oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第25部分

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hum。　

“I’ll　tell　you　what；”　whispered　that　gentleman　to　Mr。　Brownlow；　
“he　won’t　come　up　to　you　tomorrow　morning。　I　saw　him　hesitate。　
He　is　deceiving　you；　my　good　friend。”　

“I’ll　swear　he　is　not；”　replied　Mr。　Brownlow　warmly。　

“If　he　is　not；”　said　Mr。　Grimwig；　“I’ll—”　and　down　went　the　
stick。　

“I’ll　answer　for　that　boy’s　truth　with　my　life！”　said　Mr。　
Brownlow；　knocking　the　table。　

“And　I　for　his　falsehood　with　my　head！”　rejoined　Mr。　Grimwig；　
knocking　the　table　also。　

“We　shall　see；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　checking　his　rising　anger。　

“We　will；”　replied　Mr。　Grimwig；　with　a　provoking　smile；　“we　
will。”　

As　fate　would　have　it；　Mrs。　Bedwin　chanced　to　bring　in；　at　this　
moment；　a　small　parcel　of　books；　which　Mr。　Brownlow　had　that　
morning　purchased　of　the　identical　book…stall　keeper；　who　has　
already　figured　in　this　history；　having　laid　them　on　the　table；　she　
prepared　to　leave　the　room。　“Stop　the　boy；　Mrs。　Bedwin！”　said　Mr。　
Brownlow；　“there　is　something　to　go　back。”　

“He　has　gone；　sir；”　replied　Mrs。　Bedwin。　

“Call　after　him；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　“it’s　particular。　He　is　a　
poor　man；　and　they　are　not　paid　for。　There　are　some　books　to　be　

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taken　back；　too。”　

The　street　door　was　opened。　Oliver　ran　one　way；　and　the　girl　
ran　another；　and　Mr。　Bedwin　stood　on　the　step　and　screamed　for　
the　boy；　but　there　was　no　boy　in　sight。　Oliver　and　the　girl　returned　
in　a　breathless　state；　to　report　that　there　were　no　tidings　of　him。　

“Dear　me；　I　am　very　sorry　for　that；”　exclaimed　Mr。　Brownlow；　
“I　particularly　wished　those　books　to　be　returned　tonight。”　

“Send　Oliver　with　them；”　said　Mr。　Grimwig；　with　an　ironical　
smile；　“he　will　be　sure　to　deliver　them　safely；　you　know。　

“Yes；　do　let　me　take　them；　if　you　please；　sir；”　said　Oliver。　“I’ll　
run　all　the　way；　sir。”　

The　old　gentleman　was　just　going　to　say　that　Oliver　should　not　
go　out　on　any　account；　when　a　most　malicious　cough　from　Mr。　
Grimwig　determined　him　that　he　should；　and　that；　by　his　prompt　
discharge　of　the　commission；　he　should　prove　to　him　the　injustice　
of　his　suspicions—on　this　head　at　least—at　once。　

“You　shall　go；　my　dear；”　said　the　old　gentleman。　“The　books　are　
on　a　chair　by　my　table。　Fetch　them　down。”　

Oliver；　delighted　to　be　of　use；　brought　down　the　books　under　
his　arm　in　a　great　bustle；　and　waited；　cap　in　hand；　to　hear　what　
message　he　was　to　take。　

“You　are　to　say；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　glancing　steadily　at　
Grimwig；　“you　are　to　say　that　you　have　brought　those　books　back；　
and　that　you　have　come　to　pay　the　four　pound　ten　I　owe　him。　This　
is　a　five…pound　note　so　you　will　have　to　bring　me　back　ten　shillings　
change。”　

“I　won’t　be　ten　minutes；　sir；”　replied　Oliver　eagerly。　Having　
buttoned　up　the　bank…note　in　his　jacket　pocket；　and　placed　the　
books　carefully　under　his　arm；　he　made　a　respectful　bow；　and　left　

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the　room。　Mrs。　Bedwin　followed　him　to　the　street　door；　giving　him　
many　directions　about　the　nearest　way；　and　the　name　of　the　
bookseller；　and　the　name　of　the　street；　all　of　which　Oliver　said　he　
clearly　understood；　and　having　superadded　many　injunctions　to　
be　sure　and　not　take　cold；　the　old　lady　at　length　permitted　him　to　
depart。　

