oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第71部分

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“I　pity　you！”　said　Rose；　in　a　broken　voice。　“It　wrings　my　heart　to　
hear　you！”　

“Heaven　bless　you　for　your　goodness！”　rejoined　the　girl。　“If　you　
knew　what　I　am　sometimes；　you　would　pity　me　indeed。　But　I　have　
stolen　away　from　those　who　would　surely　murder　me；　if　they　knew　
I　had　been　here；　to　tell　you　what　I　have　overheard。　Do　you　know　a　
man　named　Monks？”　

“No；”　said　Rose。　

“He　knows　you；”　replied　the　girl；　“and　knew　you　were　here；　for　
it　was　by　hearing　him　tell　the　place　that　I　found　you　out。”　

“I　never　heard　the　name；”　said　Rose。　

“Then　he　goes　by　some　other　amongst　you；”　rejoined　the　girl；　
“which　I　more　than　thought　before。　Some　time　ago；　and　soon　after　
Oliver　was　put　into　your　house　on　the　night　of　the　robbery；　I—　
suspecting　this　man—listened　to　a　conversation　held　between　him　
and　Fagin　in　the　dark。　I　found　out；　from　what　I　heard；　that　
Monks—the　man　I　asked　you　about；　you　know—”　

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“Yes；”　said　Rose；　“I　understand。”　

“That　Monks；”　pursued　the　girl；　“had　seen　him　accidentally　
with　two　of　our　boys　on　the　day　we　first　lost　him；　and　had　known　
him　directly　to　be　the　same　child　that　he　was　watching　for；　though　
I　couldn’t　make　out　why。　A　bargain　was　struck　with　Fagin；　that　if　
Oliver　was　got　back　he　should　have　a　certain　sum；　and　he　was　to　
have　more　for　making　him　a　thief；　which　this　Monks　wanted　for　
some　purpose　of　his　own。”　

“For　what　purpose？”　asked　Rose。　

“He　caught　sight　of　my　shadow　on　the　wall　as　I　listened；　in　the　
hope　of　finding　out；”　said　the　girl；　“and　there　are　not　many　people　
besides　me　that　could　have　got　out　of　their　way　in　time　to　escape　
discovery。　But　I　did；　and　I　saw　him　no　more　till　last　night。”　

“And　what　occurred　then？”　

“I’ll　tell　you；　lady。　Last　night　he　came　again。　Again　they　went　
upstairs；　and　I；　wrapping　myself　up　so　that　my　shadow　should　not　
betray　me；　again　listened　at　the　door。　The　first　words　I　heard　
Monks　say　were　these：　‘So　the　only　proofs　of　the　boy’s　identity　lie　
at　the　bottom　of　the　river；　and　the　old　hag　that　received　them　from　
the　mother　is　rotting　in　her　coffin。’　They　laughed；　and　talked　of　his　
success　in　doing　this；　and　Monks；　talking　on　about　the　boy；　and　
getting　very　wild；　said　that　though　he　had　got　the　young　devil’s　
money　safely　now；　he’d　rather　have　had　it　the　other　way；　for；　what　
a　game　it　would　have　been　to　have　brought　down　the　boast　of　the　
father’s　will；　by　driving　him　through　every　jail　in　town　and　then　
hauling　him　up　for　some　felony　which　Fagin　could　easily　manage；　
after　having　made　a　good　profit　of　him　besides。”　

“What　is　all　this？”　said　Rose。　

“The　truth；　lady；　though　it　comes　from　my　lips；”　replied　the　girl。　

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“Then　he　said；　with　oaths　common　enough　in　my　ears；　but　strange　
to　yours；　that　if　he　could　gratify　his　hatred　by　taking　the　boy’s　life　
without　bringing　his　own　neck　in　danger；　he　would；　but；　as　he　
couldn’t；　he’d　be　upon　the　watch　to　meet　him　at　every　turn　in　life；　
and　if　he　took　advantage　of　his　birth　and　history；　he　might　harm　
him　yet。　‘In　short；　Fagin；’　he　says；　‘Jew　as　you　are；　you　never　laid　
such　snares　as　I’ll　contrive　for　my　young　brother；　Oliver。’”　

