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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第28章

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Oliver Twist 148 

the room。 Mrs。 Bedwin followed him to the street door; giving him 
many directions about the nearest way; and the name of the 
bookseller; and the name of the street; all of which Oliver said he 
clearly understood; and having superadded many injunctions to 
be sure and not take cold; the old lady at length permitted him to 
depart。 

“Bless his sweet face!” said the old lady; looking after him。 “I 
can’t bear; somehow; to let him go out of my sight。” 

At this moment; Oliver looked gaily round; and nodded before 
he turned the corner。 The old lady smilingly returned his 
salutation; and; closing the door; went back to her own room。 

“Let me see; he’ll be back in twenty minutes; at the longest;” 
said Mr。 Brownlow; pulling out his watch; and placing it on the 
table “It will be dark by that time。” 

“Oh! you really expect him to come back; do you?” inquired Mr。 
Grimwig。 

“Don’t you?” asked Mr。 Brownlow; smiling。 

The spirit of contradiction was strong in Mr。 Grimwig’s breast; 
at the moment; and it was rendered stronger by his friend’s 
confident smile。 

“No;” he said; smiting the table with his fist; “I do not。 The boy 
has a new suit of clothes on his back; a set of valuable books under 
his arm; and a five…pound note in his pocket。 He’ll join his old 
friends the thieves; and laugh at you。 If ever that boy returns to 
this house。 sir; I’ll eat my head。” 

With these words he drew his chair closer to the table; and 
there the two friends sat; in silent expectation; with the watch 
between them。 

It was worthy of remark; as illustrating the importance we 

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Oliver Twist 149 

attach to our own judgments; and the pride with which we put 
forth our most rash and hasty conclusions; that; although Mr。 
Grimwig was not by any means a bad…hearted man; and though he 
would have been unfeignedly sorry to see his respected friend 
duped and deceived; he really did most earnestly and strongly 
hope at that moment; that Oliver Twist might not come back。 

It grew so dark; that the figures on the dial…plate were scarcely 
discernible; but there the two old gentlemen continued to sit; in 
silence; with the watch between them。 

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Oliver Twist 150 

Chapter 15 

Showing How Very Fond Of Oliver Twist; The
Merry Old Jew And Miss Nancy Were。


In the obscure parlour of a low public…house; situated in the 
filthiest part of Little Saffron Hill—a dark and gloomy den; 
where a flaring gas…light burned all day in the wintertime; and 
where no ray of sun ever shone in the summer—there sat; 
brooding over a little pewter measure and a small glass; strongly 
impregnated with the smell of liquor; a man in a velveteen coat; 
drab shorts; half…boots and stockings; whom even by that dim light 
no experienced agent of police would have hesitated to recognise 
as Mr。 William Sikes。 At his feet sat a white…coated; red…eyed dog; 
who occupied himself; alternately; in winking at his master with 
both eyes at the same time; and in licking a large; fresh cut on one 
side of his mouth; which appeared to be the result of some recent 
conflict。 

“Keep quiet; you varmint! Keep quiet!” said Mr。 Sikes; 
suddenly breaking silence。 Whether his meditations were so 
intense as to be disturbed by the dog’s winking; or whether his 
feelings were so wrought upon by his reflections that they 
required all the relief derivable from kicking an unoffending 
animal to allay them; is matter for argument and consideration。 
Whatever was the cause; the effect was a kick and a curse 
bestowed upon the dog simultaneously。 

Dogs are not generally apt to revenge injuries inflicted upon 
them by their masters; but Mr。 Sikes’s dog; having faults of temper 

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Oliver Twist 151 

in common with his owner; and labouring; perhaps; at this 
moment; under a powerful sense of injury; made no more ado but 
at once fixed his teeth in one of the half…boots。 Having given it a 
hearty shake; he retired; growling; under a form; thereby just 
escaping the pewter measure which Mr。 Sikes levelled at his head。 

“You would; would you—?” said Sikes; seizing the poker in one 
hand; and deliberately opening with the other a large clasp…knife; 
which he drew from his pocket。 “Come here; you born devil! Come 
here! D’ye hear?” 

