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“Bister Sikes！” exclaimed Barney； with real or counterfeit joy；
“cub id； sir； cub id。”
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Oliver Twist 228
“Here！ you get on first；” said Sikes； putting Oliver in front of
him。 “Quicker！ or I shall tread upon your heels。”
Muttering a curse upon his tardiness； Sikes pushed Oliver
before him； and they entered a low； dark room with a smoky fire；
two or three broken chairs； a table； and a very old couch； on
which； with his legs much higher than his head； a man was
reposing at full length； smoking a long clay pipe。 He was dressed
in a smartly…cut snuff…coloured coat； with large brass buttons； an
orange neckerchief； a coarse； staring； shawl…pattern waistcoat； and
drab breeches。 Mr。 Crackit （for he it was） had no very great
quantity of hair； either upon his head or face； but what he had；
was of a reddish dye； and tortured into long corkscrew curls；
through which he occasionally thrust some very dirty fingers；
ornamented with large； common rings。 He was a trifle above the
middle size； and apparently rather weak in the legs； but this
circumstance by no means detracted from his own admiration of
his top…boots； which he contemplated； in their elevated situation；
with lively satisfaction。
“Bill； my boy！” said this figure； turning his head towards the
door； “I’m glad to see you。 I was almost afraid you’d given it up； in
which case I should have made a personal wentur。 Hallo！”
Uttering this exclamation in a tone of great surprise； as his eyes
rested on Oliver； Mr。 Toby Crackit brought himself into a sitting
posture； and demanded who that was。
“The boy。 Only the boy！” replied Sikes； drawing a chair towards
the fire。
“Wud of Bister Fagid’s lads；” exclaimed Barney； with a grin。
“Fagin’s； eh！” exclaimed Toby； looking at Oliver。 “Wot an
inwalable boy that’ll make； for the old ladies’ pockets in chapels！
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Oliver Twist 229
His mug is a fortun’ to him。”
“There—that’s enough of that；” interposed Sikes impatiently；
and stooping over his recumbent friend； he whispered a few words
in his ear； at which Mr。 Crackit laughed immensely； and honoured
Oliver with a long stare of astonishment。
“Now；” said Sikes； as he resumed his seat； “if you’ll give us
something to eat and drink while we’re waiting； you’ll put some
heart in us； or in me； at all events。 Sit down by the fire； younker；
and rest yourself； for you’ll have to go out with us again tonight；
though not very far off。”
Oliver looked at Sikes； in mute and timid wonder； and drawing
a stool to the fire； sat with his aching head upon his hands；
scarcely knowing where he was； or what was passing around him。
“Here；” said Toby； as the young Jew placed some fragments of
food and a bottle upon the table； “success to the crack！” He rose to
honour the toast； and carefully depositing his empty pipe in a
corner； advanced to the table； filled a glass with spirits； and drank
off its contents。 Mr。 Sikes did the same。
“A drain for the boy；” said Toby； half…filling a wine glass。
“Down with it； innocence。”
“Indeed；” said Oliver； looking piteously up into the man’s face；
“indeed； I—”
“Down with it！” echoed Toby。 “Do you think I don’t know
what’s good for you？ Tell him to drink it； Bill。”
“He had better！” said Sikes； clapping his hand upon his pocket。
“Burn my body； if he isn’t more trouble than a whole family of
Dodgers。 Drink it； you perwerse imp； drink it！”
Frightened by the menacing gestures of the two men； Oliver
hastily swallowed the contents of the glass； and immediately fell
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Oliver Twist 230
into a violent fit of coughing； which delighted Toby Crackit and
Barney； and even drew a smile from the surly Mr。 Sikes。
This done； and Sikes having finished his appetite （Oliver could
eat nothing but a small crust of bread which they made him
swallow）； the two men laid themselves down on chairs for a short
nap。 Oliver retained his stool by the fire； and Barney； wrapped in a
blanket； stretched himself on the floor； close outside the fender。
They slept； or appeared to sleep； for some time； nobody stirring
but Barney； who rose once or twice to throw coals upon the fire。
Oliver fell into a heavy doze； imagining himself straying along the
gloomy lanes； or wandering about the dark churchyard； or
retracing some one or other of the scenes of the past day； when he
was roused by Toby Crackit jumping up and declaring it was half…
past one。
In an instant； the other two were on their legs； and all were
actively engaged in busy preparation。 Sikes and his companion
enveloped their necks and chins in large； dark shawls； and drew
on their greatcoats； while Barney； opening a cupboard； brought
forth several articles； which he hastily crammed into the pockets。
“Barkers for me； Barney；” said Toby Crackit。
“Here they are；” replied Barney； producing a pair of pistols。
“You loaded them yourself。”
“All right！” replied Toby； stowing them away。 “The
persuaders？”
“I’ve got ’em；” replied Sikes。”
“Crape； keys； centre…bits； darkies—nothing forgotten？”
inquired Toby； fastening a small crowbar to a loop inside the skirt
of his coat。
“All right；” rejoined his companion。 “Bring them bits of timber；
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Oliver Twist 231
Barney。 That’s the time of day。”
With these words； he took a thick stick from Barney’s hands；
who； having delivered another to Toby； busied himself in fastening
Oliver’s cape。
“Now then！” said Sikes； holding out his hand。
Oliver； who was completely stupefied by the unwonted exercise；
and the air； and the drink which had been forced upon him； put
his hand mechanically into that which Sikes extended for the
purpose。
“Take his other hand； Toby；” said Sikes。 “Look out； Barney。”
The man went to the door； and returned to announce that all
was quiet。 The two robbers issued forth； with Oliver between
them。 Barney； having made all fast； rolled himself up as before；
and was soon asleep again。
It was now intensely dark。 The fog was much heavier than it
had been in the early part of the night； and the atmosphere was so
damp； that； although no rain fell； Oliver’s hair and eyebrows；
within a few minutes after leaving the house； had become stiff
with the half…frozen moisture that was floating about。 They
crossed the bridge； and kept on towards the lights which he had
seen before。 They were at no great distance off； and； as they
walked pretty briskly； they soon arrived at Chertsey。
“Slap through the town；” whispered Sikes； “there’ll be nobody
in the way； tonight； to see us。”
Toby acquiesced； and they hurried through the main street of
the little town； which at that late hour was wholly deserted。 A dim
light shone at intervals from some bedroom window； and the
hoarse barking of dogs occasionally broke the silence of the night。
But there was nobody abroad。 They had cleared the town； as the
Charles D