“His　brother！”　exclaimed　Rose。　

“Those　were　his　words；”　said　Nancy；　glancing　uneasily　round；　
as　she　had　scarcely　ceased　to　do；　since　she　began　to　speak；　for　a　
vision　of　Sikes　haunted　her　perpetually。　“And　more。　When　he　
spoke　of　you　and　the　other　lady；　and　said　it　seemed　contrived　by　
Heaven；　or　the　devil　against　him；　that　Oliver　should　come　into　
your　hands；　he　laughed；　and　said　there　was　some　comfort　in　that；　
too；　for　how　many　thousand　and　hundreds　of　thousands　of　pounds　
would　you　not　give；　if　you　had　them；　to　know　who　your　two…legged　
spaniel　was。”　

“You　do　not　mean；”　said　Rose；　turning　very　pale；　“to　tell　me　
that　this　was　said　in　earnest？”　

“He　spoke　in　hard　and　angry　earnest；　if　a　man　ever　did；”　
replied　the　girl；　shaking　her　head。　“He　is　an　earnest　man　when　his　
hatred　is　up。　I　know　many　who　do　worse　things；　but　I’d　rather　
listen　to　them　all　a　dozen　times；　than　to　that　Monks　once。　It　is　
growing　late；　and　I　have　to　reach　home　without　suspicion　of　
having　been　on　such　an　errand　as　this。　I　must　get　back　quickly。”　

“But　what　can　I　do？”　said　Rose。　“To　what　use　can　I　turn　this　
communication　without　you？　Back！　Why　do　you　wish　to　return　to　
companions　you　paint　in　such　terrible　colours？　If　you　repeat　this　
information　to　a　gentleman　whom　I　can　summon　in　an　instant　

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from　the　next　room；　you　can　be　consigned　to　some　place　of　safety　
without　half　an　hour’s　delay。”　

“I　wish　to　go　back；”　said　the　girl。　“I　must　go　back；　because—　
how　can　I　tell　such　things　to　an　innocent　lady　like　you？—because　
among　the　men　I　have　told　you　of；　there　is　one—the　most　
desperate　among　them　all—that　I　can’t　leave；　no；　not　even　to　be　
saved　from　the　life　I　am　leading　now。”　

“Your　having　interfered　in　this　dear　boy’s　behalf　before；”　said　
Rose；　“your　coming　here；　at　so　great　a　risk；　to　tell　me　what　you　
have　heard；　your　manner；　which　convinces　me　of　the　truth　of　what　
you　say；　your　evident　contrition　and　sense　of　shame；　all　lead　me　to　
believe　that　you　might　be　yet　reclaimed。　Oh！”　said　the　earnest　girl；　
folding　her　hands　as　the　tears　coursed　down　her　face；　“do　not　turn　
a　deaf　ear　to　the　entreaties　of　one　of　your　own　sex；　the　first—the　
first；　I　do　believe；　who　ever　appealed　to　you　in　the　voice　of　pity　and　
compassion。　Do　hear　my　words；　and　let　me　save　you　yet；　for　better　
things。”　

“Lady；”　cried　the　girl；　sinking　on　her　knees；　“dear；　sweet　angel…
lady；　you　are　the　first　that　ever　blessed　me　with　such　words　as　
these；　and　if　I　had　heard　them　years　ago；　they　might　have　turned　
me　from　a　life　of　sin　and　sorrow；　but　it　is　too　late—it　is　too　late！”　

“It　is　never　too　late；”　said　Rose；　“for　penitence　and　atonement。”　

“It　is；”　cried　the　girl；　writhing　in　the　agony　of　her　mind；　“I　
cannot　leave　him　now！　I　could　not　be　his　death！”　

“Why　should　you　be？”　asked　Rose。　

“Nothing　could　save　him；”　cried　the　girl。　“If　I　told　others　what　I　
have　told　you；　and　led　to　their　being　taken；　he　would　be　sure　to　
die。　He　is　the　boldest；　and　has　been　so　cruel！”　

“Is　it　possible；”　cried　Rose；　“that　for　such　a　man　as　this；　you　can　

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resign　every　future　hope；　and　the　certainty　of　immediate　rescue？　
It　is　madness。”　

