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

tothetable,andputtingherelbowsuponit. “No,no,mydear,Iknowyou’renot,”saidtheJew“but—”andagaintheoldmanpaused. “Butwot?”inquiredSikes. “Ididn’tknowwhethershemightn’tp’r’apsbeoutofsorts,youknow,mydear,asshewastheothernight,”repliedtheJew. Atthisconfession,MissNancyburstintoaloudlaughand,swallowingaglassofbrandy,shookherheadwithanairofdefiance,andburstintosundryexclamationsof“Keepthegamea-going!”“Neversaydie!”andthelike.Theseseemedtohavetheeffectofre-assuringbothgentlemenfortheJewnoddedhisheadwithasatisfiedair,andresumedhisseat:asdidMr.Sikeslikewise. “Now,Fagin,”saidNancywithalaugh.“TellBillatonce,aboutOliver!” “Ha!you’reacleverone,mydear:thesharpestgirlIeversaw!”saidtheJew,pattingherontheneck.“ItwasaboutOliverIwasgoingtospeak,sureenough.Ha!ha!ha!” “Whatabouthim?”demandedSikes. “He’stheboyforyou,mydear,”repliedtheJewinahoarsewhisperlayinghisfingeronthesideofhisnose,andgrinningfrightfully. “He!”exclaimedSikes. “Havehim,Bill!”saidNancy.“Iwould,ifIwasinyourplace.Hemayn’tbesomuchup,asanyoftheothersbutthat’snotwhatyouwant,ifhe’sonlytoopenadoorforyou.Dependuponithe’sasafeone,Bill.” “Iknowheis,”rejoinedFagin.“He’sbeeningoodtrainingtheselastfewweeks,andit’stimehebegantoworkforhisbread.Besides,theothersarealltoobig.” “Well,heisjustthesizeIwant,”saidMr.Sikes,ruminating. “Andwilldoeverythingyouwant,Bill,mydear,”interposedtheJew“hecan’thelphimself.Thatis,ifyoufrightenhimenough.” “Frightenhim!”echoedSikes.“It’llbenoshamfrightening,mindyou.Ifthere’sanythingqueerabouthimwhenweoncegetintotheworkinforapenny,inforapound.Youwon’tseehimaliveagain,Fagin.Thinkofthat,beforeyousendhim.Markmywords!”saidtherobber,poisingacrowbar,whichhehaddrawnfromunderthebedstead. “I’vethoughtofitall,”saidtheJewwithenergy.“I’ve—I’vehadmyeyeuponhim,mydears,close—close.Oncelethimfeelthatheisoneofusoncefillhismindwiththeideathathehasbeenathiefandhe’sours!Oursforhislife.Oho!Itcouldn’thavecomeaboutbetter!”Theoldmancrossedhisarmsuponhisbreastand,drawinghisheadandshouldersintoaheap,literallyhuggedhimselfforjoy. “Ours!”saidSikes.“Yours,youmean.” “PerhapsIdo,mydear,”saidtheJew,withashrillchuckle.“Mine,ifyoulike,Bill.” “Andwot,”saidSikes,scowlingfiercelyonhisagreeablefriend,“wotmakesyoutakesomuchpainsaboutonechalk-facedkid,whenyouknowtherearefiftyboyssnoozingaboutCommonGardeneverynight,asyoumightpickandchoosefrom?” “Becausethey’reofnousetome,mydear,”repliedtheJew,withsomeconfusion,“notworththetaking.Theirlooksconvict’emwhentheygetintotrouble,andIlose’emall.Withthisboy,properlymanaged,mydears,IcoulddowhatIcouldn’twithtwentyofthem.Besides,”saidtheJew,recoveringhisself-possession,“hehasusnowifhecouldonlygiveusleg-bailagainandhemustbeinthesameboatwithus.Nevermindhowhecamethereit’squiteenoughformypoweroverhimthathewasinarobberythat’sallIwant.Now,howmuchbetterthisis,thanbeingobligedtoputthepoorleetleboyoutoftheway—whichwouldbedangerous,andweshouldlosebyitbesides.” “Whenisittobedone?”askedNancy,stoppingsometurbulentexclamationonthepartofMr.Sikes,expressiveofthedisgustwithwhichhereceivedFagin’saffectationofhumanity. “Ah,tobesure,”saidtheJew“whenisittobedo