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“Fagin；” cried the girl； recoiling。
“That man must be delivered up by you；” said the gentleman。
“I will not do it！ I will never do it！” replied the girl。 “Devil that
he is； and worse than devil as he has been to me； I will never do
that。”
“You will not？” said the gentleman； who seemed fully prepared
for this answer。
“Never！” returned the girl。
“Tell me why？”
“For one reason；” rejoined the girl firmly—“for one reason； that
the lady knows and will stand by me in； I know she will； for I have
her promise； and for this other reason； besides； that； bad life as he
has led； I have led a bad life too； there are many of us who have
kept the same courses together； and I’ll not turn upon them； who
might—any of them—have turned upon me but didn’t； bad as they
are。”
“Then；” said the gentleman quickly； as if this had been the
point that he had been aiming to attain； “put Monks into my
hands； and leave him to me to deal with。”
“What if he turned against the others？”
“I promise you that in that case； if the truth is forced from him；
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there the matter will rest； there must be circumstances in Oliver’s
little history which it would be painful to drag before the public
eye； and if the truth is once elicited； they shall go scot…free。”
“And if it is not？” suggested the girl。
“Then；” pursued the gentleman； “this Fagin shall not be
brought to justice without your consent。 In such a case I could
show you reasons； I think； which would induce you to yield it。”
“Have I the lady’s promise for that？” asked the girl。
“You have；” replied Rose。 “My true and faithful pledge。”
“Monks would never learn how you know what you do？” said
the girl； after a short pause。
“Never；” replied the gentleman。 “The intelligence should be so
brought to bear upon him； that he could never even guess。”
“I have been a liar； and among liars from a little child；” said the
girl； after another interval of silence； “but I will take your words。”
After receiving an assurance from both； that she might safely do
so； she proceeded in a voice so low that it was often difficult for the
listener to discover even the import of what she said； to describe；
by name and situation； the public…house whence she had been
followed that night。 From the manner in which she occasionally
paused； it appeared as if the gentleman were making some hasty
notes of the information she communicated。 When she had
thoroughly explained the localities of the place； the best position
from which to watch it without exciting observation； and the night
and hour on which Monks was most in the habit of frequenting it；
she seemed to consider for a few moments； for the purpose of
recalling his features and appearance more forcibly to her
recollection。
“He is tall；” said the girl； “and a strongly…made man； but not
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stout； he has a lurking walk； and as he walks； constantly looks over
his shoulder； first on one side； and then on the other。 Don’t forget
that； for his eyes are sunk in his head so much deeper than any
other man’s； that you might almost tell him by that alone。 His face
is dark； like his hair and eyes； and； although he can’t be more than
six or eight…and…twenty； withered and haggard。 His lips are often
discoloured and disfigured with the marks of teeth； for he has
desperate fits； and sometimes even bites his hands and covers
them with wounds。—Why did you start？” said the girl； stopping
suddenly。
The gentleman replied； in a hurried manner； that he was not
conscious of having done so； and begged her to proceed。
“Part of this；” said the girl； “I’ve drawn out from other people at
the house I tell you of； for I have only seen him twice； and both
times he was covered up in a large cloak。 I think that’s all I can
give you to know him by。 Stay； though；” she added。 “Upon his
throat； so high that you can see a part of it below his neckerchief
when he turns his face； there is—”
“A broad red mark； like a burn or scald？” cried the gentleman。
“How’s this？” said the girl。 “You know him！”
The young lady uttered a cry of surprise； and for a few
moments they were so still that the listener could distinctly hear
them breathe。
“I think I do；” said the gentleman； breaking silence。 “I should
by your description。 We shall see。 Many people are singularly like
each other。 It may not be the same。”
As he expressed himself to this effect； with assumed
carelessness； he took a step or two nearer the concealed spy； as
the latter could tell from the distinctness with which he heard him
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mutter； “It must be he！”
“Now；” he said； returning； so it seemed by the sound； to the
spot where he had stood before； “you have given us most valuable
assistance； young woman； and I wish you to be the better for it。
What can I do to serve you？”
“Nothing；” replied Nancy。
“You will not persist in saying that；” rejoined the gentleman；
with a voice and emphasis of kindness that might have touched a
much harder and more obdurate heart。 “Think now。 Tell me。”
“Nothing； sir；” rejoined the girl； weeping。 “You can do nothing
to help me。 I am past all hope； indeed。”
“You put yourself beyond its pale；” said the gentleman。 “The
past has been a dreary waste with you； of youthful energies
misspent； and such priceless treasures lavished； as the Creator
bestows but once and never grants again； but； for the future； you
may hope。 I do not say that it is in our power to offer you peace of
heart and mind； for that must come as you seek it； but a quiet
asylum； either in England； or； if you fear to remain here； in some
foreign country； it is not only within the compass of our ability but
our most anxious wish to secure you。 Before the dawn of morning；
before this river wakes to the first glimpse of daylight； you shall be
placed as entirely beyond the reach of your former associates； and
leave as utter an absence of all trace behind you； as if you were to
disappear from the earth this moment。 Come！ I would not have
you go back to exchange one word with any old companion or take
one look at any old haunt； or breathe the very air which is
pestilence and death to you。 Quit them all； while there is time and
opportunity！”
“She will be persuaded now；” cried the young lady。 “She
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hesitates； I am sure。”
“I fear not； my dear；” said the gentleman。
“No； sir； I do not；” replied the girl； after a short struggle。 “I am
chained to my old life。 I loathe and hate it now； but I cannot leave
it。 I must have gone too far to turn back—and yet I don’t know； for
if you had spoken to me so； some time ago； I should have laughed
it off。 But；” she said； looking hastily round； “this fear comes over
me again。 I must go home。”
“Home！” repeated the young lady； with great stress upon the
word。
“Home； lady；” rejoined the girl。 “To such a home as I have
raised for myself with the work of my whole life。 Let us part。 I shall
be watched or seen。 Go！ Go！ If I have done you any service； all I
ask is； that you leave me； and let me go my way alone。”
“It is useless；” said the gentleman； with a sigh。 “We
compromise her safety； perhaps； by staying here。 We may have
detained her longer than she expected already。”
“Yes； yes；” urged the girl。 “You have。”
“What；” cried the young lady； “can be the end of this poor
creature’s life！”
“What！” repeated the girl。 “Look before you； lady。 Look at that
dark water。 How many times do you read of such as I who spring
into the tide； and leave no living thing； to care for； or bewail them。
It may be years hence； or it may be only months； but I shall come
to that at last。”
“Do not speak thus； pray；” returned the young lady； sobbing。
“It will never reach your ears； dear lady； and God forbid such
horrors should！” replied the girl。 “Good…night； good…night！”
The gentleman turned away。
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“This purse；” cried the young lady。 “Take it for my sake； that
you may have some resource in an hour of need and trouble。”
“No！” replied the girl。 “I have not done this for money。 Let me
have that to think of。 And yet—give me something that you have
worn—I should like to have something—no； no； not a ring—your
gloves or handkerchief—anything that I can keep； as having
belonged to you； sweet lady。 There。 Bless you！ God bless you。
Good…night； good…night！”
The violent agitation of the girl； and the apprehension of some
discovery which would subject her to ill…usage and violence；
seemed to determine the gentleman to leave her； as she requested。
The sound of retreating footsteps were audible and the voices
ceased。
The two figures of the young lady and her companion soon
afterwards appeared upo