Chapter 20 Chapter Nineteen

(One noteworthy scheme is discussed in this chapter with fixed boards.) It was a cold, wet night with howling winds.Fagin put on his coat and wrapped it tightly around his thin body.He turned up his collar to cover his ears, hid the lower half of his face tightly, and walked out of the lair.He locked the gate, put on the chain, and stopped on the stairs again.He listened, the teenagers had finished everything, and the sound of their retreating footsteps could no longer be heard, so he slipped away along the street as fast as he could. The house into which Oliver moved was near White Church.Fagin stopped at the corner, looked around suspiciously, and then crossed the road in the direction of Spedafay.

A thick layer of mud had accumulated on the gravel road, a dark mist enveloped the street, raindrops were falling flickeringly, and everything felt cold and sticky to the touch.This kind of night seemed to be reserved for old jews and the like going out.He slid forward soundlessly, slipping past under the cover of walls and door openings.This gruesome old man looked like a disgusting lizard, crawling out of the mud and darkness that came and went, and crawled around in the dark, trying to find a little bit of fat, smelly carrion to eat. He went on and on, crossed a winding lane, came to Bethler Meadows, turned suddenly to the left, and soon entered a maze of dirty alleys, such a maze. It abounds in that backwater densely populated area.

The old Jew was obviously very familiar with this area, and he would never lose his way due to the dark night or complicated roads.He walked quickly through several streets and alleys, and finally turned into a street where the only light came from a single lamp at the end of the street.The old Jew went to a house in the street, knocked on the door, whispered to the person who opened the door, and went upstairs. No sooner had he touched the doorknob than a dog growled, and a man's voice asked who was coming. "It's me, Bill, and it's just me, my dear," said Fagin, looking into the room.

"Come on in," said Sikes. "Lie down, you fool. Don't you know the old ghost has a coat on?" It could be seen that the dog had been more or less deceived by Mr. Fagin's attire, for Fagin took off his coat and threw it on the back of the chair, and the dog retreated into the corner from which it sprang out just now. , Wagging its tail while walking to show that it is very satisfied, this is also its nature. "Not bad," said Sikes. "Not bad, my dear," answered the old Jew, "ah, Nancy." The tone of the latter salutation was somewhat awkward, showing that he was not sure whether the answer would be answered, for Mr. Fagin and his pupil had not seen each other since Nancy's partiality to Oliver.If he had any doubts on this issue, it was immediately erased by the young woman's actions.Without saying anything, she lifted her foot from the fire-shield, drew back her chair, and bade Fagin draw it near the fire. It was indeed a cold night.

"It's cold, my dear Nancy," said Fagin, warming his bony hands over the fire. "It seems to have pierced everyone." The old man said, rubbing his waist. "You'll have to use an awl to get in your heart," said Mr. Sikes. "Give him something to drink, Nancy. Hell, hurry up. Look at his dry old bones shaking like that." , and it's really disgusting, like a ghost that just got up from the grave." Nancy quickly took out a bottle from the cupboard, and there were many other bottles of this kind, judging from the variety of appearances, they were all filled with various drinks.Sikes poured out a glass of brandy and made the old Jew dry it.

"That's enough, that's enough, Bill, thank you." Fagin raised his glass to his lips, touched it, and put it down. "Why? Afraid we'll take your lottery, aren't you?" Sikes asked, fixing his eyes on the old Jew. "Well." With a hoarse sneer, Mr. Sykes seized his glass, poured the contents into the ashes, poured himself another full glass, and, as a courtesy, took it up and drank it down. While his companion was drinking his second glass of wine, Fagin's eyes quickly wandered around the room—not out of curiosity, he used to visit this room often, but out of habit, unable to stay idle, And suspicious.It was a very poorly furnished apartment, and only the contents of the closet showed that the tenant of this room was not a man who lived on his own strength.Two or three heavy bludgeons rested in one corner of the room, and a "guard" hung over the mantelpiece, and otherwise there was nothing more suspicious.

