‘Take this lantern,’ said Sikes, looking into the room. ‘You see the stairs afore you?’
Oliver, more dead than alive, gasped out, ‘Yes.’ Sikes, pointing to the street-door with the pistol-barrel, briefly advised him to take notice that he was within shot all the way; and that if he faltered, he would fall dead that instant.
‘It’s done in a minute,’ said Sikes, in the same low whisper. ‘Directly I leave go of you, do your work. Hark!’
‘What’s that?’ whispered the other man.
They listened intently.
‘Nothing,’ said Sikes, releasing his hold of Oliver. ‘Now!’