“Bless　his　sweet　face！”　said　the　old　lady；　looking　after　him。　“I　
can’t　bear；　somehow；　to　let　him　go　out　of　my　sight。”　

At　this　moment；　Oliver　looked　gaily　round；　and　nodded　before　
he　turned　the　corner。　The　old　lady　smilingly　returned　his　
salutation；　and；　closing　the　door；　went　back　to　her　own　room。　

“Let　me　see；　he’ll　be　back　in　twenty　minutes；　at　the　longest；”　
said　Mr。　Brownlow；　pulling　out　his　watch；　and　placing　it　on　the　
table　“It　will　be　dark　by　that　time。”　

“Oh！　you　really　expect　him　to　come　back；　do　you？”　inquired　Mr。　
Grimwig。　

“Don’t　you？”　asked　Mr。　Brownlow；　smiling。　

The　spirit　of　contradiction　was　strong　in　Mr。　Grimwig’s　breast；　
at　the　moment；　and　it　was　rendered　stronger　by　his　friend’s　
confident　smile。　

“No；”　he　said；　smiting　the　table　with　his　fist；　“I　do　not。　The　boy　
has　a　new　suit　of　clothes　on　his　back；　a　set　of　valuable　books　under　
his　arm；　and　a　five…pound　note　in　his　pocket。　He’ll　join　his　old　
friends　the　thieves；　and　laugh　at　you。　If　ever　that　boy　returns　to　
this　house。　sir；　I’ll　eat　my　head。”　

With　these　words　he　drew　his　chair　closer　to　the　table；　and　
there　the　two　friends　sat；　in　silent　expectation；　with　the　watch　
between　them。　

It　was　worthy　of　remark；　as　illustrating　the　importance　we　

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attach　to　our　own　judgments；　and　the　pride　with　which　we　put　
forth　our　most　rash　and　hasty　conclusions；　that；　although　Mr。　
Grimwig　was　not　by　any　means　a　bad…hearted　man；　and　though　he　
would　have　been　unfeignedly　sorry　to　see　his　respected　friend　
duped　and　deceived；　he　really　did　most　earnestly　and　strongly　
hope　at　that　moment；　that　Oliver　Twist　might　not　come　back。　

It　grew　so　dark；　that　the　figures　on　the　dial…plate　were　scarcely　
discernible；　but　there　the　two　old　gentlemen　continued　to　sit；　in　
silence；　with　the　watch　between　them。　

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Chapter　15　

Showing　How　Very　Fond　Of　Oliver　Twist；　The
Merry　Old　Jew　And　Miss　Nancy　Were。


In　the　obscure　parlour　of　a　low　public…house；　situated　in　the　
filthiest　part　of　Little　Saffron　Hill—a　dark　and　gloomy　den；　
where　a　flaring　gas…light　burned　all　day　in　the　wintertime；　and　
where　no　ray　of　sun　ever　shone　in　the　summer—there　sat；　
brooding　over　a　little　pewter　measure　and　a　small　glass；　strongly　
impregnated　with　the　smell　of　liquor；　a　man　in　a　velveteen　coat；　
drab　shorts；　half…boots　and　stockings；　whom　even　by　that　dim　light　
no　experienced　agent　of　police　would　have　hesitated　to　recognise　
as　Mr。　William　Sikes。　At　his　feet　sat　a　white…coated；　red…eyed　dog；　
who　occupied　himself；　alternately；　in　winking　at　his　master　with　
both　eyes　at　the　same　time；　and　in　licking　a　large；　fresh　cut　on　one　
side　of　his　mouth；　which　appeared　to　be　the　result　of　some　recent　
conflict。　

“Keep　quiet；　you　varmint！　Keep　quiet！”　said　Mr。　Sikes；　
suddenly　breaking　silence。　Whether　his　meditations　were　so　
intense　as　to　be　disturbed　by　the　dog’s　winking；　or　whether　his　
feelings　were　so　wrought　upon　by　his　reflections　that　they　
required　all　the　relief　derivable　from　kicking　an　unoffending　
animal　to　allay　them；　is　matter　for　argument　and　consideration。　
Whatever　was　the　cause；　the　effect　was　a　kick　and　a　curse　
bestowed　upon　the　dog　simultaneously。　

Dogs　are　not　generally　apt　to　revenge　injuries　inflicted　upon　
them　by　their　masters；　but　Mr。　Sikes’s　dog；　having　faults　of　temper　

