雾都孤儿-第17章

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bbery．It’s　your　choice．And　you　must　decide　now．At　once．’

Monks　hesitated　and　looked　at　the　old　man，but　Mr　　Brown　low　‘s　expression　was　so　serious　and　determined　that　The　younger　man　realized　it　was　pointless　to　protest．　‘I　didn’t　expect　this　treatment　from　my　father’s　oldest　friend，’said　Monks　angrily，sitting　down　with　a　frown　on　his　face．

　‘Yes，I　was　your　father’s　oldest　friend，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　．　‘And　I　know　all　about　you…how　your　father，while　still　a　boy，was　forced　by　his　family　into　an　unhappy　marriage　with　an　older　woman，and　how　you　were　the　result　of　that　marriage．I　also　know　that　your　parents　separated，hating　each　other　by　the　end．’

　‘Well…what’s　so　important　about　that？’

　‘When　They’d　been　separated　for　ten　years，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　，　‘your　father　met　another　family．The　re　were　two　daughters，one　nineteen　years　old　and　the　other　only　two　or　three．Your　father　became　engaged　to　the　older　daughter．At　this　point　one　of　his　rich　relations　died　and　left　him　a　lot　of　money　in　his　will．Your　father　had　to　travel　to　Italy　to　receive　his　inheritance，and　while　the　re，he　became　ill　and　died．Your　mother，who　was　living　with　you　in　Paris，immediately　rushed　to　Italy　when　she　heard　the　news．As　your　father　had　made　no　will　of　his　own，all　the　relation’s　money　came　to　you　and　her．’

Monks　listened　with　close　attention，biting　his　lip　and　staring　at　the　floor．

　‘Before　your　father　went　to　receive　that　money，he　came　to　see　me，’continued　Mr　　Brown　low　　slowly，his　eyes　fixed　on　Monks’face．

　‘I　never　heard　that　before，’said　Monks，looking　up　suddenly，a　suspicious　expression　on　his　face．

　‘He　left　me　a　picture　of　the　poor　girl　he　wanted　to　marry．He　talked　wildly　about　shame　and　guilt，and　how　he　would　give　part　of　the　money　he’d　inherited　to　his　wife　and　to　you，and　use　the　rest　to　escape　from　England　with　the　girl　he　loved．He　refused　to　tell　me　any　more　details．’

Monks　breathe　d　more　easily，and　even　smiled．

　‘But，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　，pulling　his　chair　nearer　to　the　other　man，　‘by　chance　I　was　able　to　rescue　your　brother　O　liver　from　a　life　of　misery　and—’

　‘What！’cried　Monks．

Mr　　Brown　low　　continued　without　a　pause．　‘And　when　he　was　recovering　from　his　sickness　here　in　my　house，I　noticed　how　similar　he　looked　to　the　girl’s　face　in　the　picture．But　he　was　taken　away　before　I　could　discover　his　history…as　you　know　very　well．’

　‘You　can’t　prove　anything！’said　Monks．

　‘I　can．I　heard　that　you　were　in　the　West　Indies．I　went　the　re　to　try　and　find　you　to　see　if　you　knew　anything　about　O　liver，but　you’d　already　left．I　returned　to　London，and　was　unable　to　find　you　until　two　hours　ago．’

　‘And　now　what？You　can’t　prove　that　O　liver’s　my　brother．’Monks　smiled　unpleasantly．

　‘I　couldn’t　before，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　，standing　up．　‘But　now　I　can．The　re　was　a　will，but　your　mother　destroyed　it．This　will　mentioned　a　child　that　would　be　born　later；this　was　O　liver，the　child　you　met　later　by　accident．You　noticed　his　resemblance　to　your　father　and　you　became　suspicious．You　the　n　went　back　to　his　birthplace，found　proof　of　his　birth　and　the　fact　that　he’s　your　half…brother，and　destroyed　that　proof．’

Monks　sat　in　silence，his　eyes　filled　with　fear．

　‘Yes，’continued　Mr　　Brown　low　　fiercely，　‘shadows　on　the　wall　have　caught　your　whispers　with　Fagin，and　brought　the　m　to　my　ear．For　the　sake　of　that　innocent　child，whom　you　wanted　to　destroy．And　now　murder　had　been　done，and　you　are　as　guilty　of　that　as　if　you　had　struck　the　blow　yourself！’

　‘No，no，’said　Monks　quickly．　‘I　knew　nothing　of　that．Nothing　at　all．’He　was　silent　for　a　while，realizing　how　much　was　known　about　him．Hatred　and　fear　fought　inside　him，but　he　was　a　coward　at　heart．At　last，seeing　no　escape，he　raised　his　head．　‘I　will　admit　everything…in　front　of　witnesses，if　necessary．’

Mr　　Brown　low　　nodded　coldly．　‘I　will　prepare　a　document　for　you　to　sign．You　must　give　O　liver　what　is　really　his，and　the　n　you　can　go　where　you　please．’

At　that　moment　Dr　Losberne　rushed　into　the　room．　‘The　murderer　will　be　taken　tonight！His　dog’s　been　found．’

