oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第75部分

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“A　gentleman　we　met　on　the　road；　coming　up　from　the　country；　
recommended　us　here；”　said　Noah；　nudging　Charlotte；　perhaps　to　
call　her　attention　to　this　most　ingenious　device　for　attracting　
respect；　and　perhaps　to　warn　her　to　betray　no　surprise。　“We　want　
to　sleep　here　tonight。”　

“I’b　dot　certaid　you　cad；”　said　Barney；　who　was　the　attendant　
sprite；　“but　I’ll　idquire。”　

“Show　us　the　tap；　and　give　us　a　bit　of　cold　meat　and　a　drop　of　
beer　while　yer　inquiring；　will　yer？”　said　Noah。　Barney　complied　

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by　ushering　them　into　a　small　back　room；　and　setting　the　required　
viands　before　them；　having　done　which；　he　informed　the　travellers　
that　they　could　be　lodged　that　night；　and　left　the　amiable　couple　to　
their　refreshment。　

Now；　this　back　room　was　immediately　behind　the　bar；　and　
some　steps　lower；　so　that　any　person　connected　with　the　house；　
undrawing　a　small　curtain　which　concealed　a　single　pane　of　glass　
fixed　in　the　wall　of　the　last…named　apartment；　about　five　feet　from　
its　flooring；　could　not　only　look　down　upon　any　guests　in　the　back　
room　without　any　great　hazard　of　being　observed　（the　glass　being　
in　a　dark　angle　of　the　wall；　between　which　and　a　large　upright　
beam　the　observer　had　to　thrust　himself）；　but　could；　by　applying　
his　ear　to　the　partition；　ascertain　with　tolerable　distinctness；　their　
subject　of　conversation。　The　landlord　of　the　house　had　not　
withdrawn　his　eye　from　this　place　of　espial　for　five　minutes；　and　
Barney　had　only　just　returned　from　making　the　communication　
above　related；　when　Fagin；　in　the　course　of　his　evening’s　business；　
came　into　the　bar　to　inquire　after　some　of　his　young　pupils。　

“Hush！”　said　Barney；　“stradegers　id　the　next　roob。”　

“Strangers！”　repeated　the　old　man　in　a　whisper。　

“Ah！　Ad　rud　uds　too；”　added　Barney。　“Frob　the　cuttry；　but　
subthig　in　your　way；　or　I’b　bistaked。”　

Fagin　appeared　to　receive　this　communication　with　great　
interest。　Mounting　a　stool；　he　cautiously　applied　his　eye　to　the　
pane　of　glass；　from　which　secret　post　he　could　see　Mr。　Claypole　
taking　cold　beef　from　the　dish；　and　porter　from　the　pot；　and　
administering　homeopathic　doses　of　both　to　Charlotte；　who　sat　
patiently　by；　eating　and　drinking　at　his　pleasure。　

“Aha！”　he　whispered；　looking　round　to　Barney；　“I　like　that　

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fellow’s　looks。　He’d　be　of　use　to　us；　he　knows　how　to　train　the　girl　
already。　Don’t　make　as　much　noise　as　a　mouse；　my　dear；　and　let　
me　hear　’em　talk—let　me　hear　’em。”　

He　again　applied　his　eye　to　the　glass；　and　turning　his　ear　to　the　
partition；　listened　attentively；　with　a　subtle　and　eager　look　upon　
his　face；　that　might　have　appertained　to　some　old　goblin。　

“So　I　mean　to　be　a　gentleman；”　said　Mr。　Claypole；　kicking　out　
his　legs；　and　continuing　a　conversation；　the　commencement　of　
which　Fagin　had　arrived　too　late　to　hear。　“No　more　jolly　old　
coffins；　Charlotte；　but　a　gentleman’s　life　for　me；　and；　if　yer　like；　yer　
shall　be　a　lady。”　

“I　should　like　that　well　enough；　dear；”　replied　Charlotte；　“but　
tills　ain’t　to　be　emptied　every　day；　and　people　to　get　clear　off　after　
it。”　

“Tills　be　blowed！”　said　Mr。　Claypole；　“there’s　more　things　
besides　tills　to　be　emptied。”　

“What　do　you　mean？”　asked　his　companion。　

“Pockets；　women’s　ridicules；　houses；　mail…coaches；　banks！”　said　
Mr。　Claypole；　rising　with　the　porter。　

