Hello.
Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,
Your go-to romantic podcast that guarantees you a calm and entertaining transition into a great night's sleep.
Come with me as we immerse ourselves in a romantic journey to a time long since forgotten.
But before we begin,
Let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
Now close your eyes and feel yourself sink deeper into the support beneath you.
It is time to relax and fully let go.
There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 20 Continued As Nancy and Oliver approached,
The door was opened quickly by someone shrouded in the darkness and just as quickly it was closed.
A Hackney cabriolet was in waiting.
With the same vehemence which she had exhibited in addressing Oliver,
Nancy pulled him in with her and drew the curtains close.
The driver wanted no directions but lashed his horse into full speed without the delay of an instant.
The girl still held Oliver fast by the hand and continued to pour into his ear the warnings and assurances she had already imparted.
All was so quick and hurried that he scarcely had time to recollect where he was or how he came there when the carriage stopped at the house to which the due steps had been directed on the previous evening.
For one brief moment Oliver cast a hurried glance along the empty street and a cry for help hung upon his lips but the girl's voice was in his ear beseeching him in such tones of agony to remember her that he had not the heart to utter it.
While he hesitated,
The opportunity was gone.
He was already in the house and the door was shut.
This way,
Said Nancy,
Releasing her hold for the first time.
Bell?
Hello?
Replied Sykes,
Appearing at the head of the stairs with a candle.
Oh,
That's the time of day.
Come on.
This was a very strong expression of approbation,
An uncommonly hearty welcome from a person of Mr Sykes's temperament.
Nancy,
Appearing much gratified thereby,
Saluted him cordially.
Bullseye's gone home with Tom,
Observed Sykes as he lighted them up.
He'd have been in the way.
That's right,
Rejoined Nancy.
So you got the kid,
Said Sykes when they'd reached the room,
Closing the door as he spoke.
Yeah,
Here he is,
Replied Nancy.
Did he come quiet?
Like a lamb.
I'm glad to hear it.
Sykes looked grimly at Oliver.
For the sake of this young carcass,
Who would otherwise have suffered for it,
Come here young and let me read you a lecture,
Which is just as well got over at once.
Thus addressing his new pupil,
Mr Sykes pulled off Oliver's cap and threw it into a corner,
And then,
Taking him by the shoulder,
Sat himself down by the table and stood the boy in front of him.
Now first,
Do you know what this is?
Inquired Sykes,
Taking up a pocket pistol which lay upon the table.
Oliver replied in the affirmative.
Well then,
Look here.
This is powder.
That is a bullet.
And this is a little bit of old hat for wadding.
Oliver murmured his comprehension of the different bodies referred to,
And Mr Sykes proceeded to load the pistol with great nicety and deliberation.
Now it's loaded.
Yes,
I see it is,
Sir,
Replied Oliver.
Well,
Said the robber,
Grasping Oliver's wrist and putting the barrel so close to his temple that they touched,
At which moment the boy could not repress a start.
If you speak a word when you're outdoors with me,
Except when I speak to you,
That loading will be in your head without notice.
So if you do make up your mind to speak without leave,
You can say your prayers first.
Having bestowed a scowl upon the object of this warning to increase its effect,
Mr Sykes continued,
As near as I know there isn't anybody as would be asking this very particular art of you if you was disposed of.
So I needn't take the devil and all of trouble to explain matters.
If it weren't for your own good,
Do you hear me?
The short and the long of it,
You mean,
Said Nancy,
Speaking very emphatically and slightly frowning at Oliver as if to bespeak his serious attention,
Is that if you're crossed by him in this job,
You'll have on hand,
You'll prevent his ever telling afterwards by shooting him through the head and will take your chance of swinging for it,
As you do for a great many other things in the way of business every month of your life.
That's it,
Observed Mr Sykes approvingly.
Women can always put things in fewest words,
Except when it's blowing up and then they lengthens it out.
And now that he's thoroughly up to it,
Let's have some supper and get a snooze before starting.
In pursuance of this request,
Nancy quickly laid the cloth,
Disappearing for a few moments.
She presently returned with a pot of porter and a dish of sheep's heads,
Which gave occasion to several pleasant witticisms on the part of Mr Sykes,
Founded upon the singular coincidence of Jemmy's being a can name common to them,
And also to an ingenious implement much used in his profession.
Indeed,
The worthy gentleman,
Stimulated perhaps by the immediate prospect of being on active service,
Was in great spirits and good humour.
In proof whereof,
It may be he remarked,
He humorously drank all the beer at a draft and did not utter,
On a rough calculation,
More than four score o's during the whole progress of the meal.
Supper being ended,
It may be easily conceived that Oliver had no great appetite for it,
Mr Sykes disposed of a couple of glasses of spirits and water and threw himself on the bed,
Ordering Nancy,
With many implications in case of failure,
To call him at five precisely.
Oliver stretched himself in his clothes,
By command of the same authority,
On a mattress upon the floor,
And the girl,
Mending the fire,
Sat before it,
In readiness to rouse them at the appointed time.
For a long time Oliver lay awake,
Thinking it not possible that Nancy might seek that opportunity of whispering some further advice.
But the girl sat brooding over the fire,
Without moving,
Save now and then to trim the light.
Weary with watching and anxiety,
Oliver at length fell asleep.
When he awoke,
The table was covered with tea things,
And Sykes was thrusting various articles into the pockets of his great coat,
Which hung over the back of a chair.
Nancy was busily engaged in preparing breakfast.
It was not yet daylight,
For the candle was still burning,
And it was quite dark outside.
A sharp rain too was beating against the window panes,
And the sky looked black and cloudy.
Now then,
Growled Sykes as Oliver started up,
I'll pass five.
Look sharp or you'll get no breakfast for as late as it is.
Oliver was not long in making his toilet.
Having taken some breakfast,
He replied to a surly inquiry from Sykes by saying that he was quite ready.
Nancy,
Scarcely looking at the boy,
Threw him a handkerchief to tie around his throat.
Sykes gave him a large rough cape to button over his shoulders.
Thus attired,
He gave his hand to the robber,
Who,
Merely pausing to show him with a menacing gesture he had the same pistol in a side pocket of his great coat,
Clasped it firmly in his,
And exchanging a farewell with Nancy,
Led him away.
Oliver turned for an instant when they reached the door,
In the hope of meeting a look from the girl.
But Nancy had resumed her old seat in front of the fire,
And sat,
Perfectly motionless,
Before it.