“I　don’t　know　what　it　is；”　answered　the　girl；　“I　only　know　that　it　
is　so；　and　not　with　me　alone；　but　with　hundreds　of　others　as　bad　
and　wretched　as　myself。　I　must　go　back。　Whether　it　is　God’s　wrath　
for　the　wrong　I　have　done；　I　do　not　know；　but　I　am　drawn　back　to　
him　through　every　suffering　and　ill…usage；　and　I　should　be；　I　
believe；　if　I　know　that　I　was　to　die　by　his　hand　at　last。”　

“What　am　I　to　do？”　said　Rose。　“I　should　not　let；　you　depart　from　
me　thus。”　

“You　should；　lady；　and　I　know　you　will；”　rejoined　the　girl；　
rising。　“You　will　not　stop　my　going　because　I　have　trusted　in　your　
goodness；　and　forced　no　promise　from　you；　as　I　might　have　done。”　

“Of　what　use；　then；　is　the　communication　you　have　made？”　said　
Rose。　“This　mystery　must　be　investigated；　or　how　will　its　
disclosure　to　me　benefit　Oliver；　whom　you　are　anxious　to　serve？”　

“You　must　have　some　kind　of　gentleman　about　you　that　will　
hear　it　as　a　secret；　and　advise　you　what　to　do；”　rejoined　the　girl。　

“But　where　can　I　find　you　again　when　it　is　necessary？”　asked　
Rose。　“I　do　not　seek　to　know　where　these　dreadful　people　live；　but　
where　will　you　be　walking　or　passing　at　any　settled　period　from　
thus　time？”　

“Will　you　promise　me　that　you　will　have　my　secret　strictly　kept；　
and　come　alone；　or　with　the　only　other　person　that　knows　it；　and　
that　I　shall　not　be　watched　or　followed？”　asked　the　girl。　

“I　promise　you　solemnly；”　answered　Rose。　

“Every　Sunday　night；　from　eleven　until　the　clock　strikes　
twelve；”　said　the　girl　without　hesitation；　“I　will　walk　on　London　
Bridge；　if　I　am　alive。”　

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“Stay　another　moment；”　interposed　Rose；　as　the　girl　moved　
hurriedly　towards　the　door。　“Think　once　again　on　your　own　
condition；　and　the　opportunity　you　have　of　escaping　from　it。　You　
have　a　claim　on　me；　not　only　as　the　voluntary　bearer　of　this　
intelligence；　but　as　a　woman　lost　almost　beyond　redemption。　Will　
you　return　to　this　gang　of　robbers；　and　to　this　man；　when　a　word　
can　save　you？　What　fascination　is　it　that　can　take　you　back；　and　
make　you　cling　to　wickedness　and　misery？　Oh！　is　there　no　chord　
in　your　heart　that　I　can　touch！　Is　there　nothing　left；　to　which　I　can　
appeal　against　this　terrible　infatuation！　

“When　ladies　as　young；　and　good；　and　beautiful　as　you　are；”　
replied　the　girl　steadily；　“give　away　your　hearts；　love　will　carry　you　
all　lengths—even　such　as　you；　who　have　a　home；　friends；　other　
admirers；　everything；　to　fill　them。　When　such　as　I；　who　have　no　
certain　roof　but　the　coffin…lid；　and　no　friend　in　sickness　or　death　
but　the　hospital　nurse；　set　our　rotten　hearts　on　any　man；　and　let　
him　fill　the　place　that　has　been　a　blank　through　all　our　wretched　
lives；　who　can　hope　to　cure　us？　Pity　us；　lady—pity　us　for　having　
only　one　feeling　of　the　woman　left；　and　for　having　that　turned；　by　a　
heavy　judgement；　from　a　comfort　and　a　pride；　into　a　new　means　of　
violence　and　suffering。”　

“You　will；”　said　Rose；　after　a　pause；　“take　some　money　from　
me；　which　may　enable　you　to　live　without　dishonesty—at　all　
events　until　we　meet　again。”　

“Not　a　penny；”　replied　the　girl；　waving　her　hand。　

“Do　not　close　your　heart　against　all　my　efforts　to　help　you；”　said　
Rose；　stepping　gently　forward。　“I　wish　to　serve　you　indeed。”　

“You　would　serve　me　best；　lady；”　replied　the　girl；　wringing　her　
hands；　“if　you　could　take　my　life　at　once；　for　I　have　felt　more　grief　

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