。
Bill Sikes was sitting by his fire with his dog when Fagin entered。 The room was a small； dark place with almost no furniture。 Nancy was the re； too； and Fagin glanced at her uneasily。 He had not seen her since she had attacked him to stop him hitting O liver。 However； she seemed to have forgotten all about it； because she told him to pull up a chair and warm himself by the fire。
'I'm ready for business； 'Bill Sikes said； looking at Fagin suspiciously。 'Say what you have to say； Fagin。 '
'It's about the robbery at Chertsey； Bill； 'answered Fagin。 'Some lovely silver in that house down the re！ '
'I know； I know； 'Sikes said。 'I was down the re two nights ago to have a look at the house。 But it's locked like a prison at night； all except one part。 '
'Where's that？ 'asked Fagin； bending his head forwards； his eyes staring excitedly at Sikes。
'Do you think I'm stupid？ I'm not telling you！ Anyway； what we need is a boy。 '
'So the re's a small place where only a boy can enter the house？ 'asked Fagin。
'Maybe。 But we need a boy。 '
The re was silence for a time； while Fagin thought。 The n he made a sign to Sikes to tell Nancy to leave the room。
'Don't worry； Sikes said。 'You can trust her—she won't talk。 Isn't that right？ '
'Of course it's right； 'answered The young woman； taking a large drink from the bottle on the table； and laughing。 'Anyway； Fagin； I know your idea is for O liver to do the job。 '
'You're a clever girl； said Fagin； smiling evilly。 'That's exactly what I had in mind。 Listen； Bill—the boy's been training for a few weeks； and it's time he did some work。 He's the smallest one； anyway。 '
'Is he safe？ 'asked Sikes。 'Because if he tries any tricks on me； I'll kill him！ '
'He'll be ours for life； if he feels he's one of us。 And this job will make him feel like that； 'said Fagin eagerly。 'The boy looks so innocent he's perfect。 And we've got to include him in some crime as soon as we can。 Otherwise； if he escapes now； he can tell the police about us and stay free himself。 '
So it was decided that O liver would help Sikes with the robbery in two days' time。 The plan was discussed in great detail and all the arrangements made。 By the n； Sikes was very drunk； and Fagin got up to leave。 As he put on his coat； he stared hard at Nancy； frowning a little。 No； he was sure he could trust her； she was loyal。
The next night； O liver was alone in Fagin's house when Nancy entered。 She was so nervous and white…faced that O liver asked her if she was ill。
'God forgive me！ 'she said； beating her hand s togethe r。 'I never thought I would do this！ '
'Has anything happened？ 'asked the boy。 'What is it？ '
She sat with her back to him； and hid her face with her hand s。 After a while she said； 'I don't know why I feel so strange sometimes。 Come on； O liver—are you ready？ You have to come with me to Bill's house。 '
'Why？ '
'Oh—nothing important。 '
O liver did not believe her； but he thought that at last this might be an opportunity to escape。 So he said； rather too quickly； 'I'm ready。 'Nancy guessed what he was thinking。
'O liver； 'she said； 'this is not the time to escape。 I've saved you once； and I will again； but if anything happens tonight； it might mean my death。 'She said this so seriously that O liver decided it must be true。 He was quiet while They walked quickly through the streets to Sikes' house。
Inside his room； Sikes sat O liver down on a chair。 'Did he come quietly？ 'he asked Nancy。
'Quiet as a mouse。 '
'Glad to hear it； 'said Sikes。 'Now listen to me； boy。 'He put a gun against O liver's head。 If you say one word when you're outside with me； I'll shoot you。 Understand？ '
O liver nodded； trying hard not to tremble。
Sikes and O liver started out at five o'clock in the morning； while it was still dark。 They crossed from one side of London to the other。 At first the streets were empty； the n shopsbegan to open and people started going to work。 Gradually； the noise and traffic increased； and as They passed through the meat market at Smithfield； O liver was amazed by the sight and smells of so many animals； and by the huge crowds of people； all pushing and swearing and shouting。 But Bill Sikes marched on without stopping．
Later in the day They were given a lift in a horse and cart from west London out into the country。 Night fell； and after walking a few more miles down country roads； They finally arrived at an old house standing alone by a river。 It was dark and seemed to be empty They went inside without knocking。
Inside were two other men； who； at Sikes command； produced food and drink for him and the boy。 The n Sikes told O liver to get some sleep as They would be going out again later that night。 O liver still had no idea of the purpose of this expedition； but his head ached with tiredness and he soon fell asleep。
