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ceased。
The two figures of the young lady and her companion soon
afterwards appeared upon the bridge。 They stopped at the summit
of the stairs。
“Hark！” cried the young lady； listening。 “Did she call！ thought I
heard her voice。”
“No； my love；” replied Mr。 Brownlow； looking sadly back。 “She
has not moved； and will not till we are gone。”
Rose Maylie lingered； but the old gentleman drew her arm
through his； and led her； with gentle force； away。 As they
disappeared； the girl sank down nearly at her full length upon one
of the stone stairs； and vented the anguish of her heart in bitter
tears。
After a time she arose； and； with feeble and tottering steps；
ascended to the street。 The astonished listener remained
motionless on his post for some minutes afterwards； and having
ascertained； with many cautious glances round him； that he was
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again alone； crept slowly from his hiding…place； and returned；
stealthily and in the shade of the wall； in the same manner as he
had descended。
Peeping out； more than once； when he reached the top； to make
sure that he was unobserved； Noah Claypole darted away at his
utmost speed； and made for the Jew’s house as fast as his legs
would carry him。
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Chapter 47
Fatal Consequences。
It was nearly two hours before daybreak； that time which in
the autumn of the year may be truly called the dead of night；
when the streets are silent and deserted； when even sounds
appear to slumber； and profligacy and riot have staggered home to
dream； it was at this still and silent hour； that Fagin sat watching
in his old lair； with face so distorted and pale； and eyes so red and
bloodshot； that he looked less like a man； than like some hideous
phantom； moist from the grave； and worried by an evil spirit。
He sat crouching over a cold hearth； wrapped in an old torn
coverlet； with his face turned towards a wasting candle that stood
upon a table by his side。 His right hand was raised to his lips； and
as； absorbed in thought； he bit his long black nails； he disclosed
among his toothless gums a few such fangs as should have been a
dog’s or rat’s。
Stretched upon a mattress on the floor； lay Noah Claypole； fast
asleep。 Towards him the old man sometimes directed his eyes for
an instant； and then brought them back again to the candle； which
was a long…burnt wick drooping almost double； and hot grease
falling down in clots upon the table； plainly showed that his
thoughts were busy elsewhere。
Indeed they were。 Mortification at the overthrow of his notable
scheme； hatred of the girl who had dared to palter with strangers；
an utter distrust of the sincerity of her refusal to yield him up；
bitter disappointment at the loss of his revenge on Sikes； the fear
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of detection； and ruin； and death； and a fierce and deadly rage
kindled by all； these were the passionate considerations which；
following close upon each other with rapid and ceaseless whirl；
shot through the brain of Fagin； as every evil thought and blackest
purpose lay working at his heart。
He sat without changing his attitude in the least； or appearing
to take the smallest heed of time； until his quick ear seemed to be
attracted by a footstep in the street。
“At last；” he muttered； wiping his dry and fevered mouth。 “At
last！”
The bell rang gently as he spoke。 He crept upstairs to the door；
and presently returned accompanied by a man muffled to the
chin； who carried a bundle under one arm。 Sitting down and
throwing back his outer coat； the man displayed the burly frame of
Sikes。
“There！” he said； laying the bundle on the table。 “Take care of
that； and do the most you can with it。 It’s been trouble enough to
get： I thought I should have been here three hours ago。”
Fagin laid his hand upon the bundle； and locking it in the
cupboard； sat down again without speaking。 But he did not take
his eyes off the robber； for an instant； during this action； and now
that they sat over against each other； face to face； he looked fixedly
at him； with his lips quivering so violently； and his face so altered
by the emotions which had mastered him； that the housebreaker
involuntarily drew back his chair； and surveyed him with a look of
real affright。
“Wot now？” cried Sikes。 “Wot do you look at a man so for？”
