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 13 Some new acquaintances are introduced to the intelligent reader connected with whom various pleasant matters are related appertaining to this history.
Where's Oliver?
Said the Jew,
Rising with a menacing look.
Where's the boy?
The young thieves eyed their preceptor as if they were alarmed at his violence and they looked uneasily at each other but they made no reply.
What's become of the boy?
Said the Jew,
Seizing the dodger tightly by the collar and threatening with horrid imprecations.
Speak out or I'll throttle you.
Mr Fagin looked so very much in earnest that Charlie Bates,
Who deemed it prudent in all cases to be on the safe side and who conceived it by no means improbable it might be his turn to be throttled second,
Dropped upon his knees and raised a loud well-sustained and continuous roar something between a mad bull and a speaking trumpet.
Well you speak!
Thundered the Jew,
Shaking the dodger so much that his keeping in the big coat at all seemed perfectly miraculous.
Why the traps have got him and that's about all it is!
Said the dodger suddenly.
Come and let go of me will you?
And swinging himself at one jerk clean out of the big coat which he left in the Jew's hands the dodger snatched up the toasting fork and made a pass at the merry old gentleman's waistcoat which if it had taken effect would have let a little more merriment out than could have been easily replaced.
The Jew stepped back in this emergency with more agility than could have been anticipated by a man of his apparent decrepitude and seizing up the pot prepared to hurl it at his assailant's head but Charlie Bates at this moment calling his attention by a perfectly terrific howl he suddenly altered his destination and flung it forward that young gentleman.
Why what the blazes is the wind now?
Growled a deep voice.
Who pitched that ear at me?
It's as well it's the beer and not the pot as it's me or I'd have settled somebody.
I might have known as nobody but an infernal witch plundering thundering old Jew could afford to throw away any drink but water not that unless he's done the river company every quarter.
What's it all about Fagin?
Me if my neck chief ain't lined with beer come here you sneaking varmint what are you stopping outside for as if you was ashamed of your master?
The man who growled out these words was a stoutly built fellow of about five and thirty in a black velveteen coat very soiled drab breeches lace-up half boots and grey cotton stockings which enclosed a bulky pair of legs with large swelling calves.
The kind of legs which in such costume always look in an unfinished and incomplete state without a set of fetters to garnish them.
He had a brown hat on his head and a dirty belcher handkerchief around his neck with a long frayed ends of which he smeared the beer from his face as he spoke.
He disclosed when he'd done so a broad heavy countenance with a beard of three days growth and two scowling eyes one of which displayed various partly coloured symptoms of having been recently damaged by a blow.
Come in Julia growled this engaging ruffian.
A white shaggy dog with his face scratched and torn in 20 different places skulked into the room.
Why didn't you come in a four?
Said the man.
You're getting too proud to own me a four company are you?
Now lie down.
This command was accompanied with a kick which sent the animal to the other end of the room.
He appeared well used to it however for he coiled himself up in a corner very quietly without uttering a sound and winking his very ill-looking eyes 20 times in a minute.
Appeared to occupy himself in taking a survey of the apartment.
What are you up to ill-treating the boys you covetous avaricious insatiable old fence?
Said the man seating himself deliberately.
No wonder they don't murder you.
I would have done if I was them.
If I'd have been your apprentice I'd have done it long ago.
No I couldn't have sold you afterwards your fit for nothing but keeping his curiosity of ugliness in a glass bottle.
Now I suppose I don't blow glass bottles large enough.
Hush hush Mr Sykes said the Jew trembling don't speak so loud.
None of your mystery replied the ruffian.
You always mean mischief when you come out.
You know my name out with it I shan't disgrace it when the time comes.
Well well Bill Sykes said the Jew.
With abject humility you seem out of humor Bill.
Perhaps I am replied Sykes.
I should think you was rather out of sorts too unless you mean his little arm when you throw pewter pots about as you do when you blab.
