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doctor； “and； mounting his horse； sallied forth to join the first
party at some place in the outskirts agreed upon between them。”
“Fagin；” said Mr。 Brownlow； “what of him？”
“When I last heard； he had not been taken； but he will be； or is；
by this time。 They’re sure of him。”
“Have you made up your mind？” asked Mr。 Brownlow； in a low
voice； of Monks。
“Yes；” he replied。 “You—you—will be secret with me？”
“I will。 Remain here till I return。 It is your only hope of safety。”
They left the room； and the door was again locked。
“What have you done？” asked the doctor； in a whisper。
“All that I could hope to do； and even more。 Coupling the poor
girl’s intelligence with my previous knowledge； and the result of
our good friend’s inquiries on the spot； I left him no loophole of
escape； and laid bare the whole villainy which by these lights
became plain as day。 Write and appoint the evening after
tomorrow； at seven； for the meeting。 We shall be down there； a few
hours before； but shall require rest； especially the young lady； who
may have greater need of firmness than either you or I can quite
foresee just now。 But my blood boils to avenge this poor murdered
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creature。 Which way have they taken？”
“Drive straight to the office and you will be in time；” replied Mr。
Losberne。 “I will remain here。”
The two gentlemen hastily separated； each in a fever of
excitement wholly uncontrollable。
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Chapter 50
The Pursuit And Escape。
Near to that part of the Thames on which the church at
Rotherhithe abuts； where the buildings on the banks are
dirtiest and the vessels on the river blackest with the dust
of colliers and the smoke of close…built； low…roofed houses； there
exists the filthiest； the strangest； the most extraordinary of the
many localities that are hidden in London； wholly unknown； even
by name； to the great mass of its inhabitants。
To reach this place； the visitor has to penetrate through a maze
of close； narrow； and muddy streets； thronged by the roughest and
poorest of waterside people； and devoted to the traffic they may be
supposed to occasion。 The cheapest and least delicate provisions
are heaped in the shops； the coarsest and commonest articles of
wearing apparel dangle at the salesman’s door； and stream from
the house…parapet and windows。 Jostling with unemployed
labourers of the lowest class； ballast…heavers； coal…whippers；
brazen woman； ragged children； and the raff and refuse of the
river； he makes his way with difficulty along； assailed by offensive
sights and smells from the narrow alleys which branch off on the
right and left； and deafened by the clash of ponderous wagons that
bear great piles of merchandise from the stacks of warehouses that
rise from every corner。 Arriving； at length； in streets remoter and
less frequented than those through which he has passed； he walks
beneath tottering house…fronts projecting over the pavement；
dismantled walls that seem to totter as he passes； chimneys half…
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crushed； half…hesitating to fall； windows guarded by rusty iron
bars that time and dirt have almost eaten away； and every
imaginable sign of。 desolation and neglect。
In such a neighbourhood； beyond Dockhead in the borough of
Southwark； stands Jacob’s Island； surrounded by a muddy ditch；
six or eight feet deep and fifteen or twenty wide when the tide is
in； once called Mill Pond； but known in the days of this story as
Folly Ditch。 It is a creek or inlet from the Thames； and can always
be filled at high water by opening the sluices at the lead mills from
which it took its old name。
At such times； a stranger； looking from one of the wooden
bridges thrown across it at Mill Lane； will see the inhabitants of
the houses on either side lowering from their back doors and
windows； buckets； pails； and domestic utensils of all kinds； in
which to haul the water up； and when his eye is turned from these
operations to the houses themselves； his utmost astonishment will
be excited by the scene before him。 Crazy wooden galleries
common to the backs of half a dozen houses； with holes from
which to look upon the slime beneath； windows； broken and
patched； with poles thrust out； on which to dry the linen that is
never there； rooms so small； so filthy； so confined； that the air
would seem too tainted even for the dirt and squalor which they
shelter； wooden chambers thrusting themselves out above the
mud； and threatening to fall into it—as some have done； dirt…
besmeared walls and decaying foundations； every repulsive
lineament of poverty； every loathsome indication of filth； rot； and
garbage； all these ornament the banks of Folly Ditch。
In Jacob’s Island； the warehouses are roofless and empty； the
walls are crumbling down； the windows are windows no more； the
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doors are falling into the streets； the chimneys are blackened； but
they yield no smoke。 Thirty or forty years ago； before losses and
chancery suits came upon it； it was a thriving place； but now it is a
desolate island indeed。 The houses have no owners； they are
broken open； and entered upon by those who have the courage；
and there they live； and there they die。 They must have powerful
motives for a secret residence； or be reduced to a destitute
condition indeed； who seeks a refuge in Jacob’s Island。
In an upper room of one of these houses—a detached house of
fair size； ruinous in other respects； but strongly defended at door
and window； of which house the back commanded the ditch in
manner already described—there were assembled three men； who
regarding each other every now and then with looks expressive of
perplexity and expectation； sat for some time in profound and
gloomy silence。 One of these was Toby Crackit； another Mr。
Chitling； and the third a robber of fifty years； whose nose had been
almost beaten in； in some old scuffle； and whose face bore a
frightful scar which might probably be traced to the same
occasion。 This man was a returned transport and his name was
Kags。
“I wish；” said Toby； turning to Mr。 Chitling； “that you had
picked out some other crib when the two old ones got too warm；
and had not come here； my fine feller。”
“Why didn’t you； blunder…head？” said Kags。
“Well； I thought you’d have been a little more glad to see me
than this；” replied Mr。 Chitling； with a melancholy air。
“Why； look’ee； young gentleman；” said Toby； “when a man
keeps himself so very exclusive as I have done； and by that means
has a snug house over his head with nobody a…prying and smelling
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about it； it’s rather a startling thing to have the honour of a visit
from a young gentleman （however respectable and pleasant a
person he may be to play cards with at conweniency）
circumstanced as you are。”
“