oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第92章

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He　is　not　even　（so　far　as　we　know；　or　as　the　facts　appear　to　us）　
concerned　with　the　gang　in　any　of　their　robberies。　If　he　were　not　
discharged；　it　is　very　unlikely　that　he　could　receive　any　further　
punishment　than　being　committed　to　prison　as　a　rogue　and　
vagabond；　and　of　course　ever　afterwards　his　mouth　would　be　so　
obstinately　closed　that　he　might　as　well；　for　our　purpose；　be　deaf；　
dumb；　blind；　and　an　idiot。”　

“Then；”　said　the　doctor　impetuously；　“I　put　it　to　you　again；　
whether　you　think　it　reasonable　that　this　promise　to　the　girl　
should　be　considered　binding；　a　promise　made　with　the　best　and　
kindest　intentions；　but　really—”　

“Do　not　discuss　the　point；　my　dear　young　lady；　pray；”　said　Mr。　
Brownlow；　interrupting　Rose　as　she　was　about　to　speak。　“The　
promise　shall　be　kept。　I　don’t　think　it　will；　in　the　slightest　degree；　
interfere　with　our　proceedings。　But；　before　we　can　resolve　upon　
any　precise　course　of　action；　it　will　be　necessary　to　see　the　girl；　to　
ascertain　from　her　whether　she　will　point　out　this　Monks；　on　the　
understanding　that　he　is　to　be　dealt　with　by　us；　and　not　by　the　law；　
or；　if　she　will　not；　or　cannot　do　that；　to　procure　from　her　such　an　
account　of　his　haunts　and　description　of　his　person；　as　will　enable　
us　to　identify　him。　She　cannot　be　seen　until　next　Sunday　night；　
this　is　Tuesday。　I　would　suggest　that　in　the　meantime　we　remain　
perfectly　quiet；　and　keep　these　matters　secret　even　from　Oliver　
himself。”　

Although　Mr。　Losberne　received　with　many　wry　faces　a　
proposal　involving　a　delay　of　five　whole　days；　he　was　fain　to　admit　
that　no　better　course　occurred　to　him　just　then；　and　as　both　Rose　
and　Mrs。　Maylie　sided　very　strongly　with　Mr。　Brownlow；　that　
gentleman’s　proposition　was　carried　unanimously。　

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“I　should　like；”　he　said；　“to　call　in　the　aid　of　my　friend　Grimwig。　
He　is　a　strange　creature；　but　a　shrewd　one；　and　might　prove　of　
material　assistance　to　us；　I　should　say　that　he　was　bred　a　lawyer；　
and　quitted　the　bar　in　disgust　because　he　had　only　one　brief　and　a　
motion　of　course；　in　twenty　years；　though　whether　that　is　a　
recommendation　or　not；　you　must　determine　for　yourselves。”　

“I　have　no　objection　to　your　calling　in　your　friend　if　I　may　call　in　
mine；”　said　the　doctor。　

“We　must　put　it　to　the　vote；”　replied　Mr。　Brownlow；　“who　may　
he　be？”　

“That　lady’s　son；　and　this　young　lady’s　very　old　friend；”　said　the　
doctor；　motioning　towards　Mrs。　Maylie；　and　concluding　with　an　
expressive　glance　at　her　niece。　

Rose　blushed　deeply；　but　she　did　not　make　any　audible　
objection　to　this　motion　（possibly　she　felt　in　a　hopeless　minority）；　
and　Harry　Maylie　and　Mr。　Grimwig　were　accordingly　added　to　the　
committee。　

“We　stay　in　town；　of　course；”　said　Mr。　Maylie；　“while　there　
remains　the　slightest　prospect　of　prosecuting　this　inquiry　with　a　
chance　of　success。　I　will　spare　neither　trouble　nor　expense　in　
behalf　of　the　object　in　which　we　are　all　so　deeply　interested；　and　I　
am　content　to　remain　here；　if　it　be　for　twelve　months；　so　long　as　
you　assure　me　that　any　hope　remains。”　

“Good！”　rejoined　Mr。　Brownlow。　“And　as　I　see　on　the　faces　
about　me；　a　disposition　to　inquire　how　it　happened　that　I　was　not　
in　the　way　to　corroborate　Oliver’s　tale；　and　had　so　suddenly　left　
the　kingdom；　let　me　stipulate　that　I　shall　be　asked　no　questions　
until　such　time　as　I　may　deem　it　expedient　to　forestall　them　by　
telling　my　own　story。　Believe　me；　I　make　this　request　with　good　

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reason；　for　I　might　otherwise　excite　hopes　destined　never　to　be　
realised；　and　only　increase　difficulties　and　disappointments　
already　numerous　enough。　Come！　Supper　has　been　announced；　
and　young　Oliver；　who　is　all　alone　in　the　next　room；　will　have　
begun　to　think；　by　this　time；　that　we　have　wearied　of　his　company；　
and　entered　into　some　dark　conspiracy　to　thrust　him　forth　upon　
the　world。”　

