It was seven o'clock the next evening, but Bill Sikes was just waking from a nap. He had been gravely ill for weeks.
"How do you feel tonight, Bill?" Nancy sat sewing in a corner while the white dog sat loyally next to Sikes' bed.
"Weak, very weak. Hurry up now. Help me out of bed."
Nancy had just settled Bill into a chair when there was a knock at the door. In walked Fagin, Charley Bates, and the Dodger.
"What evil wind blew you here, Fagin?" asked Bill.
"No evil wind at all, my dear. Dodger, open the bundle and give Bill the trifles we spent all our money on."
The Dodger opened the bundle to reveal a rabbit pie, some strong tea, some sugar, and a bottle of wine.
Sikes did not seem impressed. "I need some money tonight, Fagin."
"I don't have a single coin with me," Fagin replied.
"You have lots at home."
"Well, I could send the Dodger home to get—"
"No, no," Sikes interrupted. "He'd forget to come back. Nancy will go with you."
So Nancy soon found herself at Fagin's, waiting for him to count out some coins. Suddenly they heard footsteps in the hall. Just as Fagin went to the door, it was opened by a man in a dark cloak. Monks!
"Who's this?" Monks pointed at Nancy.
"Just one of my young people," said Fagin.
Monks stared at her and then said to Fagin, "I need to speak to you in private."
Fagin led him to a room upstairs. Nancy waited a few moments and then she quietly followed them. She stood outside the room, eavesdropping on their conversation. When she heard them push back their chairs, she ran softly downstairs.
"Are you all right?" Fagin asked her after Monks had left. "You look quite pale."
Nancy looked at the floor and didn't answer his question. "Bill will be angry if I don't return soon. Do you have the money?"
Fagin handed her some coins, and she went back to Bill Sikes.
The next night Nancy added something to Sikes' drink to make him sleep so she could go out for a few hours.
"It will take me at least an hour to walk there," she muttered as she set out.
When she reached the wealthy part of London, the clock was striking eleven. At last she came to her destination: a small hotel on a quiet street. Nancy knew she didn't belong in this posh area, but she squared her shoulders and pushed open the door.
"Who do you want?" said the porter. He gave her a critical look.
"A lady staying here. Miss Rose Maylie."
"And who shall I say is calling?"
"My name won't mean anything to her. I must speak to her myself."
The porter grumbled, but he found a boy to take a message to Rose. Meanwhile he led Nancy into a room to wait. At last the door opened and a beautiful young woman entered the room.
"I am Rose Maylie," said the young woman, looking at Nancy's ragged clothes. "What can I do for you? If you're in poverty or in trouble, I'll try my best to help you. Please sit down."
"Let me stand. I'm about to put my life and the lives of others in your hands." Nancy began to weep. "I'm the one who dragged Oliver back to Fagin when he was on his way to the bookseller's."
"You!" Rose was shocked.
"I've sneaked away from people who would surely murder me if they knew I'd come here to tell you something. Do you know a man named Monks?"
"No," said Rose.
"He knows you, and he knew you were staying here. That's how I found you."
Rose was alarmed. "But who is he?"
"Someone who knows Fagin. Soon after Oliver arrived at your house, I overheard a conversation between Monks and Fagin. Monks accidentally saw Oliver on the day we first lost him, the day Oliver was accused of stealing a gentleman's handkerchief."
"Oh yes." Rose nodded. "I remember Oliver telling us that was the day he went to live with Mr. Brownlow."
"Monks had been looking for Oliver, but I don't know why," Nancy went on. "So Monks made a deal with Fagin. Get Oliver back from Mr. Brownlow, and Monks would give Fagin some money. If Fagin could turn Oliver into a criminal, Fagin would receive even more money."
Rose was puzzled. "Why would Monks want Oliver turned into a criminal?"
"I don't know. Monks caught sight of my shadow on the wall that night, and I had to flee the house."
"Did you ever see Monks again?"
"Not until last night when he came to Fagin's. I eavesdropped again when they went upstairs to talk. Monks boasted that he'd tossed in the river the only proof of Oliver's identity. He said that Oliver was his younger brother, and he'd now secured all of their father's inheritance for himself."
"His brother!" exclaimed Rose.
"Those were his words." Nancy glanced uneasily around, fearful that somehow Sikes had managed to follow her. "I must leave now. I have to reach home before anyone suspects that I've been out on an errand such as this."
"No, wait," said Rose. "I can summon a gentleman who will help you. If you repeat this information to him, he'll see that you are sent immediately to a place of safety."
"I want to go home. How can I explain this to you? Among the men that I've described, there is one I can't leave. He's the worst of all, but I love him."
"Oh, don't go back to him!" Tears ran down Rose's face. "You've risked your life for Oliver. Please, let me save you."
Nancy sank to her knees. "Dear, sweet angel. You're the first person who has been kind to me. But it's too late to save me from a life of crime."
"It's never too late."
"It is. If I told anyone else what I've told you, the man I love would be sure to hang. "
Nancy rose and turned toward the door.
"Wait!" said Rose. "Where can I find you if I need to speak to you again?"
"I'll wait for you on London Bridge every Sunday night between eleven o'clock and midnight. That is, if I'm still alive."
"At least take some money from me."
"Not a penny," replied Nancy.
And with a sob, she left the room. Rose sank into a chair, wondering what to do next.