English
Itwasnearlytwohoursbeforeday-break;thattimewhichintheautumnoftheyear,maybetrulycalledthedeadofnight;whenthestreetsaresilentanddeserted;whenevensoundsappeartoslumber,andprofligacyandriothavestaggeredhometodream;itwasatthisstillandsilenthour,thatFaginsatwatchinginhisoldlair,withfacesodistortedandpale,andeyessoredandblood-shot,thathelookedlesslikeaman,thanlikesomehideousphantom,moistfromthegrave,andworriedbyanevilspirit.
Hesatcrouchingoveracoldhearth,wrappedinanoldtorncoverlet,withhisfaceturnedtowardsawastingcandlethatstooduponatablebyhisside.
Hisrighthandwasraisedtohislips,andas,absorbedinthought,hehithislongblacknails,hedisclosedamonghistoothlessgumsafewsuchfangsasshouldhavebeenadog’sorrat’s.
Stretcheduponamattressonthefloor,layNoahClaypole,fastasleep.
Towardshimtheoldmansometimesdirectedhiseyesforaninstant,andthenbroughtthembackagaintothecandle;whichwithalong-burntwickdroopingalmostdouble,andhotgreasefallingdowninclotsuponthetable,plainlyshowedthathisthoughtswerebusyelsewhere.
Indeedtheywere.Mortificationattheoverthrowofhisnotablescheme;hatredofthegirlwhohaddaredtopalterwithstrangers;andutterdistrustofthesincerityofherrefusaltoyieldhimup;bitterdisappointmentatthelossofhisrevengeonSikes;thefearofdetection,andruin,anddeath;andafierceanddeadlyragekindledbyall;thesewerethepassionateconsiderationswhich,followingcloseuponeachotherwithrapidandceaselesswhirl,shotthroughthebrainofFagin,aseveryevilthoughtandblackestpurposelayworkingathisheart.
Hesatwithoutchanginghisattitudeintheleast,orappearingtotakethesmallestheedoftime,untilhisquickearseemedtobeattractedbyafootstepinthestreet.
‘Atlast,’hemuttered,wipinghisdryandfeveredmouth.‘Atlast!’
Thebellranggentlyashespoke.Hecreptupstairstothedoor,andpresentlyreturnedaccompaniedbyamanmuffledtothechin,whocarriedabundleunderonearm.
Sittingdownandthrowingbackhisoutercoat,themandisplayedtheburlyframeofSikes.
‘There!’hesaid,layingthebundleonthetable.‘Takecareofthat,anddothemostyoucanwithit.It’sbeentroubleenoughtoget;IthoughtIshouldhavebeenhere,threehoursago.’
Faginlaidhishanduponthebundle,andlockingitinthecupboard,satdownagainwithoutspeaking.
Buthedidnottakehiseyesofftherobber,foraninstant,duringthisaction;andnowthattheysatoveragainsteachother,facetoface,helookedfixedlyathim,withhislipsquiveringsoviolently,andhisfacesoalteredbytheemotionswhichhadmasteredhim,thatthehousebreakerinvoluntarilydrewbackhischair,andsurveyedhimwithalookofrealaffright.
‘Wotnow?’criedSikes.‘Wotdoyoulookatamansofor?’
Faginraisedhisrighthand,andshookhistremblingforefingerintheair;buthispassionwassogreat,thatthepowerofspeechwasforthemomentgone.
‘Damme!’saidSikes,feelinginhisbreastwithalookofalarm.‘He’sgonemad.Imustlooktomyselfhere.’
‘No,no,’rejoinedFagin,findinghisvoice.‘It’snot—you’renottheperson,Bill.I’veno—nofaulttofindwithyou.’
‘Oh,youhaven’t,haven’tyou?’saidSikes,lookingsternlyathim,andostentatiouslypassingapistolintoamoreconvenientpocket.‘That’slucky—foroneofus.Whichonethatis,don’tmatter.’
