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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第96章

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growl and started back。 

“Come back!” said the robber。 

The dog wagged his tail; but moved not。 Sikes made a running…
noose and called him again。 

The dog advanced; retreated; paused an instant; turned; and 
scoured away at his hardest speed。 

The man whistled again and again; and sat down and waited in 
the expectation that he would return。 But no dog appeared; and at 
length he resumed his journey。 

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Chapter 49 

Monks And Mr。 Brownlow At Length Meet—Their
Conversation; And The Intelligence That Interrupts
It。


The twilight was beginning to close in; when Mr。 Brownlow 
alighted from a hackney…coach at his own door and 
knocked softly。 The door being opened; a sturdy man got 
out of the coach and stationed himself on one side of the steps; 
while another man; who had been seated on the box; dismounted 
too; and stood upon the other side。 At a sign from Mr。 Brownlow; 
they helped out a third man; and taking him between them; 
hurried him into the house。 This man was Monks。 

They walked in the same manner up the stairs without 
speaking; and Mr。 Brownlow; preceding them; led the way into a 
back room。 At the door of this apartment; Monks; who had 
ascended with evident reluctance; stopped。 The two men looked to 
the old gentleman as if for instructions。 

“He knows the alternative;” said Mr。 Brownlow。 “If he hesitates 
or moves a finger but as you bid him; drag him into the street; call 
for the aid of the police; and impeach him as a felon in my name。” 

“How dare you say this of me?” asked Monks。 

“How dare you urge me to it; young man?” replied Mr。 
Brownlow; confronting him with a steady look。 “Are you mad 
enough to leave this house? Unhand him。 There; sir。 You are free 
to go; and we to follow。 But I warn you; by all I hold most solemn 
and most sacred; that the instant you set foot in the street; that 

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instant will I have you apprehended on a charge of fraud and 
robbery。 I am resolute and immovable。 If you are determined to be 
the same; your blood be upon your own head!” 

“By what authority am I kidnapped in the street; and brought 
here by these dogs?” asked Monks; looking from one to the other 
of the men who stood beside him。 

“By mine;” replied Mr。 Brownlow。 “Those persons are 
indemnified by me。 If you complain of being deprived of your 
liberty—you had power and opportunity to retrieve t as you came 
along; but you deemed it advisable to remain quiet—I say again; 
throw yourself for protection on the law。 I will appeal to the law 
too; but when you have gone too far to recede; do not sue to me for 
leniency; when the power will have passed into other hands; and 
do not say I plunged you down the gulf into which you rushed 
yourself。” 

Monks was plainly disconcerted; and alarmed besides。 He 
hesitated。 

“You will decide quickly;” said Mr。 Brownlow; with perfect 
firmness and composure。 “If you wish me to prefer my charges 
publicly; and consign you to a punishment the extent of which; 
although I can; with a shudder; foresee; I cannot control; once 
more; I say; you know the way。 If not; and you appeal to my 
forbearance; and the mercy of those you have deeply injured; seat 
yourself; without a word; in that chair。 It has waited for you two 
whole days。” 

Monks muttered some unintelligible words; but wavered still。 

“You will be prompt;” said Mr。 Brownlow。 “A word from me; 
and the alternative has gone for ever。” 

Still the man hesitated。 

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“I have not the inclination to parley;” said Mr。 Brownlow; “and; 
as I advocate the dearest interests of others; I have not the right。” 

“Is there;” demanded Monks; with a faltering tongue—“is 
there—no middle course?” 

