oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第67部分

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matron　“It　is；”　replied　Monks。　“The　other　question？”　

“What　do　you　propose　to　do　with　it？　Can　it　be　used　against　
me？”　

“Never；”　rejoined　Monks；　“nor　against　me　either。　See　here！　But　
don’t　move　a　step　forward；　or　your　life　is　not　worth　a　bulrush。”　

With　these　words；　he　suddenly　wheeled　the　table　aside；　and　
pulling　an　iron　ring　in　the　boarding；　threw　back　a　large　trapdoor　
which　opened　close　at　Mr。　Bumble’s　feet；　and　caused　that　
gentleman　to　retire　several　paces　backward；　with　great　
precipitation。　

“Look　down；”　said　Monks；　lowering　the　lantern　into　the　gulf。　
“Don’t　fear　me。　I　could　have　let　you　down；　quietly　enough；　when　
you　were　seated　over　it；　if　that　had　been　my　game。”　

Thus　encouraged；　the　matron　drew　near　to　the　brink；　and　even　
Mr。　Bumble　himself；　impelled　by　curiosity；　ventured　to　do　the　
same。　The　turbid　water；　swollen　by　the　heavy　rain；　was　rushing　
rapidly　on　below；　and　all　other　sounds　were　lost　in　the　noise　of　its　

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plashing　and　eddying　against　the　green　and　slimy　piles。　There　had　
once　been　a　water…mill　beneath；　the　tide　foaming　and　chafing　
round　the　few　rotten　stakes；　and　fragments　of　machinery　that　yet　
remained；　seemed　to　dart　onward；　with　a　new　impulse；　when　freed　
from　the　obstacles　which　had　unavailingly　attempted　to　stem　its　
headlong　course。　

“If　you　flung　a　man’s　body　down　there；　where　would　it　be　by　
tomorrow　morning？”　said　Monks；　swinging　the　lantern　to　and　fro　
in　the　dark　well。　

“Twelve　miles　down　the　river；　and　cut　to　pieces　besides；”　
replied　Bumble；　recoiling　at　the　thought。　

Monks　drew　the　little　packet　from　his　breast；　where　he　had　
hurriedly　thrust　it；　and　tying　it　to　a　leaden　weight；　which　had　
formed　a　part　of　some　pulley；　and　was　lying　on　the　floor；　dropped　
it　into　the　stream。　It　fell　straight；　and　true　as　a　die；　clove　the　water　
with　a　scarcely　audible　splash；　and　was　gone。　

The　three；　looking　into　each　other’s　faces；　seemed　to　breathe　
more　freely。　

“There！”　said　Monks；　closing　the　trap…door；　which　fell　heavily　
back　into　its　former　position。　“If　the　sea　ever　gives　up　its　dead；　as　
books　say　it　will；　it　will　keep　its　gold　and　silver　to　itself；　and　that　
trash　among　it。　We　have　nothing　more　to　say；　and　may　break　up　
our　pleasant　party。”　

“By　all　means；”　observed　Mr。　Bumble；　with　great　alacrity。　

“You’ll　keep　a　quiet　tongue　in　your　head；　will　you？”　said　
Monks；　with　a　threatening　look。　“I　am　not　afraid　of　your　wife。”　

“You　may　depend　upon　me；　young　man；”　answered　Mr。　
Bumble；　bowing　himself　gradually　towards　the　ladder；　with　
excessive　politeness。　“On　everybody’s　account；　young　man；　on　my　

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own；　you　know；　Mr。　Monks。”　

“I　am　glad；　for　your　sake；　to　hear　it；”　remarked　Monks。　“Light　
your　lantern！　And　get　away　from　here　as　fast　as　you　can。”　

It　was　fortunate　that　the　conversation　terminated　at　this　point；　
or　Mr。　Bumble；　who　had　bowed　himself　to　within　six　inches　of　the　
ladder；　would　infallibly　have　pitched　headlong　into　the　room　
below。　He　lighted　his　lantern　from　that　which　Monks　had　
detached　the　rope；　and　now　carried　in　his　hand；　and；　making　no　
effort　to　prolong　the　discourse；　descended　in　silence；　followed　by　
his　wife。　Monks　brought　up　the　rear；　after　pausing　on　the　steps　to　
satisfy　himself　that　there　were　no　other　sounds　to　be　heard　than　
the　beating　of　the　rain　without；　and　the　rushing　of　the　water。　

