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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第54部分

小说: oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪)) 字数: 每页4000字

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appearances; that’s more!” said Mr。 Blathers; putting down his 
wine…glass; and clinking the handcuffs together。 

“Very curious; indeed;” observed the doctor。 “Now; if you 
please; you can walk upstairs。” 

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“If you please; sir;” returned Blathers。 Closely following Mr。 
Losberne; the two officers ascended to Oliver’s bedroom; Mr。 Giles 
preceding the party; with a lighted candle。 

Oliver had been dozing; but looked worse; and was more 
feverish than he had appeared yet。 Being assisted by the doctor; 
he managed to sit up in bed for a minute or so; and looked at the 
strangers without at all understanding what was going forward— 
in fact; without seeming to recollect where he was; or what had 
been passing。 

“This;” said Mr。 Losberne; speaking softly; but with great 
vehemence notwithstanding; “this is the lad; who; being 
accidentally wounded by a spring…gun in some boyish trespass on 
Mr。 What…d’ye…call…him’s grounds; at the back here; comes to the 
house for assistance this morning; and is immediately laid hold of 
and maltreated; by that ingenious gentleman with the candle in 
his hand; who had placed his life in considerable danger; as I can 
professionally certify。” 

Messrs。 Blathers and Duff looked at Mr。 Giles; as he was thus 
recommended to their notice。 The bewildered butler gazed from 
them towards Oliver; and from Oliver towards Mr。 Losberne; with 
a most ludicrous mixture of fear and perplexity。 

“You don’t mean to deny that; I suppose?” said the doctor; 
laying Oliver gently down again。 

“I was all done for the—for the best; sir;” answered Giles。 “I am 
sure I thought it was the boy; or I wouldn’t have meddled with 
him。 I am not of an inhuman disposition; sir。” 

“Thought it was what boy?” inquired the senior officer。 

“The housebreaker’s boy; sir!” replied Giles。 “They—they 
certainly had a boy。” 

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“Well? Do you think so now?” inquired Blathers。 

“Think what now?” replied Giles; looking vacantly at his 
questioner。 

“Think it’s the same boy; stupid…head?” rejoined Blathers 
impatiently。 

“I don’t know; I really don’t know;” said Giles; with a rueful 
countenance。 “I couldn’t swear to him。” 

“What do you think?” asked Mr。 Blathers。 

“I don’t know what to think;” replied poor Giles。 “I don’t think 
it is the boy; indeed; I’m almost certain that it isn’t。 You know it 
can’t be。” 

“Has this man been a…drinking; sir?” inquired Blathers; turning 
to the doctor。 

“What a precious muddle…headed chap you are!” said Duff; 
addressing Mr。 Giles; with supreme contempt。 

Mr。 Losberne had been feeling the patient’s pulse during this 
short dialogue; but he now rose from the chair by the bedside; and 
remarked; that if the officers had any doubts upon the subject; 
they would perhaps like to step into the next room; and have 
Brittles before them。 

Acting upon this suggestion; they adjourned to a neighbouring 
apartment; where Mr。 Brittles; being called in; involved himself 
and his respected superior in such a wonderful maze of fresh 
contradictions and impossibilities; as tended to throw no 
particular light on anything; but the fact of his own strong 
mystification; except; indeed; his declarations that he shouldn’t 
know the real boy; if he were put before him that instant; that he 
had only taken Oliver to be he; because Mr。 Giles had said he was; 
and that Mr。 Giles had; five minutes previously; admitted in the 

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kitchen; that he began to be very much afraid he had been a little 
too hasty。 

Among other ingenious surmises; the question was then raised; 
whether Mr。 Giles had really hit anybody; and upon examination 
of the fellow…pistol to that which he had fired; it turned out to have 
no more destructive loading than gunpowder and brown paper—a 
discovery which made a considerable impression on everybody 
but the doctor; who had drawn the ball about ten minutes before。 
Upon no one; however; did it make a greater impression than on 
Mr。 Giles himself; who; after labouring; for some hours; under the 
fear of having mortally wounded a fellow…creature; eagerly caught 
at this new idea; and favoured it to the utmost。 Finally; the 
officers; without troubling themselves very much about Oliver; left 
the Chertsey constable in the house; and took up their rest for that 
night in the town; promising to return next morning。 

