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Fagin？”
“Nobody； my dear；” replied the Jew； “not a soul； Tom。 I don’t
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know one of ’em that would do it besides you； not one of ’em； my
dear。”
“I might have got clear off； if I’d split upon her； mightn’t I；
Fagin？” angrily pursued the poor； half…witted dupe。 “A word from
me would have done it； wouldn’t it； Fagin？”
“To be sure it would； my dear；” replied the Jew。
“But I didn’t blab it； did I； Fagin？” demanded Tom； pouring
question upon question with great volubility。
“No； no； to be sure；” replied the Jew； “you were too stouthearted for that。 A deal too stout； my dear！”
“Perhaps I was；” rejoined Tom； looking round； “and if I was；
what’s to laugh at； in that； eh； Fagin？”
The Jew； perceiving that Mr。 Chitling was considerably roused；
hastened to assure him that nobody was laughing； and to prove
the gravity of the company； appealed to Master Bates； the
principal offender。 But； unfortunately； Charley； in opening his
mouth to reply that he was never more serious in his life； was
unable to prevent the escape of such a violent roar； that the
abused Mr。 Chitling； without any preliminary ceremonies； rushed
across the room and aimed a blow at the offender； who； being
skilful in evading pursuit； ducked to avoid it； and chose his time so
well that it lighted on the chest of the merry old gentleman； and
caused him to stagger to the wall； where he stood panting for
breath； while Mr。 Chitling looked on in intense dismay。
“Hark！” cried the Dodger； at this moment； “I heard the tinkler。”
Catching up the light； he crept softly upstairs。
The bell was rung again； with some impatience； while the party
were in darkness。 After a short pause； the Dodger reappeared； and
whispered to Fagin mysteriously。
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“What！” cried the Jew； “alone？”
The Dodger nodded in the affirmative； and； shading the flame
of the candle with his hand； gave Charley Bates a private
intimation； in dumb show； that he had better not be funny just
then。 Having performed this friendly office； he fixed his eyes on
the Jew’s face； and awaited his directions。
The old man bit his yellow fingers； and meditated for some
seconds； his face working with agitation the while； as if he dreaded
something； and feared to know the worst。 At length he raised his
head。
“Where is he？” he asked。
The Dodger pointed to the floor above； and made a gesture； as
if to leave the room。
“Yes；” said the Jew； answering the mute inquiry； “bring him
down。 Hush！ Quiet； Charley I Gently； Tom！ Scarce； scarce！”
This brief direction to Charley Bates； and his recent antagonist；
was softly and immediately obeyed。 There was no sound of their
whereabouts； when the Dodger descended the stairs； bearing the
light in his hand； and followed by a man in a coarse smock…frock；
who； after casting a hurried glance round the room； pulled off a
large wrapper which had concealed the lower portion of his face；
and disclosed； all haggard； unwashed； and unshorn； the features of
flash Toby Crackit。
“How are you； Faguey？” said this worthy； nodding to the Jew。
“Pop that shawl away in my castor； Dodger； so that I may know
where to find it when I cut； that’s the time of day I You’ll be a fine
young cracksman afore the old file now。” With these words he
pulled up the smock…frock； and； winding it round his middle； drew
a chair to the fire； and placed his feet upon the hob。
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“See there； Faguey；” he said； pointing disconsolately to his top…
boots； “not a drop of Day and Martin since you know when； not a
bubble of blacking； by Jove！ But don’t look at me in that way； man。
All in good time。 I can’t talk about business till I’ve eat and drank；
so produce the sustenance； and let’s have a quiet fill…out for the
first time these three days！”
The Jew motioned to the Dodger to place what eatables there
were； upon the table； and； seating himself opposite the
housebreaker； waited his leisure。
To judge from appearances； Toby was by no means in a hurry
to open the conversation。 At first； the Jew contented himself with
patiently watching his countenance； as if to gain from its
expression some clue to the intelligence he brought； but in vain。
He looked tired and worn； but there was the same complacent
repose upon his features that they always wore； and through dirt；
and beard； and whisker； there still shone； unimpaired； the self…
satisfied smirk of flash Toby Crackit。 Then； the Jew； in an agony of
impatience； watched every morsel he put into his mouth； pacing
up and down the room； meanwhile； in irrepressible excitement。 It
was all of no use。 Toby continued to eat with the utmost outward
indifference； until he could eat no more； then； ordering the Dodger
out； he closed the door； mixed a glass of spirit…and…water； and
composed himself for talking。
“First and foremost； Faguey—” said Toby。
“Yes； yes！” interposed the Jew； drawing up his chair。
Mr。 Crackit stopped to take a draught of spirits…and…water； and
to declare that the gin was excellent； then placing his feet against
the low mantelpiece； so as to bring his boots to about the level of
his eye； he quietly resumed： “First and foremost； Faguey；” said the
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housebreaker； “how’s Bill？”
“What！” screamed the Jew； starting from his seat。
“Why； you don’t mean to say—” began Toby； turning pale。
“Mean！” cried the Jew； stamping furiously on the ground。
“Where are they？ Sikes and the boy？ Where are they？” Where
have they been？ Where are they hiding？ Why have they not been
here？”
“The crack failed；” said Toby； faintly。
“I know it；” replied the Jew； tearing a newspaper from his
pocket and pointing to it。 “What more？”
“They fired and hit the boy。 We cut over the fields at the back；
with him between us—straight as the crow flies—through hedge
and ditch。 They gave chase。 Damme！ the whole country was
awake； and the dogs upon us。”
“The boy？” gasped the Jew。
“Bill had him on his back； and scudded like the wind。 We
stopped to take him between us； his head hung down； and he was
cold。 They were close upon our heels； every man for himself； and
each from the gallows！ We parted company； and left the youngster
lying in a ditch。 Alive or dead； that’s all I know about him。”
The Jew stopped to hear no more； but； uttering a loud yell； and
twining his hands in his hair； rushed from the room； and from the
house。
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Chapter 26
In Which A Mysterious Character Appears Upon
The Scene； And Many Things； Inseparable From
This History； Are Done And Performed。
The old man had gained the street corner； before he began
to recover the effect of Toby Crackit’s intelligence。 He had
relaxed nothing of his unusual speed； but was still
pressing onward； in the same wild and disordere