oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第73部分

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Brownlow。　

“And　he’d　uncommonly　like　to　see　any　man　offer　to　do　it；”　
responded　Mr。　Grimwig；　knocking　his　stick　upon　the　floor。　

Having　gone　thus　far；　the　two　old　gentleman　severally　took　
snuff；　and　afterwards　shook　hands；　according　to　their　invariable　
custom。　

“Now；　Miss　Maylie；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　“to　return　to　the　
subject　in　which　your　humanity　is　so　much　interested。　Will　you　let　
me　know　what　intelligence　you　have　of　this　poor　child；　allowing　
me　to　premise　that　I　exhausted　every　means　in　my　power　of　
discovering　him；　and　that　since　I　have　been　absent　from　this　
country；　my　first　impression　that　he　had　imposed　upon　me；　and　
had　been　persuaded　by　his　former　associates　to　rob　me；　has　been　
considerably　shaken。”　

Rose；　who　had　had　time　to　collect　her　thoughts；　at　once　related；　
in　a　few　natural　words；　all　that　had　befallen　Oliver　since　he　left　Mr。　
Brownlow’s　house；　reserving　Nancy’s　information　for　that　
gentleman’s　private　ear；　and　concluding　with　the　assurance　that　

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his　only　sorrow；　for　some　months　past；　had　been　the　not　being　able　
to　meet　with　his　former　benefactor　and　friend。　

“Thank　God！”　said　the　old　gentleman。　“This　is　great　happiness　
to　me—great　happiness。　But　you　have　not　told　me　where　he　is　
now；　Miss　Maylie。　You　must　pardon　my　finding　fault　with　you—　
but　why　not　have　brought　him？”　

“He　is　waiting　in　a　coach　at　the　door；”　replied　Rose。　

“At　this　door！”　cried　the　old　gentleman。　With　which　he　hurried　
out　of　the　room；　down　the　stairs；　up　the　coach　steps；　and　into　the　
coach；　without　another　word。　

When　the　room　door　closed　behind　him；　Mr。　Grimwig　lifted　up　
his　head；　and　converting　one　of　the　hind　legs　of　his　chair　into　a　
pivot；　described　three　distinct　circles　with　the　assistance　of　his　
stick　and　the　table；　sitting　in　it　all　the　time。　After　performing　this　
evolution；　he　rose　and　limped　as　fast　as　he　could　up　and　down　the　
room　at　least　a　dozen　times；　and　then　stopping　before　Rose；　kissed　
her　without　the　slightest　preface。　

“Hush！”　he　said；　as　the　young　lady　rose　in　some　alarm　at　this　
unusual　proceeding。　“Don’t　be　afraid。　I’m　old　enough　to　be　your　
grandfather。　You’re　a　sweet　girl。　I　like　you。　Here　they　are！”　

In　fact；　as　he　threw　himself　at　one　dextrous　dive　into　his　former　
seat；　Mr。　Brownlow　returned；　accompanied　by　Oliver；　whom　Mr。　
Grimwig　received　very　graciously；　and　if　the　gratification　of　that　
moment　had　been　the　only　reward　for　all　her　anxiety　and　care　in　
Oliver’s　behalf；　Rose　Maylie　would　have　been　well　repaid。　

“There　is　somebody　else　who　should　not　be　forgotten；　by　the　
bye；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　ringing　the　bell。　“Send　Mrs。　Bedwin　
here；　if　you　please。”　

The　old　housekeeper　answered　the　summons　with　all　despatch；　

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and　dropping　a　curtsey　at　the　door；　waited　for　orders。　

“Why；　you　get　blinder　every　day；　Bedwin；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　
rather　testily。　

“Well；　that　I　do；　sir；”　replied　the　old　lady。　“People’s　eyes；　at　my　
time　of　life；　don’t　improve　with　age；　sir。”　

“I　could　have　told　you　that；”　rejoined　Mr。　Brownlow；　“but　put　
on　your　glasses；　and　see　if　you　can’t　find　out　what　you　were　
wanted　for；　will　you？”　

The　old　lady　began　to　rummage　in　her　pocket　for　her　
spectacles。　But　Oliver’s　patience　was　not　proof　against　this　new　
trial；　and　yielding　to　his　first　impulse；　he　sprang　into　her　arms。　