With　these　words；　the　old　gentleman　gave　his　hand　to　Mrs。　
Maylie；　and　escorted　her　into　the　supper…room。　Mr。　Losberne　
followed；　leading　Rose；　and　the　council　was；　for　the　present；　
effectually　broken　up。　

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Chapter　42　

An　Old　Acquaintance　Of　Oliver’s；　Exhibiting
Decided　Marks　Of　Genius；　Becomes　A　Public
Character　In　The　Metropolis。


Upon　the　night　when　Nancy；　having　lulled　Mr。　Sikes　to　
sleep；　hurried　on　her　self…imposed　mission　to　Rose　
Maylie；　there　advanced　towards　London；　by　the　Great　
North　Road；　two　persons；　upon　whom　it　is　expedient　that　this　
history　should　bestow　some　attention。　

They　were　a　man　and　a　woman；　or　perhaps　they　would　be　
better　described　as　a　male　and　female；　for　the　former　was　one　of　
those　long…limbed；　knock…kneed；　shambling；　bony　people；　to　whom　
it　is　difficult　to　assign　any　precise　age—looking　as　they　do；　when　
they　are　yet　boys；　like　undergrown　men；　and　when　they　are　almost　
men；　like　overgrown　boys。　The　woman　was　young；　but　of　a　robust　
and　hardy　make；　as　she　need　have　been　to　bear　the　weight　of　the　
heavy　bundle　which　was　strapped　to　her　back。　Her　companion　
was　not　encumbered　with　much　luggage；　as　there　merely　dangled　
from　a　stick　which　he　carried　over　his　shoulder；　a　small　parcel　
wrapped　in　a　common　handkerchief；　and　apparently　light　enough。　
This　circumstance；　added　to　the　length　of　his　legs；　which　were　of　
unusual　extent；　enabled　him　with　much　ease　to　keep　some　half…
dozen　paces　in　advance　of　his　companion；　to　whom　he　occasionally　
turned　with　an　impatient　jerk　of　the　head；　as　if　reproaching　her　
tardiness；　and　urging　her　to　greater　exertion。　

Thus；　they　had　toiled　along　the　dusty　road；　taking　little　heed　of　

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any　object　within　sight；　save　when　they　stepped　aside　to　allow　a　
wider　passage　for　the　mail…coaches　which　were　whirling　out　of　
town；　until　they　passed　through　Highgate　archway；　when　the　
foremost　traveller　stopped　and　called　impatiently　to　his　
companion。　

“Come　on；　can’t　yer？　What　a　lazybones　ye　are；　Charlotte。”　

“It’s　a　heavy　load；　I　can　tell　you；”　said　the　female；　coming　up；　
almost　breathless　with　fatigue。　

“Heavy！　What　are　yer　talking　about！　What　are　yer　made　for？”　
rejoined　the　male　traveller；　changing　his　own　little　bundle　as　he　
spoke；　to　the　other　shoulder。　“Oh；　there　yer　are；　resting　again！　
Well；　if　yer　ain’t　enough　to　tire　anybody’s　patience　out；　I　don’t　
know　what　is！”　

“Is　it　much　farther？”　asked　the　woman；　resting　herself　against　a　
bank；　and　looking　up　with　the　perspiration　streaming　from　her　
face。　

“Much　farther！　Yer　as　good　as　there；”　said　the　long…legged　
tramper；　pointing　out　before　him。　“Look　there！　Those　are　the　
lights　of　London。”　

“They’re　a　good　two　mile　off；　at　least；”　said　the　woman　
despondingly。　

“Never　mind　whether　they’re　two　mile　off；　or　twenty；”　said　
Noah　Claypole；　for　he　it　was；　“but　get　up　and　come　on；　or　I’ll　kick　
yer；　and　so　I　give　yer　notice。”　

As　Noah’s　red　nose　grew　redder　with　anger；　and　as　he　crossed　
the　road　while　speaking；　as　if　fully　prepared　to　put　his　threat　into　
execution；　the　woman　rose　without　any　further　remark；　and　
trudged　onward　by　his　side。　

“Where　do　you　mean　to　stop　for　the　night；　Noah？”　she　asked；　

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after　they　had　walked　a　few　hundred　yards。　

“How　should　I　know？”　replied　Noah；　whose　temper　had　been　
considerably　impaired　by　walking。　

“Near；　I　hope；”　said　Charlotte。　

“No；　not　near；”　replied　Mr。　Claypole。　‘‘There！　Not　near；　so　don’t　
think　it。”　

“Why　not？”　

“When　I　tell　yer　that　I　don’t　mean　to　do　a　thing；　that’s　enough；　
without　any　why　or　because　either；”　replied　Mr。　Claypole；　with　
dignity。　

“Well；　you　needn’t　be　so　cross；”　said　his　companion。　

“A　pretty　thing　it　would　be；　wouldn’t　it；　to　go　and　stop　at　the　
very　first　public…house　outside　the　town；　so　that　Sowerberry；　if　he　
came　up　after　us；　might　poke　in　his　old　nose；　and　have　us　taken　
back　in　a　cart