oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第22部分

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quite　unintelligible　if　they　were　recorded　here；　demanded　a　glass　
of　liquor。　

“And　mind　you　don’t　poison　it；”　said　Mr。　Sikes；　laying　his　hat　
upon　the　table。　

This　was　said　in　jest；　but　if　the　speaker　could　have　seen　the　evil　
leer　with　which　the　Jew　bit　his　pale　lip　as　he　turns　round　to　the　
cupboard；　he　might　have　thought　the　caution　not　wholly　
unnecessary；　or　the　wish　（at　all　events）　to　improve　upon　the　
distiller’s　ingenuity　not　very　far　from　the　old　gentleman’s　merry　
heart。　

After　swallowing　two　or　three　glasses　of　spirits；　Mr。　Sikes　
condescended　to　take　some　notice　of　the　young　gentlemen；　which　
gracious　act　led　to　a　conversation；　in　which　the　cause　and　manner　
of　Oliver’s　capture　were　circumstantially　detailed；　with　such　
alterations　and　improvements　on　the　truth；　as　to　the　Dodger　
appeared　most　advisable　under　the　circumstances。　

“I’m　afraid；”　said　the　Jew；　“that　he　may　say　something　which　
will　get　us　into　trouble。”　

“That’s　very　likely；”　returned　Sikes；　with　a　malicious　grin。　
“You’re　blowed　upon；　Fagin。”　

“And　I’m　afraid；　you　see；”　added　the　Jew；　speaking　as　if　he　had　
not　noticed　the　interruption；　and；　regarding　the　other　closely　as　he　

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did　so—“I’m　afraid　that；　if　the　game　was　up　with　us；　it　might　be　up　
with　a　good　many　more　and　that　it　would　come　out　rather　worse　
for　you　than　it　would　for　me；　my　dear。”　

The　man　started；　and　turned　round　upon　the　Jew。　But　the　old　
gentleman’s　shoulders　were　shrugged　up　to　his　ears；　and　his　eyes　
were　vacantly　staring　on　the　opposite　wall。　

There　was　a　long　pause。　Every　member　of　the　respectable　
coterie　appeared　plunged　in　his　own　reflections；　not　excepting　the　
dog；　who　by　a　certain　malicious　licking　of　his　lips　seemed　to　be　
meditating　an　attack　upon　the　legs　of　the　first　gentleman　or　lady　
he　might　encounter　in　the　streets　when　he　went　out。　

“Somebody　must　find　out　wot’s　been　done　at　the　office；”　said　
Mr。　Sikes；　in　a　much　lower　tone　than　he　had　taken　since　he　came　
in。　

The　Jew　nodded　assent。　

“If　he　hasn’t　peached；　and　is　committed；　there’s　no　fear　till　he　
comes　out　again；”　said　Mr。　Sikes；　“and　then　he　must　be　taken　care　
on。　You　must　get　hold　of　him　somehow。”　

Again　the　Jew　nodded。　

The　prudence　of　this　line　of　action；　indeed；　was　obvious；　but；　
unfortunately；　there　was　one　very　strong　objection　to　it　being　
adopted。　This　was；　that　the　Dodger；　and　Charley　Bates；　and　Fagin；　
and　Mr。　William　Sikes；　happened；　one　and　all；　to　entertain　a　
violent　and　deeply…rooted　antipathy　to　going　near　a　police…office　
on　any　ground　or　pretext　whatever。　

How　long　they　might　have　sat　and　looked　at　each　other；　in　a　
state　of　uncertainty　not　the　most　pleasant　of　its　kind；　it　is　difficult　
to　guess。　It　is　not　necessary　to　make　any　guesses　on　the　subject；　
however；　for　the　sudden　entrance　of　the　two　young　ladies　whom　

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Oliver　had　seen　on　a　former　occasion；　caused　the　conversation　to　
flow　afresh。　

“The　very　thing！”　said　the　Jew。　“Bet　will　go；　won’t　you；　my　
dear？”　

“Wheres？”　inquired　the　young　lady。　

“Only　just　up　to　the　office；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew　coaxingly。　

