oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第68部分

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

These　united　restoratives；　administered　with　great　energy；　
especially　that　department　consigned　to　Master　Bates；　who　
appeared　to　consider　his　share　in　the　proceedings；　a　piece　of　
unexampled　pleasantry；　were　not　long　in　producing　the　desired　
effect。　The　girl　gradually　recovered　her　senses；　and；　staggering　to　
a　chair　by　the　bedside；　hid　her　face　upon　the　pillow；　leaving　Mr。　
Sikes　to　confront　the　newcomers；　in　some　astonishment　at　their　
unlooked…for　appearance。　

“Why；　what　evil　wind　has　blowed　you　here？”　he　asked　Fagin。　

“No　evil　wind　at　all；　my　dear；　for　evil　winds　blow　nobody　any　
good；　and　I’ve　brought　something　good　with　me；　that　you’ll　be　glad　
to　see。　Dodger；　my　dear；　open　the　bundle；　and　give　Bill　the　little　
trifles　that　we　spent　all　our　money　on；　this　morning。　

In　compliance　with　Mr。　Fagin’s　request；　the　Artful　untied　his　
bundle；　which　was　of　large　size；　and　formed　of　an　old　tablecloth；　
and　handed　the　articles　it　contained；　one　by　one；　to　Charley　Bates；　

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who　placed　them　on　the　table；　with　various　encomiums　on　their　
rarity　and　excellence。　

“Sitch　a　rabbit…pie；　Bill；”　exclaimed　that　young　gentleman；　
disclosing　to　view　a　huge　pasty；　“sitch　delicate　creeturs；　with　sitch　
tender　limbs；　Bill；　that　the　wery　bones　melt　in　your　mouth；　and　
there’s　no　occasion　to　pick　’em；　half　a　pound　of　seven…andsixpenny　green；　so　precious　strong　that　if　you　mix　it　with　biling　
water；　it’ll　go　nigh　to　blow　the　lid　of　the　tea…pot　off；　a　pound　and　a　
half　of　moist　sugar　that　the　niggers　didn’t　work　at　all　at；　before　
they　got　it　up　to　sitch　a　pitch　of　goodness—oh　no！　Two　halfquartern　brans；　pound　of　best　fresh；　piece　of　double　Glo’ster；　and；　
to　wind　up　all；　some　of　the　richest　sort　you　ever　lushed！”　

Uttering　this　last　panegyric；　Master　Bates　produced；　from　one　
of　his　extensive　pockets；　a　full…sized　wine　bottle；　carefully　corked；　
while　Mr。　Dawkins；　at　the　same　instant；　poured　out　a　wine…glassful　
of　raw　spirits　from　the　bottle　he　carried；　which　the　invalid　tossed　
down　his　throat　without　a　moment’s　hesitation。　

“Ah！”　said　Fagin；　rubbing　his　hands　with　great　satisfaction。　
“You’ll　do；　Bill；　you’ll　do　now。”　

“So！”　exclaimed　Mr。　Sikes；　“I　might　have　been　done　for；　twenty　
times　over；　afore　you’d　have　done　anything　to　help　me。　What　do　
you　mean　by　leaving　a　man　in　this　state；　three　weeks　and　more；　
you　false…hearted　wagabond？”　

“Only　hear　him；　boy！”　said　Fagin；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　
“And　us　come　to　bring　him　all　these　beau…ti…ful　things。”　

“The　things　is　well　enough　in　their　way；”　observed　Mr。　Sikes；　
“little　soothed　as　he　glanced　over　the　table；　“but　what　have　you　got　
to　say　for　yourself；　why　you　should　leave　me　here；　down　in　the　
mouth；　health；　blunt　and　everything　else；　and　take　no　more　notice　

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of　me；　all　this　mortal　time；　than　if　I　was　that　’ere　dog。—Drive　him　
down；　Charley！”　

“I　never　see　such　a　jolly　dog　as　that；”　cried　Master　Bates；　doing　
as　he　was　desired。　“Smelling　the　grub　like　a　old　lady　a…going　to　
market！　He’d　make　his　fortun’　on　the　stage　that　dog　would；　and—　
rewive　the　drayma　besides。”　

“Hold　your　din；”　cried　Sikes；　as　the　dog　retreated　under　the　
bed；　still　growling　angrily。　“What　have　you　got　to　say　for　yourself；　
you　withered　old　fence；　eh？”　

