oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第102章

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after　giving　their　faces　such　a　rub　against　the　world　as　to　take　the　
smiles　off；　turn　with　no　less　regularity　to　the　darkest　side　of　
heaven。　Between　the　Mussulman　and　the　Pharisee；　commend　me　
to　the　first。”　

These　words　appeared　to　be　addressed　to　the　young　lady；　and　
were　perhaps　uttered　with　the　view　of　affording　Nancy　time　to　
recover　herself。　The　gentleman；　shortly　afterwards；　addressed　
himself　to　her。　

“You　were　not　here　last　Sunday　night；”　he　said。　

“I　couldn’t　come；”　replied　Nancy；　“I　was　kept　by　force。”　

“By　whom？”　

“Him　that　I　told　the　young　lady　of　before。”　

“You　were　not　suspected　of　holding　any　communication　with　
anybody　on　the　subject　which　has　brought　us　here　tonight；　I　
hope？”　asked　the　old　gentleman。　

“No；”　replied　the　girl；　shaking　her　head。　“It’s　not　very　easy　for　
me　to　leave　him　unless　he　knows　why；　I　couldn’t　have　seen　the　
lady　when　I　did；　but　that　I　gave　him　a　drink　of　laudanum　before　I　
came　away。”　

“Did　he　awake　before　you　returned？”　inquired　the　gentleman。　

“No；　and　neither　he　nor　any　of　them　suspect　me。”　

“Good；”　said　the　gentleman。　“Now　listen　to　me。”　

“I　am　ready；”　replied　the　girl；　as　he　paused　for　a　moment。　

“This　young　lady；”　the　gentleman　began；　“has　communicated　to　
me；　and　to　some　other　friends　who　can　be　safely　trusted；　what　you　
told　her　nearly　a　fortnight　since。　I　confess　to　you　that　I　had　doubts；　
at　first；　whether　you　were　to　be　implicitly　relied　upon；　but　now　I　

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firmly　believe　you　are。”　

“I　am；”　replied　the　girl　earnestly。　

“I　repeat　that　I　firmly　believe　it。　To　prove　to　you　that　I　am　
disposed　to　trust　you；　I　tell　you　without　reserve；　that　we　propose　to　
extort　the　secret；　whatever　it　may　be；　from　the　fears　of　this　man　
Monks。　But　if—if—”　said　the　gentleman；　“he　cannot　be　secured；　
or；　if　secured；　cannot　be　acted　upon　as　we　wish；　you　must　deliver　
up　the　Jew。”　

“Fagin；”　cried　the　girl；　recoiling。　

“That　man　must　be　delivered　up　by　you；”　said　the　gentleman。　

“I　will　not　do　it！　I　will　never　do　it！”　replied　the　girl。　“Devil　that　
he　is；　and　worse　than　devil　as　he　has　been　to　me；　I　will　never　do　
that。”　

“You　will　not？”　said　the　gentleman；　who　seemed　fully　prepared　
for　this　answer。　

“Never！”　returned　the　girl。　

“Tell　me　why？”　

“For　one　reason；”　rejoined　the　girl　firmly—“for　one　reason；　that　
the　lady　knows　and　will　stand　by　me　in；　I　know　she　will；　for　I　have　
her　promise；　and　for　this　other　reason；　besides；　that；　bad　life　as　he　
has　led；　I　have　led　a　bad　life　too；　there　are　many　of　us　who　have　
kept　the　same　courses　together；　and　I’ll　not　turn　upon　them；　who　
might—any　of　them—have　turned　upon　me　but　didn’t；　bad　as　they　
are。”　

“Then；”　said　the　gentleman　quickly；　as　if　this　had　been　the　
point　that　he　had　been　aiming　to　attain；　“put　Monks　into　my　
hands；　and　leave　him　to　me　to　deal　with。”　

“What　if　he　turned　against　the　others？”　

“I　promise　you　that　in　that　case；　if　the　truth　is　forced　from　him；　

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there　the　matter　will　rest；　there　must　be　circumstances　in　Oliver’s　
little　history　which　it　would　be　painful　to　drag　before　the　public　
eye；　and　if　the　truth　is　once　elicited；　they　shall　go　scot…free。”　

“And　if　it　is　not？”　suggested　the　girl。　

“Then；”　pursued　the　gentleman；　“this　Fagin　shall　not　be　
brought　to　justice　without　your　consent。　In　such　a　case　I　could　
show　you　reasons；　I　think；　which　would　induce　you　to　yield　it。”　

“Have　I　the　lady’s　promise　for　that？”　asked　the　girl。　

“You　have；”　replied　Rose。　“My　true　and　faithful　pledge。”　

