'I saw it was not easy to train him to the business,' replied theJew; 'he was not like other boys in the same circumstances.'

　　'Curse him, no!' muttered the man, 'or he would have been athief, long ago.'

　　'I had no hold upon him to make him worse,' pursued the Jew,anxiously watching the countenance of his companion.  'His handwas not in.  I had nothing to frighten him with; which we alwaysmust have in the beginning, or we labour in vain.  What could Ido?  Send him out with the Dodger and Charley?  We had enough ofthat, at first, my dear; I trembled for us all.'

　　'THAT was not my doing,' observed Monks.

　　'No, no, my dear!' renewed the Jew.  'And I don't quarrel with itnow; because, if it had never happened, you might never haveclapped eyes on the boy to notice him, and so led to thediscovery that it was him you were looking for.  Well!  I got himback for you by means of the girl; and then SHE begins to favourhim.'

　　'Throttle the girl!' said Monks, impatiently.

　　'Why, we can't afford to do that just now, my dear,' replied theJew, smiling; 'and, besides, that sort of thing is not in ourway; or, one of these days, I might be glad to have it done.  Iknow what these girls are, Monks, well.  As soon as the boybegins to harden, she'll care no more for him, than for a blockof wood.  You want him made a thief.  If he is alive, I can makehim one from this time; and, if--if--' said the Jew, drawingnearer to the other,--'it's not likely, mind,--but if the worstcomes to the worst, and he is dead--'

　　'It's no fault of mine if he is!' interposed the other man, witha look of terror, and clasping the Jew's arm with tremblinghands.  'Mind that.  Fagin!  I had no hand in it.  Anything buthis death, I told you from the first.  I won't shed blood; it'salways found out, and haunts a man besides.  If they shot himdead, I was not the cause; do you hear me?  Fire this infernalden!  What's that?'

　　'What!' cried the Jew, grasping the coward round the body, withboth arms, as he sprung to his feet.  'Where?'

　　'Yonder! replied the man, glaring at the opposite wall.  'Theshadow!  I saw the shadow of a woman, in a cloak and bonnet, passalong the wainscot like a breath!'

　　The Jew released his hold, and they rushed tumultuously from theroom.  The candle, wasted by the draught, was standing where ithad been placed.  It showed them only the empty staircase, andtheir own white faces.  They listened intently:  a profoundsilence reigned throughout the house.