Fagin walks through the streets until he enters an alley leading to Saffron Hill. Exchanging a few words with a dealer in stolen goods, he asks about Sikes and hurries on. At the Three Cripples, the Saffron Hill public house, he enters a smoky room crowded with disgusting revelers of both sexes. Exhibited there are extremes of "cunning, ferocity, and drunkenness in all its stages."
Fagin beckons to the landlord and confers with him on the landing. The man says that nothing has been heard from Barney but that he may be relied upon. Then Fagin inquires for a person — Monks — about whom he is evidently much more concerned at the moment. The landlord is confident that Monks will soon arrive. Fagin expresses his desire — somewhat reluctant — to see Monks tomorrow.
Next, Fagin goes to Bill Sikes's residence, where he finds Nancy by herself in a state of deep despondency. She cannot offer Fagin any comfort. Provided Sikes escapes unharmed, she prefers that Oliver should be dead and thus out of Fagin's clutches.
Fagin becomes angry and alludes to his power of putting the noose around Sikes's neck. He is vexed at the thought of losing the boy, who represents an investment and potential source of profit. And in his agitation he almost blurts out something involuntarily, but checks himself, trembling "with the apprehension of having himself disclosed some hidden villainy."
Fagin is greatly disturbed to think that Nancy may have discovered more than he would have her know. He questions her, intent on finding out whether she caught the drift of his remarks. Finally, he is satisfied that the girl is too far gone in liquor to have understood the significance of his outburst.
