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wrist； as if to prevent his leaving the house before he had heard
enough。 “You followed her？”
“Yes。”
“To London Bridge？”
“Yes。”
“Where she met two people？”
“So she did。”
“A gentleman and a lady that she had gone to of her own accord
before； who asked her to give up all her pals； and Monks first；
which she did—and to describe him； which she did—and to tell
her what house it was that we meet at； and go to； which she did—
and where it could be best watched from； which she did—and
what time the people went there； which she did。 She did all this。
She told it all every word without a threat； without a murmur—
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she did—did she not？” cried Fagin； half…mad with fury。
“All right；” replied Noah； scratching his head。 “That’s just what
it was！”
“What did they say about last Sunday？”
“About last Sunday！” replied Noah； considering。 “Why； I told
yer that before。”
“Again。 Tell it again！” cried Fagin； tightening his grasp on
Sikes； and brandishing his other hand aloft； as the foam flew from
his lips。
“They asked her；” said Noah； who； as he grew more wakeful；
seemed to have a dawning perception who Sikes was—“they
asked her why she didn’t come last Sunday； as she promised。 She
said she couldn’t。”
“Why—why？ Tell him that。”
“Because she was forcibly kept at home by Bill； the man she
had told them of before；” replied Noah。
“What more of him？” cried Fagin。 “What more of the man she
had told them of before？ Tell him that； tell him that。”
“Why； that she couldn’t very easily get out of doors unless he
knew where she was going to；” said Noah； “and so the first time
she went to see the lady； she—ha！ ha！ ha！ it made me laugh when
she said it； that it did— she gave him a drink of laudanum。”
“Hell’s fire！” cried Sikes； breaking fiercely from Fagin。 “Let me
go！” Flinging the old man from him； he rushed from the room； and
darted； wildly and furiously； up the stairs。
“Bill； Bill！” cried Fagin； following him hastily。 “A word。 Only a
word。”
The word would not have been exchanged； but that the
housebreaker was unable to open the door； on which he was
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expending fruitless oaths and violence； when the Jew came
panting up。
“Let me out；” said Sikes。 “Don’t speak to me； it’s not safe。 Let
me out； I say！”
“Hear me speak a word；” rejoined Fagin； laying his hand upon
the lock。 “You won’t be—”
“Well；” replied the other。
“You won’t be—too—violent； Bill？”
The day was breaking； and there was light enough for the men
to see each other’s faces。 They exchanged one brief glance； there
was a fire in the eyes of both； which could not be mistaken。 “I
mean；” said Fagin； showing that he felt all disguise was now
useless； “not too violent for safety。 Be crafty； Bill； and not too
bold。”
Sikes made no reply； but； pulling open the door； of which Fagin
had turned the lock； dashed into the silent streets。
Without one pause； or moment’s consideration； without once
turning his head to the right or left； or raising his eyes to the sky；
or lowering them to the ground； but looking straight before him
with savage resolution； his teeth so tightly compressed that the
strained jaw seemed starting through his skin； the robber held on
his headlong course； nor muttered a word； nor relaxed a muscle；
until he reached his own door。 He opened it； softly； with a key；
strode lightly up the stairs； and entering his own room； double…
locked the door； and lifting a heavy table against it； drew back the
curtain of the bed。
The girl was lying； half…dressed； upon it。 He had roused her
from her sleep； for she raised herself with a hurried and startled
look。
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“Get up！” said the man。
“It is you； Bill！” said the girl； with an expression of pleasure at
his return。
“It is；” was the reply。 “Get up。”
There was a candle burning； but the man hastily drew it from
the candlestick and hurled it under the grate。 Seeing the faint
light of early day without； the girl rose to undraw the curtain。
“Let it be；” said Sikes； thrusting his hand before her。 “There’s
light enough for wot I’ve got to do。”
“Bill；” said the girl； in the low voice of alarm； “why do you look
like that at me？”
The robber sat regarding her for a few seconds； with dilated
nostrils and heaving breast； and then； grasping her by the head
