oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第78部分

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left　the　vulgar　to　imagine　（if　they　could）　the　full　majesty　of　Justice。　

There　were　only　a　couple　of　women　in　the　dock；　who　were　
nodding　to　their　admiring　friends；　while　the　clerk　read　some　

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depositions　to　a　couple　of　policemen　and　a　man　in　plain　clothes　
who　leant　over　the　table。　A　jailer　stood　reclining　against　the　dock　
rail；　tapping　his　nose　listlessly　with　a　large　key；　except　when　he　
repressed　an　undue　tendency　to　conversation　among　the　idlers；　by　
proclaiming　silence；　or　looked　sternly　up　to　bid　some　woman　
“Take　that　baby　out；”　when　the　gravity　of　justice　was　disturbed　by　
feeble　cries；　half…smothered　in　the　mother’s　shawl；　from　some　
meagre　infant。　The　room　smelled　close　and　unwholesome；　the　
walls　were　dirt…coloured；　and　the　ceiling　blackened。　There　was　an　
old　smoky　bust　over　the　mantel…shelf；　and　a　dusty　clock　above　the　
dock—the　only　thing　present；　that　seemed　to　go　on　as　it　ought；　for　
depravity；　or　poverty；　or　an　habitual　acquaintance　with　both；　had　
left　a　taint　on　all　the　animate　matter；　hardly　less　unpleasant　than　
the　thick　greasy　scum　on　every　inanimate　object　that　frowned　
upon　it。　

Noah　looked　eagerly　about　him　for　the　Dodger；　but　although　
there　were　several　women　who　would　have　done　very　well　for　that　
distinguished　character’s　mother　or　sister；　and　more　than　one　man　
who　might　be　supposed　to　bear　a　strong　resemblance　to　his　father；　
nobody　at　all　answering　the　description　given　him　of　Mr。　Dawkins　
was　to　be　seen。　He　waited　in　a　state　of　much　suspense　and　
uncertainty　until　the　women；　being　committed　for　trial；　went　
flaunting　out；　and　then　was　quickly　relieved　by　the　appearance　of　
another　prisoner　who　he　felt　at　once　could　be　no　other　than　the　
object　of　his　visit。　

It　was　indeed　Mr。　Dawkins；　who；　shuffling　into　the　office　with　
the　big　coat　tucked　up　as　usual；　his　left　hand　in　his　pocket；　and　his　
hat　in　his　right　hand；　preceded　the　jailer；　with　a　rolling　gait　
altogether　indescribable；　and；　taking　his　place　in　the　dock；　

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requested　in　an　audible　voice　to　know　what　he　was　placed　in　that　

’ere　disgraceful　sitivation　for。　

“Hold　your　tongue；　will　you？”　said　the　jailer。　

“I’m　an　Englishman；　ain’t　I？”　rejoined　the　Dodger。　“Where　are　
my　priwileges？”　

“You’ll　get　your　privileges　soon　enough；”　retorted　the　jailer；　
“and　pepper　with　’em。”　

“We’ll　see　wot　the　Secretary　of　State　for　the　Home　Affairs　has　
got　to　say　to　the　beaks；　if　I　don’t；”　replied　Mr。　Dawkins。　“Now　
then！　Wot　is　this　here　business？　I　shall　thank　the　madg’strates　to　
dispose　of　this　here　little　affair；　and　not　to　keep　me　while　they　read　
the　paper；　for　I’ve　got　an　appointment　with　a　gentleman　in　the　
city；　and　as　I’m　a　man　of　my　word　and　wery　punctual　in　business　
matters；　he’ll　go　away　if　I　ain’t　there　to　my　time；　and　then　p’r’aps　
there　won’t　be　an　action　for　damage　against　them　as　kept　me　
away。　Oh；　no；　certainly　not！”　

At　this　point；　the　Dodger；　with　a　show　of　being　very　particular　
with　a　view　to　proceedings　to　be　had　thereafter；　desired　the　jailer　
to　communicate　“the　names　of　them　two　files　as　was　on　the　
bench；”　which　so　tickled　the　spectators；　that　they　laughed　almost　
as　heartily　as　Master　Bates　could　have　done　if　he　had　heard　the　
request。　

