oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第92节

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ceased。　

The　two　figures　of　the　young　lady　and　her　companion　soon　
afterwards　appeared　upon　the　bridge。　They　stopped　at　the　summit　
of　the　stairs。　

“Hark！”　cried　the　young　lady；　listening。　“Did　she　call！　thought　I　
heard　her　voice。”　

“No；　my　love；”　replied　Mr。　Brownlow；　looking　sadly　back。　“She　
has　not　moved；　and　will　not　till　we　are　gone。”　

Rose　Maylie　lingered；　but　the　old　gentleman　drew　her　arm　
through　his；　and　led　her；　with　gentle　force；　away。　As　they　
disappeared；　the　girl　sank　down　nearly　at　her　full　length　upon　one　
of　the　stone　stairs；　and　vented　the　anguish　of　her　heart　in　bitter　
tears。　

After　a　time　she　arose；　and；　with　feeble　and　tottering　steps；　
ascended　to　the　street。　The　astonished　listener　remained　
motionless　on　his　post　for　some　minutes　afterwards；　and　having　
ascertained；　with　many　cautious　glances　round　him；　that　he　was　

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again　alone；　crept　slowly　from　his　hiding…place；　and　returned；　
stealthily　and　in　the　shade　of　the　wall；　in　the　same　manner　as　he　
had　descended。　

Peeping　out；　more　than　once；　when　he　reached　the　top；　to　make　
sure　that　he　was　unobserved；　Noah　Claypole　darted　away　at　his　
utmost　speed；　and　made　for　the　Jew’s　house　as　fast　as　his　legs　
would　carry　him。　

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　Chapter　47　

Fatal　Consequences。　

It　was　nearly　two　hours　before　daybreak；　that　time　which　in　
the　autumn　of　the　year　may　be　truly　called　the　dead　of　night；　
when　the　streets　are　silent　and　deserted；　when　even　sounds　
appear　to　slumber；　and　profligacy　and　riot　have　staggered　home　to　
dream；　it　was　at　this　still　and　silent　hour；　that　Fagin　sat　watching　
in　his　old　lair；　with　face　so　distorted　and　pale；　and　eyes　so　red　and　
bloodshot；　that　he　looked　less　like　a　man；　than　like　some　hideous　
phantom；　moist　from　the　grave；　and　worried　by　an　evil　spirit。　

He　sat　crouching　over　a　cold　hearth；　wrapped　in　an　old　torn　
coverlet；　with　his　face　turned　towards　a　wasting　candle　that　stood　
upon　a　table　by　his　side。　His　right　hand　was　raised　to　his　lips；　and　
as；　absorbed　in　thought；　he　bit　his　long　black　nails；　he　disclosed　
among　his　toothless　gums　a　few　such　fangs　as　should　have　been　a　
dog’s　or　rat’s。　

Stretched　upon　a　mattress　on　the　floor；　lay　Noah　Claypole；　fast　
asleep。　Towards　him　the　old　man　sometimes　directed　his　eyes　for　
an　instant；　and　then　brought　them　back　again　to　the　candle；　which　
was　a　long…burnt　wick　drooping　almost　double；　and　hot　grease　
falling　down　in　clots　upon　the　table；　plainly　showed　that　his　
thoughts　were　busy　elsewhere。　

Indeed　they　were。　Mortification　at　the　overthrow　of　his　notable　
scheme；　hatred　of　the　girl　who　had　dared　to　palter　with　strangers；　
an　utter　distrust　of　the　sincerity　of　her　refusal　to　yield　him　up；　
bitter　disappointment　at　the　loss　of　his　revenge　on　Sikes；　the　fear　

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of　detection；　and　ruin；　and　death；　and　a　fierce　and　deadly　rage　
kindled　by　all；　these　were　the　passionate　considerations　which；　
following　close　upon　each　other　with　rapid　and　ceaseless　whirl；　
shot　through　the　brain　of　Fagin；　as　every　evil　thought　and　blackest　
purpose　lay　working　at　his　heart。　

