Chapter
25: Fagin, Charlie Bates,
the Dodger, and Tom were all sitting in the hideout late one evening. The boys began teasing Tom about
his affection for Betsy, and Fagin began discussing it as well. They heard that someone was at
the front door, and were very careful in answering it. When they discovered that the visitor was
Toby Crackit they brought him inside startled that he was alone without Bill and Oliver. Toby
asked for food and drink before he would tell his tale, and so Fagin supplied him with the requested
provisions. Finally, Toby asked them where Sikes was and Fagin became upset. Toby then told
the tale of the robbery and how Oliver had been shot. He said that he and Bill separated and left
Oliver in the ditch because they were trying to save themselves. At this Fagin screamed and left
the building terribly angry and upset that he lost Oliver.
Chapter
26: Fagin wandered the
streets and went to the market place where the thieves sell their wares. He asked for information on
Sikes and not finding any, went to a place called The Cripples. Again he asked for information
of Sikes and found none. Finally, he went to Sikes house and found it occupied by only Nancy.
He expressed to her is concern about Oliver and Nancy told him that Oliver was better off dead than
with them. Fagin did not agree with her, and convinced that Sikes was not there, finally went
back to his own residence. There, lurking in the shadows, he found a mysterious acquaintance of
his. He told the man about wanting to find Oliver and the man said that he thought it better for
himself at least, that he didn't. The only name the mysterious man had was Monks. As they
were finishing their conversation, Monks swore that he saw a woman lurking about, but when they searched
for her, nothing could be found.
Chapter
27: While Mrs. Corney was
out, the beadle stood waiting in her residence examining it. When she returned, flustered from
her visit to the dying woman, the beadle took care of her. After she settled down, he proposed
marriage to her. She accepted, and said that after she was married to him, she would tell him
what happened that night. She told him then to make funeral arrangements, so when he left her
house; he went straight to the Sowerberry's home. There he found Noah Clayborn and the maid Charlotte
talking of kissing. He chastises them, appalled that they would discuss or do such things, and
satisfied that he completed his task, left.
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