雾都孤儿-第4章

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The　boy　helped　O　liver　to　his　feet，　and　took　him　to　a　pub。　Meat，　bread，　and　beer　　were　placed　before　O　liver，　and　his　new　friend　urged　him　to　　satisfy　his　hunger．　While　O　liver　was　eating，　the　strange　boy　looked　at　him　from　time　to　time　with　great　attention．

　‘Going　　to　　London？’　he　　asked　　him　　finally．

　‘Yes。’

　‘Got　anywhere　to　live？’

　‘No．’

　‘Money？’

　‘No．’

The　strange　boy　whistled，　and　put　his　arms　into　his　pockets　as　far　as　the　big　coat　sleeves　would　allow　him．　‘I　suppose　you　want　to　sleep　somewhere　tonight，　don’t　you？’

　‘I　do，’　replied　O　liver．　‘I　haven’t　slept　under　a　roof　since　I　started　my　journey．’

　‘Well，　don’t　worry．I’ve　got　to　be　in　London　tonight，　and　I　know　a　very　nice　old　gentleman　the　re　who’ll　let　you　live　in　his　place　and　not　even　ask　you　for　money！’

O　liver　was　deeply　grateful　for　this　offer　of　shelter　and　talked　for　a　long　time　with　his　new　friend．　His　name　was　Jack　Dawkins，　but　he　was　usually　called　‘The　Artful　Dodger’．　‘Artful’　because　he　was　very　clever　at　getting　what　he　wanted；and　‘Dodger’　because　he　was　very　good　at　not　getting　caught　when　he　did　something　wrong．When　he　heard　this，O　liver　felt　rather　doubtful　about　having　such　a　friend．However，he　wanted　first　to　meet　the　kind　old　gentleman　in　London，who　would　help　him．After　that，he　could　decide　whether　to　continue　the　friendship　with　the　Artful　Dodger．



　



4　　O　liver　in　London

　　

For　some　reason　the　Dodger　did　not　want　to　enter　London　　during　daylight，so　it　was　nearly　eleven　o’clock　at　night　when　They　got　near　the　centre。　O　liver　had　never　seen　a　dirtier　or　more　miserable　place。　The　streets　in　this　district　were　narrow　and　muddy，　and　the　re　were　terrible　smells　everywhere。　Children　wandered　around　even　at　this　time　of　night，in　and　out　of　the　many　shops，playing　and　screaming．The　pubs　were　full　of　people　fighting，and　big，evil－looking　men　stood　in　doorways　or　at　dark　corners．　O　liver　almost　wanted　to　run　away，　but　just　the　n　the　Dodger　pushed　open　a　door　and　pulled　O　liver　into　a　dark　hall。　

　‘Who’s　the　re？’　a　voice　cried　out．

　‘It’s　me，’　said　the　Dodger．　The　faint　light　of　a　candle　appeared　in　the　hall．

　‘Who’s　the　other　one？’

　‘A　new　friend。　‘

They　went　up　some　dark　and　broken　stairs．O　liver　could　hardly　see　where　he　was　going，but　the　Dodger　seemed　to　know　the　way，　and　helped　O　liver　up。　They　entered　a　room　with　walls　that　were　black　with　age　and　dirt．In　front　of　the　fire　was　a　table　with　a　candle　stuck　into　a　bottle　of　beer，　and　an　old　man，　with　a　horribly　ugly　face　and　red　hair，　stood　next　to　the　fire　cooking。　He　was　wearing　a　dirty　old　coat　and　seemed　to　divide　his　attention　between　his　cooking　and　a　number　of　silk　handkerchieves，　which　were　hanging　near　the　fire．The　re　were　several　rough　beds　in　the　room．Four　or　five　boys，　about　the　same　age　as　the　Artful　Dodger，　sat　round　the　table，　smoking　and　drinking　like　middle…aged　men．They　all　looked　up　when　the　Dodger　and　O　liver　entered．

　‘This　is　him，Fagin，’　the　Dodger　said　to　the　old　man．　‘My　friend　O　liver　Twist．’

Fagin　smiled　and　shook　O　liver’s　hand．The　n　all　The　young　gentlemen　came　up　to　him　and　shook　both　his　hands　very　hard，　especially　the　hand　which　held　his　few　possessions。　One　of　the　boys　was　particularly　kind．He　even　put　his　hands　in　O　liver’s　pockets　so　that　O　liver　would　not　have　to　empty　the　m　himself　when　he　went　to　bed．The　boys　would　probably　have　been　even　more　helpful，　but　Fagin　hit　the　m　on　their　heads　and　shoulders　until　They　left　O　liver　alone．

　‘We’re　very　glad　to　see　you，O　liver，’said　Fagin。　　‘I　see　you’re　staring　at　the　handkerchieves，　my　dear．Aren’t　the　re　a　lot？We’ve　just　taken　the　m　all　out　to　wash　the　m，　that’s　all！Ha！　Ha！　Ha！’

This　seemed　to　be　a　joke，　as　the　old　gentleman　and　all　his　young　friends　gave　loud　shouts　of　laughter。　The　n　supper　began。　O　liver　ate　his　share　of　the　food　and　was　the　n　given　a　glass　of　gin…and…water．Fagin　told　him　to　drink　it　fast．Immediately　afterwards，O　liver　felt　himself　lifted　onto　one　of　the　beds　and　he　sank　into　a　deep　sleep．

