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left alive till I came； I’d grind his skull under the iron heel of my
boot into as many grains as there are hairs upon his head。”
“What if I did it！” cried Fagin； almost in a yell。 “I； that know so
much； and could hang so many besides myself！”
“I don’t know；” replied Sikes； clenching his teeth； and turning
white at the mere suggestion。 “I’d do something in the jail that ’ud
get me put in irons； and if I was tried along with you； I’d fall upon
you with them in the open court； and beat your brains out afore
the people。 I should have such strength；” muttered the robber；
poising his brawny arm； “that I could smash your head as if a
loaded wagon had gone over it。”
“You would？”
“Would I！” said the housebreaker。 “Try me。”
“If it was Charley； or the Dodger； or Bet； or—”
“I don’t care who；” replied Sikes impatiently。 “Whoever it was；
I’d serve them the same。”
Fagin looked hard at the robber； and； motioning him to be
silent； stooped over the bed upon the floor； and shook the sleeper
to rouse him。 Sikes leaned forward in his chair； looking on with his
hands upon his knees； as if wondering much what all this
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questioning and preparation was to end in。
“Bolter； Bolter！ Poor lad！” said Fagin； looking up with an
expression of devilish anticipation； and speaking slowly and with
marked emphasis。 “He’s tired—tired with watching for her so
long—watching for her； Bill。”
“Wot d’ye mean？” asked Sikes； drawing back。
Fagin made no answer； but bending over the sleeper again；
hauled him into a sitting posture。 When his assumed name had
been repeated several time； Noah rubbed his eyes； and； giving a
heavy yawn； looked sleepily about him。
“Tell me that again—once again； just for him to hear；” said the
Jew； pointing to Sikes as he spoke。
“Tell yer what？” asked the sleepy Noah； shaking himself
pettishly。
“That about—NANCY；” said Fagin； clutching Sikes by the
wrist； as if to prevent his leaving the house before he had heard
enough。 “You followed her？”
“Yes。”
“To London Bridge？”
“Yes。”
“Where she met two people？”
“So she did。”
“A gentleman and a lady that she had gone to of her own accord
before； who asked her to give up all her pals； and Monks first；
which she did—and to describe him； which she did—and to tell
her what house it was that we meet at； and go to； which she did—
and where it could be best watched from； which she did—and
what time the people went there； which she did。 She did all this。
She told it all every word without a threat； without a murmur—
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she did—did she not？” cried Fagin； half…mad with fury。
“All right；” replied Noah； scratching his head。 “That’s just what
it was！”
“What did they say about last Sunday？”
“About last Sunday！” replied Noah； considering。 “Why； I told
yer that before。”
“Again。 Tell it again！” cried Fagin； tightening his grasp on
Sikes； and brandishing his other hand aloft； as the foam flew from
his lips。
“They asked her；” said Noah； who； as he grew more wakeful；
seemed to have a dawning perception who Sikes was—“they
asked her why she didn’t come last Sunday； as she promised。 She
said she couldn’t。”
“Why—why？ Tell him that。”
“Because she was forcibly kept at home by Bill； the man she
had told them of before；” replied Noah。
“What more of him？” cried Fagin。 “What more of the man she
had told them of before？ Tell him that； tell him that。”
“Why； that she couldn’t very easily get out of doors unless he
knew where she was going to；” said Noah； “and so the first time
she went to see the lady； she—ha！ ha！ ha！ it made me laugh when
she said it； that it did— she gave him a drink of laudanum。”
“Hell’s fire！” cried Sikes； breaking fiercely from Fagin。 “Let me
go！” Flinging the old man from him； he rushed from the room； and
darted； wildly and furiously； up the stairs。
“Bill； Bill！” cried Fagin； following him hastily。 “A word。 Only a
word。”
The word would not have been exchanged； but that the
housebreaker was unable to open the door； on which he was
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expending fruitless oaths and violence； when the Jew came
panting up。
“Let me out；” said Sikes。 “Don’t speak to me； it’s not safe。 Let
me out； I say！”
“Hear me speak a word；” rejoined Fagin； laying his hand upon
the lock。 “You won’t be—”
“Well；” replied the other。
“You won’t be—too—violent； Bill？”
The day was breaking； and there was light enough for the men
to see each other’s faces。 They exchanged one brief glance； there
was a fire in the eyes of both； which could not be mistaken。 “I
mean；” said Fagin； showing that he felt all disguise was now
useless； “not too violent for safety。 Be crafty； Bill； and not too
bold。”
Sikes made no reply； but； pulling open the door； of which Fagin
had turned the lock； dashed into the silent streets。
Without one pause； or moment’s consideration； without once
turning his head to the right or left； or raising his eyes to the sky；
or lowering them to the ground； but looking straight before him
with savage resolution； his teeth so tightly compressed that the
strained jaw seemed starting through his skin； the robber held on
his headlong course； nor muttered a word； nor relaxed a muscle；
until he reached his own door。 He opened it； softly； with a key；
strode lightly up the stairs； and entering his own room； double…
locked the door； and lifting a heavy table against it； drew back the
curtain of the bed。
The girl was lying； half…dressed； upon it。 He had roused her
from her sleep； for she raised herself with a hurried and startled
look。
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“Get up！” said the man。
“It is you； Bill！” said the girl； with an expression of pleasure at
his return。
“It is；” was the reply。 “Get up。”
There was a candle burning； but the man hastily drew it from
the candlestick and hurled it under the grate。 Seeing the faint
light of early day without； the girl rose to undraw the curtain。
“Let it be；” said Sikes； thrusting his hand before her。 “There’s
light enough for wot I’ve got to do。”
“Bill；” said the girl； in the low voice of alarm； “why do you look
like that at me？”
The robber sat regarding her for a few seconds； with dilated
nostrils and heaving breast； and then； grasping her by the head
and throat； dragged her into the middle of the room； and looking
once towards the door； placed his heavy hand upon her mouth。
“Bill； Bill！” gasped the girl； wrestling with the strength of
mortal fear； “I—won’t scream or cry—not once—hear me—speak
to me—tell me what I have done？”
“You know； you she…devil！” returned the robber； suppressing
his breath。 “You were watched tonight； every word you said was
heard。”
“Then spare my life for the love of Heaven；