He　sat　without　changing　his　attitude　in　the　least；　or　appearing　
to　take　the　smallest　heed　of　time；　until　his　quick　ear　seemed　to　be　
attracted　by　a　footstep　in　the　street。　

“At　last；”　he　muttered；　wiping　his　dry　and　fevered　mouth。　“At　
last！”　

The　bell　rang　gently　as　he　spoke。　He　crept　upstairs　to　the　door；　
and　presently　returned　accompanied　by　a　man　muffled　to　the　
chin；　who　carried　a　bundle　under　one　arm。　Sitting　down　and　
throwing　back　his　outer　coat；　the　man　displayed　the　burly　frame　of　
Sikes。　

“There！”　he　said；　laying　the　bundle　on　the　table。　“Take　care　of　
that；　and　do　the　most　you　can　with　it。　It’s　been　trouble　enough　to　
get：　I　thought　I　should　have　been　here　three　hours　ago。”　

Fagin　laid　his　hand　upon　the　bundle；　and　locking　it　in　the　
cupboard；　sat　down　again　without　speaking。　But　he　did　not　take　
his　eyes　off　the　robber；　for　an　instant；　during　this　action；　and　now　
that　they　sat　over　against　each　other；　face　to　face；　he　looked　fixedly　
at　him；　with　his　lips　quivering　so　violently；　and　his　face　so　altered　
by　the　emotions　which　had　mastered　him；　that　the　housebreaker　
involuntarily　drew　back　his　chair；　and　surveyed　him　with　a　look　of　
real　affright。　

“Wot　now？”　cried　Sikes。　“Wot　do　you　look　at　a　man　so　for？”　

Fagin　raised　his　right　hand；　and　shook　his　trembling　forefinger　
in　the　air；　but　his　passion　was　so　great；　that　the　power　of　speech　

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was　for　the　moment　gone。　

“Damme！”　said　Sikes；　feeling　in　his　breast　with　a　look　of　alarm。　
“He’s　gone　mad。　I　must　look　to　myself　here。”　

“No；　no；”　rejoined　Fagin；　finding　his　voice。　“It’s　not—You’re　not　
the　person；　Bill。　I’ve　no—no　fault　to　find　with　you。”　

“Oh；　you　haven’t；　haven’t　you？”　said　Sikes；　looking　sternly　at　
him；　and　ostentatiously　passing　a　pistol　into　a　more　convenient　
pocket。　“That’s　lucky—for　one　of　us。　Which　one　that　is；　don’t　
matter。”　

“I’ve　got　that　to　tell　you；　Bill；”　said　Fagin；　drawing　his　chair　
nearer；　“will　make　you　worse　than　me。”　

“Aye？”　returned　the　robber；　with　an　incredulous　air。　“Tell　
away！　Look　sharp；　or　Nance　will　think　I’m　lost。”　

“Lost！”　cried　Fagin。　“She　has　pretty　well　settled　that；　in　her　
own　mind；　already。”　

Sikes　looked　with　an　aspect　of　great　perplexity　into　the　Jew’s　
face；　and　reading　no　satisfactory　explanation　of　the　riddle　there；　
clenched　his　coat　collar　in　his　huge　hand　and　shook　him　soundly。　

“Speak；　will　you！”　he　said；　“or　if　you　won’t；　it　shall　be　for　want　
of　breath。　Open　your　mouth　and　say　wot　you’ve　got　to　say　in　plain　
words　Out　with　it；　you　thundering　old　cur；　out　with　it！”　

“Suppose　that　lad　that’s　lying　there—”　Fagin　began。　

Sikes　turned　round　to　where　Noah　was　sleeping；　as　if　he　had　
not　previously　observed　him。　“Well？”　he　said；　resuming　his　former　
position。　

