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第55章

oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第55章

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

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of the lamps; and the place was so full of dense tobacco smoke; 
that at first it was scarcely possible to discern anything more。 By 
degrees; however; as some of it cleared away through the open 
door; an assemblage of heads; as confused as the noises that 
greeted the ear; might be made out; and; as the eye grew more 
accustomed to the scene; the spectator gradually became aware of 
the presence of a numerous company; male and female; crowded 
round a long table; at the upper end of which; sat a chairman with 
a hammer of office in his hand; while a professional gentleman; 
with a bluish nose; and his face tied up for the benefit of a 
toothache; presided at a jingling piano in a remote corner。 

As Fagin stepped softly in; the professional gentleman; running 
over the keys by way of prelude; occasioned a general cry of order 
for a song; which; having subsided; a young lady proceeded to 
entertain the company with a ballad in four verses; between each 
of which the accompanist played the melody all through; as loud 
as he could。 When this was over; the chairman gave a sentiment; 
after which; the professional gentleman on the chairman’s right 
and left volunteered a duet; and sang it; with great applause。 

It was curious to observe some faces which stood out 
prominently from among the group。 There was the chairman 
himself (the landlord of the house); a coarse; rough; heavy…built 
fellow; who; while the songs were proceeding; rolled his eyes 
hither and thither; and; seeming to give himself up to joviality; had 
an eye for everything that was done; and an ear for everything that 
was said—and sharp ones; too。 Near him were the singers; 

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receiving; with professional indifference; the compliments of the 
company; and applying themselves; in turn; to a dozen proffered 
glasses of spirits…and…water; tendered by their more boisterous 
admirers; whose countenances; expressive of almost every vice in 
almost every grade; irresistibly attracted the attention; by their 
very repulsiveness。 Cunning; ferocity; and drunkenness in all its 
stages; were there; in their strongest aspects; and women; some 
with the last lingering tinge of their early freshness almost fading 
as you looked; others with every mark and stamp of their sex 
utterly beaten out; and presenting but one loathsome blank of 
profligacy and crime—some mere girls; others but young women; 
and none past the prime of life—formed the darkest and saddest 
portion of this dreary picture。 

Fagin; troubled by no grave emotions; looked eagerly from face 
to face while these proceedings were in progress; but apparently 
without meeting that of which he was in search。 Succeeding; at 
length; in catching the eye of the man who occupied the chair; he 
beckoned to him slightly; and left the room; as quietly as he had 
entered it。 

“What can I do for you; Mr。 Fagin?” inquired the man。 as he 
followed him out to the landing。 “Won’t you join us? They’ll be 
delighted; every one of ’em。” 

The Jew shook his head impatiently; and said in a whisper; “Is 
he here?” 

“No;” replied the man。 

“And no news of Barney?” inquired Fagin。 

“None;” replied the landlord of the Cripples; for it was he。 “He 
won’t stir till it’s all safe。 Depend on it; they’re on the scent down 
there; and that if he moved; he’d blow upon the thing at once。 He’s 

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all right enough Barney is; else I should have heard of him。 I’ll 
pound it; that Barney’s managing properly。 Let him alone for 
that。” 

“Will he be here tonight?” asked the Jew; laying the same 
emphasis on the pronoun as before。 

“Monks; do you mean?” inquired the landlord; hesitating。 

“Hush!” said the Jew。 “Yes。” 

“Certain;” replied the man; drawing a gold watch from his fob; 
“I expected him here before now。 If you’ll wait ten minutes; he’ll 
be—” 

“No; no;” said the Jew hastily; as though; however desirous he 
might be to see the person in question; he was nevertheless 
relieved by his absence。 “Tell him I came here to see him; and that 
he must come to me tonight。 No; say tomorrow。 As he is not here; 
tomorrow will be time enough。” 

“Good!” said the man。 “Nothing more?” 

“Not a word now;” said the Jew; descending the stairs。—“I say;” 
said the other; looking over the rails; and speaking in a hoarse 
whisper; “what a time this would be for a sell! I’ve got Phil Barker 
here; so drunk; that a boy might take him。 

“Aha! But it’s not Phil Barker’s time;” said the Jew; looking up。 
“Phil has something more to do; before we can afford to part with 
him; so go back to the company; my dear; and tell them to lead 
merry lives—while they last。 Ha! ha! ha!” 

The landlord reciprocated the old man’s laugh; and returned to 
his guests。 The Jew was no sooner alone; than his countenance 
resumed its former expression of anxiety and thought。 After a 
brief reflection; he called a hack cabriolet; and bade the man drive 
towards Bethnal Green。 He dismissed him within some quarter of 

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Oliver Twist 268 

a mile of Mr。 Sikes’s residence; and performed the short 
remainder of the distance; on foot。 

“Now;” muttered the Jew; as he knocked at the door; “if there is 
any deep play here; I shall have it out of you; my girl; cunning as 
you are。” 

She was in her room; the woman said。 Fagin crept softly 
upstairs; and entered it without any previous ceremony。 The girl 
was alone; lying with her head upon the table; and her hair 
straggling over it。 “She has been drinking;” thought the Jew 
coolly; “or perhaps she is only miserable。” 

The old man turned to close the door; as he made this 
reflection; the noise thus occasioned roused the girl。 She eyed his 
crafty face narrowly; as she inquired whether there was any news; 
and as she listened to his recital of Toby Crackit’s story。 When it 
was concluded; she sank into her former attitude; but spoke not a 
word。 She pushed the candle impatiently away; and once or twice 
as she feverishly changed her position; shuffled her feet upon the 
ground; but this was During the silence; the Jew looked restlessly 
about the room; as if to assure himself that there were no 
appearances of Sikes having covertly returned。 Apparently 
satisfied with his inspection; he coughed twice or thrice; and made 
as many efforts to open a conversation; but the girl heeded him no 
more than if he had been made of stone。 At length he made 
another attempt; and rubbing his hands together; said; in his most 
conciliatory tone。 

“And where should you think Bill was now; my dear?” 

The girl moaned out some half…intelligible reply; that she could 
not tell; and seemed; from the smothered noise that escaped her; 
to be crying。 

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Oliver Twist 269 

“And the boy; too;” said the Jew; straining his eyes to catch a 
glimpse of her face。 “Poor leetle child! Left in a ditch; Nance; only 
think!” 

“The child;” said the girl; suddenly looking up; “is better where 
he is; than among us; and if no harm comes to Bill from it; I hope 
he lies dead in the ditch; and that his young bones may rot there。” 

“What!” cried the Jew; in amazement。 

“Ay; I do;” returned the girl; meeting his gaze。 “I shall be glad 
to have him away from my eyes; and to know that the worst is 
over。 I can’t bear to have him about me。 The sight of him turns me 
against myself; and all of you。” 

“Pooh!” said the Jew scornfully。 “You’re drunk。” 

“Am I?” cried the girl bitterly。 “It’s no fault of yours; if I am not! 
You’d never have me anything else; if you had your will; except 
now—the humour doesn’t suit you; doesn’t it?” 

“No!” rejoined the Jew furiously。 “It does not。” 

“Change it; then!” responded the girl; with a laugh。 

“Change it!” exclaimed the Jew; exasperated beyond all bounds 
by his companion’s unexpected obstinacy; and the vexation of the 
night; “I WILL change it! Listen to me; you drab

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