oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第28部分

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Oliver　Twist　148　

the　room。　Mrs。　Bedwin　followed　him　to　the　street　door；　giving　him　
many　directions　about　the　nearest　way；　and　the　name　of　the　
bookseller；　and　the　name　of　the　street；　all　of　which　Oliver　said　he　
clearly　understood；　and　having　superadded　many　injunctions　to　
be　sure　and　not　take　cold；　the　old　lady　at　length　permitted　him　to　
depart。　

“Bless　his　sweet　face！”　said　the　old　lady；　looking　after　him。　“I　
can’t　bear；　somehow；　to　let　him　go　out　of　my　sight。”　

At　this　moment；　Oliver　looked　gaily　round；　and　nodded　before　
he　turned　the　corner。　The　old　lady　smilingly　returned　his　
salutation；　and；　closing　the　door；　went　back　to　her　own　room。　

“Let　me　see；　he’ll　be　back　in　twenty　minutes；　at　the　longest；”　
said　Mr。　Brownlow；　pulling　out　his　watch；　and　placing　it　on　the　
table　“It　will　be　dark　by　that　time。”　

“Oh！　you　really　expect　him　to　come　back；　do　you？”　inquired　Mr。　
Grimwig。　

“Don’t　you？”　asked　Mr。　Brownlow；　smiling。　

The　spirit　of　contradiction　was　strong　in　Mr。　Grimwig’s　breast；　
at　the　moment；　and　it　was　rendered　stronger　by　his　friend’s　
confident　smile。　

“No；”　he　said；　smiting　the　table　with　his　fist；　“I　do　not。　The　boy　
has　a　new　suit　of　clothes　on　his　back；　a　set　of　valuable　books　under　
his　arm；　and　a　five…pound　note　in　his　pocket。　He’ll　join　his　old　
friends　the　thieves；　and　laugh　at　you。　If　ever　that　boy　returns　to　
this　house。　sir；　I’ll　eat　my　head。”　

With　these　words　he　drew　his　chair　closer　to　the　table；　and　
there　the　two　friends　sat；　in　silent　expectation；　with　the　watch　
between　them。　

It　was　worthy　of　remark；　as　illustrating　the　importance　we　

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attach　to　our　own　judgments；　and　the　pride　with　which　we　put　
forth　our　most　rash　and　hasty　conclusions；　that；　although　Mr。　
Grimwig　was　not　by　any　means　a　bad…hearted　man；　and　though　he　
would　have　been　unfeignedly　sorry　to　see　his　respected　friend　
duped　and　deceived；　he　really　did　most　earnestly　and　strongly　
hope　at　that　moment；　that　Oliver　Twist　might　not　come　back。　

It　grew　so　dark；　that　the　figures　on　the　dial…plate　were　scarcely　
discernible；　but　there　the　two　old　gentlemen　continued　to　sit；　in　
silence；　with　the　watch　between　them。　

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Chapter　15　

Showing　How　Very　Fond　Of　Oliver　Twist；　The
Merry　Old　Jew　And　Miss　Nancy　Were。


In　the　obscure　parlour　of　a　low　public…house；　situated　in　the　
filthiest　part　of　Little　Saffron　Hill—a　dark　and　gloomy　den；　
where　a　flaring　gas…light　burned　all　day　in　the　wintertime；　and　
where　no　ray　of　sun　ever　shone　in　the　summer—there　sat；　
brooding　over　a　little　pewter　measure　and　a　small　glass；　strongly　
impregnated　with　the　smell　of　liquor；　a　man　in　a　velveteen　coat；　
drab　shorts；　half…boots　and　stockings；　whom　even　by　that　dim　light　
no　experienced　agent　of　police　would　have　hesitated　to　recognise　
as　Mr。　William　Sikes。　At　his　feet　sat　a　white…coated；　red…eyed　dog；　
who　occupied　himself；　alternately；　in　winking　at　his　master　with　
both　eyes　at　the　same　time；　and　in　licking　a　large；　fresh　cut　on　one　
side　of　his　mouth；　which　appeared　to　be　the　result　of　some　recent　
conflict。　

