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shoulder； and winking to his other pupils。
“And Mr。 Crackit is a heavy swell； ain’t he； Fagin？” asked Tom。
“No doubt at all of that； my dear。”
“And it is a creditable thing to have his acquaintance； ain’t it；
Fagin？” pursued Tom。
“Very much so； indeed； my dear。 They’re only jealous； Tom；
because he won’t give it to them。”
“Ah！” cried Tom triumphantly； “that’s where it is！ He has
cleaned me out。 But I can go and earn some more； when I like；
can’t I； Fagin？”
“To be sure you can；” replied Fagin； “and the sooner you go the
better； Tom； so make up your loss at once； and don’t lose any more
time。 Dodger！ Charley！ It’s time you were on the lay。 Come！ It’s
near ten； and nothing done yet。”
In obedience to this hint； the boys； nodding to Nancy； took up
their hats； and left the room； the Dodger and his vivacious friend
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indulging； as they went； in many witticisms at the expense of Mr。
Chitling； in whose conduct； it is but justice to say； there was
nothing very conspicuous or peculiar； inasmuch as there are a
great number of spirited young bloods about town； who pay a
much higher price than Mr。 Chitling for being seen in good society
and a great number of fine gentlemen （composing the good society
aforesaid） who establish their reputation upon very much the
same footing as flash Toby Crackit。
“Now；” said Fagin； when they had left the room； “I’ll go and get
you that cash； Nancy。 This is only the key of a little cupboard
where I keep a few odd things the boys get； my dear。 I never lock
up my money； for I’ve got none to lock up； my dear—ha！ ha！ ha！—
none to lock up。 It’s a poor trade； Nancy； and no thanks； but I’m
fond of seeing the young people about me； and I bear it all； I bear
it all。 Hush！” he said； hastily concealing the key in his breast；
“who’s that？ Listen！”
The girl； who was sitting at the table with her arms folded；
appeared in no way interested in the arrival； or to care whether
the person； whoever he was； came or went； until the murmur of a
man’s voice reached her ears。 The instant she caught the sound；
she tore off her bonnet and shawl； with the rapidity of lightning；
and thrust them under the table。 The Jew； turning round
immediately afterwards； she muttered a complaint of the heat； in a
tone of languor that contrasted； very remarkably； with the extreme
haste and violence of this action； which； however； had been
unobserved by Fagin； who had his back towards her at the time。
“Bah！” whispered the Jew； as though nettled by the
interruption； “it’s the man I expected before； he’s coming
downstairs。 Not a word about the money while he’s here； Nance。
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He won’t stop long。 Not ten minutes； my dear。”
Laying his skinny forefinger upon his lip； the Jew carried a
candle to the door； as a man’s step was heard upon the stairs
without。 He reached it； at the same moment as the visitor； who；
coming hastily into the room； was close upon the girl before he
observed her。
It was Monks。
“Only one of my young people；” said Fagin； observing that
Monks drew back； on beholding a stranger。 “Don’t move； Nancy。”
The girl drew closer to the table； and glancing at Monks with an
air of careless levity； withdrew her eyes； but as he turned his
towards Fagin； she stole another look； so keen and searching； and
full of purpose； that if there had been any bystander to observe the
change； he could hardly have believed the two looks to have
proceeded from the same person。
“Any news？” inquired Fagin。
“Great。”
“And—and—good？” asked Fagin； hesitating as though he
feared to vex the other man by being too sanguine。
“Not bad； anyway；” replied Monks； with a smile。 “I have been
prompt enough this time。 Let me have a word with you。”
The girl drew closer to the table； and made no offer to leave the
room； although she could see that Monks was pointing to her。 The
Jew； perhaps fearing she might say something aloud about the
money； if he endeavoured to get rid of her； pointed upward； and
took Monks out of the room。
“Not that infernal hole we were in before；” she could hear the
man say as they went upstairs。 Fagin laughed； and making some
reply which did not reach her； seemed； by the creaking of the
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Oliver Twist 416
boards； to lead his companion to the second storey。
Before the sound of their footsteps had ceased to echo through
the house； the girl had slipped off her shoes； and drawing her
gown loosely over her head； and muffling her arms in it； stood at
the door； listening with breathless interest。 The moment the noise
ceased； she glided from the room； ascended the stairs with
incredible softness and silence； and was lost in the gloom above。
The room remained deserted for a quarter of an hour or more；
the girl glided back with the same unearthly tread； and；
immediately afterwards； the two men were heard descending。
Monks went at once into the street； and the Jew crawled upstairs
again for the money。 When he returned； the girl was adjusting her
shawl and bonnet； as if preparing to be gone。
“Why； Nance；” exclaimed the Jew； staring back as he put down
the candle； “how pale you are！”
“Pale！” echoed the girl； shading her eyes with her hands； as if to
look steadily at him。
“Quite horrible。 What have you been doing to yourself？”
“Nothing that I know of； except sitting in this close place for I
don’t know how long and all；” replied the girl carelessly。 “Come！
Let me get back； that’s a dear。”
With a sigh for every piece of money； Fagin told the amount
into her hand。 They parted without more conversation； merely
interchanging a “good…night。”
When the girl got into the open street； she sat down upon a
doorstep； and seemed； for a few moments； wholly bewildered and
unable to pursue her way。 Suddenly she arose； and hurrying on； in
a direction quite opposite to that in which Sikes was awaiting her
return； quickened her pace； until it gradually resolved into a
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violent run。 After completely exhausting herself； she stopped to
take breath； and； as if suddenly recollecting herself； and deploring
her inability to do something she was bent upon； wrung her hands；
and burst into tears。
It might be that her tears relieved her； or that she felt the full
hopelessness of her condition； but she turned back； and hurrying
with nearly as great rapidity in the contrary direction； partly to
recover lost time； and partly to keep pace with the violent current
of her own thoughts； soon reached the dwelling where she had left
the housebreaker。
If she betrayed any agitation； when she presented herself to Mr。
Sikes； he did not observe it； for merely inquiring if she had
brought the money； and receiving a reply in the affirmative； he
uttered a growl of satisfaction； and replacing his head upon the
pillow； resumed the slu