CHAPTER XLIV. THE TIME ARRIVES FOR NANCY TO REDEEM HER PLEDGE TO ROSE MAYLIE. SHE FAILS.

ensozealous,and,addedtothese,herdesperateimpatiencetoleavehomethatnightataparticularhour,allfavouredthesupposition,andrenderedit,tohimatleast,almostmatterofcertainty.Theobjectofthisnewlikingwasnotamonghismyrmidons.HewouldbeavaluableacquisitionwithsuchanassistantasNancy,andmust(thusFaginargued)besecuredwithoutdelay. Therewasanother,andadarkerobject,tobegained.Sikesknewtoomuch,andhisruffiantauntshadnotgalledFagintheless,becausethewoundswerehidden.Thegirlmustknow,well,thatifsheshookhimoff,shecouldneverbesafefromhisfury,andthatitwouldbesurelywreaked—tothemaimingoflimbs,orperhapsthelossoflife—ontheobjectofhermorerecentfancy. “Withalittlepersuasion,”thoughtFagin,“whatmorelikelythanthatshewouldconsenttopoisonhim?Womenhavedonesuchthings,andworse,tosecurethesameobjectbeforenow.Therewouldbethedangerousvillain:themanIhate:goneanothersecuredinhisplaceandmyinfluenceoverthegirl,withaknowledgeofthiscrimetobackit,unlimited.” ThesethingspassedthroughthemindofFagin,duringtheshorttimehesatalone,inthehousebreaker’sroomandwiththemuppermostinhisthoughts,hehadtakentheopportunityafterwardsaffordedhim,ofsoundingthegirlinthebrokenhintshethrewoutatparting.Therewasnoexpressionofsurprise,noassumptionofaninabilitytounderstandhismeaning.Thegirlclearlycomprehendedit.Herglanceatpartingshowedthat. ButperhapsshewouldrecoilfromaplottotakethelifeofSikes,andthatwasoneofthechiefendstobeattained.“How,”thoughtFagin,ashecrepthomeward,“canIincreasemyinfluencewithher?WhatnewpowercanIacquire?” Suchbrainsarefertileinexpedients.If,withoutextractingaconfessionfromherself,helaidawatch,discoveredtheobjectofheralteredregard,andthreatenedtorevealthewholehistorytoSikes(ofwhomshestoodinnocommonfear)unlesssheenteredintohisdesigns,couldhenotsecurehercompliance? “Ican,”saidFagin,almostaloud.“Shedurstnotrefusemethen.Notforherlife,notforherlife!Ihaveitall.Themeansareready,andshallbesettowork.Ishallhaveyouyet!” Hecastbackadarklook,andathreateningmotionofthehand,towardsthespotwherehehadlefttheboldervillainandwentonhisway:busyinghisbonyhandsinthefoldsofhistatteredgarment,whichhewrenchedtightlyinhisgrasp,asthoughtherewereahatedenemycrushedwitheverymotionofhisfingers.