It　is　due　to　the　young　lady　to　say　that　she　did　not　positively　
affirm　that　she　would　not；　but　that　she　merely　expressed　an　
emphatic　and　earnest　desire　to　be　“blessed”　if　she　would；　a　polite　
and　delicate　evasion　of　the　request　which　shows　the　young　lady　to　
have　been　possessed　of　that　natural　good…breeding　which　cannot　
bear　to　inflict　upon　a　fellow…creature；　the　pain　of　a　direct　and　
pointed　refusal。　

The　Jew’s　countenance　fell。　He　turned　from　this　young　lady；　
who　was　gaily；　not　to　say　gorgeously；　attired；　in　a　red　gown；　green　
boots；　and　yellow　curl…papers；　to　the　other　female。　

“Nancy；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew；　in　a　soothing　manner；　“what　do　
you　say？”　

“That　it　won’t　do；　so　it’s　no　use　a…trying　it　on；　Fagin；”　replied　
Nancy。　

“What　do　you　mean　by　that？”　said　Mr。　Sikes；　looking　up　in　a　
surly　manner。　

“What　I　say；　Bill；”　replied　the　lady　collectedly。　

“Why；　you’re　just　the　very　person　for　it；”　reasoned　Mr。　Sikes；　
“nobody　about　here　knows　anything　of　you。”　

“And　as　I　don’t　want　’em　to；　neither；”　replied　Nancy；　in　the　
same　composed　manner；　“it’s　rather　more　no　than　yes　with　me；　
Bill。”　

“She’ll　go；　Fagin；”　said　Sikes。　

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“No；　she　won’t；　Fagin；”　said　Nancy。　

“Yes；　she　will；　Fagin；”　said　Sikes。　

And　Mr。　Sikes　was　right。　By　dint　of　alternate　threats；　promises；　
and　bribes；　the　lady　in　question　was　ultimately　prevailed　upon　to　
undertake　the　commission。　She　was　not；　indeed；　withheld　by　the　
same　considerations　as　her　agreeable　friend；　for；　having　recently　
removed　into　the　neighbourhood　of　Field　Lane　from　the　remote　
but　genteel　suburb　of　Ratcliffe；　she　was　not　under　the　same　
apprehension　of　being　recognised　by　any　of　her　numerous　
acquaintances。　

Accordingly；　with　a　clean　white　apron　tied　over　her　gown；　and　
her　curl…papers　tucked　up　under　a　straw　bonnet—both　articles　of　
dress　being　provided　from　the　Jew’s　inexhaustible　stock—Miss　
Nancy　prepared　to　issue　forth　on　her　errand。　

“Stop　a’　minute；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew；　producing　a　little　
covered　basket。　“Carry　that　in　one　hand。　It　looks　more　
respectable；　my　dear。”　

“Give　her　a　door　key　to　carry　in　her　t’other　one；　Fagin；”　said　
Sikes；　“it　looks　real　and　genuine　like。”　

“Yes；　yes；　my　dear；　so　it　does；”　said　the　Jew；　hanging　a　large　
street　door　key　on　the　forefinger　of　the　young　lady’s　right　hand。　
“There；　very　good！　Very　good　indeed；　my　dear！”　said　the　Jew；　
rubbing　his　hands。　

“Oh；　my　brother！　My　poor；　dear；　sweet；　innocent　little　brother！”　
exclaimed　Nancy；　bursting　into　tears；　and　wringing　the　little　
basket　and　the　street　door　key　in　an　agony　of　distress。　“What　has　
become　of　him！　Where　have　they　taken　him　to！　Oh；　do　have　pity；　
and　tell　me　what’s　been　done　with　the　dear　boy；　gentlemen；　do；　
gentlemen；　if　you　please；　gentlemen！”　

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Having　uttered　these　words　in　a　most　lamentable　and　heartbroken　tone；　to　the　immeasurable　delight　of　her　hearers；　Miss　
Nancy　paused；　winked　to　the　company；　nodded　smilingly　round；　
and　disappeared。　

“Ah！　she’s　a　clever　girl；　my　dears；”　said　the　Jew；　turning　round　
to　his　young　friends；　and　shaking　his　head　gravely；　as　if　in　mute　
admonition　to　them　to　follow　the　bright　example　they　had　just　
beheld。　

