雾都孤儿-第5章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Later， the boys went out again to do some more work。 When They had gone，Fagin turned to O liver． ‘Take my advice， my dear，’he said． ‘Make the m your models。 Especially the Dodger． He’ll be a great man himself， and will make you one too； if you copy him。 Is my handkerchief hanging out of my pocket； my dear？ '
'Yes； sir； 'said O liver。
'See if you can take it out； without my feeling it。 Just as you saw the m doing it when we were playing。 '
O liver held up the bottom of the pocket with one hand； as he had seen the Dodger hold it； and pulled the handkerchief lightly out of it with the other。
'Has it gone？ 'asked Fagin。
'Here it is； sir； 'said O liver； showing it in his hand。
'You're a clever boy； my dear； 'said the old gentleman； putting his hand on O liver's head。 I've never seen a quicker boy。 If you go on like this； you'll be the greatest man in London。 Now come here and I'll show you how to take the marks out of handkerchieves。 '
O liver wondered what the connection was between playing at stealing from the old gentleman's pocket and becoming a great man。 But he followed him quietly to the table and was soon deeply involved in his new study。
O liver remained in Fagin's room for many days； picking the marks and names out of the handkerchieves and sometimes playing the same game as before。 One evening two young ladies came to visit； and a very cheerful party followed。 O liver thought They were very nice； friendly girls。
The Dodger and Charley Bates went out to work every day； but sometimes came home with no handkerchieves； and Fagin would get very angry。 Once he even knocked the m both down the stairs and sent the m to bed with no dinner because They had returned with nothing。
At last； the morning came when O liver was allowed to go out to work with the two other boys The re had been no handkerchieves for him to work on for several days and the re was not very much to eat for dinner。 The three boys set out； but They walked so slowly that O liver thought They were not going to work at all。 The n suddenly the Dodger stopped and put his finger to his lips。
'What's the matter？ 'demanded O liver。
'Be quiet！ 'replied the Dodger。 'Do you see that old man outside the book shop？ He's the one。 '
O liver looked from the Dodger to Charley Bates with great surprise and confusion； but he had been told not to ask questions。 The two boys walked quickly and secretly across the road towards the old gentleman。 O liver followed behind the m； watching in silent amazement。
The old gentleman looked quite rich； he wore gold glasses； white trousers； and had an expensive walking stick under his arm。 He had picked up a book and was standing the re； reading it with great concentration—just as if he were in his own armchair at home。 O liver； his eyes wide with horror and alarm； watched as the Dodger put his hand in the old gentleman's pocket； took out a hand kerchief； and hand ed it to Charley Bates。 The n the two of the m ran round the corner as fast as They could。
Suddenly； the whole mystery of the handkerchieves； and the watches； and the jewels； and Fagin； became clear。 O liver stood for a moment in terror； blood rushing through him until he felt he was on fire。 The n； confused and frightened； he started to run。 At the same time； the old gentleman； putting his hand to his pocket and realizing his hand kerchief was missing； turned round。 He saw O liver running away； so he naturally thought O liver was the thief。 With loud cries of 'Stop thief！ '； he ran after O liver with the book still in his hand 。
The old gentleman was not the only one who started shouting。 The Dodger and Charley Bates； not wanting to attract attention to the mselves by running down the street； had stopped round the first corner。 When They realized what was happening； They also shouted' Stop thief！ 'and joined in the chase like good citizens。
The cry of 'Stop thief！ 'always causes great excitement。 Everybody in the street stopped what They were doing and began to shout the mselves。 Many joined in the chase with enthusiasm and soon the re was a big crowd running after O liver。
Finally； They caught the exhausted boy。 He fell down on the pavement and the crowd gathered round him。
'Is this the boy？ 'They asked the old gentleman。
'Yes； 'he answered； leaning over O liver。 'But I'm afraid he's hurt himself。 '
'I did that； 'said a huge young man proudly。 'And I hurt my hand doing it。 'The old gentleman looked at him with an expression of dislike。
O liver lay on the ground； covered with mud and dust and bleeding from the mouth； and looked wildly at all the faces surrounding him。 At that moment a policeman arrived and took O liver by the collar。 'Come on； get up； 'he said roughly。
'It wasn't me； sir； 'said O liver； looking round。 'It was two other boys。 They're here somewhere。 '
'Oh no； They aren't； 'replied the policeman。 In fact； he was right； as the Dodger and Charley had quietly disappeared as soon as the crowd had caught O liver。 'Come on； get up！ '
'Don't hurt him； 'said the old gentleman。
'I won't； said the policeman； tearing O liver's jacket half off his back as he lifted him up。
The three of the m started walking； followed by the excited crowd。
5 O liver's life changes
O liver was taken to the nearest police station。 The officer at the gate looked at the boy。 'Another young thief； eh？ 'He turned to the old gentleman； 'Are you the person who was robbed； sir？ '
'Yes； I am； 'replied the old gentleman； 'but I'm not sure that this boy actually took the hand kerchief。 I don't really want to take him to court。 '
'Too late。 He must go before the magistrate now。 '
O liver was locked in a small stone cell； which was disgustingly dirty and smelly As the key turned in the lock； the old gentleman said to himself thoughtfully； 'The re's something in that boy's face… He could be innocent。 Where have I seen someone like him before？ 'After thinking about this for a few minutes； he said； 'No； it must be imagination。 'He sighed unhappily； and began reading the book again。
Some time later； the officer touched his shoulder and told him that the court was ready。 A magistrate was a judge who dealt with small crimes in local courts； and the magistrate for this district was well known。 His name was Mr Fang and he was a disagreeable； bad…tempered man。 Today he was in a particularly bad mood。 He frowned angrily at the old gentleman； and asked sharply；
'Who are you？ '
'My name； sir； is Brown low 。 '
'Officer！ What is this man charged with？ '
'He's not charged； sir； 'answered the officer。 'He's accusing the boy。 '
The magistrate looked at Mr Brown low from head to foot。 'And what have you got to say？ '
Mr Brown low began to explain。 'I was standing outside a book shop—'
'Be quiet； sir！ 'shouted Mr Fang。 'Policeman！ Now－you arrested the boy。 What happened？ '
The policeman told the magistrate what he had heard； and how he had searched O liver afterwards and found nothing。
'Are the re any witnesses？ 'asked the magistrate。
'None； 'answered the policeman。
Mr Fang the n turned to Mr Brown low and angrily told him to describe what had happened。 Mr Brown low explained that he had run after the boy only because he saw him running away。 He did not think that the boy was the actual thief and he hoped that the boy would not be punished。 'He's been hurt already； 'he added； 'and now I'm afraid he's very ill。 '
'I don't believe that for a moment； 'said Mr Fang unpleasantly。 He turned to O liver。 'Come now； don't try any clever tricks with me！ What's your name？ 'he demanded。
O liver tried to reply； but he was too weak to speak。 He was deadly pale； and he felt the room spinning round him。 At last he managed to whisper a request for water； but the magistrate refused angrily。 Suddenly； O liver fainted and fell to the floor。
Mr Fang stared at him angrily。 'Guilty。 Three months 'prison； 'he said immediately。 'Let him lie the re。 He'll soon be tired of that。 'Mr Fang stood up。 'This court is now closed。 '
At that moment a man in an old black coat rushed in。 'Stop！ 'he shouted。 'Don't take the boy away。 I saw it all。 I'm the b
