Stranica 147 [147]
OCR
105 man, feeling his way. " The wind blew it to, or it shut ef its own accord; one or the other. Look sharp with the light, or I shall knock my brains out against something in this confounded hole. Fagin stealthily descended the kitchen stairs, and, after a short absence, returned with a a candle, and the intelligence that Toby Crackit was asleep in the back-room below, and the boys in the front one. Beckoning the other man to follow him, he led the way up stairs. “We can say the few words we’ve t to say, in here, my dear,” said the ew, throwing open a door on the first floor ; “and as there are holes in the shutters, and we never show lights to our neighbours, we "11 set the candle on the stairs. There!” With these words, the Jew, stooping down, placed the candle on an upper flight of stairs exactly opposite the room door, and led the way into the apartment, which was destitute of all movables save a broken arm-chair, and an old couch or sofa, without covering, which stood behind the door. Upon this piece of furniture the stranger flung himself with the air of a weary man; and, the Jew drawing up the arm-chair opposite, they sat face to face. It was not quite dark, for the door was partially open, and the candle outside threw a feeble reflection on the opposite wall. They conversed for some time in whispers; and, although nothing of the conversation was distinguishable beyond a few disjointed words here and there, a listener might easily have perceived that Fagin appeared to be defending himself against some remarks of the stranger, and that the latter was in a state of considerable irritation. They might have been talking thus for a quarter of an hour or more, when Monks—by which name the Jew had designated the strange man several times in the course of their colloguy— said, raising his voice a little, “T tell ey a éra it was badly planned. Why not have kept him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, snivelling pickpocket of him at once?" “Only hear him!” exclaimed the Jew, shrugging his shoulders. “Why; do you mean to say you couldn’t have done it if you had chosen ?” demanded Monks sternly. “ Haven’t you done it with other boys scores of times? If you had had patience for a twelvemonth at most, — you have got him convicted and sent safely out of the kingdom, perhaps for life ?” “Whose turn would that have served, my dear ?” inquired the Jew humbly. s Mine,” replied Monks. “But not mine,” said the Jew submissively. ‘ When there are two parties to a bargain, it is only reasonable that the interest of both should be consulted; is it not, my friend ?”” : “ What then?” demanded Monks sulky. “T saw it was not easy to train him to the business,” replied the Jew; “he was not like other boys in the same circumstances.” “Curse him, no!” muttered the man, “ or he would have been a thief long ago. ft [ had no hold upon him to make him worse,” pursued the Jew, anxiously watching the countenance of his companion; “his hand was not in; I had nothing to frighten him with; which we always must have in the beginning, or we labour in vain. What could I dot Send him out with the Dodger and Charley? We had enough of that at first, my dear; I trembled for us all.” “ That was not my doing,” observed Monks. “ No, no, my dear!” renewed the Jew, “and I don’t quarrel with it now; because, if it had never happened, you might never have clapped 7“ upon the boy to notice him, and so led to the dis. covery that it was him you were looking for. ell; I got him back for you by means of the girl, and then she begins to favour him.” “Throttle the girl!” said Monks impatiently. “Why, we can’t afford to do that just now, my dear,” replied the Jew, smiling; “and, besides, that sort of thing is not in our way, or one of these days | might be glad to have it done. I know what these irls are, Monks, well; as soon as the Bos begins to harden, she "11 care no more for him than for a block of wood. You want him made a thief: if he is alive, I can make him one from this time; and if —if—” said the Jew, drawing nearer to the other,—* it’s not likely, mind,-—pvut if the worst comes to the worst, and he is dead a “It’s no fault of mine if he is!” interposed the other man with a look of terror, _ and clasping the Jew’s arm with trembling hands. “ Mind that, Fagin! I had no hand in it. Anything but his death, I
