CHAPTER XL. A STRANGE INTERVIEW, WHICH IS A SEQUEL TO THE LAST CHAMBER

repliedthegirl.“Iamtheinfamouscreatureyouhaveheardof,thatlivesamongthethieves,andthatneverfromthefirstmomentIcanrecollectmyeyesandsensesopeningonLondonstreetshaveknownanybetterlife,orkinderwordsthantheyhavegivenme,sohelpmeGod!Donotmindshrinkingopenlyfromme,lady.Iamyoungerthanyouwouldthink,tolookatme,butIamwellusedtoit.Thepoorestwomenfallback,asImakemywayalongthecrowdedpavement.” “Whatdreadfulthingsarethese!”saidRose,involuntarilyfallingfromherstrangecompanion. “ThankHeavenuponyourknees,dearlady,”criedthegirl,“thatyouhadfriendstocareforandkeepyouinyourchildhood,andthatyouwereneverinthemidstofcoldandhunger,andriotanddrunkenness,and—and—somethingworsethanall—asIhavebeenfrommycradle.Imayusetheword,forthealleyandthegutterweremine,astheywillbemydeathbed.” “Ipityyou!”saidRose,inabrokenvoice.“Itwringsmyhearttohearyou!” “Heavenblessyouforyourgoodness!”rejoinedthegirl.“IfyouknewwhatIamsometimes,youwouldpityme,indeed.ButIhavestolenawayfromthosewhowouldsurelymurderme,iftheyknewIhadbeenhere,totellyouwhatIhaveoverheard.DoyouknowamannamedMonks?” “No,”saidRose. “Heknowsyou,”repliedthegirl“andknewyouwerehere,foritwasbyhearinghimtelltheplacethatIfoundyouout.” “Ineverheardthename,”saidRose. “Thenhegoesbysomeotheramongstus,”rejoinedthegirl,“whichImorethanthoughtbefore.Sometimeago,andsoonafterOliverwasputintoyourhouseonthenightoftherobbery,I—suspectingthisman—listenedtoaconversationheldbetweenhimandFagininthedark.Ifoundout,fromwhatIheard,thatMonks—themanIaskedyouabout,youknow—” “Yes,”saidRose,“Iunderstand.” “—ThatMonks,”pursuedthegirl,“hadseenhimaccidentlywithtwoofourboysonthedaywefirstlosthim,andhadknownhimdirectlytobethesamechildthathewaswatchingfor,thoughIcouldn’tmakeoutwhy.AbargainwasstruckwithFagin,thatifOliverwasgotbackheshouldhaveacertainsumandhewastohavemoreformakinghimathief,whichthisMonkswantedforsomepurposeofhisown.” “Forwhatpurpose?”askedRose. “HecaughtsightofmyshadowonthewallasIlistened,inthehopeoffindingout,”saidthegirl“andtherearenotmanypeoplebesidesmethatcouldhavegotoutoftheirwayintimetoescapediscovery.ButIdidandIsawhimnomoretilllastnight.” “Andwhatoccurredthen?” “I’lltellyou,lady.Lastnighthecameagain.Againtheywentupstairs,andI,wrappingmyselfupsothatmyshadowwould