CHAPTER XVI. RELATES WHAT BECAME OF OLIVER TWIST, AFTER HE HAD BEEN CLAIMED BY NANCY

,forafullhalf-hour:meetingveryfewpeople,andthoseappearingfromtheirlookstoholdmuchthesamepositioninsocietyasMr.Sikeshimself.Atlengththeyturnedintoaveryfilthynarrowstreet,nearlyfullofold-clothesshopsthedogrunningforward,asifconsciousthattherewasnofurtheroccasionforhiskeepingonguard,stoppedbeforethedoorofashopthatwasclosedandapparentlyuntenantedthehousewasinaruinouscondition,andonthedoorwasnailedaboard,intimatingthatitwastolet:whichlookedasifithadhungthereformanyyears. “Allright,”criedSikes,glancingcautiouslyabout. Nancystoopedbelowtheshutters,andOliverheardthesoundofabell.Theycrossedtotheoppositesideofthestreet,andstoodforafewmomentsunderalamp.Anoise,asifasashwindowweregentlyraised,washeardandsoonafterwardsthedoorsoftlyopened.Mr.Sikesthenseizedtheterrifiedboybythecollarwithverylittleceremonyandallthreewerequicklyinsidethehouse. Thepassagewasperfectlydark.Theywaited,whilethepersonwhohadletthemin,chainedandbarredthedoor. “Anybodyhere?”inquiredSikes. “No,”repliedavoice,whichOliverthoughthehadheardbefore. “Istheold’unhere?”askedtherobber. “Yes,”repliedthevoice,“andpreciousdowninthemouthhehasbeen.Won’thebegladtoseeyou?Oh,no!” Thestyleofthisreply,aswellasthevoicewhichdeliveredit,seemedfamiliartoOliver’sears:butitwasimpossibletodistinguisheventheformofthespeakerinthedarkness. “Let’shaveaglim,”saidSikes,“orweshallgobreakingournecks,ortreadingonthedog.Lookafteryourlegsifyoudo!” “Standstillamoment,andI’llgetyouone,”repliedthevoice.Therecedingfootstepsofthespeakerwereheardand,inanotherminute,theformofMr.JohnDawkins,otherwisetheArtfulDodger,appeared.Heboreinhisrighthandatallowcandlestuckintheendofacleftstick. TheyounggentlemandidnotstoptobestowanyothermarkofrecognitionuponOliverthanahumourousgrinbut,turningaway,beckonedthevisitorstofollowhimdownaflightofstairs.Theycrossedanemptykitchenand,openingthedoorofalowearthy-smellingroom,whichseemedtohavebeenbuiltinasmallback-yard,werereceivedwithashoutoflaughter. “Oh,mywig,mywig!”criedMasterCharlesBates,fromwhoselungsthelaughterhadproceeded:“hereheis!oh,cry,hereheis!Oh,Fagin,lookathim!Fagin,dolookathim!Ican’tbearititissuchajollygame,Ican’tbearit.Holdme,somebody,whileIlaughitout.” Withthisirrepressibleebullitionofmirth,MasterBateslaidhimselfflatonthefloor:andkickedconvulsivelyforfiveminutes,inanectasyoffacetiousjoy.Thenjumpingtohisfeet,hesnatchedthecleftstickfromtheDodgerand,advancingtoOliver,viewedhimroundandroundwhiletheJew,takingoffhisnightcap,madeagreatnumberoflowbowstothebewilderedboy.TheArtful,meantime,whowasofarathersaturninedisposition,andseldomgavewaytomerrimentwhenitinterferedwithbusiness,rifledOliver’spocketswithsteadyassiduity. “Lookathistogs,Fagin!”saidCharley,puttingthelightsoclosetohisnewjacketasnearlytosethimonfire.“Lookathistogs!Superfinecloth,andtheheavyswellcut!Oh,myeye,whatagame!Andhisbooks,too!Nothingbutagentleman,Fagin!” “Delightedtoseeyoulookingsowell,mydear,”saidtheJew,bowingwithmockhumility.“TheArtfulshallgiveyouanothersuit,mydear,forfearyoushouldspoilthatSundayone.Whydidn’tyouwrite,mydear,andsayyouwerecoming?We’dhavegotsomethingwarmforsupper.” Athis,MasterBatesroaredagain:soloud,thatFaginhimselfrelaxed,andeventheDodgersmiledbutastheArtfuldrewforththefive-poundnoteatthatinstant,itisdoubtfulwhetherthesallyofthediscoverya