oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第34部分

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at　the　fire；　and　intimated；　by　a　sign；　that　he　would　have　her　told　to　
leave　the　room。　Sikes　shrugged　his　shoulders　impatiently；　as　if　he　
thought　the　precaution　unnecessary；　but　complied；　nevertheless；　
by　requesting　Miss　Nancy　to　fetch　him　a　jug　of　beer。　

“You　don’t　want　any　beer；”　said　Nancy；　folding　her　arms；　and　
retaining　her　seat　very　composedly。　

“I　tell　you　I　do！”　replied　Sikes。　

“Nonsense；”　rejoined　the　girl　coolly。　“Go　on；　Fagin。　I　know　

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what　he　is　going　to　say；　Bill；　he　needn’t　mind　me。”　

The　Jew　still　hesitated。　Sikes　looked　from　one　to　the　other　in　
some　surprise。　

“Why；　you　don’t　mind　the　old　girl；　do　you；　Fagin？”　he　asked　at　
length。　“You’ve　known　her　long　enough　to　trust　her；　or　the　devil’s　
in　it。　She　ain’t　one　to　blab。　Are　you；　Nancy？”　

“I　should　think　not！”　replied　the　young　lady；　drawing　her　chair　
up　to　the　table；　and　putting　her　elbows　upon　it。　

“No；　no；　my　dear；　I　know　you’re　not；”　said　the　Jew；　“but—”　and　
again　the　old　man　paused。　

“But　wot？”　inquired　Sikes。　

“I　didn’t　know　whether　she　mightn’t　p’r’aps　be　out　of　sorts；　you　
know；　my　dear；　as　she　was　the　other　night；”　replied　the　Jew。　

At　this　confession；　Miss　Nancy　burst　into　a　loud　laugh；　and；　
swallowing　a　glass　of　brandy；　shook　her　head　with　an　air　of　
defiance；　and　burst　into　sundry　exclamations　of　“Keep　the　game　a…
going！”　

“Never　say　die！”　and　the　like。　These　seemed　to　have　the　effect　
of　reassuring　both　gentlemen；　for　the　Jew　nodded　his　head　with　a　
satisfied　air；　and　resumed　his　seat；　as　did　Mr。　Sikes　likewise。　

“Now；　Fagin；”　said　Nancy；　with　a　laugh；　“tell　Bill　at　once；　about　
Oliver！”　

“Ha！　you’re　a　clever　one；　my　dear；　the　sharpest　girl　I　ever　saw！”　
said　the　Jew；　patting　her　on　the　neck。　“It　was　about　Oliver　I　was　
going　to　speak；　sure　enough。　Ha！　ha！　ha！”　

“What　about　him？”　demanded　Sikes。　

“He’s　the　boy　for　you；　my　dear；”　replied　the　Jew；　in　a　hoarse　
whisper；　laying　his　finger　on　the　side　of　his　nose；　and　grinning　
frightfully。　

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“He！”　exclaimed　Sikes。　

“Have　him；　Bill！”　said　Nancy。　“I　would；　if　I　was　in　your　place。　
He　mayn’t　be　so　much　up；　as　any　of　the　others；　but　that’s　not　what　
you　；want；　if　he’s　only　to　open　a　door　for　you。　Depend　upon　it；　he’s　
a　safe　one；　Bill。”　

“I　know　he　is；”　rejoined　Fagin。　“He’s　been　in　good　training　
these　last　few　weeks；　and　it’s　time　he　began　to　work　for　his　bread。　
Besides；　the　others　are　all　too　big。”　

“Well；　he　is　just　the　size　I　want；”　said　Mr。　Sikes；　ruminating。　

“And　will　do　everything　you　want；　Bill；　my　dear；”　interposed　
the　Jew；　“he　can’t　help　himself。　That　is；　if　you　frighten　him　
enough。”　

“Frighten　him！”　echoed　Sikes。　“It’ll　be　no　sham　frightening；　
mind　you。　If　there’s　anything　queer　about　him　when　we　once　get　
into　the　work；　in　for　a　penny；　in　for　a　pound。　You　won’t　see　him　
alive　again；　Fagin。　Think　of　that；　before　you　send　him。　Mark　my　
words！”　said　the　robber；　poising　a　crowbar；　which　he　had　drawn　
from　under　the　bedstead。　

