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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第74部分

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

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material assistance to us; I should say that he was bred a lawyer; 
and quitted the bar in disgust because he had only one brief and a 
motion of course; in twenty years; though whether that is a 
recommendation or not; you must determine for yourselves。” 

“I have no objection to your calling in your friend if I may call in 
mine;” said the doctor。 

“We must put it to the vote;” replied Mr。 Brownlow; “who may 
he be?” 

“That lady’s son; and this young lady’s very old friend;” said the 
doctor; motioning towards Mrs。 Maylie; and concluding with an 
expressive glance at her niece。 

Rose blushed deeply; but she did not make any audible 
objection to this motion (possibly she felt in a hopeless minority); 
and Harry Maylie and Mr。 Grimwig were accordingly added to the 
committee。 

“We stay in town; of course;” said Mr。 Maylie; “while there 
remains the slightest prospect of prosecuting this inquiry with a 
chance of success。 I will spare neither trouble nor expense in 
behalf of the object in which we are all so deeply interested; and I 
am content to remain here; if it be for twelve months; so long as 
you assure me that any hope remains。” 

“Good!” rejoined Mr。 Brownlow。 “And as I see on the faces 
about me; a disposition to inquire how it happened that I was not 
in the way to corroborate Oliver’s tale; and had so suddenly left 
the kingdom; let me stipulate that I shall be asked no questions 
until such time as I may deem it expedient to forestall them by 
telling my own story。 Believe me; I make this request with good 

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reason; for I might otherwise excite hopes destined never to be 
realised; and only increase difficulties and disappointments 
already numerous enough。 Come! Supper has been announced; 
and young Oliver; who is all alone in the next room; will have 
begun to think; by this time; that we have wearied of his company; 
and entered into some dark conspiracy to thrust him forth upon 
the world。” 

With these words; the old gentleman gave his hand to Mrs。 
Maylie; and escorted her into the supper…room。 Mr。 Losberne 
followed; leading Rose; and the council was; for the present; 
effectually broken up。 

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Oliver Twist 446 

Chapter 42 

An Old Acquaintance Of Oliver’s; Exhibiting
Decided Marks Of Genius; Becomes A Public
Character In The Metropolis。


Upon the night when Nancy; having lulled Mr。 Sikes to 
sleep; hurried on her self…imposed mission to Rose 
Maylie; there advanced towards London; by the Great 
North Road; two persons; upon whom it is expedient that this 
history should bestow some attention。 

They were a man and a woman; or perhaps they would be 
better described as a male and female; for the former was one of 
those long…limbed; knock…kneed; shambling; bony people; to whom 
it is difficult to assign any precise age—looking as they do; when 
they are yet boys; like undergrown men; and when they are almost 
men; like overgrown boys。 The woman was young; but of a robust 
and hardy make; as she need have been to bear the weight of the 
heavy bundle which was strapped to her back。 Her companion 
was not encumbered with much luggage; as there merely dangled 
from a stick which he carried over his shoulder; a small parcel 
wrapped in a common handkerchief; and apparently light enough。 
This circumstance; added to the length of his legs; which were of 
unusual extent; enabled him with much ease to keep some half…
dozen paces in advance of his companion; to whom he occasionally 
turned with an impatient jerk of the head; as if reproaching her 
tardiness; and urging her to greater exertion。 

Thus; they had toiled along the dusty road; taking little heed of 

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Oliver Twist 447 

any object within sight; save when they stepped aside to allow a 
wider passage for the mail…coaches which were whirling out of 
town; until they passed through Highgate archway; when the 
foremost traveller stopped and called impatiently to his 
companion。 

“Come on; can’t yer? What a lazybones ye are; Charlotte。” 

“It’s a heavy load; I can tell you;” said the female; coming up; 
almost breathless with fatigue。 

“Heavy! What are yer talking about! What are yer made for?” 
rejoined the male traveller; changing his own little bundle as he 
spoke; to the other shoulder。 “Oh; there yer are; resting again! 
Well; if yer ain’t enough to tire anybody’s patience out; I don’t 
know what is!” 

