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

ipstoit. “What!You’reafraidofourgettingthebetterofyou,areyou?”inquiredSikes,fixinghiseyesontheJew.“Ugh!” Withahoarsegruntofcontempt,Mr.Sikesseizedtheglass,andthrewtheremainderofitscontentsintotheashes:asapreparatoryceremonytofillingitagainforhimself:whichhedidatonce. TheJewglancedroundtheroom,ashiscompaniontosseddownthesecondglassfulnotincuriousity,forhehadseenitoftenbeforebutinarestlessandsuspiciousmannerhabitualtohim.Itwasameanlyfurnishedapartment,withnothingbutthecontentsoftheclosettoinducethebeliefthatitsoccupierwasanythingbutaworkingmanandwithnomoresuspiciousarticlesdisplayedtoviewthantwoorthreeheavybludgeonswhichstoodinacorner,anda“life-preserver”thathungoverthechimney-piece. “There,”saidSikes,smackinghislips.“NowI’mready.” “Forbusiness?”inquiredtheJew. “Forbusiness,”repliedSikes“sosaywhatyou’vegottosay.” “AboutthecribatChertsey,Bill?”saidtheJew,drawinghischairforward,andspeakinginaverylowvoice. “Yes.Wotaboutit?”inquiredSikes. “Ah!youknowwhatImean,mydear,”saidtheJew.“HeknowswhatImean,Nancydon’the?” “No,hedon’t,”sneeredMr.Sikes.“Orhewon’t,andthat’sthesamething.Speakout,andcallthingsbytheirrightnamesdon’tsitthere,winkingandblinking,andtalkingtomeinhints,asifyouwarn’ttheveryfirstthatthoughtabouttherobbery.Wotd’yemean?” “Hush,Bill,hush!”saidtheJew,whohadinvainattemptedtostopthisburstofindignation“somebodywillhearus,mydear.Somebodywillhearus.” “Let’emhear!”saidSikes“Idon’tcare.”ButasMr.Sikesdidcare,onreflection,hedroppedhisvoiceashesaidthewords,andgrewcalmer. “There,there,”saidtheJew,coaxingly.“Itwasonlymycaution,nothingmore.Now,mydear,aboutthatcribatChertseywhenisittobedone,Bill,eh?Whenisittobedone?Suchplate,mydear,suchplate!”saidtheJew:rubbinghishands,andelevatinghiseyebrowsinaraptureofanticipation. “Notatall,”repliedSikescoldly. “Nottobedoneatall!”echoedtheJew,leaningbackinhischair. “No,notatall,”rejoinedSikes.“Atleastitcan’tbeaput-upjob,asweexpected.” “Thenithasn’tbeenproperlygoneabout,”saidtheJew,turningpalewithanger.“Don’ttellme!” “ButIwilltellyou,”retortedSikes.“Whoareyouthat’snottobetold?ItellyouthatTobyCrackithasbeenhangingabouttheplaceforafortnight,andhecan’tgetoneoftheservantsinline.” “Doyoumeantotellme,Bill,”saidtheJew:softeningastheothergrewheated:“thatneitherofthetwomeninthehousecanbegotover?” “Yes,Idomeantotellyouso,”repliedSikes.“Theoldladyhashad’emthesetwentyyearsandifyouweretogive’emfivehundredpound,theywouldn’tbeinit.” “Butdoyoumeantosay,mydear,”remonstratedtheJew,“thatthewomencan’tbegotover?” “Notabitofit,”repliedSikes. “NotbyflashTobyCrackit?”saidtheJewincredulously.“Thinkwhatwomenare,Bill,” “NonotevenbyflashTobyCrackit,”repliedSikes.“Hesayshe’swornshamwhiskers,andacanarywaistcoat,thewholeblessedtimehe’sbeenloiteringdownthere,andit’sallofnouse.” “Heshouldhavetriedmustachiosandapairofmilitarytrousers,mydear,”saidtheJew. “Sohedid,”rejoinedSikes,“andtheywarn’tofnomoreusethantheotherplant.” TheJewlookedblankatthisinformation.Afterruminatingforsomeminuteswithhischinsunkonhisbreast,heraisedhisheadandsaid,withadeepsigh,thatifflashTobyCrackitreportedaright,hefe