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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第78部分

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

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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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Oliver Twist 474 

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

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