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63 liberately opening with the other a large clasp-knife, which he drew from his pocket. “Come here, you born devil! Come here! D’ye hear!" The dog no doubt heard, because Mr. Sikes spoke in the very harshest key of a very harsh voice; but, appearing to entertain some unaccountable objection to having his throat cut, he remained where he was, and growled more fiercely than before, at the same time grasping the end of the poker between his teeth, and biting at it like a wild beast. This resistance only infuriated Mr. Sikes the more; so, dropping upon his knees, he began to assail the animal most furiously. The dog jumped from right to left, and from left to right, snapping, growling, and barking; the man thrust and swore, and struck and blasphemed; and the struggle was reaching a most critical point for one or other, when, the door suddenly opening, the dog darted out, leaving Bill Sikes with the poker and the clasp-knife in his hands. There must always be two parties to a quarrel, says the old adage; and Mr. Sikes, being disappointed of the dog’s presence, at once transferred the quarrel to the. new-comer. “ What the devil do you come in between me and my dog for?” said Sikes with a fierce gesture. * T didn’t know, my dear, I didn’t know,” replied Fagin humbly—for the Jew was the new-comer. | * Didn’t know, you white-livered thief!” growled Sikes. ‘Couldn’t you hear the noise ?” “Not a sound of it, as I’m a living man, Bill,” replied the Jew. 6 Oh no, you hear nothing, you don’t,” retorted Sikes with a fierce sneer, " sneaking in and out, so as nobody hears how you come or go. I wish you had been the dog, Fagin, half a minute ago.” “ Why ?” inquired the Jew, with a forced smile. c" Cause the government, as cares for the lives of such men as you, as haven’t half the pluck of curs, lets a man kill his dog how he likes,” replied Sikes, shutting the knife up with a very expressive look ; “that’s why.” The Jew rubbed his hands, and, sitting down at the table, affected to laugh at the pleasantry of his friend —obviously very ill at his ease, however. . “Grm away,” said Sikes, replacing the poker, and surveying him with savage contempt; “grin away. You'll never have the laugh at me, though, unless it ’s behind a night-cap. I’ve got the upper “ax over “ee ig i and, d— me, 1711 eep it. ere. ou : §0 take care of me." a ; “ Well, well, my dear,” said the Jew, I know all that; we—we—have a mutual interest, Bill,h—a mutual interest.” “ Humph !” said Sikes, as if he thought the interest lay rather more on the Jew’s side than on his. “ Well, what have you got to say to me?” “Tt’s all passed safe through the melting-pot,” replied Fagin, “ and this is your share. It’s rather more than it ought to be, my dear; but as I know you’!l do me a good turn another time, an és “Stow that gammon,” interposed the robber impatiently. * Where is it? Hand over !" “Yes, yes, Bill; give me time, give me time,” replied the Jew soothingly. “ Here it is—all safe.” As he spoke, he drew forth an old cotton handkerchief from his breast, and untying a large knot in one corner, produced a small brownpaper packet, which Sikes snatching from him, hastily opened, and proceeded to count the sovereigns it contained. c This is all, is it?” inquired Sikes. « All,” replied the Jew. 6 You haven’t opened the parcel and swallowed one or two as you come along, have you?” inquired Sikes suspiciously. “Don’t put on a injured look at the question ; you "ve done it many a time. Jerk the tinkler.” These words, in plain English, conveyed an injunction to ring the bell. It was answered by another Jew, younger than Fagin, but nearly as vile and repulsive in appearance. Bill Sikes merely pointed to the empty measure, and the Jew, perfectly understanding the hint, retired to fill it, nae viously exchanging a remarkable look with Fagin, who raised his eyes for an instant as if in expectation of it, and shook his head in reply so slightly that the action would have been almost imperceptible to a third person. It was lost upon Sikes, who was stooping at the moment to tie the boot-lace which the dog had torn. Possibly if he had observed the brief interchange of signals, he might have thought that it boded no good to him. “Is anybody here, Barney?" inquired Fagin, speaking—now that Sikes was looking on—without raising his eyes from the ground. c Dot a shoul,” replied Barney, whose words, whether they came from the heart or not, made their way through the nose