“Silence；　there！”　cried　the　jailer。　

“What　is　this？”　inquired　one　of　the　magistrates。　

“A　pick…pocketing　case；　your　Worship。”　

“Has　the　boy　ever　been　here　before？”　

“He　ought　to　have　been；　a　many　times；”　replied　the　jailer。　“He　
has　been　pretty　well　everywhere　else。　I　know　him　well；　your　
Worship。”　

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“Oh！　you　know　me；　do　you？”　cried　the　Artful；　making　a　note　of　
the　statement。　“Wery　good。　That’s　a　case　of　deformation　of　
character；　anyway。”　Here　there　was　another　laugh；　and　another　
cry　of　silence。　

“Now　then；　where　are　the　witnesses？”　said　the　clerk。　

“Ah！　that’s　right；”　added　the　Dodger。　“Where　are　they？　I　should　
like　to　see　’em。”　

This　wish　was　immediately　gratified；　for　a　policeman　stepped　
forward　who　had　seen　the　prisoner　attempt　the　pocket　of　an　
unknown　gentleman　in　a　crowd；　and　indeed　take　a　handkerchief　
therefrom；　which；　being　a　very　old　one；　he　deliberately　put　back　
again；　after　trying　it　on　his　own　countenance。　For　this　reason；　he　
took　the　Dodger　into　custody　as　soon　as　he　could　get　near　him；　
and　the　said　Dodger；　being　searched；　had　upon　his　person　a　silver　
snuff…box；　with　the　owner’s　name　engraved　upon　the　lid。　This　
gentleman　had　been　discovered　on　reference　to　the　Court　Guide；　
and　being　then　and　there　present；　swore　that　the　snuff…box　was　
his；　and　that　he　missed　it　on　the　previous　day；　the　moment　he　had　
disengaged　himself　from　the　crowd　before　referred　to。　He　had　also　
remarked　a　young　gentleman　in　the　throng；　particularly　active　in　
making　his　way　about；　and　that　young　gentleman　was　the　prisoner　
before　him。　

“Have　you　anything　to　ask　this　witness；　boy？”　said　the　
magistrate。　

“I　wouldn’t　abase　myself　by　descending　to　hold　no　conversation　
with　him；”　replied　the　Dodger。　

“Have　you　anything　to　say　at　all？”　

“Do　you　hear　his　Worship　ask　if　you’ve　anything　to　say？”　
inquired　the　jailer；　nudging　the　silent　Dodger　with　his　elbow。　

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“I　beg　your　pardon；”　said　the　Dodger；　looking　up　with　an　air　of　
abstraction。　“Did　you　redress　yourself　to　me；　my　man？”　

“I　never　see　such　an　out…and…out　young　wagabond；　your　
Worship；”　observed　the　officer；　with　a　grin。　“Do　you　mean　to　say　
anything；　you　young　shaver？”　

“No；”　replied　the　Dodger；　“not　here；　for　this　ain’t　the　shop　for　
justice；　besides　which；　my　attorney　is　a…breakfasting　this　morning　
with　the　wice…president　of　the　House　of　Commons；　but　I　shall　have　
something　to　say　elsewhere；　and　so　will　he；　and　so　will　a　wery　
numerous　and　’spectable　circle　of　acquaintance　as’ll　make　them　
beaks　wish　they’d　never　been　born；　or　that　they’d　got　their　
footmen　to　hang　’em　up　to　their　own　hat…pegs；　afore　they　let　’em　
come　out　this　morning　to　try　it　on　upon　me。　It’ll—”　

“There！　He’s　fully　committed！”　interposed　the　clerk。　“Take　him　
away。”　

“Come　on；”　said　the　jailer。　

“Oh；　ah！　I’ll　come　on；”　replied　the　Dodger；　brushing　his　hat　
with　the　palm　of　his　hand。　“Ah！　（to　the　Bench）　it’s　no　use　your　
looking　frightened；　I　won’t　show　you　no　mercy；　not　a　ha’porth　of　it。　
You’ll　pay　for　this；　my　fine　fellers。　I　wouldn’t　be　you　for　something！　
I　wouldn’t　go　free；　now；　if　you　was　to　fall　down　on　your　knees　and　
ask　me。　Here；　carry　me　off　to　prison！　Take　me　away！”　