“I　was　away　from　London；　a　week　and　more；　my　dear；　on　a　
plant；”　replied　the　Jew。　

“And　what　about　the　other　fortnight？”　demanded　Sikes。　“What　
about　the　other　fortnight　that　you’ve　left　me　lying　here；　like　a　sick　
rat　in　his　hole？”　

“I　couldn’t　help　it；　Bill；”　replied　Fagin；　“I　can’t　go　into　a　long　
explanation　before　company；　but　I　couldn’t　help　it；　upon　my　
honour。”　

“Upon　your　what？”　growled　Sikes；　with　excessive　disgust。　
“Here！　Cut　me　off　a　piece　of　that　pie；　one　of　you　boys；　to　take　the　
taste　of　that　out　of　my　mouth；　or　it’ll　choke　me　dead。”　

“Don’t　be　out　of　temper；　my　dear；”　urged　Fagin　submissively。　“I　
have　never　forgot　you；　Bill；　never　once。”　

“No！　I’ll　pound　it　that　you　ha’n’t；”　replied　Sikes；　with　a　bitter　
grin。　“You’ve　been　scheming　and　plotting　away；　every　hour　that　I　
have　laid　shivering　and　burning　here；　and　Bill　was　to　do　this；　and　
Bill　was　to　do　that；　and　Bill　was　to　do　it　all；　dirt　cheap；　as　soon　as　
he　got　well；　and　was　quite　poor　enough　for　your　work。　If　it　hadn’t　
been　for　the　girl；　I　might　have　died。”　

“There　now；　Bill；”　remonstrated　Fagin；　eagerly　catching　at　the　

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word。　“If　it　hadn’t　been　for　the　girl！　Who　but　poor　ould　Fagin　was　
the　means　of　your　having　such　a　handy　girl　about　you？”　

“He　says　true　enough　there！”　said　Nancy；　coming　hastily　
forward。　“Let　him　be；　let　him　be。”　

Nancy’s　appearance　gave　a　new　turn　to　the　conversation；　for　
the　boys；　receiving　a　sly　wink　from　the　wary　old　Jew；　began　to　ply　
her　with　liquor；　of　which；　however；　she　took　very　sparingly；　while　
Fagin；　assuming　an　unusual　flow　of　spirits；　gradually　brought　Mr。　
Sikes　into　a　better　temper；　by　affecting　to　regard　his　threats　as　a　
little　pleasant　banter；　and；　moreover；　by　laughing　very　heartily　at　
one　or　two　rough　jokes；　which；　after　repeated　applications　to　the　
spirit…bottle；　he　condescended　to　make。　

“It’s　all　very　well；”　said　Mr。　Sikes；　“but　I　must　have　some　blunt　
from　you　tonight。”　

“I　haven’t　a　piece　of　coin　about　me；”　replied　the　Jew。　

“Then　you’ve　got　lots　at　home；”　retorted　Sikes；　“and　I　must　
have　some　from　there。”　

“Lots！”　cried　Fagin；　holding　up　his　hands。　“I　haven’t　so　much　as　
would—”　

“I　don’t　know　how　much　you’ve　got；　and　I　dare　say　you　hardly　
know　yourself；　as　it　would　take　a　pretty　long　time　to　count　it；”　said　
Sikes；　“but　I　must　have　some　tonight；　and　that’s　flat。”　

“Well；　well；”　said　Fagin；　with　a　sigh；　“I’ll　send　the　Artful　round　
presently。”　

“You　won’t　do　nothing　of　the　kind；”　rejoined　Mr。　Sikes。　“The　
Artful’s　a　deal　too　artful；　and　would　forget　to　come；　or　lose　his　way；　
or　get　dodged　by　traps　and　so　be　prewented；　or　anything　for　an　
excuse；　if　you　put　him　up　to　it。　Nancy　shall　go　to　the　ken　and　fetch　
it；　to　make　all　sure；　and　I’ll　lie　down　and　have　a　snooze　while　she’s　

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gone。”　

