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

notbetrayme,againlistenedatthedoor.ThefirstwordsIheardMonkssaywerethese:‘Sotheonlyproofsoftheboy’sidentitylieatthebottomoftheriver,andtheoldhagthatreceivedthemfromthemotherisrottinginhercoffin.’Theylaughed,andtalkedofhissuccessindoingthisandMonks,talkingonabouttheboy,andgettingverywild,saidthatthoughhehadgottheyoungdevil’smoneysafelynow,he’dratherhavehadittheotherwayfor,whatagameitwouldhavebeentohavebroughtdowntheboastofthefather’swill,bydrivinghimthrougheveryjailintown,andthenhaulinghimupforsomecapitalfelonywhichFagincouldeasilymanage,afterhavingmadeagoodprofitofhimbesides.” “Whatisallthis!”saidRose. “Thetruth,lady,thoughitcomesfrommylips,”repliedthegirl.“Then,hesaid,withoathscommonenoughinmyears,butstrangetoyours,thatifhecouldgratifyhishatredbytakingtheboy’slifewithoutbringinghisownneckindanger,hewouldbut,ashecouldn’t,he’dbeuponthewatchtomeethimateveryturninlifeandifhetookadvantageofhisbirthandhistory,hemightharmhimyet.‘Inshort,Fagin,’hesays,‘Jewasyouare,youneverlaidsuchsnaresasI’llcontriveformyyoungbrother,Oliver.’” “Hisbrother!”exclaimedRose. “Thosewerehiswords,”saidNancy,glancinguneasilyround,asshehadscarcelyceasedtodo,sinceshebegantospeak,foravisionofSikeshauntedherperpetually.“Andmore.Whenhespokeofyouandtheotherlady,andsaiditseemedcontrivedbyHeaven,orthedevil,againsthim,thatOlivershouldcomeintoyourhands,helaughed,andsaidtherewassomecomfortinthattoo,forhowmanythousandsandhundredsofthousandsofpoundswouldyounotgive,ifyouhadthem,toknowwhoyourtwo-leggedspanielwas.” “Youdonotmean,”saidRose,turningverypale,“totellmethatthiswassaidinearnest?” “Hespokeinhardandangryearnest,ifamaneverdid,”repliedthegirl,shakingherhead.“Heisanearnestmanwhenhishatredisup.IknowmanywhodoworsethingsbutI’dratherlistentothemalladozentimes,thantothatMonksonce.Itisgrowinglate,andIhavetoreachhomewithoutsuspicionofhavingbeenonsuchanerrandasthis.Imustgetbackquickly.” “ButwhatcanIdo?”saidRose.“TowhatusecanIturnthiscommunicationwithoutyou?Back!Whydoyouwishtoreturntocompanionsyoupaintinsuchterriblecolors?IfyourepeatthisinformationtoagentlemanwhomIcansummoninaninstantfromthenextroom,youcanbeconsignedtosomeplaceofsafetywithouthalfanhour’sdelay.” “Iwishtogoback,”saidthegirl.“Imustgoback,because—howcanItellsuchthi