They　traversed　the　lower　room；　slowly；　and　with　caution；　for　
Monks　started　at　every　shadow；　and　Mr。　Bumble；　holding　his　
lantern　a　foot　above　the　ground；　walked　not　only　with　remarkable　
care；　but　with　a　marvellously　light　step　for　a　gentleman　of　his　
figure；　looking　nervously　about　him　for　hidden　trap…doors。　The　
gate　at　which　they　had　entered；　was　softly　unfastened　and　opened　
by　Monks；　and；　merely　exchanging　a　nod　with　their　mysterious　
acquaintance；　the　married　couple　emerged　into　the　wet　and　
darkness　outside。　

They　were　no　sooner　gone；　than　Monks；　who　appeared　to　
entertain　an　invincible　repugnance　to　being　left　alone；　called　to　a　
boy　who　had　been　hidden　somewhere　below。　Bidding　him　go　first；　
and　bear　the　light；　he　returned　to　the　chamber　he　had　just　quitted。　

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Chapter　39　

Introduces　Some　Respectable　Characters　With
Whom　The　Reader　Is　Already　Acquainted；　And
Shows　How　Monks　And　The　Jew　Laid　Their　Worthy
Heads　Together


O　n　the　evening　following　that　upon　which　the　three　
worthies　mentioned　in　the　last　chapter；　disposed　of　their　
little　matter　of　business　as　therein　narrated；　Mr。　William　
Sikes；　awakening　from　a　nap；　drowsily　growled　forth　an　inquiry　
what　time　of　night　it　was。　

The　room　in　which　Mr。　Sikes　propounded　this　question；　was　
not　one　of　those　he　had　tenanted；　previous　to　the　Chertsey　
expedition；　although　it　was　in　the　same　quarter　of　the　town；　and　
was　situated　at　no　great　distance　from　his　former　lodgings。　It　was　
not；　in　appearance；　so　desirable　a　habitation　as　his　old　quarters；　
being　a　mean　and　badly…furnished　apartment；　of　very　limited　size；　
lighted　only　by　one　small　window　in　the　shelving　roof；　and　
abutting　on　a　close　and　dirty　lane。　Nor　were　there　wanting　other　
indications　of　the　good　gentleman’s　having　gone　down　in　the　
world　of　late；　for　a　great　scarcity　of　furniture　and　total　absence　of　
comfort；　together　with　the　disappearance　of　all　such　small　
movables　as　spare　clothes　and　linen；　bespoke　a　state　of　extreme　
poverty；　while　the　meagre　and　attenuated　condition　of　Mr。　Sikes　
himself　would　have　fully　confirmed　these　symptoms；　if　they　had　
stood　in　any　need　of　corroboration。　

The　housebreaker　was　lying　on　the　bed；　wrapped　in　his　white　

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waistcoat；　by　way　of　dressing…gown；　and　displaying　a　set　of　
features　in　no　degree　improved　by　the　cadaverous　hue　of　illness；　
and　the　addition　of　a　soiled　night…cap；　and　a　stiff；　black　beard　of　a　
week’s　growth。　The　dog　sat　at　the　bedside；　now　eyeing　his　master　
with　a　wistful　look；　and　now　pricking　his　ears；　and　uttering　a　low　
growl　as　some　noise　in　the　street；　or　in　the　lower　part　of　the　house；　
attracted　his　attention。　Seated　by　the　window；　busily　engaged　in　
patching　an　old　waistcoat　which　formed　a　portion　of　the　robber’s　
ordinary　dress；　was　a　female；　so　pale　and　reduced　with　watching　
and　privation；　that　there　would　have　been　considerable　difficulty　
in　recognising　her　as　the　same　Nancy　who　has　already　figured　in　
this　tale；　but　for　the　voice　in　which　she　replied　to　Mr。　Sikes’s　
question。　

“Not　long　gone　seven；”　said　the　girl。　“How　do　you　feel　tonight；　
Bill？”　

“As　weak　as　water；”　replied　Mr。　Sikes；　with　an　imprecation　on　
his　eyes　and　limbs。　“Here；　lend　us　a　hand；　and　let　me　get　off　this　
thundering　bed　anyhow。”　

