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the boys； receiving a sly wink from the wary old Jew； began to ply
her with liquor； of which； however； she took very sparingly； while
Fagin； assuming an unusual flow of spirits； gradually brought Mr。
Sikes into a better temper； by affecting to regard his threats as a
little pleasant banter； and； moreover； by laughing very heartily at
one or two rough jokes； which； after repeated applications to the
spirit…bottle； he condescended to make。
“It’s all very well；” said Mr。 Sikes； “but I must have some blunt
from you tonight。”
“I haven’t a piece of coin about me；” replied the Jew。
“Then you’ve got lots at home；” retorted Sikes； “and I must
have some from there。”
“Lots！” cried Fagin； holding up his hands。 “I haven’t so much as
would—”
“I don’t know how much you’ve got； and I dare say you hardly
know yourself； as it would take a pretty long time to count it；” said
Sikes； “but I must have some tonight； and that’s flat。”
“Well； well；” said Fagin； with a sigh； “I’ll send the Artful round
presently。”
“You won’t do nothing of the kind；” rejoined Mr。 Sikes。 “The
Artful’s a deal too artful； and would forget to come； or lose his way；
or get dodged by traps and so be prewented； or anything for an
excuse； if you put him up to it。 Nancy shall go to the ken and fetch
it； to make all sure； and I’ll lie down and have a snooze while she’s
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gone。”
After a great deal of haggling and squabbling； Fagin beat down
the amount of the required advance from five pounds to three
pounds four and sixpence； protesting with many solemn
asservations that would only leave eighteenpence to keep house
with； Mr。 Sikes sullenly remarking that if he couldn’t get any more
he must be content with that； Nancy prepared to accompany him
home； while the Dodger and Master Bates put the eatables in the
cupboard。 The Jew then； taking leave of his affectionate friend；
returned homeward； attended by Nancy and the boys； Mr。 Sikes；
meanwhile； flinging himself on the bed； and composing himself to
sleep away the time until the young lady’s return。
In due course they arrived at Fagin’s abode； where they found
Toby Crackit and Mr。 Chitling intent upon their fifteenth game at
cribbage； which it is scarcely necessary to say the latter gentleman
lost； and with it； his fifteenth and last sixpence； much to the
amusement of his young friends。 Mr。 Crackit； apparently
somewhat ashamed at being found relaxing himself with a
gentleman so much his inferior in station and mental
endowments； yawned； and inquiring after Sikes； took up his hat to
go。
“Has nobody been； Toby？” asked Fagin。
“Not a living leg；” answered Mr。 Crackit； pulling up his collar；
“it’s been as dull as swipes。 You ought to stand something
handsome； Fagin； to recompense me for keeping house so long。
Damme； I’m as flat as a juryman； and should have gone to sleep； as
fast as Newgate； if I hadn’t had the good…natur’ to amuse this
youngster。 Horrid dull； I’m blessed if I ain’t！”
With these and other ejaculations of the same kind； Mr。 Toby
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Crackit swept up his winnings； and crammed them into his
waistcoat pocket with a haughty air； as though such small pieces
of silver were wholly beneath the consideration of a man of his
figure； this done； he swaggered out of the room； with so much
elegance and gentility； that Mr。 Chitling； bestowing numerous
admiring glances on his legs and boots till they were out of sight；
assured the company that he considered his acquaintance cheap
at fifteen sixpences an interview； and that he didn’t value his
losses the snap of his little finger。
“Wot a rum chap you are； Tom！” said Master Bates； highly
amused by this declaration。
“Not a bit of it；” replied Mr。 Chitling。 “Am I； Fagin？”
“A very clever fellow； my dear；” said Fagin； patting him on the
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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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 st