When　he　woke，it　was　late　morning．Fagin　was　the　only　other　person　in　the　room，　and　he　was　boiling　coffee　in　a　pan．When　the　coffee　was　done，he　turned　towards　O　liver　and　looked　closely　at　the　boy．O　liver　was　only　just　awake　and　his　eyes　were　half－closed，　so　he　seemed　to　be　still　fast　asleep。　Fagin　the　n　locked　the　door　and　from　a　hidden　hole　in　the　floor，he　took　out　a　small　box，　which　he　placed　carefully　on　the　table．　His　eyes　shone　as　he　opened　it　and　took　out　a　gold　watch　covered　in　jewels。　

　‘Aah！’　he　　said　　to　　himself．　‘What　　fine　　men　　They　　were！Loyal　to　the　end。　They　never　told　the　priest　where　the　jewels　were．　Nor　about　old　Fagin．Not　even　at　the　very　end．　And　why　should　They？　It　was　already　too　late．It　wouldn’t　have　stopped　the　rope　going　round　their　necks！’

Fagin　took　　out　at　least　six　more　watches，　as　well　as　rings　and　bracelets　and　many　other　valuable　pieces　of　jewellery．　He　looked　at　　the　m　　with　　pleasure，　the　n　　replaced　　the　m。　　‘What　　a　good　thing　hanging　is！’he　murmured．　‘Dead　men　can　never　talk，or　betray　old　friends！’　

At　that　moment　he　looked　up　and　saw　O　liver　watching　him．He　closed　the　lid　of　the　box　with　a　loud　crash，and　picked　up　a　bread　knife　from　the　table．　‘Why　are　you　watching　me？　What　have　you　seen？　Tell　me－quick！’

　‘I　couldn’t　sleep　any　longer，sir，’said　O　liver，　terrified。　　‘I’m　very　sorry．’

　‘You　weren’t　awake　an　hour　ago？’Fagin　asked　fiercely，still　holding　the　knife。　

　‘I　promise　I　was　n’t，　sir，’　replied　O　liver．

　‘Don’t　worry，　my　dear，’　Fagin　said，　putting　down　the　knife　and　becoming　once　again　the　kind　old　gentleman．　He　laughed．　‘I　only　tried　to　frighten　you，my　dear。　You’re　a　brave　boy，O　liver！　And　did　you　see　any　of　the　pretty　things？’

　‘Yes，　sir。　‘

　‘Ah，’　said　Fagin，　turning　rather　pale．　‘They…They’re　mine，　O　liver．All　I　have，in　my　old　age．’

O　liver　wondered　why　the　old　man　lived　in　such　an　old，　dirty　place，when　　he　　　had　so　many　watches，　but　the　n　he　thought　that　it　must　cost　Fagin　a　lot　of　money　to　look　after　the　Dodger　and　the　other　boys．So　he　said　nothing，and　got　up　and　washed．When　he　turned　towards　Fagin，　the　box　had　disappeared．

Soon　the　Dodger　entered　with　a　cheerful　young　man　named　Charley　Bates．

　‘Have　you　been　at　work　this　morning？’Fagin　asked　the　Dodger．

　‘Hard　at　work，’answered　the　Dodger．

　‘Good　boys，good　boys！’said　Fagin．　‘What　have　you　got？’

　‘A　couple　of　pocket－books　and　some　handkerchieves．’

　‘Good　workers，　aren’t　They，　O　liver？’　said　the　old　man．

　‘Very　good，’　said　O　liver．　The　others　all　started　laughing，though　O　liver　saw　nothing　funny　in　his　answer。　Fagin　inspected　the　handkerchieves　and　told　the　two　boys　that　They　were　extremely　well　made　and　that　he　was　very　pleased　with　their　work。　

After　breakfast　They　played　a　very　strange　game。　The　cheerful　old　man　put　a　watch　in　his　jacket　pocket，　with　a　guard…chain　round　his　neck，and　a　notebook　and　a　handkerchief　in　his　trouser　pocket．The　n　he　went　up　and　down　the　room　holding　a　walking　stick，just　like　the　old　gentlemen　who　walked　in　the　streets。　Sometimes　he　stopped　at　the　fireplace，　and　sometimes　at　the　door，　pretending　to　stare　with　great　interest　into　shop　windows．He　would　the　n　constantly　look　round，　as　if　afraid　of　thieves，　touching　all　his　pockets　in　such　a　natural　and　funny　way　that　O　liver　laughed　until　tears　ran　down　his　face．All　the　time，　the　two　boys　followed　Fagin　everywhere，and　every　time　he　turned　round，　They　moved　out　of　his　sight　so　quickly　that　it　was　impossible　to　follow　their　movements。　

Finally，　the　Dodger　bumped　into　him　accidentally　from　behind，　and　at　that　moment　both　boys　took　from　him，very　quickly，　his　watch，　guard－chain，handkerchief，and　notebook．If　the　old　man　felt　a　hand　in　any　of　his　pockets　he　cried　out，　and　the　n　the　game　began　again。　

Later，　the　boys　went　out　again　to　do　some　more　work。　When　They　　had　gone，Fagin　　turned　　to　O　liver．　‘Take　　my　advice，　my　dea