"Well," said Sikes, smacking his lips, "I'm ready." "A deal?" asked the old Jew. "Business," replied Sikes, "say what you have to say." "Is that the Jets place, Bill?" Fagin drew his chair closer, and lowered his voice. "Not bad. How is it?" asked Sikes. "Oh. You know what I mean, dear," said the old Jew. "Nancy, he knows what I mean, doesn't he?" "No, he doesn't know," said Mr. Sikes, smiling grimly. "Or don't want to know, it's the same thing. Say what you want, don't sit there blinking and playing charades with me, as if you weren't the first to contemplate this vote. What are you going to do?" "

"Hush, Bill, keep your voice down," said Fagin, trying in vain to resist the anger. "Be careful that someone hears, my dear, someone hears." "Let them listen," said Sikes, "I don't care." But after thinking for a while, Mr. Sikes was indeed calming down, and his voice was lowered and less impulsive when he spoke. "Well, well," said Fagin coaxing him, "it's just my reminder--nothing else. Well, my dear, let's talk about the Jetts' family. You see when it's time to do it, Bill, er ? When will you do it? Those cups, plates, bowls, my dear, are really wonderful." Fagin rubbed his hands together happily, and raised his eyebrows, as if he had already got the things.

"Can't do it," replied Sikes coldly. "Really can't do it?" Fagin responded, leaning back on the chair. "Yes, it can't be done," replied Sikes, "at least not like we reckoned, it can come together." "That's just lack of skill," Fagin turned blue with anger, "don't tell me that." "That's what I want to tell you," retorted Sikes. "How old are you that I can't tell you? Let me tell you, Toby Crackett has been hanging around there for a fortnight, a servant Didn't hook up either."

"Bill, do you want to say," the old Jew suddenly softened when he saw the other party, "neither of the two servants in that house can pull them over?" "Exactly, that's what I wanted to tell you," replied Sikes. "The old woman has used them for twenty years. If you give them five hundred pounds, they won't do it." "But, my dear, you don't mean to say," argued the old Jew, "that those women won't be able to get them, will they?" "No way at all," replied Sikes. "Even Playboy Toby Crackit?" Fagin was not convinced. "Think what a bitch is, Bill."

