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yer； and so I give yer notice。”
As Noah’s red nose grew redder with anger； and as he crossed
the road while speaking； as if fully prepared to put his threat into
execution； the woman rose without any further remark； and
trudged onward by his side。
“Where do you mean to stop for the night； Noah？” she asked；
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after they had walked a few hundred yards。
“How should I know？” replied Noah； whose temper had been
considerably impaired by walking。
“Near； I hope；” said Charlotte。
“No； not near；” replied Mr。 Claypole。 ‘‘There！ Not near； so don’t
think it。”
“Why not？”
“When I tell yer that I don’t mean to do a thing； that’s enough；
without any why or because either；” replied Mr。 Claypole； with
dignity。
“Well； you needn’t be so cross；” said his companion。
“A pretty thing it would be； wouldn’t it； to go and stop at the
very first public…house outside the town； so that Sowerberry； if he
came up after us； might poke in his old nose； and have us taken
back in a cart with handcuffs on；” said Mr Claypole； in a jeering
tone。 “No！ I shall go and lose myself among the narrowest streets I
can find； and not stop till we come to the very out…of…the…wayest
house I can set eyes on。 ’Cod； yer may thank yer stars I’ve got a
head； for if we hadn’t gone； at first； the wrong road a purpose； and
come back across country； yer’d have been locked up hard and
fast a week ago； my lady。 And serve yer right for being a fool。”
“I know I ain’t as cunning as you are；” replied Charlotte； “but
don’t put all the blame on me； and say I should have been locked
up。 You would have been if I had been； anyway。”
“Yer took the money from the till； yer know yer did；” said Mr。
Claypole。
“I took it for you； Noah dear；” rejoined Charlotte。
“Did I keep it？” asked Mr。 Claypole。
“No； you trusted in me； and let me carry it like a dear； and so
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you are；” said the lady； chucking him under the chin； and drawing
her arm through his。
This was indeed the case； but as it was not Mr。 Claypole’s habit
to repose a blind and foolish confidence in anybody； it should be
observed； in justice to that gentleman； that he had trusted
Charlotte to this extent； in order that； if they were pursued； the
money might be found on her； which would leave him an
opportunity of asserting his innocence of any theft； and would
greatly facilitate his chances of escape。 Of course； he entered at
this juncture into no explanation of his motives； and they walked
on very leisurely together。
In pursuance of this cautious plan； Mr。 Claypole went on；
without halting； until he arrived at the Angel at Islington； where
he wisely judged； from the crowd of passengers and number of
vehicles； that London began in earnest。 Just pausing to observe
which appeared the most crowded streets； and consequently the
most to be avoided； he crossed into St。 John’s Road； and was soon
deep in the obscurity of the intricate and dirty ways； which； lying
between Gray’s Inn Lane and Smithfield； render that part of the
town one of the lowest and worst that improvement has left in the
midst of London。
Through these streets； Noah Claypole walked； dragging
Charlotte after him； now stepping into the kennel to embrace at a
glance the whole external character of some small public…house；
and now jogging on again； as some fancied appearance induced
him to believe it too public for his purpose。 At length； he stopped
in front of one； more humble in appearance and more dirty than
any he had yet seen； and； having crossed over and surveyed it
from the opposite pavement； graciously announced his intention
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of putting up there； for the night。
“So give us the bundle；” said Noah； unstrapping it from the
woman’s shoulders； and slinging it over his own； “and don’t yer
speak； except when yer spoke to。 What’s the name of the house—th…r—three what？”
“Cripples；” said Charlotte。
“Three Cripples；” repeated Noah； “and a very good sign too。
Now； then！ Keep close at my heels； and come along。” With these
injunctions； he pushed the rattling door with his shoulder； and
entered the house； followed by his companion。
There was nobody in the bar but a young Jew； who； with his
two elbows on the counter； was reading a dirty newspaper。 He
stared very hard at Noah； and Noah stared very hard at him。
If Noah had been attired in his charity…boy’s dress； there might
have been some reason for the Jew opening his eyes so wide； but
as he had discarded the coat and badge； and wore a short smock…
frock over his leathers； there seemed no particular reason for his
appearance exciting so much attention in a public…house。
“Is this the Three Cripples？” asked Noah。
“That is the dabe of this ’ouse；” replied the Jew。
“A gentleman we met on the road； coming up from the country；
recommended us here；” said Noah； nudging Charlotte； perhaps to
call her attention to this most ingenious device for attracting
respect； and perhaps to warn her to betray no surprise。 “We want
to sleep here tonight。”
“I’b dot certaid you cad；” said Barney； who was the attendant
sprite； “but I’ll idquire。”
“Show us the tap； and give us a bit of cold meat and a drop of
beer while yer inquiring； will yer？” said Noah。 Barney complied
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by ushering them into a small back room； and setting the required
viands before them； having done which； he informed the travellers
that they could be lodged that night； and left the amiable couple to
their refreshment。
Now； this back room was immediately behind the bar； and
some steps lower； so that any person connected with the house；
undrawing a small curtain which concealed a single pane of glass
fixed in the wall of the last…named apartment； about five feet from
its flooring； could not only look down upon any guests in the back
room without any great hazard of being observed （the glass being
in a dark angle of the wall； between which and a large upright
beam the observer had to thrust himself）； but could； by applying
his ear to the partition； ascertain with tolerable distinctness； their
subject of conversation。 The landlord of the house had not
withdrawn his eye from this place of espial for five minutes； and
Barney had only just returned from making the communication
above related； when Fagin； in the course of his evening’s business；
came into the bar to inquire after some of his young pupils。
“Hush！” said Barney； “stradegers id the next roob。”
“Strangers！” repeated the old man in a whisper。
“Ah！ Ad rud uds too；” added Barney。 “Frob the cuttry； but
subthig in your way； or I’b bistaked。”
Fagin appeared to receive this communication with great
interest。 Mounting a stool； he cautiously applied his eye to the
pane of glass； from which secret post he could see Mr。 Claypole
taking c