　‘And　Fagin？’asked　Mr　　Brown　low　．

　‘They’re　sure　of　him．They　may　have　him　already．’

Mr　　Brown　low　　turned　back　to　Monks．　‘Have　you　made　up　your　mind？’

　‘Yes，’replied　Monks．　‘And　you　promise…it’ll　remain　a　secret？No　police，or　charges　of　fraud　against　me？’

　‘Yes，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　．　‘You　have　my　promise．For　now，you　must　remain　here，locked　in　this　room．I　will　come　for　you　tomorrow　evening　and　take　you　to　sign　a　confession　in　front　of　witnesses．’

Mr　　Brown　low　　the　n　left　the　room　with　the　doctor，and　They　eagerly　discussed　the　news　of　the　hunt　for　the　criminals．　‘My　blood　boils　with　anger，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　．　‘This　poor　murdered　girl　must　be　revenged．You　stay　here　and　guard　Monks．I’ll　go　out　and　get　the　latest　news．’

The　two　men　parted，each　in　a　fever　of　excitement．Down　by　the　river　Thames　was　a　district　called　Rotherhithe　，one　of　the　dirtiest　and　roughest　places　in　London．The　houses　next　to　the　river　had　no　owners；They　were　broken　down　and　ruined，but　could　be　defended　against　attack．In　an　upper　room　of　one　of　the　se　houses，were　three　members　of　Fagin’s　gang．

　‘When　was　Fagin　taken，the　n？’asked　the　man　called　Toby．

　‘Two　o’clock　this　afternoon．Charley　and　I　escaped　up　the　chimney，but　Noah　was　caught．Bet　went　to　see　Nancy　and　when　she　saw　the　body，she　started　screaming　and　wouldn’t　stop．She’s　been　taken　to　hospital．’

　‘What’s　happened　to　Charley　Bates？’

　‘He’ll　come　here　when　it’s　dark．It’s　too　dangerous　now．’

　‘We’re　in　trouble，’said　Toby．　‘Fagin’s　going　to　hang…that’s　certain．’

　‘You　should　have　seen　him　when　he　was　caught，’said　another　robber．　‘The　police　carried　him　through　the　crowd　while　all　the　people　jumped　at　him，screaming　and　trying　to　attack　him．’

Suddenly　Sikes’　dog　ran　into　the　room．All　the　robbers　rushed　out　immediately　to　look　for　Sikes，but　the　re　was　no　sign　of　him．They　returned　to　the　upstairs　room．

　‘I　hope　he’s　not　coming　here，’said　Toby．

　‘The　dog’s　come　a　long　way，’said　another　man．　‘Covered　in　mud，and　tired　out．’

They　sat　the　re　in　silence，wondering　where　Sikes　was．It　was　already　dark　when　They　heard　a　sudden，hurried　knock　at　the　door　downstairs．

Toby　went　to　the　window　to　look　down，the　n　pulled　his　head　back　in，his　face　pale　with　fear．The　re　was　no　need　to　tell　tlec　others　who　it　was．

　‘We　must　let　him　in，’said　Toby，although　none　of　the　m　wanted　to　see　him．Toby　went　down　to　the　door　and　returned，followed　by　sikes．White…faced，with　a　three…day…old　beard，hollow　cheeks　and　staring　eyes，Sikes　looked　like　a　ghost．No　one　said　a　word．

　‘Nothing　to　say　to　me？’Sikes　asked．

The　only　answer　was　a　low　shout　of　many　voices　from　outside　in　the　distance，coming　closer．Lights　appeared．Looking　out，Sikes　saw　a　stream　of　people　crossing　the　bridge　towards　the　m．The　n　the　re　was　a　loud　knocking　on　the　door　and　more　shouts　from　the　crowd．

　‘The　doors　are　made　of　metal　and　They’re　locked　and　chained，’said　Toby．The　three　robbers　watched　Sikes　nervously，as　if　he　were　a　wild　animal．

　‘Bring　a　ladder！’shouted　some　of　the　crowd　below．

　‘Give　me　a　rope，quick，’Sikes　said　to　the　others．　‘I’ll　go　the　other　way，climb　down　the　back　and　escape　over　the　river．Get　me　a　rope…now！Or　I’ll　do　three　more　murders！’

A　minute　later，Sikes　appeared　on　the　roof　and　the　shouts　from　the　crowd　below　swelled　to　a　great　roar．The　n　the　front　door　was　smashed　down　and　people　streamed　into　the　house．Sikes　quickly　tied　the　rope　around　the　chimney，the　n　began　to　tie　the　other　end　around　himself，ready　to　lower　himself　to　the　ground　behind　the　house．But　just　as　he　put　the　rope　over　his　head，he　screamed　in　terror　and　threw　his　arms　above　his　head．He　staggered　back，slipped　and　fell　over　the　edge　of　the　roof．As　he　fell，the　rope　tightened　around　his　neck　with　a　horrible　jerk．In　a　second　the　murderer　was　dead，and　the　re　he　hung，his　body　swing