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'She can be really wild when she's angry； 'Sikes said。
Fagin wiped his forehead。 'That's the trouble with women； 'he said； 'but she's a clever girl in her work。 '
The n Charley Bates and the Dodger took away O liver's expensive new suit； gave him some old clothe s； and locked him up in a dark room。 O liver felt tired and ill； and was soon fast asleep。
7 The robbery
A few days later； a visitor arrived in London from O liver's home town。 He was a large； fat man； and very proud of his hat； which showed the world that he was a most important official。 It was； in fact； Mr Bumble the beadle； O liver's old enemy。
Mr Bumble had completed his business in the city； and had just finished a most satisfactory meal in a pub。 He pulled up his chair to the fire； to enjoy his hot gin…and…water in comfort； and opened the newspaper。 The first thing he saw was this notice：
A reward of five pounds is offered for any information leading to the discovery of a young boy； O liver Twist； who was kidnapped from his home in Pentonville last Thursday evening。 I am also very interested in any information about his past。
The re was the n a full description of O liver's clothe s and appearance； and Mr Brown low 's full address。 Mr Bumble rubbed his eyes； read the notice again； and was at the address in less than ten minutes。 He was shown into Mr Brown low 's study； where the old gentleman and his friend Mr Grimwig were sitting。
'Do you know where the poor boy is now？ 'Mr Brown low asked； when the beadle had explained the reason for his visit。
Mr Bumble shook his head。
'Do you know anything good about him？ 'asked Mr
Grimwig； looking closely at Mr Bumble's face。
Mr Bumble shook his head again； very seriously； and turned down the corners of his mouth。
'The n tell us everything you know about him； 'said Mr Brown low impatiently。
Mr Bumble put down his hat； unbuttoned his coat； folded his arms； and sat back in his chair。 He spoke in his most important and official voice； and talked for twenty minutes。 His listeners heard all the details of O liver's illegitimate birth； and how generously he had been treated as a workhouse orphan。 They heard how he had always been an ungrateful and dangerous child； violently attacking another boy； and finally running away from the house where he had been working。
The old gentleman shook his head sadly and gave Mr Bumble the five pounds。 'I would have been happy to give you three times the amount if your story had proved that the boy was good。 '
If Mr Bumble had known this earlier； he might have told a different story； but now it was too late。 So he took the money and left。
Mr Brown low walked up and down his room for several minutes； deep in thought。 He rang the bell for Mrs Bed win； his housekeeper； and told her what he had heard。
'I don't believe it； 'she said； with great certainty。
'I was right； 'said Mr Grimwig with satisfaction。 'You should have listened to what I said。 '
Mr Brown low said angrily； 'Never let me hear the boy's name again。 Never。 Remember that； Mrs Bed win。 '
The re were sad hearts at Mr Brown low 's house that night。
* * *
Meanwhile； in another part of London； O liver remained a prisoner。 Fagin had told O liver how ungrateful he had been to run away。 He had told him that he would have died of hunger without Fagin's kindness。 He went on to tell O liver the story of another young boy； who had gone to the police to tell the m about the gang； but who had finally been hanged one morning for being a thief。 Fagin described the hanging in terrifying detail； and said that he hoped he would never have to tell the police about O liver—and see O liver with a rope around his neck。 O liver felt his blood turn cold。
He remained locked in a room for many days； seeing nobody between early morning and midnight。 He spent his time thinking sadly about his friends in Pentonville。 After a week he was free to wander round the house during the day。 It was a dirty place； full of rats and insects but no other living thing。 All the windows were closed； and covered with wood and metal bars that kept out the light。
One afternoon the Dodger and Charley Bates were at home and They started telling O liver about their lives as thieves。
'Why don't you become one？ 'Charley asked him。 'We all are here—both of us； and Fagin； Sikes； Nancy…all of us。
'I don't want to be； 'replied O liver。 'I wish They'd let me go。
'But it's a good life； 'the Dodger said； taking some coins from his pocket and throwing the m up in the air。 'What does it matter where the money comes from？ 'he said； laughing。
