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V . Fagin’s Lessons It was late the next morning when Oliver began to wake up . There was nobody in the room except the old man , who was making coffee in a pan for breakfast . Oliver lay still , between sleeping and waking , and watched him through half - closed eyes . When the coffee was ready , Fagin turned round and looked at the boy . He called his name softly , but Oliver did not answer , and the old man thought that he was asleep . He went to the door and locked it . Then he lifted a board in the floor and took out a small box , which he placed carefully on the table . His eyes shone as he opened it and took out a beautiful gold watch , covered with jewels . “ Aha ! ” he said to himself . “ Clever dogs ! Clever dogs ! Loyal to the end ! They never told the prison chaplain where the things were . They never gave old Fagin away ! And why should they ? It wouldn’t have saved them from the rope . No , no ! Fine fellows ! ” He took out at least six more watches from the same box and looked at them with equal pleasure . Then came rings , brooches , bracelets and other jewels of such beautiful materials and costly work that Oliver did not even know their names . Suddenly Fagin raised his eyes and saw that Oliver was watching him . He closed the box with a loud crash , seized a bread knife from the table and jumped up . He was shaking with fear and anger . “ What’s that ? ” he cried . “ Why do you watch me ? Why are you awake ? What have you seen ? Speak out , boy ! Quick , quick , for your life ! ” “ I wasn’t able to sleep any longer , sir , ” replied Oliver gently . “ I am very sorry if I have disturbed you . ” “ You were not awake an hour ago ? ” said Fagin , looking hard at him , and Oliver promised that he was not . “ Tush , tush , my dear ! ” said Fagin , and suddenly he became his old pleasant self again . He played with the knife for a little while before he put it down , as if he had only picked it up for fun . “ Of course I know that , my dear . I only tried to frighten you . You’re a brave boy . Ha ! ha ! You’re a brave boy , Oliver . ” He laid his hand on the box . “ Did you see any of these pretty things , my dear ? ” “ Yes , sir , ” said Oliver . “ Ah ! ” said Fagin , turning rather pale . “ They are mine , Oliver , my little property . All that I have to live on in my old age . People call me a miser , my dear . Only a miser , that’s all . ” Oliver thought that the old gentleman must be a real miser , if he lived in such a dirty place with so many watches . But he thought that perhaps his love for the Dodger and the other boys cost him a great deal of money , so he only looked respectfully at Fagin and asked if he might get up .
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