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”