Fagin raised his right hand； and shook his trembling forefinger
in the air； but his passion was so great； that the power of speech
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was for the moment gone。
“Damme！” said Sikes； feeling in his breast with a look of alarm。
“He’s gone mad。 I must look to myself here。”
“No； no；” rejoined Fagin； finding his voice。 “It’s not—You’re not
the person； Bill。 I’ve no—no fault to find with you。”
“Oh； you haven’t； haven’t you？” said Sikes； looking sternly at
him； and ostentatiously passing a pistol into a more convenient
pocket。 “That’s lucky—for one of us。 Which one that is； don’t
matter。”
“I’ve got that to tell you； Bill；” said Fagin； drawing his chair
nearer； “will make you worse than me。”
“Aye？” returned the robber； with an incredulous air。 “Tell
away！ Look sharp； or Nance will think I’m lost。”
“Lost！” cried Fagin。 “She has pretty well settled that； in her
own mind； already。”
Sikes looked with an aspect of great perplexity into the Jew’s
face； and reading no satisfactory explanation of the riddle there；
clenched his coat collar in his huge hand and shook him soundly。
“Speak； will you！” he said； “or if you won’t； it shall be for want
of breath。 Open your mouth and say wot you’ve got to say in plain
words Out with it； you thundering old cur； out with it！”
“Suppose that lad that’s lying there—” Fagin began。
Sikes turned round to where Noah was sleeping； as if he had
not previously observed him。 “Well？” he said； resuming his former
position。
“Suppose that lad；” pursued Fagin； “was to peach—to blow
upon us all—first seeking out the right folks for the purpose； and
then having a meeting with ’em in the street to paint our
likenesses； describe every mark that they might know us by； and
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the crib where we might be most easily taken。 Suppose he was to
do all this； and besides to blow upon a plant we’ve all been in；
more or less—of his own fancy； not grabbed； trapped； tried； ear…
wigged by the parson and brought to it on bread and water—but
of his own fancy； to please his own taste； stealing out at nights to
find those most interested against us； and peaching to them。 Do
you hear me？” cried the Jew； his eyes flashing with rage。
“Suppose he did all this； what then？”
“What then！” replied Sikes； with a tremendous oath。 “If he was
left alive till I came； I’d grind his skull under the iron heel of my
boot into as many grains as there are hairs upon his head。”
“What if I did it！” cried Fagin； almost in a yell。 “I； that know so
much； and could hang so many besides myself！”
“I don’t know；” replied Sikes； clenching his teeth； and turning
white at the mere suggestion。 “I’d do something in the jail that ’ud
get me put in irons； and if I was tried along with you； I’d fall upon
you with them in the open court； and beat your brains out afore
the people。 I should have such strength；” muttered the robber；
poising his brawny arm； “that I could smash your head as if a
loaded wagon had gone over it。”
“You would？”
“Would I！” said the housebreaker。 “Try me。”
“If it was Charley； or the Dodger； or Bet； or—”
“I don’t care who；” replied Sikes impatiently。 “Whoever it was；
I’d serve them the same。”
Fagin looked hard at the robber； and； motioning him to be
silent； stooped over the bed upon the floor； and shook the sleeper
to rouse him。 Sikes leaned forward in his chair； looking on with his
hands upon his knees； as if wondering much what all this
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questioning and preparation was to end in。
“Bolter； Bolter！ Poor lad！” said Fagin； looking up with an
expression of devilish anticipation； and speaking slowly and with
marked emphasis。 “He’s tired—tired with watching for her so
long—watching for her； Bill。”
“Wot d’ye mean？” asked Sikes； drawing back。
Fagin made no answer； but bending over the sleeper again；
hauled him into a sitting posture。 When his assumed name had
been repeated several time； Noah rubbed his eyes； and； giving a
heavy yawn； looked sleepily about him。
“Tell me that again—once again； just for him to hear；” said the
Jew； pointing to Sikes as he spoke。
“Tell yer what？” asked the sleepy Noah； shaking himself
pettishly。
“That about—NANCY；” said Fagin； clutching Sikes by the
wrist； as if to prevent his leaving the house before he had heard
enough。 “You followed her？”