“Keep　quiet；　you　varmint！　Keep　quiet！”　said　Mr。　Sikes；　
suddenly　breaking　silence。　Whether　his　meditations　were　so　
intense　as　to　be　disturbed　by　the　dog’s　winking；　or　whether　his　
feelings　were　so　wrought　upon　by　his　reflections　that　they　
required　all　the　relief　derivable　from　kicking　an　unoffending　
animal　to　allay　them；　is　matter　for　argument　and　consideration。　
Whatever　was　the　cause；　the　effect　was　a　kick　and　a　curse　
bestowed　upon　the　dog　simultaneously。　

Dogs　are　not　generally　apt　to　revenge　injuries　inflicted　upon　
them　by　their　masters；　but　Mr。　Sikes’s　dog；　having　faults　of　temper　

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in　common　with　his　owner；　and　labouring；　perhaps；　at　this　
moment；　under　a　powerful　sense　of　injury；　made　no　more　ado　but　
at　once　fixed　his　teeth　in　one　of　the　half…boots。　Having　given　it　a　
hearty　shake；　he　retired；　growling；　under　a　form；　thereby　just　
escaping　the　pewter　measure　which　Mr。　Sikes　levelled　at　his　head。　

“You　would；　would　you—？”　said　Sikes；　seizing　the　poker　in　one　
hand；　and　deliberately　opening　with　the　other　a　large　clasp…knife；　
which　he　drew　from　his　pocket。　“Come　here；　you　born　devil！　Come　
here！　D’ye　hear？”　

The　dog　no　doubt　heard；　because　Mr。　Sikes　spoke　in　the　very　
harshest　key　of　a　very　harsh　voice；　but；　appearing　to　entertain　
some　unaccountable　objection　to　having　his　throat　cut；　he　
remained　where　he　was　and　growled　more　fiercely　than　before；　at　
the　same　time　grasping　the　end　of　the　poker　between　his　teeth；　
and　biting　at　it　like　a　wild　beast。　

This　resistance　only　infuriated　Mr。　Sikes　the　more；　who；　
dropping　on　his　knees；　began　to　assail　the　animal　most　furiously。　
The　dog　jumped　from　right　to　left；　and　from　left　to　right—　
snapping；　growling；　and　barking；　the　man　thrust　and　swore；　and　
struck　and　blasphemed；　and　the　struggle　was　reaching　a　most　
critical　point　for　one　or　other；　when　the　door　suddenly　opening；　
the　dog　darted　out；　leaving　Bill　Sikes　with　the　poker　and　the　clasp…
knife　in　his　hands。　

There　must　always　be　two　parties　to　a　quarrel；　says　the　old　
adage。　Mr。　Sikes；　being　disappointed　of　the　dog’s　participation；　at　
once　transferred　his　share　in　the　quarrel　to　the　newcomer。　

“What　the　devil　do　you　come　in　between　me　and　my　dog　for？”　
said　Sikes；　with　a　fierce　gesture。　

“I　didn’t　know；　my　dear；　I　didn’t　know；”　replied　Fagin　humbly；　

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for　the　Jew　was　the　newcomer。　

“Didn’t　know；　you　white…livered　thief！”　growled　Sikes。　
“Couldn’t　you　hear　the　noise？”　

“Not　a　sound　of　it；　as　I’m　a　living　man；　Bill；”　replied　the　Jew。　

“Oh；　no！　You　hear　nothing；　you　don’t；”　retorted　Sikes；　with　a　
fierce　sneer。　“Sneaking　in　and　out；　so　as　nobody　hears　how　you　
come　or　go！　I　wish　you　had　been　the　dog；　Fagin；　half　a　minute　
ago。”　

