CHAPTER XIX. IN WHICH A NOTABLE PLAN IS DISCUSSED AND DETERMINED ON

Itwasachill,damp,windynight,whentheJew:buttoninghisgreat-coattightroundhisshrivelledbody,andpullingthecollarupoverhisearssoascompletelytoobscurethelowerpartofhisface:emergedfromhisden.Hepausedonthestepasthedoorwaslockedandchainedbehindhimandhavinglistenedwhiletheboysmadeallsecure,anduntiltheirretreatingfootstepswerenolongeraudible,slunkdownthestreetasquicklyashecould. ThehousetowhichOliverhadbeenconveyed,wasintheneighborhoodofWhitechapel.TheJewstoppedforaninstantatthecornerofthestreetand,glancingsuspiciouslyround,crossedtheroad,andstruckoffinthedirectionoftheSpitalfields. Themudlaythickuponthestones,andablackmisthungoverthestreetstherainfellsluggishlydown,andeverythingfeltcoldandclammytothetouch.ItseemedjustthenightwhenitbefittedsuchabeingastheJewtobeabroad.Asheglidedstealthilyalong,creepingbeneaththeshelterofthewallsanddoorways,thehideousoldmanseemedlikesomeloathsomereptile,engenderedintheslimeanddarknessthroughwhichhemoved:crawlingforth,bynight,insearchofsomerichoffalforameal. Hekeptonhiscourse,throughmanywindingandnarrowways,untilhereachedBethnalGreenthen,turningsuddenlyofftotheleft,hesoonbecameinvolvedinamazeofthemeananddirtystreetswhichaboundinthatcloseanddensely-populatedquarter. TheJewwasevidentlytoofamiliarwiththegroundhetraversedtobeatallbewildered,eitherbythedarknessofthenight,ortheintricaciesoftheway.Hehurriedthroughseveralalleysandstreets,andatlengthturnedintoone,lightedonlybyasinglelampatthefartherend.Atthedoorofahouseinthisstreet,heknockedhavingexchangedafewmutteredwordswiththepersonwhoopenedit,hewalkedupstairs. Adoggrowledashetouchedthehandleofaroom-doorandaman’svoicedemandedwhowasthere. “Onlyme,Billonlyme,mydear,”saidtheJewlookingin. “Bringinyourbodythen,”saidSikes.“Liedown,youstupidbrute!Don’tyouknowthedevilwhenhe’sgotagreat-coaton?” Apparently,thedoghadbeensomewhatdeceivedbyMr.Fagin’soutergarmentforastheJewunbuttonedit,andthrewitoverthebackofachair,heretiredtothecornerfromwhichhehadrisen:wagginghistailashewent,toshowthathewasaswellsatisfiedasitwasinhisnaturetobe. “Well!”saidSikes. “Well,mydear,”repliedtheJew.—“Ah!Nancy.” ThelatterrecognitionwasutteredwithjustenoughofembarrassmenttoimplyadoubtofitsreceptionforMr.Faginandhisyoungfriendhadnotmet,sinceshehadinterferedinbehalfofOliver.Alldoubtsuponthesubject,ifhehadany,werespeedilyremovedbytheyounglady’sbehaviour.Shetookherfeetoffthefender,pushedbackherchair,andbadeFagindrawuphis,withoutsayingmoreaboutit:foritwasacoldnight,andnomistake. “Itiscold,Nancydear,”saidtheJew,ashewarmedhisskinnyhandsoverthefire.“Itseemstogorightthroughone,”addedtheoldman,touchinghisside. “Itmustbeapiercer,ifitfindsitswaythroughyourheart,”saidMr.Sikes.“Givehimsomethingtodrink,Nancy.Burnmybody,makehaste!It’senoughtoturnamanill,toseehisleanoldcarcaseshiveringinthatway,likeauglyghostjustrosefromthegrave.” Nancyquicklybroughtabottlefromacupboard,inwhichthereweremany:which,tojudgefromthediversityoftheirappearance,werefilledwithseveralkindsofliquids.Sikespouringoutaglassofbrandy,badetheJewdrinkitoff. “Quiteenough,quite,thankye,Bill,”repliedtheJew,puttingdowntheglassafterjustsettinghisl