“God　be　good　to　me！”　cried　the　old　lady；　embracing　him；　“it　is　
my　innocent　boy！”　

“My　dear　old　nurse！”　cried　Oliver。　

“He　would　come　back—I　knew　he　would；”　said　the　old　lady；　
holding　him　in　her　arms。　“How　well　he　looks；　and　how　like　a　
gentleman’s　son　he　is　dressed　again！　Where　have　you　been；　this　
long；　long　while？　Ah！　the　same　sweet　face；　but　not　so　pale；　the　
same　soft　eye；　but　not　so　sad。　I　have　never　forgotten　them；　or　his　
quiet　smile；　but　have　seen　them　every　day；　side　by　side　with　those　
of　my　own　dear　children；　dead　and　gone　since　I　was　a　lightsome　
young　creature。”　Running　on　thus；　and　now　holding　Oliver　from　
her　to　mark　how　he　had　grown；　now　clasping　him　to　her　and　
passing　her　fingers　fondly　through　his　hair；　the　good　soul　laughed　
and　wept　upon　his　neck　by　turns。　

Leaving　her　and　Oliver　to　compare　notes　at　leisure；　Mr。　
Brownlow　led　the　way　into　another　room；　and　there　heard　from　
Rose　a　full　narration　of　her　interview　with　Nancy；　which　
occasioned　him　no　little　surprise　and　perplexity。　Rose　also　

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explained　her　reasons　for　not　confiding　in　her　friend　Mr。　Losberne　
in　the　first　instance。　The　old　gentleman　considered　that　she　had　
acted　prudently；　and　readily　undertook　to　hold　solemn　conference　
with　the　worthy　doctor　himself。　To　afford　him　an　early　opportunity　
for　the　execution　of　this　design；　it　was　arranged　that　he　should　call　
at　the　hotel　at　eight　o’clock　that　evening；　and　that　in　the　meantime　
Mrs。　Maylie　should　be　cautiously　informed　of　all　that　had　
occurred。　These　preliminaries　adjusted；　Rose　and　Oliver　returned　
home。　

Rose　had　by　no　means　overrated　the　measure　of　the　good　
doctor’s　wrath。　Nancy’s　history　was　no　sooner　unfolded　to　him　
than　he　poured　forth　a　shower　of　mingled　threats　and　execrations；　
threatened　to　make　her　the　first　victim　of　the　combined　ingenuity　
of　Messrs。　Blathers　and　Duff；　and　actually　put　on　his　hat　
preparatory　to　sallying　forth　to　obtain　the　assistance　of　those　
worthies。　And；　doubtless；　he　would；　in　this　first　outbreak；　have　
carried　the　intention　into　effect　without　a　moment’s　consideration　
of　the　consequences；　if　he　had　not　been　restrained；　in　part；　by　
corresponding　violence　on　the　side　of　Mr。　Brownlow；　who　was　
himself　of　an　irascible　temperament；　and　partly　by　such　
arguments　and　representations　as　seemed　best　calculated　to　
dissuade　him　from　his　hot…brained　purpose。　

“Then　what　the　devil　is　to　be　done？”　said　the　impetuous　doctor；　
when　they　had　rejoined　the　two　ladies。　“Are　we　to　pass　a　vote　of　
thanks　to　all　these　vagabonds；　male　and　female；　and　beg　them　to　
accept　a　hundred　pounds；　or　so；　apiece；　as　a　trifling　mark　of　our　
esteem；　and　some　slight　acknowledgement　of　their　kindness　to　
Oliver？”　

“Not　exactly　that；”　rejoined　Mr。　Brownlow；　laughing；　“but　we　

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must　proceed　gently　and　with　great　care。”　

“Gentleness　and　care；”　exclaimed　the　doctor。　“I’d　send　them　
one　and　all　to—”　

“Never　mind　where；”　interposed　Mr。　Brownlow。　“But　reflect　
whether　sending　them　anywhere　is　likely　to　attain　the　object　we　
have　in　view。”　

