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“I see her now；” cried the spy。
“Plainly？”
“I should know her among a thousand。”
He hastily descended； as the room door opened； and the girl
came out。 Fagin drew him behind a small partition which was
curtained off； and they held their breaths as she passed within a
few feet of their place of concealment； and emerged by the door at
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which they had entered。
“Hist！” cried the lad； who held the door。 “Dow。”
Noah exchanged a look with Fagin； and darted out。
“To the left；” whispered the lad； “take the left had； and keep on
the other side。”
He did so； and； by the light of the lamps； saw the girl’s
retreating figure； already at some distance before him。 He
advanced as near as he considered prudent； and kept on the
opposite side of the street； the better to observe her motions。 She
looked nervously round； twice or thrice； and once stopped to let
two men who were following close behind her； pass on。 She
seemed to gather courage as she advanced； and to walk with a
steadier and firmer step。 The spy preserved the same relative
distance between them； and followed； with his eye upon her。
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Chapter 46
The Appointment Kept。
The church clocks chimed three quarters past eleven； as
two figures emerged on London Bridge。 One； which
advanced with a swift and rapid step； was that of a woman
who looked eagerly about her as though in quest of some expected
object； the other figure was that of a man； who slunk along in the
deepest shadow he could find； and； at some distance；
accommodated his pace to hers—stopping when she stopped； and；
as she moved again； creeping stealthily on—but never allowing
himself； in the ardour of his pursuit； to gain upon her footsteps。
Thus； they crossed the bridge； from the Middlesex to the Surrey
shore； when the woman； apparently disappointed in her anxious
scrutiny of the foot…passengers； turned back。 The movement was
sudden； but he who watched her； was not thrown off his guard by
it； for； shrinking into one of the recesses which surmount the piers
of the bridge； and leaning over the parapet the better to conceal
his figure； he suffered her to pass by on the opposite pavement。
When she was about the same distance in advance as she had
been before； he slipped quietly down； and followed her again。 At
nearly the centre of the bridge； she stopped。 The man stopped too。
It was a very dark night。 The day had been unfavourable； and at
that hour and place there were few people stirring。 Such as there
were； hurried quickly past； very possibly without seeing； but
certainly without noticing； either the woman； or the man who kept
her in view。 Their appearance was not calculated to attract the
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importunate regards of such of London’s destitute population； as
chanced to take their way over the bridge that night in search of
some cold arch or doorless hovel wherein to lay their heads； they
stood there in silence； neither speaking nor spoken； by any one
who passed。
A mist hung over the river； deepening the red glare of the fires
that burned upon the small craft moored off the different wharves；
and rendering darker and more indistinct the murky buildings on
the banks。 The old smoke…stained storehouses on either side； rose
heavy and dull from the dense mass of roofs and gables； and
frowned sternly upon water too black to reflect even their
lumbering shapes。 The tower of old St。 Saviour’s Church； and the
spire of St。 Magnus； so long the giant…warders of the ancient
bridge； were visible in the gloom； but the forest of shipping below
bridge； and the thickly scattered spires of churches above were
nearly all hidden from the sight。
The girl had taken a few restless turns to and fro—closely
watched meanwhile by her hidden observer—when the heavy bell
of St。 Paul’s tolled for the death of another day。 Midnight had
come upon the crowded city。 The palace； the night…cellar； the jail；
the madhouse； the chambers of birth and death； of health and
sickness； the rigid face of the corpse and the calm sleep of the
child； midnight was upon them all。
The hour had not struck two minutes； when a young lady；
accompanied by a grey…haired gentleman； alighted from a
hackney…carriage within a short distance of the bridge； and；
having dismissed the vehicle； walked straight towards it。 They had
scarcely set foot upon its pavement； when the girl started； and
immediately made towards them。
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They walked onward； looking about them with the air of
persons who entertained some very slight expectation which had
little chance of being realised； when they were suddenly joined by
this new associate。 They halted with an exclamation of surprise；
but suppressed it immediately； for a man in the garments of a
countryman came close up—brushed against them indeed—at that
precise moment。
“Not here；” said Nancy hurriedly； “I am afraid to speak to you
here。 Come away—out of the public road—down the steps
yonder！”
As she uttered these words； and indicated； with her hand； the
direction in which she wished them to proceed； the countryman
looked round； and roughly asking what they took up the whole
pavement for； passed on。
The steps to which the girl had pointed； were those which； on
the Surrey bank； and on the same side of the bridge as St。
Saviour’s Church； form a landing…stairs from the river。 To this
spot； the man bearing the appearance of a countryman； hastened
unobserved； and； after a moment’s survey of the place； he began to
descend。
These stairs are a part of the bridge； they consist of three
flights。 Just below the end of the second； going down； the stone
wall on the left terminates in an ornamental pilaster facing
towards the Thames。 At this point the lower steps widen； so that a
person turning that angle of the wall； is necessarily unseen by any
others on the stairs who chance to be above him； if only a step。
The countryman looked hastily round； when he reached this point；
and； as there seemed no better place of concealment； and the tide
being out； there was plenty of room； he slipped aside； with his
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back to the pilaster； and there waited； pretty certain that they
would come no lower； and that even if he could not hear what was
said； he could follow them again； with safety。
So tardily stole the time in this lonely place； and so eager was
the spy to penetrate the motives of an interview so different from
what he had been led to expect； that he more than once gave the
matter up for lost； and persuaded himself； either that they had
stopped far above； or had resorted to some entirely different spot
to hold their mysterious conversation。 He was on the point of
emerging from his hiding…place； and regaining the road above；
when he heard the sound of footsteps； and directly afterwards of