This　had　not　improved　Mr。　Sikes’s　temper；　for；　as　the　girl　raised　
him　up　and　led　him　to　a　chair；　he　muttered　various　curses　on　her　
awkwardness；　and　struck　her。　

“Whining；　are　you？”　said　Sikes。　“Come！　Don’t　stand　snivelling　
there。　If　you　can’t　do　anything　better　than　that；　cut　off　altogether。　
D’ye　hear　me？”　

“I　hear　you；”　replied　the　girl；　turning　her　face　aside；　and　forcing　
a　laugh。　“What　fancy　have　you　got　in　your　head　now？”　

“Oh！　you’ve　thought　better　of　it；　have　you？”　growled　Sikes；　
marking　the　tear　which　trembled　in　her　eye。　“All　the　better　for　
you；　you　have。”　

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“Why；　you　don’t　mean　to　say；　you’d　be　hard　upon　me　tonight；　
Bill；”　said　the　girl；　laying　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　

“No！”　cried　Sikes。　“Why　not？”　

“Such　a　number　of　nights；”　said　the　girl；　with　a　touch　of　
woman’s　tenderness；　which　communicated　something　like　
sweetness　of　tone；　even　to　her　voice—“such　a　number　of　nights　as　
I’ve　been　patient　with　you；　nursing　and　caring　for　you；　as　if　you　
had　been　a　child；　and　this　the　first　that　I’ve　seen　you　like　yourself；　
you　wouldn’t　have　served　me　as　you　did　just　now；　if　you’d　thought　
of　that；　would　you？　Come；　come；　say　you　wouldn’t。”　

“Well；　then；”　rejoined　Mr。　Sikes。　“I　wouldn’t。　Why；　damme；　
now；　the　girl’s　whining　again！”　

“It’s　nothing；”　said　the　girl；　throwing　herself　into　a　chair。　“Don’t　
you　seem　to　mind　me。　It’ll　soon　be　over。”　

“What’ll　be　over？”　demanded　Mr。　Sikes；　in　a　savage　voice。　
“What　foolery　are　you　up　to；　now；　again？　Get　up　and　bustle　about；　
and　don’t　come　over　me　with　your　woman’s　nonsense。”　

At　any　other　time；　this　remonstrance；　and　the　tone　in　which　it　
was　delivered；　would　have　had　the　desired　effect；　but　the　girl　
being　really　weak　and　exhausted；　dropped　her　head　over　the　back　
of　the　chair；　and　fainted；　before　Mr。　Sikes　could　get　out　a　few　of　
the　appropriate　oaths　with　which；　on　similar　occasions；　he　was　
accustomed　to　garnish　his　threats。　Not　knowing；　very　well；　what　to　
do；　in　this　uncommon　emergency—for　Miss　Nancy’s　hysterics　
were　usually　of　that　violent　kind　which　the　patient　fights　and　
struggles　out　of；　without　much　assistance—Mr。　Sikes　tried　a　little　
blasphemy；　and　finding　that　mode　of　treatment　wholly　ineffectual；　
called　for　assistance。　

“What’s　the　matter　here；　my　dear？”　said　Fagin；　looking　in。　

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“Lend　a　hand　to　the　girl；　can’t　you？”　replied　Sikes　impatiently。　
“Don’t　stand　chattering　and　grinning　at　me！”　

With　an　exclamation　of　surprise；　Fagin　hastened　to　the　girl’s　
assistance；　while　Mr。　John　Dawkins　（otherwise　the　artful　Dodger）；　
who　had　followed　his　venerable　friend　into　the　room；　hastily　
deposited　on　the　floor　a　bundle　with　which　he　was　laden；　and　
snatching　a　bottle　from　the　grasp　of　Master　Charles　Bates　who　
came　close　at　his　heels；　uncorked　it　in　a　twinkling　with　his　teeth；　
and　poured　a　portion　of　its　contents　down　the　patient’s　throat；　
previously　taking　a　taste；　himself；　to　prevent　mistakes。　

“Give　her　a　whiff　of　fresh　air　with　the　bellows；　Charley；”　said　
Mr。　Dawkins；　“and　you　slap　her　hands；　Fagin；　while　Bill　undoes　
th