Are you mad said the Jew catching the man by the sleeve and pointing it towards the boys.
Mr Sykes contented himself with tying an imaginary knot under his left ear and jerking his head over on the right shoulder.
A piece of dumb show which the Jew appeared to understand perfectly.
Then in cant terms with which his whole conversation was plentifully besprinkled but which would be quite unintelligible if they were recorded here.
He demanded a glass of liquor.
Marge I'll pour you in it said Mr Sykes laying his hat on the table.
This was said in jest but if the speaker could have seen the evil leer with which the Jew bit his pale lip as he turned round to the cupboard he might have thought the caution not wholly unnecessary or the wish at all events to improve upon the distiller's ingenuity was not very far from the old gentleman's merry heart.
After swallowing two or three glasses of spirits Mr Sykes condescended to take some notice of the young gentleman which gracious act led to a conversation in which the cause and manner of Oliver's capture were circumstantially detailed.
I'm afraid said the Jew he might say something which will get us into trouble.
That's very likely returned Sykes with a malicious grin.
You're blowed upon Vagan.
And I'm afraid you see added the Jew speaking as if he'd not noticed the interruption.
I'm afraid if the game was up with us it might be up with a good many more that it would come out rather worse for you than it would for me my dear.
The man started and turned round upon the Jew but the old gentleman's shoulders were shrugged up to his ears and his eyes were vacantly staring on the opposite wall.
There was a long pause.
Every member of the respectable coterie appeared plunged in his own reflections not accepting the dog who by a certain malicious licking of his lips seemed to be meditating an attack upon the legs of the first gentleman or lady he might encounter in the streets when he went out.
Somebody must find out what's been done at the office said Mr Sykes in a much lower tone he'd taken since he came in and the Jew nodded assent.
If he ain't peached and he's committed there'll be no fear till he comes out again then he'll be taken care on you must get hold of him somehow said Mr Sykes.
Again the Jew nodded.
The prudence of this line of action indeed was obvious but unfortunately there was one very strong objection to its being adopted that was that the Dodger and Charlie Bates and Fagin and Mr William Sykes happened one and all to entertain a violent and deeply rooted antipathy to going near a police office on any ground or pretext whatsoever.
How long they might have sat and looked at each other in a state of uncertainty not the most pleasant of its kind it is difficult to guess.
It is not necessary to make any guesses on the subject however for the sudden entrance of the two young ladies whom Oliver had seen on a former occasion caused the conversation to flow afresh.
The very thing said the Jew better go won't you my dear.
Where's inquired the young lady.
Oh you're just up to the office my dear said the Jew coaxingly.
She in return merely expressed an emphatic and earnest desire to be blessed if she would.
A polite and delicate evasion of the request which shows the young lady to have been possessed of that natural good breeding which cannot bear to inflict upon a fellow creature the pain of a direct and pointed refusal.
The Jew's countenance fell.
He turned from this young lady who was gaily not to say gorgeously attired in a red gown green boots and yellow cold papers to the other female.
Nancy my dear said the Jew in a soothing manner.
What do you say?
That it won't do and it's no use of trying it on Fagin replied Nancy.
What do you mean by that said Mr Sykes looking up in a surly manner.
What I say Bill required the lady collectively.
My you're just the very person for it reasoned Mr Sykes.
Nobody about here knows anything of you.
I don't want them to neither replied Nancy in the same composed manner.
It's rather more a no than a yes with me Bill.
She'll go Fagin said Sykes.
No she won't Fagin said Nancy.
Yes she will Fagin said Sykes.
And Mr Sykes was right.
By dint of alternate threats promises and bribes the lady in question was ultimately prevailed upon to undertake the commission.
She was not indeed withheld by the same considerations as her agreeable friend or having recently been moved into the neighborhood of Field Lane from the remote but gentile suburb of Radcliffe.
She was not under the same apprehension of being recognized by any of her numerous acquaintances.