'If you don't steal it； someone else will。 You can be sure of that！ '
Fagin entered at this point； with two young men； and joined in the conversation。 One of The young men had just come out of prison； and the re were many cheerful jokes about his very short hair…cut。 Everybody sat around the fire； talking and laughing for hours Fagin told O liver how good the Dodger was at his job； and what a friendly boy Charley was。 It was； without doubt； an interesting evening for O liver； after so many days locked up alone。
After that evening he was rarely on his own again。 He spent a lot of time with the Dodger and Charley； and often played the hand kerchief game with the m。 At other times Fagin would tell the m all about robberies he had committed in his younger days； telling the stories so well and putting in so many funny details that O liver could not stop laughing； even though he knew it was wrong。
Fagin knew what he was doing。 He had made sure that O liver was so lonely and miserable that he would be desperate for any friends； however criminal。 Slowly and deliberately； Fagin was trying to poison The young boy's mind。
One damp； cold； windy night a few weeks later； Fagin put on his heavy coat and； with the collar pulled up high to hide his face； left his home。 He walked fast through the streets； never losing his way even in the darkest places。 Finally； he reached an evil； narrow street lit only by a single lamp。 He knocked on a door； said something quietly to the person who opened it； the n walked upstairs。
Bill Sikes was sitting by his fire with his dog when Fagin entered。 The room was a small； dark place with almost no furniture。 Nancy was the re； too； and Fagin glanced at her uneasily。 He had not seen her since she had attacked him to stop him hitting O liver。 However； she seemed to have forgotten all about it； because she told him to pull up a chair and warm himself by the fire。
'I'm ready for business； 'Bill Sikes said； looking at Fagin suspiciously。 'Say what you have to say； Fagin。 '
'It's about the robbery at Chertsey； Bill； 'answered Fagin。 'Some lovely silver in that house down the re！ '
'I know； I know； 'Sikes said。 'I was down the re two nights ago to have a look at the house。 But it's locked like a prison at night； all except one part。 '
'Where's that？ 'asked Fagin； bending his head forwards； his eyes staring excitedly at Sikes。
'Do you think I'm stupid？ I'm not telling you！ Anyway； what we need is a boy。 '
'So the re's a small place where only a boy can enter the house？ 'asked Fagin。
'Maybe。 But we need a boy。 '
The re was silence for a time； while Fagin thought。 The n he made a sign to Sikes to tell Nancy to leave the room。
'Don't worry； Sikes said。 'You can trust her—she won't talk。 Isn't that right？ '
'Of course it's right； 'answered The young woman； taking a large drink from the bottle on the table； and laughing。 'Anyway； Fagin； I know your idea is for O liver to do the job。 '
'You're a clever girl； said Fagin； smiling evilly。 'That's exactly what I had in mind。 Listen； Bill—the boy's been training for a few weeks； and it's time he did some work。 He's the smallest one； anyway。 '
'Is he safe？ 'asked Sikes。 'Because if he tries any tricks on me； I'll kill him！ '
'He'll be ours for life； if he feels he's one of us。 And this job will make him feel like that； 'said Fagin eagerly。 'The boy looks so innocent he's perfect。 And we've got to include him in some crime as soon as we can。 Otherwise； if he escapes now； he can tell the police about us and stay free himself。 '
So it was decided that O liver would help Sikes with the robbery in two days' time。 The plan was discussed in great detail and all the arrangements made。 By the n； Sikes was very drunk； and Fagin got up to leave。 As he put on his coat； he stared hard at Nancy； frowning a little。 No； he was sure he could trust her； she was loyal。
The next night； O liver was alone in Fagin's house when Nancy entered。 She was so nervous and white…faced that O liver asked her if she was ill。
'God forgive me！ 'she said； beating her hand s togethe r。 'I never thought I would do this！ '
'Has anything happened？ 'asked the boy。 'What is it？ '
She sat with her back to him； and hid her face with her hand s。 After a while she said； 'I don't know why I feel so strange sometimes。 Come on； O liver—are you ready？ You have to come with me to Bill's house。 '
'Why？ '
'Oh—nothing important。 '
O liver did not believe her； but he thought that at last this might be an opportunity to escape。 So he said； rather to