Chapter 21
(narrated by IxChel)
The End of the Story
Fagin sat in prison. Looking at the floor, he tried. to think. He began to remember the judge's words.
'Guilty,' the judge had said.
Everybody in the court had shouted cheerfully.
'You will be hanged by the neck until you are dead.'
As it grew dark, Fagin began to think of all his colleagues who had died in this way. Some of them had died because of him. Many men had sat in that small room, waiting to die. This was his last night alive. Silence was broken only by the sound of the church clocks. Every bell brought him the same message. Death.
Suddenly the prison officer opened the door of the room.
'Somebody wants to see you, Fagin!' said the man.
Mr Brownlow came in with Oliver. Fagin moved to the farthest corner of the room, away from the visitors. He looked ill and frightened.
'You have some papers' said Mr Brownlow, moving towards the old man. 'They were given to you by a man called Monks.'
'That is a lie,' replied Fagin.
'Please,' said Mr Brownlow in a very serious voice,' don't say that now, when you are soon going to die. Tell me where the papers are. You know that Sikes is dead, and Monks has told us the truth. There is no more hope for you. Where are the papers? '
'Oliver,' cried Fagin, pointing his finger at him. 'Here, here! Let me whisper to you.'
'I am not afraid,' said Oliver.
'The papers are in a bag, in a hole a little way up the chimney in the sitting-room.' The night passed. Outside the men were building the platform for Fagin's last moments. A crowd of people waited to watch Fagin die.
Our story is nearly over. After Fagin's death, Charley Bates decided that an honest life was best. He began a new and happy life, working for a farmer.
Mr Brownlow took the papers that Fagin had kept for Monks. They proved that Oliver's father had left his son half of his property in his will. So the money was shared between Oliver and Monks. Mr Brownlow wanted to give Monks the chance to live a better life. Monks went to America but he wasted his money there and died in prison.
Mr Bumble lost his job as master of the workhouse. He became very poor, so he had to move into that same workhouse.
Noah Claypole continued his new profession, giving information about crimes and criminals to the police, and was very successful.
Oliver lived with Mr Brownlow as his son. The old man loved and protected his young friend, and they moved to a house in the country with old Mrs Bedwin. Their house was about a mile away from the home of Mrs Maylie and Rose.
Mr Giles and Brittles were still Mrs Maylie's servants. Dr Losberne went back to Chertsey, but after a few months he moved to the village too. In the church there was now a white stone with one word written on it: AGNES. It helped Oliver to remember his mother. Mr Grimwig often came down from London to visit them all, and they enjoyed themselves together very much.