“None。” 

Monks looked at the old gentleman with an anxious eye; but; 
reading in his countenance nothing but severity and 
determination; walked into the room; and; shrugging his 
shoulders; sat down。 

“Lock the door on the outside;” said Mr Brownlow to the 
attendants; “and come when I ring。” 

The men obeyed; and the two were left alone together。 

“This is pretty treatment; sir;” said Monks; throwing down his 
hat and cloak; “from my father’s oldest friend。” 

“It is because I was your father’s oldest friend; young man;” 
returned Mr。 Brownlow; “it is because the hopes and wishes of 
young and happy years were bound up with him; and that fair 
creature of his blood and kindred who rejoined her God in youth; 
and left me here a solitary; lonely man; it is because he knelt with 
me beside his only sister’s deathbed when he was yet a boy; on the 
morning that would—but Heaven willed otherwise—have made 
her my young wife; it is because my seared heart clung to him; 
from that time forth; through all his trials and errors; till he died; it 
is because old recollections and associations filled my heart; and 
even the sight of you brings with it old thoughts of him; it is 
because of all these things that I am moved to treat you gently 
now—yes; Edward Leeford; even now—and blush for your 
unworthiness who bear the name。” 

“What has the name to do with it?” asked the other; after 

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contemplating; half in silence; and half in dogged wonder; the 
agitation of his companion。 “What is the name to me?” 

“Nothing;” replied Mr。 Brownlow—“nothing to you。 But it was 
hers; and even at this distance of time brings back to me; an old 
man; the glow and thrill which I once felt; only to hear it repeated 
by a stranger。 I am very glad you have changed it—very—very。” 

“This is all mighty fine;” said Monks (to retain his assumed 
designation) after a long silence; during which he had jerked 
himself in sullen defiance to and fro; and Mr。 Brownlow had sat; 
shading his face with his hand。 “But what do you want with me?” 

“You have a brother;” said Mr。 Brownlow; rousing himself; “a 
brother; the whisper of whose name in your ear when I came 
behind you in the street; was; in itself; almost enough to make you 
accompany me hither; in wonder and alarm。” 

“I have no brother;” replied Monks。 “You know I was an only 
child。 Why do you talk to me of brothers? You know that; as well 
as I。” 

“Attend to what I do know; and you may not;” said Mr。 
Brownlow。 “I shall interest you by and by。 I know that of the 
wretched marriage; into which family pride; and the most sordid 
and narrowest of all ambition; forced your unhappy father when a 
mere boy; you were the sole and most unnatural issue。” 

“I don’t care for hard names;” interrupted Monks; with a 
jeering laugh。 “You know the fact; and that’s enough for me。” 

“But I also know;” pursued the old gentleman; “the misery; the 
slow torture; the protracted anguish of that ill…assorted union。 I 
know how listlessly and wearily each of that wretched pair 
dragged on their heavy chain through a world that was poisoned 
to them both。 I know how cold formalities were succeeded by open 

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taunts; how indifference gave place to dislike; dislike to hate; and 
hate to loathing; until at last they wrenched the clanking bond 
asunder; and retiring a wide space apart; carried each a galling 
fragment; of which nothing but death could break the rivets; to 
hide it in new society beneath the gayest looks they could assume。 
Your mother succeeded; she forgot it soon。 But it rusted and 
cankered at your father’s heart for years。” 

“Well; they were separated;” said Monks; “and what of that?” 

“When they had been separated for some time;” returned Mr。 
Brownlow; “and your mother; wholly given up to continental 
frivolities; had utterly forgotten the young husband ten good years 
her junior; who; with prospects blighted; lingered on at home; he 
fell among new friends。 This circumstance; at least; you know 
already。” 

“Not I;” said Monks; turning away his eyes and beating his foot 
upon the ground; as a man who is determined to deny everything。 
“Not I。” 

“Your manner; no less than your actions; assures me that you 
have never forgotten it; or ceased to think of it with bitterness;” 
returned Mr。 Brownlow。 “I speak of fifteen years ago; when you 
were not more than eleven years old; and your father but one…andthirty—for he was; I repeat; a boy; when his father ordered him to 
marry。 Must I go back to events which cast a shade upon the 
memory of your parent; or will you spare it; and disclose to me the 
truth?” 

“I have nothing to disclose;” rejoined Monks。 “You must talk on 
if you will。” 

“These new friends; then;” said Mr。 Brownlow; “were a naval 
officer retired from active service; whose wife had died some half a 

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year before; and left him with two children—there had been more; 
but; of all their family; happily but two survived。 They were both 
daughters; on
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