“She’s　an　honour　to　her　sex；”　said　Mr。　Sikes；　filling　his　glass；　
and　smiting　the　table　with　his　enormous　fist。　“Here’s　her　health；　
and　wishing　they　was　all　like　her！”　

While　these；　and　many　other　encomiums；　were　being　passed　on　
the　accomplished　Nancy；　that　young　lady　made　the　best　of　her　way　
to　the　police…office；　whither；　notwithstanding　a　little　natural　
timidity　consequent　upon　walking　through　the　streets　alone　and　
unprotected；　she　arrived　in　perfect　safety　shortly　afterwards。　

Entering　by　the　back　way；　she　tapped　softly　with　the　key　at　one　
of　the　cell　doors；　and　listened。　There　was　no　sound　within；　so　she　
coughed　and　listened　again。　Still　there　was　no　reply；　so　she　spoke。　

“Nolly；　dear—”　murmured　Nancy；　in　a　gentle　voice；　“Nolly？”　

There　was　nobody　inside　but　a　miserable；　shoeless　criminal；　
who　had　been　taken　up　for　playing　the　flute；　and　who；　the　offence　
against　society　having　been　clearly　proved；　had　been　very　properly　
committed　by　Mr。　Fang　to　the　house　of　correction　for　one　month；　
with　the　appropriate　and　amusing　remark　that　since　he　had　so　
much　breath　to　spare；　it　would　be　more　wholesomely　expended　on　
the　treadmill　than　in　a　musical　instrument。　He　made　no　answer；　
being　occupied　in　mentally　bewailing　the　loss　of　the　flute；　which　
had　been　confiscated　for　the　use　of　the　county；　so　Nancy　passed　on　

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to　the　next　cell；　and　knocked　there。　

“Well！”　cried　a　faint　and　feeble　voice。　

“Is　there　a　little　boy　here？”　inquired　Nancy；　with　a　preliminary　
sob。　

“No；”　replied　the　voice；　“God　forbid。”　

This　was　a　vagrant　of　sixty…five；　who　was　going　to　prison　for　not　
playing　the　flute；　or；　in　other　words；　for　begging　in　the　streets；　and　
doing　nothing　for　his　livelihood。　In　the　next　cell；　another　man；　who　
was　going　to　the　same　prison　for　hawking　tin　saucepans　without　a　
licence；　thereby　doing　something　for　his　living；　in　defiance　of　the　
Stamp…office。　

But；　as　neither　of　these　criminals　answered　to　the　name　of　
Oliver；　or　knew　anything　about　him；　Nancy　made　straight　up　to　
the　bluff　officer　in　the　striped　waistcoat；　and　with　the　most　piteous　
wailings　and　lamentations；　rendered　more　piteous　by　a　prompt　
and　efficient　use　of　the　street　door　key　and　the　little　basket；　
demanded　her　own　dear　brother。　

“I　haven’t　got　him；　my　dear；”　said　the　old　man。　

“Where　is　he？”　screamed　Nancy；　in　a　distracted　manner。　

“Why；　the　gentleman’s　got　him；”　replied　the　officer。　

“What　gentleman？　Oh；　gracious　heavens！　What　gentleman？”　
exclaimed　Nancy。　

In　reply　to　this　incoherent　questioning；　the　old　man　informed　
the　deeply…affected　sister　that　Oliver　had　been　taken　ill　in　the　
office；　and　discharged　in　consequence　of　a　witness　having　proved　
the　robbery　to　have　been　committed　by　another　boy；　not　in　
custody；　and　that　the　prosecutor　had　carried　him　away；　in　an　
insensible　condition；　to　his　own　residence；　of　and　concerning　
which；　all　the　informant　knew　was；　that　it　was　somewhere　at　

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Pentonville；　he　having　heard　that　word　mentioned　in　the　
directions　to　the　coachman。　

In　a　dreadful　state　of　doubt　and　uncertainty；　the　agonised　
young　woman　staggered　to　the　gate；　and　then；　exchanging　her　
faltering　walk　for　a　good；　swift；　steady　run；　returned　by　the　most　
devious　and　complicated　route　she　could　think　of；　to　the　domicile　
of　the　Jew。　

Mr。　Bill　Sikes　no　sooner　heard　the　account　of　the　expedition　
delivered；　than　he　very