‘I’vegotthattotellyou,Bill,’saidFagin,drawinghischairnearer,‘willmakeyouworsethanme.’
‘Aye?’returnedtherobberwithanincredulousair.‘Tellaway!Looksharp,orNancewillthinkI’mlost.’
‘Lost!’criedFagin.‘Shehasprettywellsettledthat,inherownmind,already.’
SikeslookedwithanaspectofgreatperplexityintotheJew’sface,andreadingnosatisfactoryexplanationoftheriddlethere,clenchedhiscoatcollarinhishugehandandshookhimsoundly.
‘Speak,willyou!’hesaid;‘orifyoudon’t,itshallbeforwantofbreath.Openyourmouthandsaywotyou’vegottosayinplainwords.Outwithit,youthunderingoldcur,outwithit!’
‘Supposethatladthat’slayingthere—’Faginbegan.
SikesturnedroundtowhereNoahwassleeping,asifhehadnotpreviouslyobservedhim.‘Well!’hesaid,resuminghisformerposition.
‘Supposethatlad,’pursuedFagin,‘wastopeach—toblowuponusall—firstseekingouttherightfolksforthepurpose,andthenhavingameetingwith‘eminthestreettopaintourlikenesses,describeeverymarkthattheymightknowusby,andthecribwherewemightbemosteasilytaken.
Supposehewastodoallthis,andbesidestoblowuponaplantwe’veallbeenin,moreorless—ofhisownfancy;notgrabbed,trapped,tried,earwiggedbytheparsonandbroughttoitonbreadandwater,—butofhisownfancy;topleasehisowntaste;stealingoutatnightstofindthosemostinterestedagainstus,andpeachingtothem.Doyouhearme?’
criedtheJew,hiseyesflashingwithrage.‘Supposehedidallthis,whatthen?’
‘Whatthen!’repliedSikes;withatremendousoath.‘IfhewasleftalivetillIcame,I’dgrindhisskullundertheironheelofmybootintoasmanygrainsastherearehairsuponhishead.’
‘WhatifIdidit!’criedFaginalmostinayell.‘I,thatknowssomuch,andcouldhangsomanybesidesmyself!’
‘Idon’tknow,’repliedSikes,clenchinghisteethandturningwhiteatthemeresuggestion.
‘I’ddosomethinginthejailthat‘udgetmeputinirons;andifIwastriedalongwithyou,I’dfalluponyouwiththemintheopencourt,andbeatyourbrainsoutaforethepeople.
Ishouldhavesuchstrength,’mutteredtherobber,poisinghisbrawnyarm,‘thatIcouldsmashyourheadasifaloadedwaggonhadgoneoverit.’
‘Youwould?’
‘WouldI!’saidthehousebreaker.‘Tryme.’
‘IfitwasCharley,ortheDodger,orBet,or—’
‘Idon’tcarewho,’repliedSikesimpatiently.‘Whoeveritwas,I’dservethemthesame.’
Faginlookedhardattherobber;and,motioninghimtobesilent,stoopedoverthebeduponthefloor,andshookthesleepertorousehim.
Sikesleantforwardinhischair:lookingonwithhishandsuponhisknees,asifwonderingmuchwhatallthisquestioningandpreparationwastoendin.
‘Bolter,Bolter!Poorlad!’
saidFagin,lookingupwithanexpressionofdevilishanticipation,andspeakingslowlyandwithmarkedemphasis.
‘He’stired—tiredwithwatchingforhersolong,—watchingforher,Bill.’
‘Wotd’yemean?’askedSikes,drawingback.
Faginmadenoanswer,butbendingoverthesleeperagain,hauledhimintoasittingposture.
Whenhisassumednamehadbeenrepeatedseveraltimes,Noahrubbedhiseyes,and,givingaheavyyawn,lookedsleepilyabouthim.
‘Tellmethatagain—onceagain,justforhimtohear,’saidtheJew,pointingtoSikesashespoke.
