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relaxed nothing of his unusual speed； but was still
pressing onward； in the same wild and disordered manner； when
the sudden dashing past of a carriage； and a boisterous cry from
the foot passengers； who saw his danger； drove him back upon the
pavement。 Avoiding； as much as possible； all the main streets； and
skulking only through the byways and alleys； he at length emerged
on Snow Hill。 Here he walked even faster than before； nor did he
linger until he had again turned into a court； when； as if conscious
that he was now in his proper element； he fell into his usual
shuffling pace； and seemed to breathe more freely。
Near to the spot on which Snow Hill and Holborn Hill meet；
there opens； upon the right hand as you come out of the city； a
narrow and dismal alley； leading to Saffron Hill。 In its filthy shops
are exposed for sale huge bunches of second…hand silk
handkerchiefs； of all sizes and patterns； for here reside the traders
who purchase them from pick…pockets。 Hundreds of these
handkerchiefs hang dangling from pegs outside the windows or
flaunting from the door…posts—and the shelves； within； are piled
with them。 Confined as the limits of Field Lane are； it has its
barber； its coffee…shop； its beer…shop； and its fried…fish warehouse。
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It is a commercial colony of itself—the emporium of petty larceny；
visited at early morning； and setting…in of dusk； by silent
merchants； who traffic in dark back…parlours； and who go as
strangely as they come。 Here； the clothesman； the shoe…vamper；
and the rag…merchant； display their goods； as signboards to the
petty thief； here； stores of old iron and bones； and heaps of
mildewy fragments of woollen…stuff and linen； rust and rot in the
grimy cellars。
It was into this place that the Jew turned。 He was well known to
the sallow denizens of the lane； for such of them as were on the
look…out to buy or sell； nodded； familiarly； as he passed along。 He
replied to their salutations in the same way； but bestowed no
closer recognition until he reached the farther end of the alley；
when he stopped； to address a salesman of small stature； who had
squeezed as much of his person into a child’s chair as the chair
would hold； and was smoking a pipe at his warehouse door。
“Why； the sight of you； Mr。 Fagin； would cure the hoptalmy！”
said this respectable trader； in acknowledgement of the Jew’s
inquiry after his health。
“The neighbourhood was a little too hot； Lively；” said Fagin；
elevating his eyebrows； and crossing his hands upon his shoulders。
“Well； I’ve heerd that complaint of it； once or twice before；”
replied the trader； “but it soon cools down again； don’t you find it
so？’ Fagin nodded in the affirmative。 Pointing in the direction of
Saffron Hill； he inquired whether any one was up yonder tonight。
“At the Cripples？” inquired the man。
The Jew nodded。
“Let me see；” pursued the merchant； reflecting。 “Yes； there’s
some half…dozen of ’em gone in； that I knows。 I don’t think your
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friend’s there。”
“Sikes is not； I suppose？” inquired the Jew； with a disappointed
countenance。
“Non istwentus； as the lawyers say；” replied the little man；
shaking his head； and looking amazingly sly。 “Have you got
anything in my line tonight？”
“Nothing tonight；” said the Jew； turning away。
“Are you going up to the Cripples； Fagin？” cried the little man；
calling after him。 “Stop！ I don’t mind if I have a drop there with
you！”
But as the Jew； looking back； waved his hand to intimate that
he preferred being alone； and； moreover； as the little man could
not very easily disengage himself from the chair； the sign of the
Cripples was； for a time； bereft of the advantage of Mr。 Lively’s
presence。 By the time he had got upon his legs； the Jew had
disappeared； so Mr。 Lively； after ineffectually standing on tiptoe；
in the hope of catching sight of him； again forced himself into the
little chair； and； exchanging a shake of the head with a lady in the
opposite shop； in which doubt and mistrust were plainly mingled；
resumed his pipe with a grave demeanour。
The Three Cripples； or rather the Cripples； which was the sign
by which the establishment was familiarly known to its patrons；
was the public…house in which Mr。 Sikes and his dog have already
figured。 Merely making a sign to a man at the bar； Fagin walked
straight upstairs； and opening the door of a room； and softly
insinuating himself into the chamber； looked anxiously about；
shading his eyes with his hand； as if in search of some particular
person。
The room was illuminated by two gas…lights； the glare of which
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was prevented by the barred shutters； and closely…drawn curtains
of faded red； from being visible outside。 The ceiling was
blackened； to prevent its colour from being injured by the flaring
of the lamps； and the place was so full of dense tobacco smoke；
that at first it was scarcely possible to discern anything more。 By
degrees； however； as some of it cleared away through the open
door； an assemblage of heads； as confused as the noises that
greeted the ear； might be made out； and； as the eye grew more
accustomed to the scene； the spectator gradually became aware of
the presence of a numerous company； male and female； crowded
round a long table； at the upper end of which； sat a chairman with
a hammer of office in his hand； while a professional gentleman；
with a bluish nose； and his face tied up for the benefit of a
toothache； presided at a jingling piano in a remote corner。
As Fagin stepped softly in； the professional gentleman； running
over the keys by way of prelude； occasioned a general cry of order
for a song； which； having subsided； a young lady proceeded to
entertain the company with a ballad in four verses； between each
of which the accompanist played the melody all through； as loud
as he could。 When this was over； the chairman gave a sentiment；
after which； the professional gentleman on the chairman’s right
and left volunteered a duet； and sang it； with great applause。
It was curious to observe some faces which stood out
prominently from among the group。 There was the chairman
himself （the landlord of the house）； a coarse； rough； heavy…built
fellow； who； while the songs were proceeding； rolled his eyes
hither and thither； and； seeming to give himself up to joviality； had
an eye for everything that was done； and an ear for everything that
was said—and sharp ones； too。 Near him were the singers；
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receiving； with professional indifference； the compliments of the
company； and applying themselves； in turn； to a dozen proffered
glasses of spirits…and…water； tendered by their more boisterous
admirers； whose countenances； expressive of almost every vice in
almost every grade； irresistibly attracted the attention； by their
very repulsiveness。 Cunning；