“What　object？”　asked　the　doctor。　

“Simply；　the　discovery　of　Oliver’s　parentage；　and　regaining　for　
him　the　inheritance　of　which；　if　this　story　be　true；　he　has　been　
fraudulently　deprived。”　

“Ah！”　said　Mr。　Losberne；　cooling　himself　with　his　pocket…
handkerchief；　“I　almost　forgot　that。”　

“You　see；”　pursued　Mr。　Brownlow；　“placing　this　poor　girl　
entirely　out　of　the　question；　and　supposing　it　were　possible　to　
bring　these　scoundrels　to　justice　without　compromising　her　safety；　
what　good　should　we　bring　about？”　

“Hanging　a　few　of　them　at　least；　in　all　probability；”　suggested　
the　doctor；　“and　transporting　the　rest。”　

“Very　good；”　replied　Mr。　Brownlow；　smiling；　abut　no　doubt　
they　will　bring　that　about　for　themselves　in　the　fulness　of　time；　
and　if　we　step　in　to　forestall　them；　it　seems　to　me　that　we　shall　be　
performing　a　very　quixotic　act；　in　direct　opposition　to　our　own　
interest—or　at　least　Oliver’s；　which　is　the　same　thing。”　

“How？”　inquired　the　doctor。　

“Thus。　It　is　quite　clear　that　we　shall　have　extreme　difficulty　in　
getting　to　the　bottom　of　this　mystery；　unless　we　can　bring　this　
man；　Monks；　upon　his　knees。　That　can　only　be　done　by　stratagem；　
and　by　catching　him　when　he　is　not　surrounded　by　these　people。　
For；　suppose　he　were　apprehended；　we　have　no　proof　against　him。　

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He　is　not　even　（so　far　as　we　know；　or　as　the　facts　appear　to　us）　
concerned　with　the　gang　in　any　of　their　robberies。　If　he　were　not　
discharged；　it　is　very　unlikely　that　he　could　receive　any　further　
punishment　than　being　committed　to　prison　as　a　rogue　and　
vagabond；　and　of　course　ever　afterwards　his　mouth　would　be　so　
obstinately　closed　that　he　might　as　well；　for　our　purpose；　be　deaf；　
dumb；　blind；　and　an　idiot。”　

“Then；”　said　the　doctor　impetuously；　“I　put　it　to　you　again；　
whether　you　think　it　reasonable　that　this　promise　to　the　girl　
should　be　considered　binding；　a　promise　made　with　the　best　and　
kindest　intentions；　but　really—”　

“Do　not　discuss　the　point；　my　dear　young　lady；　pray；”　said　Mr。　
Brownlow；　interrupting　Rose　as　she　was　about　to　speak。　“The　
promise　shall　be　kept。　I　don’t　think　it　will；　in　the　slightest　degree；　
interfere　with　our　proceedings。　But；　before　we　can　resolve　upon　
any　precise　course　of　action；　it　will　be　necessary　to　see　the　girl；　to　
ascertain　from　her　whether　she　will　point　out　this　Monks；　on　the　
understanding　that　he　is　to　be　dealt　with　by　us；　and　not　by　the　law；　
or；　if　she　will　not；　or　cannot　do　that；　to　procure　from　her　such　an　
account　of　his　haunts　and　description　of　his　person；　as　will　enable　
us　to　identify　him。　She　cannot　be　seen　until　next　Sunday　night；　
this　is　Tuesday。　I　would　suggest　that　in　the　meantime　we　remain　
perfectly　quiet；　and　keep　these　matters　secret　even　from　Oliver　
himself。”　

Although　Mr。　Losberne　received　with　many　wry　faces　a　
proposal　involving　a　delay　of　five　whole　days；　he　was　fain　to　admit　
that　no　better　course　occurred　to　him　just　then；　and　as　both　Rose　
and　Mrs。　Maylie　sided　very　strongly　with　Mr。　Brownlow；　that　
gentleman’s　proposition　was　carried　unanimously。　

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“I　should　like；”　he　said；　“to　call　in　the　aid　of　my　friend　Grimwig。　
He　is　a　strange　creature；　but　a　shrewd　one；　and　might　prove　of　
material　assistance　to　us；　I　should　say　that　he　was　bred　a　lawyer；　
and　quitted　the　bar　in　disgust　becaus