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

aredthegamewasup. “Andyet,”saidtheoldman,droppinghishandsonhisknees,“it’sasadthing,mydear,tolosesomuchwhenwehadsetourheartsuponit.” “Soitis,”saidMr.Sikes.“Worseluck!” AlongsilenceensuedduringwhichtheJewwasplungedindeepthought,withhisfacewrinkledintoanexpressionofvillainyperfectlydemoniacal.Sikeseyedhimfurtivelyfromtimetotime.Nancy,apparentlyfearfulofirritatingthehousebreaker,satwithhereyesfixeduponthefire,asifshehadbeendeaftoallthatpassed. “Fagin,”saidSikes,abruptlybreakingthestillnessthatprevailed“isitworthfiftyshinersextra,ifit’ssafelydonefromtheoutside?” “Yes,”saidtheJew,assuddenlyrousinghimself. “Isitabargain?”inquiredSikes. “Yes,mydear,yes,”rejoinedtheJewhiseyesglistening,andeverymuscleinhisfaceworking,withtheexcitementthattheinquiryhadawakened. “Then,”saidSikes,thrustingasidetheJew’shand,withsomedisdain,“letitcomeoffassoonasyoulike.Tobyandmewereoverthegarden-wallthenightaforelast,soundingthepanelsofthedoorandshutters.Thecrib’sbarredupatnightlikeajailbutthere’sonepartwecancrack,safeandsoftly.” “Whichisthat,Bill?”askedtheJeweagerly. “Why,”whisperedSikes,“asyoucrossthelawn—” “Yes?”saidtheJew,bendinghisheadforward,withhiseyesalmoststartingoutofit. “Umph!”criedSikes,stoppingshort,asthegirl,scarcelymovingherhead,lookedsuddenlyround,andpointedforaninstanttotheJew’sface.“Nevermindwhichpartitis.Youcan’tdoitwithoutme,Iknowbutit’sbesttobeonthesafesidewhenonedealswithyou.” “Asyoulike,mydear,asyoulike”repliedtheJew.“Istherenohelpwanted,butyoursandToby’s?” “None,”saidSikes.“Ceptacentre-bitandaboy.Thefirstwe’vebothgotthesecondyoumustfindus.” “Aboy!”exclaimedtheJew.“Oh!thenit’sapanel,eh?” “Nevermindwotitis!”repliedSikes.“Iwantaboy,andhemusn’tbeabig’un.Lord!”saidMr.Sikes,reflectively,“ifI’donlygotthatyoungboyofNed,thechimbley-sweeper’s!Hekepthimsmallonpurpose,andlethimoutbythejob.ButthefathergetslaggedandthentheJuvenileDelinquentSocietycomes,andtakestheboyawayfromatradewherehewasearningmoney,teacheshimtoreadandwrite,andintimemakesa’prenticeofhim.Andsotheygoon,”saidMr.Sikes,hiswrathrisingwiththerecollectionofhiswrongs,“sotheygoonand,ifthey’dgotmoneyenough(whichit’saProvidencetheyhaven’t,)weshouldn’thavehalfadozenboysleftinthewholetrade,inayearortwo.” “Nomoreweshould,”acquiescedtheJew,whohadbeenconsideringduringthisspeech,andhadonlycaughtthelastsentence.“Bill!” “Whatnow?”inquiredSikes. TheJewnoddedhisheadtowardsNancy,whowasstillgazingatthefireandintimated,byasign,thathewouldhavehertoldtoleavetheroom.Sikesshruggedhisshouldersimpatiently,asifhethoughttheprecautionunnecessarybutcomplied,nevertheless,byrequestingMissNancytofetchhimajugofbeer. “Youdon’twantanybeer,”saidNancy,foldingherarms,andretainingherseatverycomposedly. “ItellyouIdo!”repliedSikes. “Nonsense,”rejoinedthegirlcoolly,“Goon,Fagin.Iknowwhathe’sgoingtosay,Billheneedn’tmindme.” TheJewstillhesitated.Sikeslookedfromonetotheotherinsomesurprise. “Why,youdon’tmindtheoldgirl,doyou,Fagin?”heaskedatlength.“You’veknownherlongenoughtotrusther,ortheDevil’sinit.Sheain’tonetoblab.AreyouNancy?” “Ishouldthinknot!”repliedtheyounglady:drawingherchairup