After　a　great　deal　of　haggling　and　squabbling；　Fagin　beat　down　
the　amount　of　the　required　advance　from　five　pounds　to　three　
pounds　four　and　sixpence；　protesting　with　many　solemn　
asservations　that　would　only　leave　eighteenpence　to　keep　house　
with；　Mr。　Sikes　sullenly　remarking　that　if　he　couldn’t　get　any　more　
he　must　be　content　with　that；　Nancy　prepared　to　accompany　him　
home；　while　the　Dodger　and　Master　Bates　put　the　eatables　in　the　
cupboard。　The　Jew　then；　taking　leave　of　his　affectionate　friend；　
returned　homeward；　attended　by　Nancy　and　the　boys；　Mr。　Sikes；　
meanwhile；　flinging　himself　on　the　bed；　and　composing　himself　to　
sleep　away　the　time　until　the　young　lady’s　return。　

In　due　course　they　arrived　at　Fagin’s　abode；　where　they　found　
Toby　Crackit　and　Mr。　Chitling　intent　upon　their　fifteenth　game　at　
cribbage；　which　it　is　scarcely　necessary　to　say　the　latter　gentleman　
lost；　and　with　it；　his　fifteenth　and　last　sixpence；　much　to　the　
amusement　of　his　young　friends。　Mr。　Crackit；　apparently　
somewhat　ashamed　at　being　found　relaxing　himself　with　a　
gentleman　so　much　his　inferior　in　station　and　mental　
endowments；　yawned；　and　inquiring　after　Sikes；　took　up　his　hat　to　
go。　

“Has　nobody　been；　Toby？”　asked　Fagin。　

“Not　a　living　leg；”　answered　Mr。　Crackit；　pulling　up　his　collar；　
“it’s　been　as　dull　as　swipes。　You　ought　to　stand　something　
handsome；　Fagin；　to　recompense　me　for　keeping　house　so　long。　
Damme；　I’m　as　flat　as　a　juryman；　and　should　have　gone　to　sleep；　as　
fast　as　Newgate；　if　I　hadn’t　had　the　good…natur’　to　amuse　this　
youngster。　Horrid　dull；　I’m　blessed　if　I　ain’t！”　

With　these　and　other　ejaculations　of　the　same　kind；　Mr。　Toby　

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Crackit　swept　up　his　winnings；　and　crammed　them　into　his　
waistcoat　pocket　with　a　haughty　air；　as　though　such　small　pieces　
of　silver　were　wholly　beneath　the　consideration　of　a　man　of　his　
figure；　this　done；　he　swaggered　out　of　the　room；　with　so　much　
elegance　and　gentility；　that　Mr。　Chitling；　bestowing　numerous　
admiring　glances　on　his　legs　and　boots　till　they　were　out　of　sight；　
assured　the　company　that　he　considered　his　acquaintance　cheap　
at　fifteen　sixpences　an　interview；　and　that　he　didn’t　value　his　
losses　the　snap　of　his　little　finger。　

“Wot　a　rum　chap　you　are；　Tom！”　said　Master　Bates；　highly　
amused　by　this　declaration。　

“Not　a　bit　of　it；”　replied　Mr。　Chitling。　“Am　I；　Fagin？”　

“A　very　clever　fellow；　my　dear；”　said　Fagin；　patting　him　on　the　
shoulder；　and　winking　to　his　other　pupils。　

“And　Mr。　Crackit　is　a　heavy　swell；　ain’t　he；　Fagin？”　asked　Tom。　

“No　doubt　at　all　of　that；　my　dear。”　

“And　it　is　a　creditable　thing　to　have　his　acquaintance；　ain’t　it；　
Fagin？”　pursued　Tom。　

“Very　much　so；　indeed；　my　dear。　They’re　only　jealous；　Tom；　
because　he　won’t　give　it　to　them。”　

“Ah！”　cried　Tom　triumphantly；　“that’s　where　it　is！　He　has　
cleaned　me　out。　But　I　can　go　and　earn　some　more；　when　I　like；　
can’t　I；　Fagin？”　

“To　be　sure　you　can；”　replied　Fagin；　“and　the　sooner　you　go　the　
better；　Tom；　so　make　up　your　loss　at　once；　and　don’t　lose　any　more　
time。　Dodger！　Charley！　It’s　time　you　were　on　the　lay。　Come！　It’s　
near　ten；　and　nothing　done　yet。”　

In　obedience　to　this　hint；　the　boys；　nodding　to　Nancy；　took　up　
their　hats；　and　left　the　room；　the　Dodger　and　his　vivacious　friend　

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indulging；　as　they　went；　in　many　witticisms　at　the　expense　of　Mr。　
Chitling；　in　whose　conduct；　it　is　but　justice　to　say；　there　was　
nothin