnofearofherrelapsing,Fagintookuphishatandbadehimgood-night.
Hepausedwhenhereachedtheroom-door,andlookinground,askedifsomebodywouldlighthimdownthedarkstairs.
‘Lighthimdown,’saidSikes,whowasfillinghispipe.‘It’sapityheshouldbreakhisneckhimself,anddisappointthesight-seers.Showhimalight.’
Nancyfollowedtheoldmandownstairs,withacandle.Whentheyreachedthepassage,helaidhisfingeronhislip,anddrawingclosetothegirl,said,inawhisper.
‘Whatisit,Nancy,dear?’
‘Whatdoyoumean?’repliedthegirl,inthesametone.
‘Thereasonofallthis,’repliedFagin.‘Ifhe’—hepointedwithhisskinnyfore-fingerupthestairs—’issohardwithyou(he’sabrute,Nance,abrute-beast),whydon’tyou—’
‘Well?’saidthegirl,asFaginpaused,withhismouthalmosttouchingherear,andhiseyeslookingintohers.
‘Nomatterjustnow.We’lltalkofthisagain.
Youhaveafriendinme,Nance;astaunchfriend.
Ihavethemeansathand,quietandclose.
Ifyouwantrevengeonthosethattreatyoulikeadog—likeadog!
worsethanhisdog,forhehumourshimsometimes—cometome.Isay,cometome.
Heisthemerehoundofaday,butyouknowmeofold,Nance.’
‘Iknowyouwell,’repliedthegirl,withoutmanifestingtheleastemotion.‘Good-night.’
Sheshrankback,asFaginofferedtolayhishandonhers,butsaidgood-nightagain,inasteadyvoice,and,answeringhispartinglookwithanodofintelligence,closedthedoorbetweenthem.
Faginwalkedtowardshishome,intentuponthethoughtsthatwereworkingwithinhisbrain.
Hehadconceivedtheidea—notfromwhathadjustpassedthoughthathadtendedtoconfirmhim,butslowlyandbydegrees—thatNancy,weariedofthehousebreaker’sbrutality,hadconceivedanattachmentforsomenewfriend.
Heralteredmanner,herrepeatedabsencesfromhomealone,hercomparativeindifferencetotheinterestsofthegangforwhichshehadoncebeensozealous,and,addedtothese,herdesperateimpatiencetoleavehomethatnightataparticularhour,allfavouredthesupposition,andrenderedit,tohimatleast,almostmatterofcertainty.
Theobjectofthisnewlikingwasnotamonghismyrmidons.
HewouldbeavaluableacquisitionwithsuchanassistantasNancy,andmust(thusFaginargued)besecuredwithoutdelay.
Therewasanother,andadarkerobject,tobegained.
Sikesknewtoomuch,andhisruffiantauntshadnotgalledFagintheless,becausethewoundswerehidden.
Thegirlmustknow,well,thatifsheshookhimoff,shecouldneverbesafefromhisfury,andthatitwouldbesurelywreaked—tothemaimingoflimbs,orperhapsthelossoflife—ontheobjectofhermorerecentfancy.
‘Withalittlepersuasion,’thoughtFagin,‘whatmorelikelythanthatshewouldconsenttopoisonhim?
Womenhavedonesuchthings,andworse,tosecurethesameobjectbeforenow.
Therewouldbethedangerousvillain:themanIhate:gone;anothersecuredinhisplace;andmyinfluenceoverthegirl,withaknowledgeofthiscrimetobackit,unlimited.’
ThesethingspassedthroughthemindofFagin,duringtheshorttimehesatalone,inthehousebreaker’sroom;andwiththemuppermostinhisthoughts,hehadtakentheopportunityafterwardsaffordedhim,ofsoundingthegirlinthebrokenhintshethrewoutatparting.
Therewasnoexpressionofsurprise,noassumptionofaninabilitytounderstandhismeaning.Thegirlclearlycomprehendedit.Herglanceatpartingshowedthat.
ButperhapsshewouldrecoilfromaplottotakethelifeofSikes,andthatwasoneofthechiefendstobeattained.
‘How,’thoughtFagin,ashecrepthomeward,‘canIincreasemyinfluencewithher?WhatnewpowercanIacquire?’
Suchbrainsarefertileinexpedients.If,withoutextractingaconfessionfromherself,helaidawatch,discoveredtheobjectofheralteredregard,andthreatenedtorevealthewholehistorytoSikes(ofwhomshestoodinnocommonfear)unlesssheenteredintohisdesigns,couldhenotsecurehercompliance?
‘Ican,’saidFagin,almostaloud.‘Shedurstnotrefusemethen.Notforherlife,notforherlife!Ihaveitall.Themeansareready,andshallbesettowork.Ishallhaveyouyet!’
Hecastbackadarklook,andathreateningmotionofthehand,towardsthespotwherehehadlefttheboldervillain;andwentonhisway:busyinghisbonyhandsinthefoldsofhistatteredgarment,whichhewrenchedtightlyinhisgrasp,asthoughtherewereahatedenemycrushedwitheverymotionofhisfingers.
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