With the next morning there came a rumour; that two men and 
a boy were in the cage at Kingston; who had been apprehended 
overnight under suspicious circumstances; and to Kingston 
Messrs。 Blathers and Duff journeyed accordingly。 The suspicious 
circumstances; however; resolving themselves; on investigation; 
into the one fact; that they had been discovered sleeping under a 
haystack; which; although a great crime; is only punishable by 
imprisonment; and is; in the merciful eye of the English law; and 
its comprehensive love of all the king’s subjects; held to be no 
satisfactory proof; in the absence of all other evidence; that the 
sleeper; or sleepers; have committed burglary accompanied with 
violence; and have therefore rendered themselves liable to the 
punishment of death; Messrs。 Blathers and Duff came back again; 
as wise as they went。 

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In short; after some more examination; and a great deal more 
conversation; a neighbouring magistrate was readily induced to 
take the joint bail of Mrs。 Maylie and Mr。 Losberne for Oliver’s 
appearance if he should ever be called upon; and Blathers and 
Duff; being rewarded with a couple of guineas; returned to town 
with divided opinions on the subject of their expedition; the latter 
gentleman on a mature consideration of all the circumstances; 
inclining to the belief that the burglarious attempt had originated 
with the Family Pet; and the former being equally disposed to 
concede the full merit of it to the great Mr。 Conkey Chickweed。 

Meanwhile; Oliver gradually throve and prospered under the 
united care of Mrs。 Maylie; Rose; and the kind…hearted Mr。 
Losberne。 If fervent prayers; gushing from hearts overcharged 
with gratitude; be heard in Heaven—and if they be not; what 
prayers are?—the blessings which the orphan child called down 
upon them; sank into their souls; diffusing peace and happiness 

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Oliver Twist 329 

Chapter 32 

Of The Happy Life Oliver Began To Lead With His
Kind Friends。


O liver’s ailings were neither slight nor few。 In addition to 
the pain and delay attendant on a broken limb; his 
exposure to the wet and cold had brought on fever and 
ague; which hung about him for many weeks; and reduced him 
sadly。 But; at length; he began; by slow degrees; to get better; and 
to be able to say sometimes; in a few tearful words; how deeply he 
felt the goodness of the two sweet ladies; and how ardently he 
hoped that when he grew strong and well again; he could do 
something to show his gratitude; only something which would let 
them see the love and duty with which his breast was full; 
something; however slight; which would prove to them that their 
gentle kindness had not been cast away; but that the poor boy 
whom their charity had rescued from misery; or death; was eager 
to serve them with his whole heart and soul。 

“Poor fellow!” said Rose; when Oliver had been one day feebly 
endeavouring to utter the words of thankfulness that rose to his 
pale lips; “you shall have many opportunities of serving us; if you 
will。 We are going into the country; and my aunt intends that you 
shall accompany us。 The quiet place; the pure air; and all the 
pleasures and beauties of spring; will restore you in a few days。 We 
will employ you in a hundred ways; when you can bear the 
trouble。” 

“The trouble!” cried Oliver。 “Oh! dear lady; if I could but work 

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Oliver Twist 330 

for you; if I could only give you pleasure by watering your flowers; 
or watching your birds; or running up and down the whole day 
long; to make you happy; what would I give to do it!” 

“You shall give nothing at all;” said Miss Maylie; smiling; “for; 
as I told you before; we shall employ you in a hundred ways; and if 
you only take half the trouble to please us; that you promise now; 
you will make me very happy indeed。” 

“Happy; ma’am!” cried Oliver; “how kind of you to say so!” 

“You will make me happier than I can tell you;” replied the 
young lady。 “To think that my dear good aunt should have been 
the means of rescuing any one from such sad misery as you have 
described to us; would be an unspeakable pleasure to me; but to 
know that the object of her goodness and compassion was 
sincerely grateful and attached; in consequence; would delight me 
more than you can well imagine。 Do you understand me?” she 
inquired; watching Oliver’s thoughtful face。 

“Oh; yes; ma’am; yes!” replied Oliver eagerly; “but I was 
thinking that I am ungrateful now。” 

“To whom?” inquired the young lady。 

“To the kind gentleman; and the dear old nurse; who took so 
much care of me before;” rejoined Oliver。 “If they knew how 
happy I am; they would be pleased; I am sure。” 

“I am sure they would;” rejoined Oliver’s benefactress; “and 
Mr。 Losberne has already been kind enough to promise that when 
you are well enough to bear the journey; he will carry you to see 
them。” 

“Has he; ma’am?” cried Oliver; his face brightening with 
pleasure。 “I don’t know what I shall do for joy when I see their 
kind faces once again!” 

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Oliver Twist 331 

In a short time Oliver was sufficiently recovered to undergo the 
fatigue of this expedition。 One morning he and Mr。 Losberne set 
out; accordingly; in a little carriage which belonged to Mrs。 Maylie。 
When they came to Chertsey Bridge; Oliver turned very pale; and 
uttered 

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