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e boy is now； my dear？ 'Fagin asked her； trying hard to see her face。 'Poor little child！ Left alone like that．'
Nancy looked up。 'I hope the child's dead。 The n he'd be happier than any of us。 '
'What！ 'said Fagin； in amazement。
'It's better like that。 The sight of the boy turns me against myself； and all of you。 '
'You're drunk。 Fagin suddenly lost his temper。 'The boy's worth a fortune to me…and now a drunken gang has lost him。 And if Sikes doesn't return that boy to me； dead or alive； I'll tell the police about him and I'll get Sikes hanged。 Just remember that！ '
When Fagin left her； Nancy was already back in a drunken sleep； her head lying on the table once more。 Fagin went out into the blackness of the night and walked home。 He had reached the corner of his street and was searching in his pocket for his key； when a dark figure came out of the shadows and crossed the road towards him。
I've been waiting here for two hours； Fagin。 ' said the stranger。 'Where have you been？ '
'On your business； my dear； ' said Fagin； glancing at him uneasily。
'We'd better talk inside。 '
The door closed behind the m and They crept quietly up to the top floor in order not to wake the sleeping boys downstairs。 They sat in a dark room； the only light coming from a candle burning in the passage outside。
The stranger's name was Monks； and he was in an evil mood。
He listened to Fagin for a while； frowning heavily。 'It was badly planned； he said angrily。 'Couldn't you have made the boy into an ordinary thief； and the n got him arrested and sent out of the country for the rest of his life？ '
'But he isn't like the other boys here； ' Fagin said。 'I had nothing to frighten him with。 Anyway； I've already helped you。 After he was caught by the police； stealing from the book shop； I got Nancy to get him back。 And the n she felt sorry for him。 '
'Kill her！ ' Monks said impatiently。
'We can't afford to do that kind of thing； ' said Fagin。
'But I can turn the boy into an ordinary thief now。 And the n Nancy will harden her heart against him。 I know how women are。 But if he's already dead—'
'That's not my fault！ ' said Monks quickly。 'I always said to you… do anything you want to him； but don't kill him。 I wouldn't have been able to forget it； if you had。 '
Suddenly he jumped to his feet； staring at the wall opposite the door。 'What's that？ 'he whispered； terrified。
'What？ Where？ ' cried Fagin。
'The shadow！ I saw the shadow of a woman pass along that wall！ '
White－faced； They both ran from the room into the passage。 The candle threw long shadows down the stairs； but the re was no one the re。 They listened。 Only silence filled the house。
'It was your imagination； ' said Fagin； softly。
'I swear I saw it！ replied Monks。 They searched all the upstairs rooms。 They were empty； and as quiet as death。 Monks grew calmer； and eventually left the house at one o'clock in the morning。
The chase down at Chertsey the previous night had not lasted long。 The re was a lot of noise of men shouting and dogs barking； as the servants from the house pursued the robbers across the fields。 But Sikes and Toby wasted no time。 They dropped O liver's unconscious body in a field； and disappeared into the fog and the darkness in different directions。 The three pursuers lost enthusiasm for the chase and agreed among themselves that it was much too dangerous to continue。 They returned to the house； keeping close together and trying to look brave。
Morning came； but O liver still lay in the field as if dead。 It began to rain heavily； and after a while O liver opened his eyes。 His left arm was covered in blood and hurting badly。 He felt so weak he could hardly stand； but he knew that if he stayed where he was； he would die。 Gasping with pain； he forced himself to his feet and with slow； shaky steps； began to walk。 He had no idea where he was going； and moved forward mechanically； as though in a dream。
After a while his feet found a road； and he looked round and saw a house in the distance。 He decided he would rather die near human beings than in a cold field； so he turned his steps towards the house。 As he came nearer； he realized that the house was familiar and he felt faint with terror。 But where else could he go？ With a last effort； he crawled up the path and knocked on the door； the n fell exhausted on the step。
It was now mid－morning。 Inside the house the men servants were still describing the night's adventures to the cook and the servant girl； who gasped with appreciative horror at every exciting moment。 They were all enjoying themselves very much… when the re came a knock at the door。 Pale with fright； They all stared at each other。 Nobody was keen to answer the knock； so eventually They all went； including the dogs。 Very cautiously； They opened the door； and saw nothing more alarming than poor O liver； curled up in a sad little heap on the step。
The n one of the men gave a shout； seized the boy by a leg and pulled him into the hall。 'Here he is！ ' he cried excitedly。 'Here's the thief！ I shot him last night！ '
A young lady appeared at the top of the stairs。 'What's going on here？ Quiet； please！ Is this poor boy very hurt？ '
'Very； 'said the servant； proudly。
'The n one of you go to town as fast as you can and fetch a policeman and Dr Losberne。 The rest of you； help to carry the boy upstairs and put him to bed。 Treat him kindly； I beg you。 '
9 O liver starts another life
In a comfortable； pleasant sitting－room； the two ladies of the house waited anxiously for the doctor and the police to arrive。 The owner of the house； Mrs May lie； was an older woman； but her niece； Rose； was a girl of seventeen； whose quiet beauty and gentle charm won all hearts。
As soon as the doctor arrived； he ran breathlessly into the house and burst into the room without knocking。 He was clearly a good friend of the ladies。
'I never heard of such a dreadful thing！ You should both be dead of fright！ he said to Mrs May lie。 'In the silence of the night； too！ Are you both all right？ Why didn't you send for me at once？ '
'We are quite all right； said Rose； smiling。 'But the re's an injured boy upstairs whom aunt wants you to see。 '
Dr Losberne went up to examine O liver； and was the re for some time He came down looking rather puzzled； and asked the two ladies to see the boy with him。
'I can promise you the re's nothing very frightening about him； 'he said。
Instead of the evil－looking robber They expected to see； the two ladies found only a pale； thin child； lying peacefully asleep。
He looked to innocent that Mrs May lie said； 'This child could never have been in a gang of robbers！ '
'It certainly seems strange； agreed the doctor； 'but wickedness can hide behind the most gentle face； you know。 '
'But he's so young； too！ ' cried Rose。 'Can you really believe this poor boy is a criminal？ Oh； Dr Losberne； and my dear aunt； I beg you both to have pity on him。 '
Mrs May lie did not need persuading； and the doctor could not resist Rose's tears。 He had； in fact； an extremely kind heart； which he tried to hide behind a quick； fierce manner… though this usually deceived no one。
'Well； what's to be done； the n？ ' he said quickly。 'We'll have the police here at any moment； ready to take the boy away and throw him into prison！ '
Rose begged him to think of a plan； and the doctor thought hard for a few minutes； frowning fiercely。 At last he said；
'I've got it！ ' and rubbed his hand s together in satisfaction。
A little later； O liver woke up and was very anxious to tell his story； although he had lost a lot of blood and was very weak。 When the doctor and the ladies had heard all about his sad life； They were quite sure that They wanted to save O liver from any unfair punishment。 So Dr Losberne went down to the kitchen to talk to the three servants who had surprised Sikes and O liver during the robbery。 The doctor folded his arms and gave the men a long； hard stare。
'Tell me； ' he began； can you be absolutely sure that the boy upstairs is the same one that was in the house last night？ Wel