Her actual age is not given in the novel, although she claims to have been a thief for 12 years (and started working for Fagin when she was half Oliver's age). This implies that she is probably approximately seventeen years old. In cinematic adaptations of the story, she is often shown in her teens or mid-20s. Nancy is one of Fagin's girls. She lives with him and his gang at 39 Monmouth Street in London's Soho district. Fagin runs all of the girls' lives; he tells them what to do and who to be friends with. He also takes a percentage of their earnings. Nancy meets up with Oliver in Chapter I of The Pickpocket's Story when she helps him escape from prison. They immediately fall in love and decide to go together into business... ...or so they think. It turns out that Fagin has used Oliver to steal a valuable necklace that he plans on selling on the black market. When Oliver refuses to help him, Fagin has him thrown into Newgate Prison where many other thieves are also being held. Only one thing will save Oliver from death by hanging: if he can pick the right key off of Fagin's ring. There are four keys, and only one will open his cell door. If Oliver doesn't pick the right one in time, he's dead.