“But　you　can’t　do　all　that；　dear；”　said　Charlotte。　

“I　shall　look　out　to　get　into　company　with　them　as　can；”　replied　
Noah。　“They’ll　be　able　to　make　us　useful　some　way　or　another。　
Why；　you　yourself　are　worth　fifty　women；　I　never　see　such　a　
precious　sly　and　deceitful　creetur　as　yer　can　be　when　I　let　yer。”　

“Lor；　how　nice　it　is　to　hear　you　say　so！”　exclaimed　Charlotte；　
imprinting　a　kiss　on　his　ugly　face。　

“There；　that’ll　do；　don’t　yer　be　too　affectionate；　in　case　I’m　cross　
with　yer；”　said　Noah；　disengaging　himself　with　great　gravity。　“I　
should　like　to　be　the　captain　of　some　band；　and　have　the　whopping　

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of　’em；　and　follering　’em　about；　unbeknown　to　themselves。　That　
would　suit　me；　if　there　was　good　profit；　and　if　we　could　only　get　in　
with　some　gentleman　of　this　sort；　I　say　it　would　be　cheap　at　that　
twenty…pound　note　you’ve　got—especially　as　we　don’t　very　well　
know　how　to　get　rid　of　it　ourselves。”　

After　expressing　this　opinion；　Mr。　Claypole　looked　into　the　
porter…pot　with　an　aspect　of　deep　wisdom；　and　having　well　shaken　
its　contents；　nodded　condescendingly　to　Charlotte；　and　took　a　
draught；　wherewith　he　appeared　greatly　refreshed。　He　was　
meditating　another；　when　the　sudden　opening　of　the　door；　and　the　
appearance　of　a　stranger；　interrupted　him。　

The　stranger　was　Mr。　Fagin。　And　very　amiable　he　looked；　and　
a…very　low　bow　he　made；　as　he　advanced；　and　setting　himself　
down　at　the　nearest　table；　ordered　something　to　drink　of　the　
grinning　Barney。　

“A　pleasant　night；　sir；　but　cool　for　the　time　of　year；”　said　Fagin；　
rubbing　his　hands。　“From　the　country；　I　see；　sir？”　

“How　do　yer　see　that？”　asked　Noah　Claypole。　

“We　have　not　so　much　dust　as　that　in　London；”　replied　Fagin；　
pointing　from　Noah’s　shoes　to　that　of　his　companion　and　from　
them　to　the　two　bundles。　

“Yer　a　sharp　feller；”　said　Noah。　“Ha！　ha！　only　hear　that；　
Charlotte！”　

“Why；　one　need　be　sharp　in　this　town；　my　dear；”　replied　the　
Jew；　sinking　his　voice　to　a　confidential　whisper；　“and　that’s　the　
truth。”　

Fagin　followed　up　this　remark　by　striking　the　side　of　his　nose　
with　his　right　forefinger—a　gesture　which　Noah　attempted　to　
imitate；　though　not　with　complete　success；　in　consequence　of　his　

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own　nose　not　being　large　enough　for　the　purpose。　However；　Mr。　
Fagin　seemed　to　interpret　the　endeavour　as　expressing　a　perfect　
coincidence　with　his　opinion；　and　put　about　the　liquor　which　
Barney　reappeared　with；　in　a　very　friendly　manner。　

“Good　stuff　that；”　observed　Mr。　Claypole；　smacking　his　lips。　

“Dear！”　said　Fagin。　“A　man　need　be　always　emptying　a　till；　or　a　
pocket；　or　a　woman’s　reticule；　or　a　house；　or　a　mail…coach；　or　a　
bank；　if　he　drinks　it　regularly。”　

Mr。　Claypole　no　sooner　heard　this　extract　from　his　own　
remarks　than　he　fell　back　in　his　chair；　and　looked　from　the　Jew　to　
Charlotte　with　a　countenance　of　ashy　paleness　and　excessive　
terror。　

“Don’t　mind　me；　my　dear；”　said　Fagin；　drawing　his　chair　closer。　
“Ha！　ha！　it　was　lucky　it　was　only　me　that　heard　you　by　chance。　It　
was　very　lucky　it　was　only　me。”　