‘Tellyerwhat?’askedthesleepyNoah,shakinghimselfpettishly.
‘Thatabout—Nancy,’saidFagin,clutchingSikesbythewrist,asiftopreventhisleavingthehousebeforehehadheardenough.‘Youfollowedher?’
‘Yes.’
‘ToLondonBridge?’
‘Yes.’
‘Whereshemettwopeople.’
‘Soshedid.’
‘Agentlemanandaladythatshehadgonetoofherownaccordbefore,whoaskedhertogiveupallherpals,andMonksfirst,whichshedid—andtodescribehim,whichshedid—andtotellherwhathouseitwasthatwemeetat,andgoto,whichshedid—andwhereitcouldbebestwatchedfrom,whichshedid—andwhattimethepeoplewentthere,whichshedid.Shedidallthis.
Shetolditalleverywordwithoutathreat,withoutamurmur—shedid—didshenot?’criedFagin,halfmadwithfury.
‘Allright,’repliedNoah,scratchinghishead.‘That’sjustwhatitwas!’
‘Whatdidtheysay,aboutlastSunday?’
‘AboutlastSunday!’repliedNoah,considering.‘WhyItoldyerthatbefore.’
‘Again.Tellitagain!’criedFagin,tighteninghisgrasponSikes,andbrandishinghisotherhandaloft,asthefoamflewfromhislips.
‘Theyaskedher,’saidNoah,who,ashegrewmorewakeful,seemedtohaveadawningperceptionwhoSikeswas,‘theyaskedherwhyshedidn’tcome,lastSunday,asshepromised.Shesaidshecouldn’t.’
‘Why—why?Tellhimthat.’
‘BecauseshewasforciblykeptathomebyBill,themanshehadtoldthemofbefore,’repliedNoah.
‘Whatmoreofhim?’criedFagin.‘Whatmoreofthemanshehadtoldthemofbefore?Tellhimthat,tellhimthat.’
‘Why,thatshecouldn’tveryeasilygetoutofdoorsunlessheknewwhereshewasgoingto,’saidNoah;‘andsothefirsttimeshewenttoseethelady,she—ha!ha!ha!
itmademelaughwhenshesaidit,thatitdid—shegavehimadrinkoflaudanum.’
‘Hell’sfire!’criedSikes,breakingfiercelyfromtheJew.‘Letmego!’
Flingingtheoldmanfromhim,herushedfromtheroom,anddarted,wildlyandfuriously,upthestairs.
‘Bill,Bill!’criedFagin,followinghimhastily.‘Aword.Onlyaword.’
Thewordwouldnothavebeenexchanged,butthatthehousebreakerwasunabletoopenthedoor:onwhichhewasexpendingfruitlessoathsandviolence,whentheJewcamepantingup.
‘Letmeout,’saidSikes.‘Don’tspeaktome;it’snotsafe.Letmeout,Isay!’
‘Hearmespeakaword,’rejoinedFagin,layinghishanduponthelock.‘Youwon’tbe—’
‘Well,’repliedtheother.
‘Youwon’tbe—too—violent,Bill?’
Thedaywasbreaking,andtherewaslightenoughforthementoseeeachother’sfaces.Theyexchangedonebriefglance;therewasafireintheeyesofboth,whichcouldnotbemistaken.
‘Imean,’saidFagin,showingthathefeltalldisguisewasnowuseless,‘nottooviolentforsafety.Becrafty,Bill,andnottoobold.’
Sikesmadenoreply;but,pullingopenthedoor,ofwhichFaginhadturnedthelock,dashedintothesilentstreets.
Withoutonepause,ormoment’sconsideration;withoutonceturninghisheadtotherightorleft,orraisinghiseyestothesky,orloweringthemtotheground,butlookingstraightbeforehimwithsavageresolution:histeethsotightlycompressedthatthestrainedjawseemedstartingthroughhisskin;therobberheldonhisheadlongcourse,normutteredaword,norrelaxedamuscle,untilhereachedhisowndoor.