“Is it much farther?” asked the woman; resting herself against a 
bank; and looking up with the perspiration streaming from her 
face。 

“Much farther! Yer as good as there;” said the long…legged 
tramper; pointing out before him。 “Look there! Those are the 
lights of London。” 

“They’re a good two mile off; at least;” said the woman 
despondingly。 

“Never mind whether they’re two mile off; or twenty;” said 
Noah Claypole; for he it was; “but get up and come on; or I’ll kick 
yer; and so I give yer notice。” 

As Noah’s red nose grew redder with anger; and as he crossed 
the road while speaking; as if fully prepared to put his threat into 
execution; the woman rose without any further remark; and 
trudged onward by his side。 

“Where do you mean to stop for the night; Noah?” she asked; 

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Oliver Twist 448 

after they had walked a few hundred yards。 

“How should I know?” replied Noah; whose temper had been 
considerably impaired by walking。 

“Near; I hope;” said Charlotte。 

“No; not near;” replied Mr。 Claypole。 ‘‘There! Not near; so don’t 
think it。” 

“Why not?” 

“When I tell yer that I don’t mean to do a thing; that’s enough; 
without any why or because either;” replied Mr。 Claypole; with 
dignity。 

“Well; you needn’t be so cross;” said his companion。 

“A pretty thing it would be; wouldn’t it; to go and stop at the 
very first public…house outside the town; so that Sowerberry; if he 
came up after us; might poke in his old nose; and have us taken 
back in a cart with handcuffs on;” said Mr Claypole; in a jeering 
tone。 “No! I shall go and lose myself among the narrowest streets I 
can find; and not stop till we come to the very out…of…the…wayest 
house I can set eyes on。 ’Cod; yer may thank yer stars I’ve got a 
head; for if we hadn’t gone; at first; the wrong road a purpose; and 
come back across country; yer’d have been locked up hard and 
fast a week ago; my lady。 And serve yer right for being a fool。” 

“I know I ain’t as cunning as you are;” replied Charlotte; “but 
don’t put all the blame on me; and say I should have been locked 
up。 You would have been if I had been; anyway。” 

“Yer took the money from the till; yer know yer did;” said Mr。 
Claypole。 

“I took it for you; Noah dear;” rejoined Charlotte。 

“Did I keep it?” asked Mr。 Claypole。 

“No; you trusted in me; and let me carry it like a dear; and so 

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Oliver Twist 449 

you are;” said the lady; chucking him under the chin; and drawing 
her arm through his。 

This was indeed the case; but as it was not Mr。 Claypole’s habit 
to repose a blind and foolish confidence in anybody; it should be 
observed; in justice to that gentleman; that he had trusted 
Charlotte to this extent; in order that; if they were pursued; the 
money might be found on her; which would leave him an 
opportunity of asserting his innocence of any theft; and would 
greatly facilitate his chances of escape。 Of course; he entered at 
this juncture into no explanation of his motives; and they walked 
on very leisurely together。 

In pursuance of this cautious plan; Mr。 Claypole went on; 
without halting; until he arrived at the Angel at Islington; where 
he wisely judged; from the crowd of passengers and number of 
vehicles; that London began in earnest。 Just pausing to observe 
which appeared the most crowded streets; and consequently the 
most to be avoided; he crossed into St。 John’s Road; and was soon 
deep in the obscurity of the intricate and dirty ways; which; lying 
between Gray’s Inn Lane and Smithfield; render that part of the 
town one of the lowest and worst that improvement has left in the 
midst of London。 

Through these streets; Noah Claypole walked; dragging 
Charlotte after him; now stepping into the kennel to embrace at a 
glance the whole external character of some small public…house; 
and now jogging on again; as some fancied appearance induced 
him to believe it too public for his purpose。 At length; he stopped 
in front of one; more humble in appearance and more dirty than 
any he had yet seen; and; having crossed over and surveyed it 
from the opposite pavement; graciously announced his intention 

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Oliver Twist 450 

of putting up there; for the night。 

“So give us the bundle;” said Noah; unstrapping it from the 
woman’s shoulders; and slinging it over his own; “and don’t yer 
speak; except when yer spoke to。 What’s the name of the house—th…r—three what?” 

“Cripples;” said Charlotte。 

“Three Cripples;” repeated Noah; “and a very good sign too。 
Now; then! Keep close at my heels; and come along。” With these 
injunctions; he pushed the rattling door with his shoulder; and 
entered the house; followed by his companion。 

There was nobody in the bar but a young Jew; who; with his 
two elbows on the counter; was reading a dirty newspaper。 He 
stared very hard at Noah; and Noah stared very hard at him。 

If Noah had been attired in his charity…boy’s dress; there might 
have been some reason for the Jew opening his eyes so wide; but 
as he had discarded the coat and badge; and wore a short smock…
frock over his leathers; there seemed no particular reason for his 
appearance exciting so much attention in a public…house。 

“Is this the Three Cripples?” asked Noah。 

“That is the dabe of this ’ouse;” replied the Jew。 

“A gentleman we met on the road; coming up from the country; 
recommended us here;” said 

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