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第53章

oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第53章

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

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when we’ve good cards; Charley and I can’t make nothing of ’em。” 

Either the matter or the manner of this remark; which was 
made very ruefully; delighted Charley Bates so much; that his 
consequent shout of laughter roused the Jew from his reverie; and 
induced him to inquire what was the matter。 

“Matter; Fagin!” cried Charley。 “I wish you had watched the 
play。 Tommy Chitling hasn’t won a point; and I went partners with 
him against the Artful and him。” 

“Ay; ay!” said the Jew; with a grin; which sufficiently 

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demonstrated that he was at no loss to understand the reason。 
“Try ’em again; Tom; try ’em again。” 

“No more of it for me; thankee; Fagin;” replied Mr。 Chitling; 
“I’ve had enough。 That ’ere Dodger has such a run of luck that 
there’s no standing again’ him。” 

“Ha! ha! my dear;” replied the Jew; “you must get up very early 
in the morning; to win against the Dodger。” 

“Morning!” said Charley Bates; “you must put your boots on 
overnight; and have a telescope at each eye; and a opera…glass 
between your shoulders; if you want to come over him。” 

Mr。 Dawkins received these handsome compliments with much 
philosophy; and offered to cut any gentleman in company; for the 
first picture…card; at a shilling a time。 Nobody accepting the 
challenge; and his pipe being by this time smoked out; he 
proceeded to amuse himself by sketching a ground…plan of 
Newgate on the table with a piece of chalk which had served him 
in lieu of counters; whistling; meantime; with peculiar shrillness。 

“How precious dull you are; Tommy!” said the Dodger; 
stopping short when there had been a long silence; and addressing 
Mr。 Chitling。 “What do you think he’s thinking of; Fagin?” 

“How should I know; my dear?” replied the Jew; looking round 
as he plied the bellows。 “About his losses; maybe; or the little 
retirement in the country; that he’s just left; eh? Ha! ha! ha! Is that 
it; my dear?” 

“Not a bit of it;” replied the Dodger; stopping the subject of 
discourse as Mr。 Chitling was about to reply。 “What do you say; 
Charley?” 

“I should say;” replied Master Bates; with a grin; “that he was 
uncommon sweet upon Betsy。 See how he’s a…blushing! Oh; my 

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eye! here’s a merry…go…rounder! Tommy Chitling’s in love! Oh; 
Fagin; Fagin! what a spree!” 

Thoroughly overpowered with the notion of Mr。 Chitling being 
the victim of the tender passion; Master Bates threw himself back 
in his chair with such violence; that he lost his balance; and 
pitched over upon the floor; where (the accident abating nothing 
of his merriment) he lay at full length until his laugh was over; 
when he resumed his former position; and began another laugh。 

“Never mind him; my dear;” said the Jew; winking at Mr。 
Dawkins; and giving Master Bates a reproving tap with the nozzle 
of the bellows。 “Betsy’s a fine girl。 Stick up to her; Tom。 Stick up 
to her。” 

“What I mean to say; Fagin;” replied Mr。 Chitling; very red in 
the face; “is; that that isn’t anything to anybody here。” 

“No more it is;” replied the Jew; “Charley will talk。 Don’t mind 
him; my dear; don’t mind him。 Betsy’s a fine girl。 Do as she bids 
you; Tom; and you will make your fortune。” 

“So I do do as she bids me;” replied Mr。 Chitling; “I shouldn’t 
have been milled; if it hadn’t been for her advice。 But it turned out 
a good job for you; didn’t it; Fagin? And what’s six weeks of it? It 
must come; some time or another; and why not in the winter time 
when you don’t want to go out a…walking so much; eh; Fagin?” 

“Ah; to be sure; my dear;” replied the Jew。 

“You wouldn’t mind it again; Tom; would you;” asked the 
Dodger; winking upon Charley and the Jew; “if Bet was all right?” 

