oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第43章

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recently　interfered　in　his　behalf；　than　anybody　else。　It　was　also　
solemnly　arranged　that　poor　Oliver　should；　for　the　purposes　（If　the　
contemplated　expedition；　be　unreservedly　consigned　to　the　care　
and　custody　of　Mr。　William　Sikes；　and　further；　that　the　said　Sikes　
should　deal　with　him　as　he　thought　fit；　and　should　not　be　held　
responsible　by　the　Jew　for　any　mischance　or　evil　that　might　befall　
him；　or　any　punishment　with　which　it　might　be　necessary　to　visit　
him；　it　being　understood　that；　to　render　the　compact　in　this　
respect　binding；　any　representations　made　by　Mr。　Sikes　on　his　
return　should　be　required　to　be　confirmed　and　corroborated；　in　all　
important　particulars；　by　the　testimony　of　flash　Toby　Crackit。　

These　preliminaries　adjusted；　Mr。　Sikes　proceeded　to　drink　
brandy　at　a　furious　rate；　and　to　flourish　the　crowbar　in　an　
alarming　manner；　yelling　forth；　at　the　same　time；　most　unmusical　
snatches　of　song；　mingled　with　wild　execrations。　At　length；　in　a　fit　
of　professional　enthusiasm；　he　insisted　upon　producing　his　box　of　
housebreaking　tools；　which　he　had　no　sooner　stumbled　in　with；　
and　opened　for　the　purpose　of　explaining　the　nature　and　
properties　of　the　various　implements　it　contained；　and　the　peculiar　
beauties　of　their　construction；　than　he　fell　over　the　box　upon　the　
floor；　and　went　to　sleep　where　he　fell。　

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“Good…night；　Nancy；”　said　the　Jew　muffling　himself　up　as　
before。　

“Good…night。”　

Their　eyes　met；　and　the　Jew　scrutinised　her　narrowly。　There　
was　no　flinching　about　the　girl。　She　was　as　true　and　earnest　in　the　
matter　as　Toby　Crackit　himself　could　be。　

The　Jew　again　bade　her　good…night；　and　bestowing　a　sly　kick　
upon　the　prostrate　form　of　Mr。　Sikes　while　her　back　was　turned；　
groped　downstairs。　

“Always　the　way！”　muttered　the　Jew　to　himself　as　he　turned　
homeward。　“The　worst　of　these　women　is；　that　a　very　little　thing　
serves　to　call　up　some　long…forgotten　feeling；　and　the　best　of　them　
is；　that　it　never　lasts。　Ha！　ha！　The　man　against　the　child；　for　a　bag　
of　gold！”　

Beguiling　the　time　with　these　pleasant　reflections；　Mr。　Fagin　
wended　his　way；　through　mud　and　mire；　to　his　gloomy　abode；　
where　the　Dodger　was　sitting　up；　impatiently　awaiting　his　return。　

“Is　Oliver　a…bed？　I　want　to　speak　to　him；”　was　his　first　remark　
as　they　descended　the　stairs。　

“Hours　ago；”　replied　the　Dodger；　throwing　open　a　door。　“Here　
he　is！”　

The　boy　was　lying；　fast　asleep；　on　a　rude　bed　upon　the　floor；　so　
pale　with　anxiety；　and　sadness；　and　the　closeness　of　his　prison；　
that　he　looked　like　death；　not　death　as　it　shows　in　shroud　and　
coffin；　but　in　the　guise　it　wears　when　life　has　just　departed；　when　a　
young　and　gentle　spirit　has；　but　an　instant；　fled　to　heaven；　and　the　
gross　air　of　the　world　has　not　had　time　to　breathe　upon　the　
changing　dust　it　hallowed。　

“Not　now；”　said　the　Jew；　turning　softly　away。　“Tomorrow。　

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Oliver　Twist　207　

Tomorrow。”　

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Oliver　Twist　208　

Chapter　20　

Wherein　Oliver　Is　Delivered　Over　To　Mr。　William
Sikes。


When　Oliver　awoke　in　the　morning；　he　was　a　good　deal　
surprised　to　find　that　a　new　pair　of　shoes；　with　strong；　
thick　soles；　had　been　placed　at　his　bedside；　and　that　his　
old　shoes　had　been　removed。　At　first；　he　was　pleased　with　the　
discovery；　hoping　that　it　might　be　the　forerunner　of　his　release；　
but　such　thoughts　were　quickly　dispelled；　on　his　sitting　down　to　
breakfast　along　with　the　Jew；　who　told　him；　in　a　tone　and　manner　
which　increased　his　alarm；　that　he　was　to　be　taken　to　the　
residence　of　Bill　Sikes　that　night。　

“To—to—stop　there；　sir？”　asked　Oliver　anxiously。　

“No；　no；　my　dear。　Not　to　stop　there；”　replied　the　Jew。　“We　
shouldn’t　like　to　lose　you。　Don’t　be　afraid；　Oliver；　you　shall　come　
back　to　us　again。　Ha！　ha！　ha！　We　won’t　be　so　cruel　as　to　send　you　
away；　my　dear。　Oh；　no　no！”　

