Well, my dears", said Fagin, "I hope you have been at work this morning. What have you got, Dawkins?"
"Two purses," said Dawkins, and he gave them to Fagin.
"Not very heavy," said the old man," but well made. He is good at his work, isn't lie, Oliver?"
"Very good, " said Oliver.
"And what have you got?" said Fagin to Charley.
"Handkerchiefs," replied Master Bates, producing four.
"Well," said Fagin. looking at them carefully. "They are good ones but they are marked, Charley, So we must take out the marks with a needle. Oliver will learn how to do it"
"Yes, sir," said Oliver.
Charley Bates started laughing." He is innocent, isn't he?"
After breakfast the old gentleman and the two boys played a very strange game. The old man placed a silver box in one pocket of his trousers, a purse in the other, and a watch and a handkerchief in his coat pocket.
He then walked round and round the room with a stick, like an old gentleman in the street, He stopped at the door, pretending to look at a shop window. Then he looked round, worried about thieves. He often touched his pockets to see if had lost something. He did this in a very funny way, and Oliver laughed until the tears came to his eyes.
All this time the two boys followed close behind Fagin. They moved out of his sight very quickly when he turned round. At last Dawkins stepped on Fagin's foot, while Charley Bates pushed against him from behind. In that one moment they took from him the silver box, purse, watch and handkerchief. If the old gentleman felt a hand in his pockets, he cried out Then the game began again.
They played this game many times, but it ended when two young ladies, Bet and Nancy, arrived to see the young gentlemen. They stayed and talked for a little time. and then the old man gave them some money and they all went out together,
"Have they finished work, sir?” asked Oliver.
"Yes, “said Fagin, “unless they find more work while they are out is my handkerchief hanging out of my pocket?”
“Yes, sir.” said Oliver.
“See if you can take it out. like the boys this morning. I mustn't feel anything.”
Oliver had watched the others carefully. He held up the bottom of the pocket with one hand. and pulled the handkerchief out of it with the other hand.
“Has it gone?” cried Fagin.
“Here it is, sir.” said Oliver, showing it in his hand.
“You are a good boy, my dear” said Fagin” And now come here I will show you how to take the marks out of the handkerchiefs”
Chapter 6 Oliver Among the Thieves
Day after day Oliver stayed in Fagin's room. taking the marks out of handkerchiefs. Sometimes, too, he played the game with Fagin's pockets. Ar last he began to want fresh air. He asked Fagin to let him go out to work with Dawkins and Charley Bates.
One morning Fagin allowed him to go. The three boys left the house, walking very slowly, Oliver wondered if they were going to work at all
They were just coming out of a narrow street into a square when suddenly Dawkins stopped. Putting his finger on his lips, he pulled his friends back.
“Quiet!” he said.” Do you see that old man near the bookshop?”
“Perfect, “ said Charley Bates.
Oliver looked at them in The two boys walked across surprise. the road and went close behind the old gentleman. Oliver followed them.
The old gentleman had white hair and gold glasses. He carried a stick under his arm. He had taken a book from a shelf in front of the shop and he stood reading it.
Oliver was shocked when he saw Dawkins put his hand into the old man's pocket and take out a handkerchief Dawkins gave it to Charley Bates and they both ran away.
In a moment, Oliver understood the mystery of the handkerchiefs and the watches and the jewels and Fagin's games. He stood for a moment, full of fear, and then he too began to run.
The old gentleman put his hand in his pocket. He did not find his handkerchief, so he turned round. When he saw Oliver running away, he thought of course that the boy had stolen his handkerchief.
“Stop, thief!" he shouted, and ran after Oliver.
Everybody in the street joined him in the chase. Stop. thief they cried Even Dawkins and Charley Bates began to shout Stop, thief!' and run after Oliver too.
Then someone hit Oliver and he fell to the ground. A crowd collected round him. Oliver lay, covered with dust, and bleeding from the mouth. He looked wildly at all the faces that surrounded him.
“Is this the boy? “ they asked the old gentleman.
“Yes, “said the old gentleman, “ I am afraid it is Poor boy! He has hurt himself”
A police constable pushed through the crowd and seized Oliver by the neck. “Get up! “he said.
“It wasn't me, sir. It was two other boys, “said Oliver." They are here somewhere.” But Jack and Charley had disappeared
“Oh, no, they aren't,” said the constable.
“Don't hurt him,” said the old gentleman. “I am not really sure that this boy took the handkerchief”
The constable pulled Oliver along the street to the