“I mean to say that I shouldn’t;” replied Tom angrily。 “There; 
now。 Ah! Who’ll say as much as that; I should like to know; eh; 
Fagin?” 

“Nobody; my dear;” replied the Jew; “not a soul; Tom。 I don’t 

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know one of ’em that would do it besides you; not one of ’em; my 
dear。” 

“I might have got clear off; if I’d split upon her; mightn’t I; 
Fagin?” angrily pursued the poor; half…witted dupe。 “A word from 
me would have done it; wouldn’t it; Fagin?” 

“To be sure it would; my dear;” replied the Jew。 

“But I didn’t blab it; did I; Fagin?” demanded Tom; pouring 
question upon question with great volubility。 

“No; no; to be sure;” replied the Jew; “you were too stouthearted for that。 A deal too stout; my dear!” 

“Perhaps I was;” rejoined Tom; looking round; “and if I was; 
what’s to laugh at; in that; eh; Fagin?” 

The Jew; perceiving that Mr。 Chitling was considerably roused; 
hastened to assure him that nobody was laughing; and to prove 
the gravity of the company; appealed to Master Bates; the 
principal offender。 But; unfortunately; Charley; in opening his 
mouth to reply that he was never more serious in his life; was 
unable to prevent the escape of such a violent roar; that the 
abused Mr。 Chitling; without any preliminary ceremonies; rushed 
across the room and aimed a blow at the offender; who; being 
skilful in evading pursuit; ducked to avoid it; and chose his time so 
well that it lighted on the chest of the merry old gentleman; and 
caused him to stagger to the wall; where he stood panting for 
breath; while Mr。 Chitling looked on in intense dismay。 

“Hark!” cried the Dodger; at this moment; “I heard the tinkler。” 
Catching up the light; he crept softly upstairs。 

The bell was rung again; with some impatience; while the party 
were in darkness。 After a short pause; the Dodger reappeared; and 
whispered to Fagin mysteriously。 

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“What!” cried the Jew; “alone?” 

The Dodger nodded in the affirmative; and; shading the flame 
of the candle with his hand; gave Charley Bates a private 
intimation; in dumb show; that he had better not be funny just 
then。 Having performed this friendly office; he fixed his eyes on 
the Jew’s face; and awaited his directions。 

The old man bit his yellow fingers; and meditated for some 
seconds; his face working with agitation the while; as if he dreaded 
something; and feared to know the worst。 At length he raised his 
head。 

“Where is he?” he asked。 

The Dodger pointed to the floor above; and made a gesture; as 
if to leave the room。 

“Yes;” said the Jew; answering the mute inquiry; “bring him 
down。 Hush! Quiet; Charley I Gently; Tom! Scarce; scarce!” 

This brief direction to Charley Bates; and his recent antagonist; 
was softly and immediately obeyed。 There was no sound of their 
whereabouts; when the Dodger descended the stairs; bearing the 
light in his hand; and followed by a man in a coarse smock…frock; 
who; after casting a hurried glance round the room; pulled off a 
large wrapper which had concealed the lower portion of his face; 
and disclosed; all haggard; unwashed; and unshorn; the features of 
flash Toby Crackit。 

“How are you; Faguey?” said this worthy; nodding to the Jew。 
“Pop that shawl away in my castor; Dodger; so that I may know 
where to find it when I cut; that’s the time of day I You’ll be a fine 
young cracksman afore the old file now。” With these words he 
pulled up the smock…frock; and; winding it round his middle; drew 
a chair to the fire; and placed his feet upon the hob。 

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“See there; Faguey;” he said; pointing disconsolately to his top…
boots; “not a drop of Day and Martin since you know when; not a 
bubble of blacking; by Jove! But don’t look at me in that way; man。 
All in good time。 I can’t talk about business till I’ve eat and drank; 
so produce the sustenance; and let’s have a quiet fill…out for the 
first time these three days!” 

The Jew motioned to the Dodger to place what eatables there 
were; upon the table; and; seating h

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