With　these　last　words；　the　Dodger　suffered　himself　to　be　led　off　
by　the　collar；　threatening；　till　he　got　into　the　yard；　to　make　a　
parliamentary　business　of　it；　and　then　grinning　in　the　officer’s　
face；　with　great　glee　and　self…approval。　

Having　seen　him　locked　up　by　himself　in　a　little　cell；　Noah　
made　the　best　of　his　way　back　to　where　he　had　left　Master　Bates。　
After　waiting　here　some　time；　he　was　joined　by　that　young　

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gentleman；　who　had　prudently　abstained　from　showing　himself　
until　he　had　looked　carefully　abroad　from　a　snug　retreat；　and　
ascertained　that　his　new　friend　had　not　been　followed　by　any　
impertinent　person。　

The　two　hastened　back　together；　to　bear　to　Mr。　Fagin　the　
animating　news　that　the　Dodger　was　doing　full　justice　to　his　
bringing…up；　and　establishing　for　himself　a　glorious　reputation。　

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Chapter　44　

The　Time　Arrives　For　Nancy　To　Redeem　Her
Pledge　To　Rose　Maylie—She　Fails。


Adept　as　she　was；　in　all　the　arts　of　cunning　and　
dissimulation；　the　girl　Nancy　could　not　wholly　conceal　the　
effect　which　the　knowledge　of　the　step　she　had　taken；　
worked　upon　her　mind。　She　remembered　that　both　the　crafty　Jew　
and　the　brutal　Sikes　had　confided　to　her　schemes；　which　had　been　
hidden　from　all　others；　in　the　full　confidence　that　she　was　
trustworthy　and　beyond　the　reach　of　their　suspicion。　Vile　as　those　
schemes　were；　desperate　as　were　their　originators；　and　bitter　as　
were　her　feelings　towards　Fagin；　who　had　led　her；　step　by　step；　
deeper　and　deeper　down　into　an　abyss　of　crime　and　misery；　
whence　was　no　escape；　still；　there　were　times　when；　even　towards　
him；　she　felt　some　relenting；　lest　her　disclosure　should　bring　him　
within　the　iron　grasp　he　had　so　long　eluded；　and　he　should　fall　at　
last—richly　as　he　merited　such　a　fate—by　her　hand。　

But　these　were　the　mere　wanderings　of　a　mind　unable　wholly　to　
detach　itself　from　old　companions　and　associations　though　
enabled　to　fix　itself　steadily　on　one　object；　and　resolved　not　to　be　
turned　aside　by　any　consideration。　Her　fears　for　Sikes　would　have　
been　more　powerful　inducements　to　recoil　while　there　was　yet　
time；　but　she　had　stipulated　that　her　secret　should　be　rigidly　kept；　
she　had　dropped　no　clue　which　could　lead　to　his　discovery；　she　
had　refused；　even　for　his　sake；　a　refuge　from　all　the　guilt　and　
wretchedness　that　encompassed　her—and　what　more　could　she　

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do！　She　was　resolved。　

Though　all　her　mental　struggles　terminated　in　this　conclusion；　
they　forced　themselves　upon　her；　again　and　again；　and　left　their　
traces　too。　She　grew　pale　and　thin；　even　within　a　few　days。　At　
times；　she　took　no　heed　of　what　was　passing　before　her；　or　no　part　
in　conversations　where　once　she　would　have　been　the　loudest。　At　
other　times；　she　laughed　without　merriment；　and　was　noisy　
without　cause　or　meaning。　At　others—often　within　a　moment　
afterwards—she　sat　silent　and　dejected；　brooding　with　her　head　
upon　her　hands；　while　the　very　effort　by　which　she　roused　herself；　
told；　more　forcibly　than　even　these　indications；　that　she　was　ill　at　
ease；　and　that　her　thoughts　were　occupied　with　matters　very　
different　and　distant　from　those　in　course　of　discussion　by　her　
companions。　

It　was　Sunday　night；　and　the