FATALCONSEQUENCES
Itwasnearlytwohoursbeforeday-break；thattimewhichintheautumnoftheyear，maybetrulycalledthedeadofnight；whenthestreetsaresilentanddeserted；whenevensoundsappeartoslumber，andprofligacyandriothavestaggeredhometodream；itwasatthisstillandsilenthour，thatFaginsatwatchinginhisoldlair，withfacesodistortedandpale，andeyessoredandblood-shot，thathelookedlesslikeaman，thanlikesomehideousphantom，moistfromthegrave，andworriedbyanevilspirit。
Hesatcrouchingoveracoldhearth，wrappedinanoldtorncoverlet，withhisfaceturnedtowardsawastingcandlethatstooduponatablebyhisside。Hisrighthandwasraisedtohislips，andas，absorbedinthought，hehithislongblacknails，hedisclosedamonghistoothlessgumsafewsuchfangsasshouldhavebeenadog'sorrat's。
Stretcheduponamattressonthefloor，layNoahClaypole，fastasleep。Towardshimtheoldmansometimesdirectedhiseyesforaninstant，andthenbroughtthembackagaintothecandle；whichwithalong-burntwickdroopingalmostdouble，andhotgreasefallingdowninclotsuponthetable，plainlyshowedthathisthoughtswerebusyelsewhere。
Indeedtheywere。Mortificationattheoverthrowofhisnotablescheme；hatredofthegirlwhohaddaredtopalterwithstrangers；andutterdistrustofthesincerityofherrefusaltoyieldhimup；bitterdisappointmentatthelossofhisrevengeonSikes；thefearofdetection，andruin，anddeath；andafierceanddeadlyragekindledbyall；thesewerethepassionateconsiderationswhich，followingcloseuponeachotherwithrapidandceaselesswhirl，shotthroughthebrainofFagin，aseveryevilthoughtandblackestpurposelayworkingathisheart。
Hesatwithoutchanginghisattitudeintheleast，orappearingtotakethesmallestheedoftime，untilhisquickearseemedtobeattractedbyafootstepinthestreet。
‘Atlast，’hemuttered，wipinghisdryandfeveredmouth。‘Atlast！’
Thebellranggentlyashespoke。Hecreptupstairstothedoor，andpresentlyreturnedaccompaniedbyamanmuffledtothechin，whocarriedabundleunderonearm。Sittingdownandthrowingbackhisoutercoat，themandisplayedtheburlyframeofSikes。
‘There！’hesaid，layingthebundleonthetable。‘Takecareofthat，anddothemostyoucanwithit。It'sbeentroubleenoughtoget；IthoughtIshouldhavebeenhere，threehoursago。’
Faginlaidhishanduponthebundle，andlockingitinthecupboard，satdownagainwithoutspeaking。Buthedidnottakehiseyesofftherobber，foraninstant，duringthisaction；andnowthattheysatoveragainsteachother，facetoface，helookedfixedlyathim，withhislipsquiveringsoviolently，andhisfacesoalteredbytheemotionswhichhadmasteredhim，thatthehousebreakerinvoluntarilydrewbackhischair，andsurveyedhimwithalookofrealaffright。
‘Wotnow？’criedSikes。‘Wotdoyoulookatamansofor？’
Faginraisedhisrighthand，andshookhistremblingforefingerintheair；buthispassionwassogreat，thatthepowerofspeechwasforthemomentgone。
‘Damme！’saidSikes，feelinginhisbreastwithalookofalarm。‘He'sgonemad。Imustlooktomyselfhere。’
‘No，no，’rejoinedFagin，findinghisvoice。‘It'snot--you'renottheperson，Bill。I'veno--nofaulttofindwithyou。’
‘Oh，youhaven't，haven'tyou？’saidSikes，lookingsternlyathim，andostentatiouslypassingapistolintoamoreconvenientpocket。‘That'slucky--foroneofus。Whichonethatis，don'tmatter。’
‘I'vegotthattotellyou，Bill，’saidFagin，drawinghischairnearer，‘willmakeyouworsethanme。’
‘Aye？’returnedtherobberwithanincredulousair。‘Tellaway！Looksharp，orNancewillthinkI'mlost。’
‘Lost！’criedFagin。‘Shehasprettywellsettledthat，inherownmind，already。’
SikeslookedwithanaspectofgreatperplexityintotheJew'sface，andreadingnosatisfactoryexplanationoftheriddlethere，clenchedhiscoatcollarinhishugehandandshookhimsoundly。
‘Speak，willyou！’hesaid；‘orifyoudon't，itshallbeforwantofbreath。Openyourmouthandsaywotyou'vegottosayinplainwords。Outwithit，youthunderingoldcur，outwithit！’
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