“I　didn’t　take　it；”　stammered　Noah；　no　longer　stretching　out　his　
legs　like　an　independent　gentleman；　but　coiling　them　up　as　well　as　
he　could　under　his　chair；　“it　was　all　her　doing：　yer’ve　got　it　now；　
Charlotte；　yer　know　yer　have。”　

“No　matter　who’s　got　it；　or　who　did　it；　my　dear！”　replied　Fagin；　
glancing；　nevertheless；　with　a　hawk’s　eye　at　the　girl　and　the　two　
bundles。　“I’m　in　that　way　myself；　and　I　like　you　for　it。”　

“In　what　way？”　asked　Mr。　Claypole；　a　little　recovering。　

“In　that　way　of　business；”　rejoined　Fagin；　“and　so　are　the　
people　of　the　house。　You’ve　hit　the　right　nail　upon　the　head；　and　
are　as　safe　here　as　you　could　be。　There　is　not　a　safer　place　in　all　
this　town　than　is　the　Cripples；　that　is；　when　I　like　to　make　it　so。　
And　I　have　taken　a　fancy　to　you　and　the　young　woman；　so　I’ve　said　
the　word；　and　you　may　make　your　minds　easy。”　

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Noah　Claypole’s　mind　might　have　been　at　ease　after　this　
assurance；　but　his　body　certainly　was　not；　for　he　snuffled　and　
writhed　about；　into　various　uncouth　positions；　eyeing　his　new　
friend　meanwhile　with　mingled　fear　and　suspicion。　

“I’ll　tell　you　more；”　said　Fagin；　after　he　had　reassured　the　girl；　
by　dint　of　friendly　nods　and　muttered　encouragements。　“I　have　got　
a　friend　that　I　think　can　gratify　your　darling　wish；　and　put　you　in　
the　right　way；　where　you　can　take　whatever　department　of　the　
business　you　think　will　suit　you　best　at　first；　and　be　taught　all　the　
others。”　

“Yer　speak　as　if　yer　were　in　earnest；”　replied　Noah。　

“What　advantage　would　it　be　to　me　to　be　anything　else？”　
inquired　Fagin；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　“Here！　Let　me　have　a　
word　with　you　outside。”　

“There’s　no　occasion　to　trouble　ourselves　to　move；”　said　Noah；　
getting　his　legs　by　gradual　degrees　abroad—again。　“She’ll　take　the　
luggage　upstairs　the　while。　Charlotte；　see　to　them　bundles！”　

This　mandate；　which　had　been　delivered　with　great　majesty；　
was　obeyed　without　the　slightest　demur；　and　Charlotte　made　the　
best　of　her　way　off　with　the　packages　while　Noah　held　the　door　
open　and　watched　her　out。　

“She’s　kept　tolerably　well　under；　ain’t　she？”　he　asked；　as　he　
resumed　his　seat；　in　the　tone　of　a　keeper　who　has　tamed　some　wild　
animal。　

“Quite　perfect；”　rejoined　Fagin；　clapping　him　on　the　shoulder。　
“You’re　a　genius；　my　dear。”　

“Why；　I　suppose　if　I　wasn’t；　I　shouldn’t　be　here；”　replied　Noah。　
“But；　I　say；　she’ll　be　back　if　yer　lose　time。”　

“Now；　what　do　you　think？”　said　Fagin。　“If　you　was　to　like　my　

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friend；　could　you　do　better　than　join　him？”　

“Is　he　in　a　good　way　of　business；　that’s　where　it　is！”　responded　
Noah；　winking　one　of　his　little　eyes。　

“The　top　of　the　tree；”　said　Fagin；　“employs　a　power　of　hands；　
has　the　very　best　society　in　the　profession。”　

“Regular　town…maders？”　asked　Mr。　Claypole。　

“Not　a　countryman　among　’em；　and　I　don’t　think　he’d　take　you；　
even　on　my　recommendation；　if　he　didn’t　run　rather　short　of　
assistants　just　now；”　replied　Fagin。　

“Should　I　have　to　hand　over？”　said　Noah；　slapping　his　breeches　
pocket。　

“It　couldn’t　possibly　be　done　without；”　replied　Fagin；　in　a　most　
decided　manner。　

“Twenty　pound；　though—it’s　a　lot　of　money！”　

“Not　when　it’s　in　a　note　you　can’t　get　rid　of；”　retor