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第103章

oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第103章

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

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before this river wakes to the first glimpse of daylight; you shall be 
placed as entirely beyond the reach of your former associates; and 
leave as utter an absence of all trace behind you; as if you were to 
disappear from the earth this moment。 Come! I would not have 
you go back to exchange one word with any old companion or take 
one look at any old haunt; or breathe the very air which is 
pestilence and death to you。 Quit them all; while there is time and 
opportunity!” 

“She will be persuaded now;” cried the young lady。 “She 

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hesitates; I am sure。” 

“I fear not; my dear;” said the gentleman。 

“No; sir; I do not;” replied the girl; after a short struggle。 “I am 
chained to my old life。 I loathe and hate it now; but I cannot leave 
it。 I must have gone too far to turn back—and yet I don’t know; for 
if you had spoken to me so; some time ago; I should have laughed 
it off。 But;” she said; looking hastily round; “this fear comes over 
me again。 I must go home。” 

“Home!” repeated the young lady; with great stress upon the 
word。 

“Home; lady;” rejoined the girl。 “To such a home as I have 
raised for myself with the work of my whole life。 Let us part。 I shall 
be watched or seen。 Go! Go! If I have done you any service; all I 
ask is; that you leave me; and let me go my way alone。” 

“It is useless;” said the gentleman; with a sigh。 “We 
compromise her safety; perhaps; by staying here。 We may have 
detained her longer than she expected already。” 

“Yes; yes;” urged the girl。 “You have。” 

“What;” cried the young lady; “can be the end of this poor 
creature’s life!” 

“What!” repeated the girl。 “Look before you; lady。 Look at that 
dark water。 How many times do you read of such as I who spring 
into the tide; and leave no living thing; to care for; or bewail them。 
It may be years hence; or it may be only months; but I shall come 
to that at last。” 

“Do not speak thus; pray;” returned the young lady; sobbing。 

“It will never reach your ears; dear lady; and God forbid such 
horrors should!” replied the girl。 “Good…night; good…night!” 

The gentleman turned away。 

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“This purse;” cried the young lady。 “Take it for my sake; that 
you may have some resource in an hour of need and trouble。” 

“No!” replied the girl。 “I have not done this for money。 Let me 
have that to think of。 And yet—give me something that you have 
worn—I should like to have something—no; no; not a ring—your 
gloves or handkerchief—anything that I can keep; as having 
belonged to you; sweet lady。 There。 Bless you! God bless you。 
Good…night; good…night!” 

The violent agitation of the girl; and the apprehension of some 
discovery which would subject her to ill…usage and violence; 
seemed to determine the gentleman to leave her; as she requested。 
The sound of retreating footsteps were audible and the voices 
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 

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