"Yeah, not even Playboy Toby Crackett. He says he's been wearing a fake beard and a bright yellow coat all this time, and it's no use hanging around the neighborhood." "He ought to try a moustache and trousers, my dear," said the old Jew. "He tried," replied Sikes, "and neither was much better." Fagin's eyes froze upon hearing this news.His chin resting on his breast, he thought for a moment, then raised his head again, and said with a heavy sigh that if the dandy Toby Crackitt had told the whole truth, the game might be over. "Speaking of which," said the old man, putting his hands on his knees, "my dear, we have devoted all our attention to it, and we have lost so much. It really hurts to think about it." "Isn't it," said Mr. Sikes, "it's very mildewed. " A long, unbearable silence ensued.The old Jew was lost in thought, his face contorted, and he looked treacherous and evil.Sikes stole a glance at him now and then.Nancy seemed to be afraid of offending the robber, so Guan Zi sat aside, staring at Huo, as if she couldn't hear what happened just now. "Fagin," Sikes suddenly broke the silence, "just start from the outside, and add fifty gold coins, is it worth it?" "It's worth it." Fagin seemed to wake up suddenly, and said. "Dealed?" asked Sikes. "It's settled, my dear, it's settled," said the old Jew, brightened by this question and answer, his eyes sparkling, and every muscle in his face working. "Well," said Sikes, shaking off the Jew's hand with some contempt, "you can do it whenever you like. Toby and I climbed over the garden wall the night before, and tried the locks on the doors and windows." Panels. The house is closed at night, like a prison. But there is a place we can break open, and it's safe and light." "Which place, Bill?" asked the old Jew eagerly. "Well," whispered Sikes, "you cross the grass—" "Really?" said the old Jew, leaning his head forward, his eyeballs almost popping out. "Aww," Sikes broke off abruptly, and then cried again, at which point Miss Nancy shook her head for a rare moment, turned her head abruptly, and turned at once to Fagin. "It doesn't matter where it is. You can't do this without me. I know it well. It's better to be careful when dealing with you." "As you like, my dear, as you like," answered the old Jew, "do you and Toby want any help?" "No," said Sikes, "and a drill and a little boy. We've both got the first, and you'll have to find the second for us." "A little boy," cried Fagin. "Oh. That's the panel, isn't it?" "Whatever it is," replied Sikes, "I want a child, not too big, my God," said Mr. Sikes thoughtfully. "If only I could get that little chap from Ludd, the chimney-sweep. He's trying to keep the kid from growing up so he can do it. The kid's already making money in the business, but Papa's locked up, and after that, Delinquents take the boy, teach him to read and write, and sooner or later he'll be apprenticed or something, they always do," Mr Sikes thought of his loss. , getting angry again, "There's no end to it. If they get enough money (which, thank God, they don't), we won't have half a dozen kids in the whole business in a year or two." "It's not all together, ah," the old Jew echoed.Sikes was making a big speech, and he had been thinking about it, and he only caught the last sentence. "Bill." "What's the matter?" asked Sikes. Fagin nodded to Nancy, who was still staring dazedly at the fire, and signaled him to ask Nancy to leave the room.Sikes shrugged his shoulders impatiently, as if he thought the caution unnecessary.Nevertheless, he consented, and sent Miss Nancy to fetch him a jug of beer. "You don't want any beer at all," said Nancy, sitting calmly with her hands folded. "I tell you, I will," replied Sikes. "Nonsense," replied the girl indifferently. "Say it, Fagin. Bill, I know what he's going to say next, and he needn't be wary of me." The old Jew still hesitated.Sikes looked at this and then at that, a little puzzled. "Hey, Fagin, don't worry about the old girl, will you?" he asked at last, "you've known her for a long time, and you should trust her, or there's something wrong with her. She won't chew Tongue. Is that so, Nancy?" "I don't think so," said the young woman, pulling her chair to the table and resting her elbows on it. "No, no, dear, I know you won't," said the old Jew, "only—" the old man stopped. "Just what?" asked Sikes. "I don't know if she'll be crazy again, you know, my dear, like she was that night," answered the old Jew. Hearing these words, Miss Nancy laughed loudly, leaned back and drank a glass of brandy, shook her head solemnly, and kept yelling "let's continue playing", "don't be discouraged" and so on.It seemed that this action had an immediate effect, the two gentlemen were relieved, the old Jew nodded with satisfaction, and they sat down again. "Now, Fagin," said Nancy, smiling, "tell Bill at once about Oliver." "Hah. You're very clever, my dear, and one of the smartest girls I've ever seen," said Fagin, patting her on the neck. "Yes, I was going to tell you about Oliver. Ha ha ha!" "What's his business?" asked Sikes. "That boy is just what you need, my dear," answered the old Jew in a husky voice, putting a finger to his nose and grinning grinningly. "He!" cried Sikes. "Take him, Bill," Nancy said. "I'd do it if I were in your position. He's not as sophisticated as the other kids. You don't need a big guy anyway, as long as he can open it for you." One door will do. Don't worry, he can't go wrong, Bill." "I knew he couldn't be wrong," Fagin accosted. "He's trained pretty well in the past few weeks, and he should start to support himself. Besides, the other children are a little too big." "Well, it's just the right size," said Mr. Sikes thoughtfully. "And anything will be done for you, Bill my