and throat； dragged her into the middle of the room； and looking
once towards the door； placed his heavy hand upon her mouth。
“Bill； Bill！” gasped the girl； wrestling with the strength of
mortal fear； “I—won’t scream or cry—not once—hear me—speak
to me—tell me what I have done？”
“You know； you she…devil！” returned the robber； suppressing
his breath。 “You were watched tonight； every word you said was
heard。”
“Then spare my life for the love of Heaven； as I spared yours；”
rejoined the girl； clinging to him。 “Bill； dear Bill； you cannot have
the heart to kill me。 Oh！ think of all I have given up； only this one
night； for you。 You shall have time to think； and save yourself this
crime； I will not loose my hold； you cannot throw me off。 Bill； Bill；
for dear God’s sake； for your own； for mine； stop before you spill
my blood！ I have been true to you； upon my guilty soul I have！”
The man struggled violently to release his arms； but those of
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the girl were clasped round his； and tear her as he would； he could
not tear them away。
“Bill；” cried the girl； striving to lay her head upon his breast；
“the gentleman and that dear lady； told me tonight of a home in
some foreign country where I could end my days in solitude and
peace。 Let me see them again； and beg them； on my knees； to show
the same mercy and goodness to you； and let us both leave this
dreadful place； and far apart lead better lives； and forget how we
have lived； except in prayers； and never see each other more。 It is
never too late to repent。 They told me so—I feel it now—but we
must have time—a little； little time！”
The housebreaker freed one arm； and grasped his pistol。 The
certainty of immediate detection if he fired； flashed across his
mind even in the midst of his fury； and he beat it twice with all the
force he could summon； upon the upturned face that almost
touched his own。
She staggered and fell； nearly blinded with the blood that
rained down from a deep gash in her forehead； but raising herself；
with difficulty； on her knees； drew from her bosom a white
handkerchief—Rose Maylie’s own—and holding it up； in her
folded hands； as high towards Heaven as her feeble strength
would allow； breathed one prayer for mercy to her Maker。
It was a ghastly figure to look upon。 The murderer； staggering
backward to the wall； and shutting out the sight with his hand；
seized a heavy club and struck her down。
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Chapter 48
The Flight Of Sikes。
O f all bad deeds that； under cover of the darkness； had been
committed within wide London’s bounds since night hung
over it； that was the worst。 Of all the horrors that rose
with an ill scent upon the morning air； that was the foulest and
most cruel。
The sun—the bright sun； that brings back； not light alone； but
new life； and hope； and freshness to man—burst upon the
crowded city in clear and radiant glory。 Through costly coloured
glass and paper…mended window； through cathedral dome and
rotten crevice； it shed its equal ray。 It lighted up the room where
the murdered woman lay。 It did。 He tried to shut it out； but it
would stream in。 If the sight had been a ghastly one in the dull
morning； what was it now； in all that brilliant light！
He had not moved； he had been afraid to stir。 There had been a
moan and motion of the hand； and； with terror added to rage； he
had struck and struck again。 Once he threw a rug over it； but it
was worse to fancy the eyes； and imagine them moving towards
him； than to see them glaring upward； as if watching the reflection
of the pool of gore that quivered and danced in the sunlight on the
ceiling。 He had plucked it off again。 And there was the body—
mere flesh and blood； no more—but such flesh； and so much
blood！
He struck a light； kindled a fire； and thrust the club into it。
There was hair upon the edge； which blazed and shrank into a
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light cinder； and； caught by the air； whirled up the chimney。 Even
that frightened him； sturdy as he was； but he held the weapon till
it broke； and then piled it on the coals to burn away； and smoulder
into ashes。 He washed himself； and rubbed his clothes； there were
spots that would not be removed； but he cut the pieces out； and
burned them。 How those stains were dispersed about the room！
The very