"Yes!" interrupted the stranger harshly. "I have been lingering here these two hours. Where the devil have you been?"
"On your business, my dear," replied the Jew, glancing uneasily at his companion, and slackening his pace as he spoke. "On your business all night."
"Oh, of course!" said the stranger with a sneer. "Well; and what's come of it?"
"Nothing good," said the Jew.
"Nothing bad, I hope?" said the stranger, stopping short, and turning a startled look upon his companion.
The Jew shook his head and was about to reply, when the stranger interrupting him motioned to the house before which they had by this time arrived, and remarked that he had better say what he had got to say, under cover, for his blood was chilled with standing about so long, and the wind blew through him.
Fagin looked as if he could have willingly excused himself from taking home a visiter at that unseasonable hour, and muttered something about having no fire; but, his companion, re-
