Summary: Chapter 13
Fagin erupts into a rage when the Dodger and Charley return
without Oliver. Fagin tosses a pot of beer at Charley, but the pot
hits Bill Sikes instead. Sikes is a rough, cruel man who makes his
living by robbing houses. They resolve to find Oliver before he
reveals their operation to the authorities, and persuade Nancy to
go to the police station to find out what happened to him.
Nancy dresses in nice clothing, and at the police station
she pretends to be Oliver’s distraught sister. She learns that the
gentleman from whom the handkerchief was stolen took Oliver home
with him to the neighborhood of Pentonville, because the boy had
fallen ill during the trial. Fagin sends Charley, Jack, and Nancy
to Pentonville to find Oliver. Fagin decides to relocate his operation
for the night and fills his pockets with the watches and jewelry
from the hidden box after Charley, Nancy, and Jack leave.
Summary: Chapter 14
When Oliver next enters the housekeeper’s room, he notices
that the portrait of the lady whom he resembles is gone. Mrs. Bedwin
says that Brownlow removed it because it seemed to worry Oliver.
One day, Brownlow sends for Oliver to meet him in his study. Assuming that
Brownlow means to send him away, Oliver begs to remain as a servant.
Brownlow assures Oliver that he wishes to be Oliver’s friend. He
asks Oliver to tell him his history. Before Oliver can begin, Brownlow’s
friend, Mr. Grimwig, arrives to visit.
Grimwig, a crotchety old man, hints that Oliver might
be a boy of bad habits. Brownlow bears his friend’s eccentricity
with good humor. Mrs. Bedwin brings in a parcel of books delivered
by the bookstall keeper’s boy. Brownlow wishes to send his payment
and some returns back with the boy, but he has already gone. Grimwig suggests
that Brownlow send Oliver but hints that Oliver might steal the
payment and the books. Wishing to prove Grimwig wrong, Brownlow
sends Oliver on the errand. It grows dark and Oliver does not return.
Summary: Chapter 15
Oliver takes a wrong turn on the way to the bookstall.
Suddenly, Nancy appears. She tells everyone on the street that Oliver
is her runaway brother who joined a band of thieves, and that she
is taking him back home to their parents. Everyone ignores Oliver’s
protests. Bill Sikes runs out of a beer shop, and he and Nancy drag Oliver
through the dark backstreets.
Summary: Chapter 16
Nancy, Sikes, and Oliver arrive at a dilapidated house
in a squalid neighborhood. Fagin, the Dodger, and Charley laugh
hysterically at the fancy clothing Oliver is wearing. Oliver calls
for help and flees, but Sikes threatens to set his vicious dog,
Bull’s-eye, on him. Nancy leaps to Oliver’s defense, saying that
they have ruined all his good prospects. She has worked for Fagin
since she was a small child, and she knows that a life of disrepute
lies in wait for Oliver. Fagin tries to beat Oliver for his escape
attempt, and Nancy flies at Fagin in a rage. Sikes catches Nancy
by the wrists, and she faints. They strip Oliver of his clothing,
Brownlow’s money, and the books. Fagin returns Oliver’s old clothing
to him and sends him to bed. Oliver had given the clothing to Mrs.
Bedwin, who sold it to a Jew, and the Jew then delivered the clothing
to Fagin and told Fagin where Oliver was.