Heopenedit,softly,withakey;strodelightlyupthestairs;andenteringhisownroom,double-lockedthedoor,andliftingaheavytableagainstit,drewbackthecurtainofthebed.
Thegirlwaslying,half-dressed,uponit.Hehadrousedherfromhersleep,forsheraisedherselfwithahurriedandstartledlook.
‘Getup!’saidtheman.
‘Itisyou,Bill!’saidthegirl,withanexpressionofpleasureathisreturn.
‘Itis,’wasthereply.‘Getup.’
Therewasacandleburning,butthemanhastilydrewitfromthecandlestick,andhurleditunderthegrate.Seeingthefaintlightofearlydaywithout,thegirlrosetoundrawthecurtain.
‘Letitbe,’saidSikes,thrustinghishandbeforeher.‘There’senoughlightforwotI’vegottodo.’
‘Bill,’saidthegirl,inthelowvoiceofalarm,‘whydoyoulooklikethatatme!’
Therobbersatregardingher,forafewseconds,withdilatednostrilsandheavingbreast;andthen,graspingherbytheheadandthroat,draggedherintothemiddleoftheroom,andlookingoncetowardsthedoor,placedhisheavyhanduponhermouth.
‘Bill,Bill!’gaspedthegirl,wrestlingwiththestrengthofmortalfear,—’I—Iwon’tscreamorcry—notonce—hearme—speaktome—tellmewhatIhavedone!’
‘Youknow,youshedevil!’returnedtherobber,suppressinghisbreath.‘Youwerewatchedto-night;everywordyousaidwasheard.’
‘ThensparemylifefortheloveofHeaven,asIsparedyours,’rejoinedthegirl,clingingtohim.
‘Bill,dearBill,youcannothavethehearttokillme.Oh!
thinkofallIhavegivenup,onlythisonenight,foryou.
Youshallhavetimetothink,andsaveyourselfthiscrime;Iwillnotloosemyhold,youcannotthrowmeoff.
Bill,Bill,fordearGod’ssake,foryourown,formine,stopbeforeyouspillmyblood!
Ihavebeentruetoyou,uponmyguiltysoulIhave!’
Themanstruggledviolently,toreleasehisarms;butthoseofthegirlwereclaspedroundhis,andtearherashewould,hecouldnottearthemaway.
‘Bill,’criedthegirl,strivingtolayherheaduponhisbreast,‘thegentlemanandthatdearlady,toldmeto-nightofahomeinsomeforeigncountrywhereIcouldendmydaysinsolitudeandpeace.
Letmeseethemagain,andbegthem,onmyknees,toshowthesamemercyandgoodnesstoyou;andletusbothleavethisdreadfulplace,andfarapartleadbetterlives,andforgethowwehavelived,exceptinprayers,andneverseeeachothermore.Itisnevertoolatetorepent.
Theytoldmeso—Ifeelitnow—butwemusthavetime—alittle,littletime!’
Thehousebreakerfreedonearm,andgraspedhispistol.
Thecertaintyofimmediatedetectionifhefired,flashedacrosshismindeveninthemidstofhisfury;andhebeatittwicewithalltheforcehecouldsummon,upontheupturnedfacethatalmosttouchedhisown.
Shestaggeredandfell:nearlyblindedwiththebloodthatraineddownfromadeepgashinherforehead;butraisingherself,withdifficulty,onherknees,drewfromherbosomawhitehandkerchief—RoseMaylie’sown—andholdingitup,inherfoldedhands,ashightowardsHeavenasherfeeblestrengthwouldallow,breathedoneprayerformercytoherMaker.
Itwasaghastlyfiguretolookupon.Themurdererstaggeringbackwardtothewall,andshuttingoutthesightwithhishand,seizedaheavyclubandstruckherdown.
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