CHAPTER XV. SHOWING HOW VERY FOND OF OLIVER TWIST, THE MERRY OLD JEW AND MISS NANCY WERE

Sikeswiththepokerandtheclasp-knifeinhishands. Theremustalwaysbetwopartiestoaquarrel,saystheoldadage.Mr.Sikes,beingdisappointedofthedog’sparticipation,atoncetransferredhisshareinthequarreltothenewcomer. “Whatthedevildoyoucomeinbetweenmeandmydogfor?”saidSikes,withafiercegesture. “Ididn’tknow,mydear,Ididn’tknow,”repliedFagin,humblyfortheJewwasthenewcomer. “Didn’tknow,youwhite-liveredthief!”growledSikes.“Couldn’tyouhearthenoise?” “Notasoundofit,asI’malivingman,Bill,”repliedtheJew. “Ohno!Youhearnothing,youdon’t,”retortedSikeswithafiercesneer.“Sneakinginandout,soasnobodyhearshowyoucomeorgo!Iwishyouhadbeenthedog,Fagin,halfaminuteago.” “Why?”inquiredtheJewwithaforcedsmile. “Causethegovernment,ascaresforthelivesofsuchmenasyou,ashaven’thalfthepluckofcurs,letsamankilladoghowhelikes,”repliedSikes,shuttinguptheknifewithaveryexpressivelook“that’swhy.” TheJewrubbedhishandsand,sittingdownatthetable,affectedtolaughatthepleasantryofhisfriend.Hewasobviouslyveryillatease,however. “Grinaway,”saidSikes,replacingthepoker,andsurveyinghimwithsavagecontempt“grinaway.You’llneverhavethelaughatme,though,unlessit’sbehindanightcap.I’vegottheupperhandoveryou,Faginand,d—me,I’llkeepit.There!IfIgo,yougosotakecareofme.” “Well,well,mydear,”saidtheJew,“Iknowallthatwe—we—haveamutualinterest,Bill,—amutualinterest.” “Humph,”saidSikes,asifhethoughttheinterestlayrathermoreontheJew’ssidethanonhis.“Well,whathaveyougottosaytome?” “It’sallpassedsafethroughthemelting-pot,”repliedFagin,“andthisisyourshare.It’srathermorethanitoughttobe,mydearbutasIknowyou’lldomeagoodturnanothertime,and—” “Stowthatgammon,”interposedtherobber,impatiently.“Whereisit?Handover!” “Yes,yes,Billgivemetime,givemetime,”repliedtheJew,soothingly.“Hereitis!Allsafe!”Ashespoke,hedrewforthanoldcottonhandkerchieffromhisbreastanduntyingalargeknotinonecorner,producedasmallbrown-paperpacket.Sikes,snatchingitfromhim,hastilyopeneditandproceededtocountthesovereignsitcontained. “Thisisall,isit?”inquiredSikes. “All,”repliedtheJew. “Youhaven’topenedtheparcelandswallowedoneortwoasyoucomealong,haveyou?”inquiredSikes,suspiciously.“Don’tputonaninjuredlookatthequestionyou’vedoneitmanyatime.Jer