“Suppose　that　lad；”　pursued　Fagin；　“was　to　peach—to　blow　
upon　us　all—first　seeking　out　the　right　folks　for　the　purpose；　and　
then　having　a　meeting　with　’em　in　the　street　to　paint　our　
likenesses；　describe　every　mark　that　they　might　know　us　by；　and　

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the　crib　where　we　might　be　most　easily　taken。　Suppose　he　was　to　
do　all　this；　and　besides　to　blow　upon　a　plant　we’ve　all　been　in；　
more　or　less—of　his　own　fancy；　not　grabbed；　trapped；　tried；　ear…
wigged　by　the　parson　and　brought　to　it　on　bread　and　water—but　
of　his　own　fancy；　to　please　his　own　taste；　stealing　out　at　nights　to　
find　those　most　interested　against　us；　and　peaching　to　them。　Do　
you　hear　me？”　cried　the　Jew；　his　eyes　flashing　with　rage。　
“Suppose　he　did　all　this；　what　then？”　

“What　then！”　replied　Sikes；　with　a　tremendous　oath。　“If　he　was　
left　alive　till　I　came；　I’d　grind　his　skull　under　the　iron　heel　of　my　
boot　into　as　many　grains　as　there　are　hairs　upon　his　head。”　

“What　if　I　did　it！”　cried　Fagin；　almost　in　a　yell。　“I；　that　know　so　
much；　and　could　hang　so　many　besides　myself！”　

“I　don’t　know；”　replied　Sikes；　clenching　his　teeth；　and　turning　
white　at　the　mere　suggestion。　“I’d　do　something　in　the　jail　that　’ud　
get　me　put　in　irons；　and　if　I　was　tried　along　with　you；　I’d　fall　upon　
you　with　them　in　the　open　court；　and　beat　your　brains　out　afore　
the　people。　I　should　have　such　strength；”　muttered　the　robber；　
poising　his　brawny　arm；　“that　I　could　smash　your　head　as　if　a　
loaded　wagon　had　gone　over　it。”　

“You　would？”　

“Would　I！”　said　the　housebreaker。　“Try　me。”　

“If　it　was　Charley；　or　the　Dodger；　or　Bet；　or—”　

“I　don’t　care　who；”　replied　Sikes　impatiently。　“Whoever　it　was；　
I’d　serve　them　the　same。”　

Fagin　looked　hard　at　the　robber；　and；　motioning　him　to　be　
silent；　stooped　over　the　bed　upon　the　floor；　and　shook　the　sleeper　
to　rouse　him。　Sikes　leaned　forward　in　his　chair；　looking　on　with　his　
hands　upon　his　knees；　as　if　wondering　much　what　all　this　

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questioning　and　preparation　was　to　end　in。　

“Bolter；　Bolter！　Poor　lad！”　said　Fagin；　looking　up　with　an　
expression　of　devilish　anticipation；　and　speaking　slowly　and　with　
marked　emphasis。　“He’s　tired—tired　with　watching　for　her　so　
long—watching　for　her；　Bill。”　

“Wot　d’ye　mean？”　asked　Sikes；　drawing　back。　

Fagin　made　no　answer；　but　bending　over　the　sleeper　again；　
hauled　him　into　a　sitting　posture。　When　his　assumed　name　had　
been　repeated　several　time；　Noah　rubbed　his　eyes；　and；　giving　a　
heavy　yawn；　looked　sleepily　about　him。　

“Tell　me　that　again—once　again；　just　for　him　to　hear；”　said　the　
Jew；　pointing　to　Sikes　as　he　spoke。　

“Tell　yer　what？”　asked　the　sleepy　Noah；　shaking　himself　
pettishly。　

“That　about—NANCY；”　said　Fagin；　clutching　Sikes　by　the　
wrist；　as　if　to　prevent　his　leaving　the　house　before　he　had　heard　
enough。　“You　followed　her？”