“I’ve　thought　of　it　all；”　said　the　Jew；　with　energy。　“I’ve—I’ve　
had　my　eye　upon　him；　my　dears；　close—close。　Once　let　him　feel　
that　he　is　one　of　us；　once　fill　his　mind　with　the　idea　that　he　has　
been　a　thief；　and　he’s　ours！　Ours　for　his　life！　Oho！　It　couldn’t　have　
come　about　better！”　The　old　man　crossed　his　arms　upon　his　
breast；　and；　drawing　his　head　and　shoulders　into　a　heap；　literally　
hugged　himself　for　joy。　

“Ours！”　said　Sikes。　“Yours；　you　mean。”　

“Perhaps　I　do；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew；　with　a　shrill　chuckle。　
“Mine；　if　you　like；　Bill。”　

“And　wot；”　said　Sikes；　scowling　fiercely　on　his　agreeable　friend；　

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“wot　makes　you　take　so　much　pains　about　one　chalk…faced　kid；　
when　you　know　there　are　fifty　boys　snoozing　about　Common　
Garden　every　night；　as　you　might　pick　and　choose　from？”　

“Because　they’re　of　no　use　to　me；　my　dear；”　replied　the　Jew；　
with　some　confusion；　a　not　worth　the　taking。　Their　looks　convict　
’em　when　they　get　into　trouble；　and　I　lose　’em　all。　With　this　boy；　
properly　managed；　my　dears；　I　could　do　what　I　couldn’t　with　
twenty　of　them。　Besides；”　said　the　Jew；　recovering　his　self…
possession；　“he　has　us　now　if　he　could　only　give　us　leg…bail　again；　
and　he　must　be　in　the　same　boat　with　us。　Never　mind　how　he　came　
there；　it’s　quite　enough　for　my　power　over　him　that　he　was　in　a　
robbery；　that’s　all　I　want。　Now；　how　much　better　this　is；　than　being　
obliged　to　put　the　poor　leetle　boy　out　of　the　way—which　would　be　
dangerous；　and　we　should　lose　by　it　besides。”　

“When　is　it　to　be　done？”　asked　Nancy；　stopping　some　turbulent　
exclamation　on　the　part　of　Mr。　Sikes；　expressive　of　the　disgust　
with　which　he　received　Fagin’s　affectation　of　humanity。　

“Ah；　to　be　sure；”　said　the　Jew；　“when　is　it　to　be　done；　Bill？”　

“I　planned　with　Toby；　the　night　arter　tomorrow；”　rejoined　
Sikes；　in　a　surly　voice；　“if　he　heerd　nothing　from　me　to　the　
contrairy。”　

“Good；”　said　the　Jew；　“there’s　no　moon。”　

“No；”　rejoined　Sikes。　

“It’s　all　arranged；　about　bringing　off　the　swag；　is　it？”　asked　the　
Jew。　

Sikes　nodded。　

“And　about—”　

“Oh；　ah；　it’s　all　planned；”　rejoined　Sikes；　interrupting　him。　
“Never　mind　particulars。　You’d　better　bring　the　boy　here　

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tomorrow　night。　I　shall　get　off　the　stones　an　hour　arter　daybreak。　
Then　you　hold　your　tongue；　and　keep　the　melting…pot　ready；　and　
that’s　all　you’ll　have　to　do。”　

After　some　discussion；　in　which　all　three　took　an　active　part；　it　
was　decided　that　Nancy　should　repair　to　the　Jew’s　next　evening　
when　the　night　had　set　in；　and　bring　Oliver　away　with　her；　Fagin　
craftily　observing；　that；　if　he　evinced　any　disinclination　to　the　task；　
he　would　be　more　willing　to　accompany　the　girl　who　had　so　
recently　interfered　in　his　behalf；　than　anybody　else。　It　was　also　
solemnly　arranged　that　poor　Oliver　should；　for　the　purposes　（If　the　
contemplated　expedition；　be　unreservedly　consigned　to　the　care　
and　custody　of　Mr。　William　Sikes；　and　further；　that　the　said　Sikes　
should　deal　with　him　as　he　thought　fit；　and　should　not　be　held　
responsible　by　the　Jew　for　any　mischance　or　evil　that　might　befall　
him；　or　any　punishment　with　which　it　might　be　necessary　to　visit　
him；　it　being　understood　that；　to　render　the　compact　in　this　
respect　binding；　any　representations　made　by　Mr。　Sikes　on　his　
return　should　be　required　to　be　confirmed　and　corroborated；　in　all　
important　particulars；　by　the　testimony　of　flash　Toby　Crackit。　