The　old　man；　who　was　stooping　over　the　fire　toasting　a　piece　of　
bread；　looked　round　as　he　bantered　Oliver　thus；　and　chuckled　as　if　
to　show　that　he　knew　he　would　still　be　very　glad　to　get　away　if　he　
could。　

“I　suppose；”　said　the　Jew；　fixing　his　eyes　on　Oliver；　“you　want　
to　know　what　you’re　going　to　Bill’s　for—eh；　my　dear？”　

Oliver　coloured；　involuntarily；　to　find　that　the　old　thief　had　
been　reading　his　thoughts；　but　boldly　said；　Yes；　he　did　want　to　
know。　

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Oliver　Twist　209　

“Why；　do　you　think？”　inquired　Fagin；　parrying　the　question。　

“Indeed　I　don’t　know；　sir；”　replied　Oliver。　

“Bah！”　said　the　Jew；　turning　away　with　a　disappointed　
countenance　from　a　close　perusal　of　the　boy’s　face。　“Wait　till　Bill　
tells　you；　then。”　

The　Jew　seemed　much　vexed　by　Oliver’s　not　expressing　any　
greater　curiosity　on　the　subject；　but　the　truth　is；　that；　although　
Oliver　felt　very　anxious；　he　was　too　much　confused　by　the　earnest　
cunning　of　Fagin’s　looks；　and　his　own　speculations；　to　make　any　
further　inquiries　just　then。　He　had　no　other　opportunity；　for　the　
Jew　remained　very　surly　and　silent　till　night；　when　he　prepared　to　
go　abroad。　

“You　may　burn　a　candle；”　said　the　Jew；　putting　one　upon　the　
table。　“And　here’s　a　book　for　you　to　read；　till　they　come　to　fetch　
you。　Good…night！”　

“Good…night！”　replied　Oliver　softly。　

The　Jew　walked　to　the　door；　looking　over　his　shoulder　at　the　
boy　as　he　went。　Suddenly　stopping；　he　called　him　by　his　name。　

Oliver　looked　up；　the　Jew；　pointing　to　the　candle；　motioned　him　
to　light　it。　He　did　so；　and；　as　he　placed　the　candlestick　upon　the　
table；　saw　that　the　Jew　was　gazing　fixedly　at　him；　with　lowering　
and　contracted　brows；　from　the　dark　end　of　the　room。　

“Take　heed；　Oliver！　take　heed！”　said　the　old　man；　shaking　his　
right　hand　before　him　in　a　warning　manner。　“He’s　a　rough　man；　
and　thinks　nothing　of　blood　when　his　Own　is　up。　Whatever　falls　
out；　say　nothing；　and　do　what　he　bids　you。　Mind！”　Placing　a　strong　
emphasis　on　the　last　word；　he　suffered　his　features　gradually　to　
resolve　themselves　into　a　ghastly　grin；　and；　nodding　his　head；　left　
the　room。　

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Oliver　Twist　210　

Oliver　leaned　his　head　upon　his　hand　when　the　old　man　
disappeared；　and　pondered；　with　a　trembling　heart；　on　the　words　
he　had　just　heard。　The　more　he　thought　of　the　Jew’s　admonition；　
the　more　he　was　at　a　loss　to　divine　its　real　purpose　and　meaning。　
He　could　think　of　no　bad　object　to　be　attained　by　sending　him　to　
Sikes；　which　would　not　be　equally　well　answered　by　his　remaining　
with　Fagin；　and　after　meditating　for　a　long　time；　concluded　that　he　
had　been　selected　to　perform　some　ordinary　menial　offices　for　the　
housebreaker；　until　another　boy；　better　suited　for　his　purpose；　
could　be　engaged。　He　was　too　well　accustomed　to　suffering；　and　
had　suffered　too　much　where　he　was；　to　bewail　the　prospect　of　
change　very　severely。　He　remained　lost　in　thought　for　some　
minutes；　and　then；　with　a　heavy　sigh；　snuffed　the　candle；　and；　
taking　up　the　book　which　the　Jew　had　left　with　him；　began　to　read。　

He　turned　over　the　leaves　carelessly　at　first；　but；　lighting　on　a　
passage　which　attracted　his　attention　he　soon　became　intent　upon　
the　volume。　It　was　a　history　of　the　lives　and　trials　of　great　
criminals；　and　the　pages　were　soiled　and　thumbed　with　use。　Here；　
he　read　of　dreadful　crimes　that　made　the　blood　run　cold；　of　secret　
murders　that　had　been　committed　by　the　lonely　wayside；　of　bodies　
hidden　from　the　eye　of　man　in　deep　pits　and　wells：　which　would　
not　keep　them　down；　deep　as　they　were；　but　had　yielded　them　up　
at　last；　after　many　years；　and　so　maddened　the　murderers　with　the　
sight；　that　in　their　horror　they　had　confessed　their　guilt；　and　yelled　
for　the　gibbet　to　end　their　agony。　Here；　too；　he　read　of　men　who；　
lying　in　their　beds　at　dead　of　night；　had　been　tempted　（as　they　
said）　and　led　on；　by　their　own　bad　thoughts；　to　such　dreadful　
bloodshed　as　it　made　the　flesh　creep；　and　the　limbs　quail；　to　think　
of。　The　terrible　descriptions　were　so　real　and　vivid；　that　t