Page 335 - Oliver Twist

’Fill this glass again,’ he said, handing Mr. Bumble’s empty tumbler to the
landlord. ’Let it be strong and hot. You like it so, T suppose?’

’Not too strong,’ replied Mr. Bumble, with a delicate cough.

’You understand what that means, landlord!’ said the stranger, drily.

The host smiled, disappeared, and shortly afterwards returned with a
steaming jorum: of which, the first gulp brought the water into Mr.

Bumble’s eyes.

’Now listen to me,’ said the stranger, after closing the door and window. ’T

came down to this place, to-day, to find you out; and, by one of those
chances which the devil throws in the way of his friends sometimes, you

walked into the very room T was sitting in, while you were uppermost in my
mind. T want some information from you. T don’t ask you to give it for
nothing, slight as it is. Put up that, to begin with.’

As he spoke, he pushed a couple of sovereigns across the table to his

companion, carefully, as though unwilling that the chinking of money
should be heard without. When Mr. Bumble had scrupulously examined the
coins, to see that they were genuine, and had put them up, with much

satisfaction, in his waistcoat-pocket, he went on:

’Carry your memory back--let me see--twelve years, last winter.’

’Tt’s a long time,’ said Mr. Bumble. ’Very good. T’ve done it.’

’The scene, the workhouse.’

’Good!’

’And the time, night.’

’Yes.’