These　preliminaries　adjusted；　Mr。　Sikes　proceeded　to　drink　
brandy　at　a　furious　rate；　and　to　flourish　the　crowbar　in　an　
alarming　manner；　yelling　forth；　at　the　same　time；　most　unmusical　
snatches　of　song；　mingled　with　wild　execrations。　At　length；　in　a　fit　
of　professional　enthusiasm；　he　insisted　upon　producing　his　box　of　
housebreaking　tools；　which　he　had　no　sooner　stumbled　in　with；　
and　opened　for　the　purpose　of　explaining　the　nature　and　
properties　of　the　various　implements　it　contained；　and　the　peculiar　
beauties　of　their　construction；　than　he　fell　over　the　box　upon　the　
floor；　and　went　to　sleep　where　he　fell。　

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“Good…night；　Nancy；”　said　the　Jew　muffling　himself　up　as　
before。　

“Good…night。”　

Their　eyes　met；　and　the　Jew　scrutinised　her　narrowly。　There　
was　no　flinching　about　the　girl。　She　was　as　true　and　earnest　in　the　
matter　as　Toby　Crackit　himself　could　be。　

The　Jew　again　bade　her　good…night；　and　bestowing　a　sly　kick　
upon　the　prostrate　form　of　Mr。　Sikes　while　her　back　was　turned；　
groped　downstairs。　

“Always　the　way！”　muttered　the　Jew　to　himself　as　he　turned　
homeward。　“The　worst　of　these　women　is；　that　a　very　little　thing　
serves　to　call　up　some　long…forgotten　feeling；　and　the　best　of　them　
is；　that　it　never　lasts。　Ha！　ha！　The　man　against　the　child；　for　a　bag　
of　gold！”　

Beguiling　the　time　with　these　pleasant　reflections；　Mr。　Fagin　
wended　his　way；　through　mud　and　mire；　to　his　gloomy　abode；　
where　the　Dodger　was　sitting　up；　impatiently　awaiting　his　return。　

“Is　Oliver　a…bed？　I　want　to　speak　to　him；”　was　his　first　remark　
as　they　descended　the　stairs。　

“Hours　ago；”　replied　the　Dodger；　throwing　open　a　door。　“Here　
he　is！”　

The　boy　was　lying；　fast　asleep；　on　a　rude　bed　upon　the　floor；　so　
pale　with　anxiety；　and　sadness；　and　the　closeness　of　his　prison；　
that　he　looked　like　death；　not　death　as　it　shows　in　shroud　and　
coffin；　but　in　the　guise　it　wears　when　life　has　just　departed；　when　a　
young　and　gentle　spirit　has；　but　an　instant；　fled　to　heaven；　and　the　
gross　air　of　the　world　has　not　had　time　to　breathe　upon　the　
changing　dust　it　hallowed。　

“Not　now；”　said　the　Jew；　turning　softly　away。　“Tomorrow。　

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Tomorrow。”　

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Chapter　20　

Wherein　Oliver　Is　Delivered　Over　To　Mr。　William
Sikes。


When　Oliver　awoke　in　the　morning；　he　was　a　good　deal　
surprised　to　find　that　a　new　pair　of　shoes；　with　strong；　
thick　soles；　had　been　placed　at　his　bedside；　and　that　his　
old　shoes　had　been　removed。　At　first；　he　was　pleased　with　the　
discovery；　hoping　that　it　might　be　the　forerunner　of　his　release；　
but　such　thoughts　were　quickly　dispelled；　on　his　sitting　down　to　
breakfast　along　with　the　Jew；　who　told　him；　in　a　tone　and　manner　
which　increased　his　alarm；　that　he　was　to　be　taken　to　the　
residence　of　Bill　Sikes　that　night。　

“To—to—stop　there；　sir？”　asked　Oliver　anxiously。　

“No；　no；　my　dear。　Not　to　stop　there；”　replied　the　Jew。　“We　
shouldn’t　like　to　lose　you。　Don’t　be　afraid；　Oliver；　you　shall　come　
back　to　us　again。　Ha！　ha！　ha！　We　won’t　be　so　cruel　as　to　send　you　
away；　my　dear。　Oh；　no　no！”　

The　old　man；　who　was　stooping　over　the　fire　toasting　a　piece　of　
bread；　looked　round　as　he　bantered　Oliver　thus；　and　ch