oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第82节
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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 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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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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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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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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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 a