The dog no doubt heard; because Mr。 Sikes spoke in the very 
harshest key of a very harsh voice; but; appearing to entertain 
some unaccountable objection to having his throat cut; he 
remained where he was and growled more fiercely than before; at 
the same time grasping the end of the poker between his teeth; 
and biting at it like a wild beast。 

This resistance only infuriated Mr。 Sikes the more; who; 
dropping on his knees; began to assail the animal most furiously。 
The dog jumped from right to left; and from left to right— 
snapping; growling; and barking; the man thrust and swore; and 
struck and blasphemed; and the struggle was reaching a most 
critical point for one or other; when the door suddenly opening; 
the dog darted out; leaving Bill Sikes with the poker and the clasp…
knife in his hands。 

There must always be two parties to a quarrel; says the old 
adage。 Mr。 Sikes; being disappointed of the dog’s participation; at 
once transferred his share in the quarrel to the newcomer。 

“What the devil do you come in between me and my dog for?” 
said Sikes; with a fierce gesture。 

“I didn’t know; my dear; I didn’t know;” replied Fagin humbly; 

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Oliver Twist 152 

for the Jew was the newcomer。 

“Didn’t know; you white…livered thief!” growled Sikes。 
“Couldn’t you hear the noise?” 

“Not a sound of it; as I’m a living man; Bill;” replied the Jew。 

“Oh; no! You hear nothing; you don’t;” retorted Sikes; with a 
fierce sneer。 “Sneaking in and out; so as nobody hears how you 
come or go! I wish you had been the dog; Fagin; half a minute 
ago。” 

“Why?” inquired the Jew; with a forced smile。 

“’Cause the government; as cares for the lives of such men as 
you; as haven’t half the pluck of curs; lets a man kill a dog how he 
likes;” replied Sikes; shutting up the knife with a very expressive 
look; “that’s why。” 

The Jew rubbed his hands; and; sitting down at the table; 
affected to laugh at the pleasantry of his friend。 He was obviously 
very ill at ease; however。” 

“Grin away;” said Sikes; replacing the poker; and surveying 
him with savage contempt; “grin away。 You’ll never have the 
laugh at me; though; unless it’s behind a night…cap。 I’ve got the 
upper hand over you; Fagin; and d me I’ll keep it。 There! If I go; 
you go; so take care of me。” 

“Well; well; my dear;” said the Jew。 I know all that; we—we— 
have a mutual interest; Bill—a mutual interest。” 

“Humph;” said Sikes; as if he thought the interest lay rather 
more on the Jew’s side than on his。 “Well; what have you got to say 
to me?” 

“It’s all passed safe through the melting…pot;” replied Fagin; 
“and this is your share。 It’s rather more than it ought to be my 
dear; but as I know you’ll do me a good turn another time; and—” 

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Oliver Twist 153 

“Stow that gammon;” interposed the robber impatiently。 
“Where is it? Hand over!” 

“Yes; yes; Bill; give me time; give me time;” replied the Jew 
soothingly “Here it is! All safe!” As he spoke he drew forth an old 
cotton handkerchief from his breast; and untying a large knot in 
one corner; produced a small brown paper packet。 Sikes; 
snatching it from him; hastily opened it; and proceeded to count 
the sovereigns it contained。 

“This is all; is it?” inquired Sikes。 

“All;” replied the Jew。 

“You haven’t opened the parcel and swallowed one or two as 
you come along; have you?” inquired Sikes suspiciously “Don’t 
put on an injured look at the question; you’ve done it many a time。 
Jerk the tinkler。” 

These words; in plain English; conveyed an injunction to ring 
the bell。 It was answered by another Jew; younger than Fagin; but 
nearly as vile and repulsive in appearance。 

Bill Sikes merely pointed to the empty measure。 The Jew; 
perfectly understanding the hint; retired to fill it; previously 
exchanging a remarkable look with Fagin; who raised his eyes for 
an instant; as if in expectation of it; and shook his head in reply; so 
slightly that the action would have been almost imperceptible to 
an observant third person。 It was lost upon Sikes; who was 
stooping at the moment to tie the boot…lace which the dog had 
torn。 Possibly if he had observed the brief interchange of signals; 
he might have thought that it boded no good to him。 

“Is anybody here; Barney?” inquired Fagin; speaking; now that 
Sikes was looking on; without raising his eyes from the ground。 

“Dot a shoul;” replied Barney; whose words; whether they 

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Oliver Twist 154 

came from the heart or not; made their way through 
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