“Why？”　inquired　the　Jew；　with　a　forced　smile。　

“’Cause　the　government；　as　cares　for　the　lives　of　such　men　as　
you；　as　haven’t　half　the　pluck　of　curs；　lets　a　man　kill　a　dog　how　he　
likes；”　replied　Sikes；　shutting　up　the　knife　with　a　very　expressive　
look；　“that’s　why。”　

The　Jew　rubbed　his　hands；　and；　sitting　down　at　the　table；　
affected　to　laugh　at　the　pleasantry　of　his　friend。　He　was　obviously　
very　ill　at　ease；　however。”　

“Grin　away；”　said　Sikes；　replacing　the　poker；　and　surveying　
him　with　savage　contempt；　“grin　away。　You’ll　never　have　the　
laugh　at　me；　though；　unless　it’s　behind　a　night…cap。　I’ve　got　the　
upper　hand　over　you；　Fagin；　and　d　me　I’ll　keep　it。　There！　If　I　go；　
you　go；　so　take　care　of　me。”　

“Well；　well；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew。　I　know　all　that；　we—we—　
have　a　mutual　interest；　Bill—a　mutual　interest。”　

“Humph；”　said　Sikes；　as　if　he　thought　the　interest　lay　rather　
more　on　the　Jew’s　side　than　on　his。　“Well；　what　have　you　got　to　say　
to　me？”　

“It’s　all　passed　safe　through　the　melting…pot；”　replied　Fagin；　
“and　this　is　your　share。　It’s　rather　more　than　it　ought　to　be　my　
dear；　but　as　I　know　you’ll　do　me　a　good　turn　another　time；　and—”　

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“Stow　that　gammon；”　interposed　the　robber　impatiently。　
“Where　is　it？　Hand　over！”　

“Yes；　yes；　Bill；　give　me　time；　give　me　time；”　replied　the　Jew　
soothingly　“Here　it　is！　All　safe！”　As　he　spoke　he　drew　forth　an　old　
cotton　handkerchief　from　his　breast；　and　untying　a　large　knot　in　
one　corner；　produced　a　small　brown　paper　packet。　Sikes；　
snatching　it　from　him；　hastily　opened　it；　and　proceeded　to　count　
the　sovereigns　it　contained。　

“This　is　all；　is　it？”　inquired　Sikes。　

“All；”　replied　the　Jew。　

“You　haven’t　opened　the　parcel　and　swallowed　one　or　two　as　
you　come　along；　have　you？”　inquired　Sikes　suspiciously　“Don’t　
put　on　an　injured　look　at　the　question；　you’ve　done　it　many　a　time。　
Jerk　the　tinkler。”　

These　words；　in　plain　English；　conveyed　an　injunction　to　ring　
the　bell。　It　was　answered　by　another　Jew；　younger　than　Fagin；　but　
nearly　as　vile　and　repulsive　in　appearance。　

Bill　Sikes　merely　pointed　to　the　empty　measure。　The　Jew；　
perfectly　understanding　the　hint；　retired　to　fill　it；　previously　
exchanging　a　remarkable　look　with　Fagin；　who　raised　his　eyes　for　
an　instant；　as　if　in　expectation　of　it；　and　shook　his　head　in　reply；　so　
slightly　that　the　action　would　have　been　almost　imperceptible　to　
an　observant　third　person。　It　was　lost　upon　Sikes；　who　was　
stooping　at　the　moment　to　tie　the　boot…lace　which　the　dog　had　
torn。　Possibly　if　he　had　observed　the　brief　interchange　of　signals；　
he　might　have　thought　that　it　boded　no　good　to　him。　

“Is　anybody　here；　Barney？”　inquired　Fagin；　speaking；　now　that　
Sikes　was　looking　on；　without　raising　his　eyes　from　the　ground。　

“Dot　a　shoul；”　replied　Barney；　whose　words；　whether　they　

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came　from　the　heart　or　not；　made　their　way　through