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in　common　with　his　owner；　and　labouring；　perhaps；　at　this　
moment；　under　a　powerful　sense　of　injury；　made　no　more　ado　but　
at　once　fixed　his　teeth　in　one　of　the　half…boots。　Having　given　it　a　
hearty　shake；　he　retired；　growling；　under　a　form；　thereby　just　
escaping　the　pewter　measure　which　Mr。　Sikes　levelled　at　his　head。　

“You　would；　would　you—？”　said　Sikes；　seizing　the　poker　in　one　
hand；　and　deliberately　opening　with　the　other　a　large　clasp…knife；　
which　he　drew　from　his　pocket。　“Come　here；　you　born　devil！　Come　
here！　D’ye　hear？”　

The　dog　no　doubt　heard；　because　Mr。　Sikes　spoke　in　the　very　
harshest　key　of　a　very　harsh　voice；　but；　appearing　to　entertain　
some　unaccountable　objection　to　having　his　throat　cut；　he　
remained　where　he　was　and　growled　more　fiercely　than　before；　at　
the　same　time　grasping　the　end　of　the　poker　between　his　teeth；　
and　biting　at　it　like　a　wild　beast。　

This　resistance　only　infuriated　Mr。　Sikes　the　more；　who；　
dropping　on　his　knees；　began　to　assail　the　animal　most　furiously。　
The　dog　jumped　from　right　to　left；　and　from　left　to　right—　
snapping；　growling；　and　barking；　the　man　thrust　and　swore；　and　
struck　and　blasphemed；　and　the　struggle　was　reaching　a　most　
critical　point　for　one　or　other；　when　the　door　suddenly　opening；　
the　dog　darted　out；　leaving　Bill　Sikes　with　the　poker　and　the　clasp…
knife　in　his　hands。　

There　must　always　be　two　parties　to　a　quarrel；　says　the　old　
adage。　Mr。　Sikes；　being　disappointed　of　the　dog’s　participation；　at　
once　transferred　his　share　in　the　quarrel　to　the　newcomer。　

“What　the　devil　do　you　come　in　between　me　and　my　dog　for？”　
said　Sikes；　with　a　fierce　gesture。　

“I　didn’t　know；　my　dear；　I　didn’t　know；”　replied　Fagin　humbly；　

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for　the　Jew　was　the　newcomer。　

“Didn’t　know；　you　white…livered　thief！”　growled　Sikes。　
“Couldn’t　you　hear　the　noise？”　

“Not　a　sound　of　it；　as　I’m　a　living　man；　Bill；”　replied　the　Jew。　

“Oh；　no！　You　hear　nothing；　you　don’t；”　retorted　Sikes；　with　a　
fierce　sneer。　“Sneaking　in　and　out；　so　as　nobody　hears　how　you　
come　or　go！　I　wish　you　had　been　the　dog；　Fagin；　half　a　minute　
ago。”　

“Why？”　inquired　the　Jew；　with　a　forced　smile。　

“’Cause　the　government；　as　cares　for　the　lives　of　such　men　as　
you；　as　haven’t　half　the　pluck　of　curs；　lets　a　man　kill　a　dog　how　he　
likes；”　replied　Sikes；　shutting　up　the　knife　with　a　very　expressive　
look；　“that’s　why。”　

The　Jew　rubbed　his　hands；　and；　sitting　down　at　the　table；　
affected　to　laugh　at　the　pleasantry　of　his　friend。　He　was　obviously　
very　ill　at　ease；　however。”　

“Grin　away；”　said　Sikes；　replacing　the　poker；　and　surveying　
him　with　savage　contempt；　“grin　away。　You’ll　never　have　the　
laugh　at　me；　though；　unless　it’s　behind　a　night…cap。　I’ve　got　the　
upper　hand　over　you；　Fagin；　and　d　me　I’ll　keep　it。　There！　If　I　go；　
you　go；　so　take　care　of　me。”　

“Well；　well；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew。　I　know　all　that；　we—we—　
have　a　mutual　interest；　Bill—a　mutual　interest。”　

“Humph；”　said　Sikes；　as　if　he　thought　the　interest　lay　rather　
more　on　the　Jew’s　side　than　on　his。　“Well；　what　have　you　got　to　say　
to　me？”　

“It’s　all　passed　safe　through　the　melting…pot；”　replied　Fagin；