At half past one the men got up and checked their equipment； gathering several sticks as well。 Sikes and the man called Toby left the house togethe r； with O liver walking between the m。 The re was now a thick fog and the night was very still as They hurried through the deserted streets of the nearby town。 Out in the country again； They walked down several small roads until finally They stopped at a house surrounded by a high wall。 As quick as lightning； Toby climbed up and pulled O liver after him。 Inside the garden； They crept towards the house； and now； for the first time； O liver realized in horror that the purpose of the expedition was robbery； and maybe even murder。
Bill Sikes broke open a small window at the back of the house； the n shone his light into O liver's face。
'Now listen。 I'm going to put you through here．Go straight through into the hall and on to the front door； and let us in。 And if you don't； you can be sure I'll shoot you．'
O liver； stupid with terror； was lifted through the window into the house。 Desperately； he decided to try to run upstairs and warn the family。 He began to creep forwards。
Suddenly； the re was a loud noise from the hall。
'Come back！ ' shouted Sikes。 'Back！ Back！ '
O liver stood still； frozen with fear。 A light appeared； the n two men on the stairs； the m a sudden bright flash； and a loud bang。 O liver staggered back。 Sikes seized the boy's collar through the window and pulled him back out into the garden。
'They've hit him！ ' shouted Sikes。 'He's bleeding。 '
A bell rang loudly； above the noise of more gunshots and the shouts of men。 O liver felt himself being carried across rough ground； and the n he saw and heard no more
8 After the robbery
The night was bitterly cold。 A sharp wind whipped the fallen snow up into the air and blew it into every hole and corner。 It was a night for the homeless to lie down and die； and for luckier people to sit close to their fires and thank God They were at home。
In the workhouse where O liver was born； Mrs Corney …the widow in charge… was making tea by her fire。 When she heard a knock at her door； she frowned and called out sharply； 'Come in。 ' The frown； however； was quickly changed to a sweet smile when she saw Mr Bumble enter。
'Hard weather； Mr Bumble； 'said the widow。
'Yes； indeed； ma'am； ' replied the beadle。 'We've had to give out to the poor people in this town great quantities of bread and cheese today； and They' re still complaining。 Why； one man even came back and demanded some free fire…wood！
What does he want that for？ People are never satisfied。 Give the m one thing today； and tomorrow They'll ask for something else！ '
Mrs Corney agreed that it was very shocking。 They discussed some workhouse business togethe r； and the n Mr
Bumble looked hopefully at the teapot。 Mrs Corney offered him some tea。 Instantly； Mr Bumble sat down by the fire and gave the widow such a warm smile that her face turned a delicate pink。 She passed Mr Bumble the tea－cup； and as he took it； he managed to give her hand a little stroke。 'You're a kind－hearted woman； Mrs Corney； 'said the beadle。
'Oh； Mr Bumble！ 'said the widow； smiling shyly。 For a while the re was a friendly silence between the m； the n Mr Bumble moved his chair closer to the widow's。 Mrs Corney； of course； did not notice this； but when the beadle's arm began to slide around her waist； she felt she must make a small protest。
Encouraged by this response； Mr Bumble immediately gave her a kiss； but at this interesting moment the re was a sudden knock at the door。 Mr Bumble jumped to his feet and went to the other end of the room。
'Please； Mrs Corney； ' said a voice outside。 'Old Sally is going fast。 '
'Well； what can I do to help her？ 'asked Mrs Corney angrily。
'Nothing； ma'am； replied the old woman outside。 But she says she has something to tell you； which you must hear。 She won't die quietly till you come。 '
Complaining loudly； Mrs Corney asked Mr Bumble to wait until she came back。 The n she followed the old woman up the stairs。
Old Sally lay in bed in a freezing cold room。 The fire was so small and mean that it gave no warmth at all。
Mrs Corney bent over the bed； and the dying woman opened her eyes。 'Come closer； 'she murmured。 'Let me whisper in your ear。 ' She held onto Mrs Corney's arm and pulled her down towards her 'In this same room I once helped a pretty young woman who came in with cut and bleeding feet； who gave birth to a boy and the n died。 '
'Well？ ' asked Mrs Corney impatiently。
'I robbed her。 She was hardly dead before I stole it！ '
'Stole what？ '
'It！ The only thing she had。 It was gold。 It could have saved her life！ '
'Gold？ Who was this mother？ Tell me！ '
'She told me to look after it when she died。 ' The old woman's mind was getting confused。 'She trusted me； poor girl； and I stole it。 '
'Quick； tell me or it may be too late！ ' said Mrs Corney greedily。 ' What was it； and what was the boy's name？ '
The old woman could hardly speak．'O liver。 The gold I stole was—'
'Yes； yes！ What？ '
The old woman fell back onto the bed； dead。
Mrs Corney hurried back to her room； where Mr Bumble was still admiring her furniture and counting her silver tea…spoons。 They sat down again by the fire； and so