Oliver Twist - Book the First, Chapter the Ninth

Containing further Particulars concerning the pleasant old Gentleman, and his hopeful Pupils

Dickens is being sarcastic, right? Because I don't think Fagin is pleasant at all.

Oooh Oliver is so sneaky that he's pretending to be asleep and Fagin is drawing 'from some trap in the floor, a small box' which contains a gold and diamond watch! And various other jewellery! He then does some mysterious muttering. From what I can other, there may be some more jewellery, but someone who knows something has been hanged (?)

He then notices Oliver is awake and picks up a knife (!) but Oliver fast-talks his way out of it (god i love this kid) and Fagin relaxes. Oliver thinks that Fagin's 'fondness' for taking care of young boys necessitates his living in such horrible conditions while possessing such valuables lol.

Also, Fagin calls Oliver 'my dear'. This seems weird to me.

More like, 'oh dear'.

Jack (am I supposed to call him 'the Dodger' now? It doesn't seem right) and a new guy, Charles, come back from stealing ham and pocketbooks. I'm pretty sure it's unhygienic to eat ham that's been hidden in someone's hat.

They then do some role-playing where Fagin gets Dodger and Charles to steal things from him.

Nancy (who I know is a prostitute) and Bet (who must be one too) go off to 'pad the hoof' with Charles and Dodger. Oliver doesn't understand this sexual innuendo.

LOLOLOLOL

Fagin gets Oliver to pickpocket him, calls him 'my dear' four more times, and starts teaching him in the ways of the thief. This is all getting very exciting.