dear," put in Fagin; "he must, that is, if you frighten him enough." "Scare him," said Sikes, speaking in the tone of the other party. "I've said it beforehand. It's not a fake threat. If we don't do it, we don't stop. If we do it, if he plays any tricks, Fagin You don’t want to see him come back alive. After you think about it, you send him away, listen.” The robber said, weighing a crowbar he had just pulled out from under the bed frame. "I've thought it all out," said Fagin energetically. "I've--I've looked at him, my dear, very carefully--quite well. Just let him feel that he's with us, and pretend to be With such a thought, he is already a thief, and he is ours. His whole life is ours. Oh drink. It couldn't be better." The old man folded his hands on his chest, his head and shoulders huddled together , so happy that he hugged himself. "Ours?" said Sikes. "You should say it's yours." "Maybe, my dear," said the old Jew, with a harsh laugh, "if it pleases me, Bill." "Why," Sikes glared at his shrewd partner viciously, "a little boy with a face as white as chalk, why are you willing to work so hard? It's not like you don't know that every night there are fifty Kids napping around public parks, take your pick." "Because they're of no use to me, dear," replied the old Jew, somewhat flustered. "It's useless to keep them. If something happens, they'll be punished by their looks, and I'll be damned. With this boy, If properly trained, my good man, I can do what twenty of them cannot do. Besides," Fagin gradually regained his self-control, "if he gives us another foot-oiling, it will be done. We're screwed. He's got to stay in the boat with us. Don't you care how he got here. I've got a way of getting him to do a heist, and I don't need anything else. It's more like having to do it now. Much better to get rid of the poor boy—it's dangerous, and we're at a disadvantage." "When will it be done?" asked Nancy, warding off a burst of shouting from Mr. Sikes' side, who was about to express his disgust at Fagin's hypocrisy. "Well, it's decided," said the old Jew, "when will you do it, Bill?" "I've discussed it with Toby, and as long as he doesn't hear any bad news from me," replied Sikes strangely, "it's set for the night after tomorrow." "Well," said Fagin, "there was no moon that day." "Yes," replied Sikes. "It's all arranged how to get the goods out, isn't it?" asked the old Jew. Sikes nodded. "And that—" "Well, it's all arranged," interrupted Sikes, "don't ask for details, you'd better bring the boy to-morrow night. I'll start an hour after daylight, and you, keep quiet, Get the cauldron ready, that's all you have to do." The three discussed each other, and it was agreed that Nancy would go to Fagin's residence when it was dark the next day, and fetch Oliver.Fagin added insidiously, that if Oliver showed the slightest distaste for the task, he would be more than willing to accompany the girl Nancy, who had recently escorted Oliver, than anyone else.It was solemnly agreed in the plan that, in the interest of this deliberate action, poor Oliver would be placed unconditionally in the custody of Mr. William Sykes.Next, the above-mentioned Mr. Sykes should make arrangements for it as appropriate.The old Jew was not responsible for any misfortune that might befall the boy, or any necessary punishment that might be suffered.In order for the agreement to be binding, it was understood that the circumstances stated on Mr. Sykes' return were to be confirmed in all important details by the playboy Toby Crackett. These preparations being arranged, Mr. Sykes began to drink brandy unrestrainedly, and swing the crowbar terribly, while mingling fragments of quite out-of-place songs with hideous expletives, howling. out.In the end, he couldn't restrain his professional enthusiasm, and he must go and get his toolbox for door-picking.After a while, he really came in stumbling in with a suitcase.He opened the box, and before he had time to introduce the performance characteristics and structural advantages of the various tools contained in it, he fell to the floor and fell asleep lying on the box. "Good night, Nancy." Fagin said goodbye, wrapping himself up as he had come. "Good night." The two met, and the old man looked her up and down. The girl showed no sign of timidity, but she was honest and conscientious in the matter, and Toby Crackett was probably no more. The old man bade her good night again, and while Nancy was turning her back he stole a kick to Mr Sikes, who was lying on the ground, and groped his way downstairs. "It's always the same thing," muttered Fagin to himself as he walked back. "The biggest problem with these girls is that even a trivial matter can awaken some kind of long-forgotten feelings. The biggest advantage is that this kind of thing will never last. Haha! That guy, for a bag of gold coins, Deal with that kid." Mr. Fagin passed the time with these pleasant reminiscences as he went.He waded through the mud and mud to his dark lair.The witty ghost was not asleep yet, and was waiting eagerly for his return. "Has Oliver gone to sleep? I have something to say to him." These were the first words he said as they descended the escalator. "Going to bed early," replied the Dodger, pushing open a door. "Here it is." Oliver lay on the floor in a rough bed, and slept soundly, and the anxiety, sorrow, and closed bars made him look so pale, as if he had died--this was not shrouded in a shroud, put in a The appearance of the deceased in the coffin is the image of the life just passed away: it takes only a moment for the young and weak soul to fly to heaven, and the dirty air of the world has not had time to defile the sublimating holy body. "Not now," said Fagin, turning softly away. "Tomorrow, tomorrow."