“Monks　would　never　learn　how　you　know　what　you　do？”　said　
the　girl；　after　a　short　pause。　

“Never；”　replied　the　gentleman。　“The　intelligence　should　be　so　
brought　to　bear　upon　him；　that　he　could　never　even　guess。”　

“I　have　been　a　liar；　and　among　liars　from　a　little　child；”　said　the　
girl；　after　another　interval　of　silence；　“but　I　will　take　your　words。”　

After　receiving　an　assurance　from　both；　that　she　might　safely　do　
so；　she　proceeded　in　a　voice　so　low　that　it　was　often　difficult　for　the　
listener　to　discover　even　the　import　of　what　she　said；　to　describe；　
by　name　and　situation；　the　public…house　whence　she　had　been　
followed　that　night。　From　the　manner　in　which　she　occasionally　
paused；　it　appeared　as　if　the　gentleman　were　making　some　hasty　
notes　of　the　information　she　communicated。　When　she　had　
thoroughly　explained　the　localities　of　the　place；　the　best　position　
from　which　to　watch　it　without　exciting　observation；　and　the　night　
and　hour　on　which　Monks　was　most　in　the　habit　of　frequenting　it；　
she　seemed　to　consider　for　a　few　moments；　for　the　purpose　of　
recalling　his　features　and　appearance　more　forcibly　to　her　
recollection。　

“He　is　tall；”　said　the　girl；　“and　a　strongly…made　man；　but　not　

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stout；　he　has　a　lurking　walk；　and　as　he　walks；　constantly　looks　over　
his　shoulder；　first　on　one　side；　and　then　on　the　other。　Don’t　forget　
that；　for　his　eyes　are　sunk　in　his　head　so　much　deeper　than　any　
other　man’s；　that　you　might　almost　tell　him　by　that　alone。　His　face　
is　dark；　like　his　hair　and　eyes；　and；　although　he　can’t　be　more　than　
six　or　eight…and…twenty；　withered　and　haggard。　His　lips　are　often　
discoloured　and　disfigured　with　the　marks　of　teeth；　for　he　has　
desperate　fits；　and　sometimes　even　bites　his　hands　and　covers　
them　with　wounds。—Why　did　you　start？”　said　the　girl；　stopping　
suddenly。　

The　gentleman　replied；　in　a　hurried　manner；　that　he　was　not　
conscious　of　having　done　so；　and　begged　her　to　proceed。　

“Part　of　this；”　said　the　girl；　“I’ve　drawn　out　from　other　people　at　
the　house　I　tell　you　of；　for　I　have　only　seen　him　twice；　and　both　
times　he　was　covered　up　in　a　large　cloak。　I　think　that’s　all　I　can　
give　you　to　know　him　by。　Stay；　though；”　she　added。　“Upon　his　
throat；　so　high　that　you　can　see　a　part　of　it　below　his　neckerchief　
when　he　turns　his　face；　there　is—”　

“A　broad　red　mark；　like　a　burn　or　scald？”　cried　the　gentleman。　

“How’s　this？”　said　the　girl。　“You　know　him！”　

The　young　lady　uttered　a　cry　of　surprise；　and　for　a　few　
moments　they　were　so　still　that　the　listener　could　distinctly　hear　
them　breathe。　

“I　think　I　do；”　said　the　gentleman；　breaking　silence。　“I　should　
by　your　description。　We　shall　see。　Many　people　are　singularly　like　
each　other。　It　may　not　be　the　same。”　

As　he　expressed　himself　to　this　effect；　with　assumed　
carelessness；　he　took　a　step　or　two　nearer　the　concealed　spy；　as　
the　latter　could　tell　from　the　distinctness　with　which　he　heard　him　

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mutter；　“It　must　be　he！”　

“Now；”　he　said；　returning；　so　it　seemed　by　the　sound；　to　the　
spot　where　he　had　stood　before；　“you　have　given　us　most　valuable　
assistance；　young　woman；　and　I　wish　you　to　be　the　better　for　it。　
What　can　I　do　to　serve　you？”　

“Nothing；”　replied　Nancy。　

“You　will　not　persist　in　saying　that；”　rejoined　the　gentleman；　
with　a　voice　and　emphasis　of　kindness　that　might　have　touched　a　
much　harder　and　more　obdurate　heart。　“Think　now。　Tell　me。”　

“Nothing；　sir；”　rejoined　the　girl；　weeping。　“You　can　do　nothing　
to　help　me。　I　am　past　all　hope；　indeed。”　

“You　put　yourself　beyond　its　pale；”　said　the　gentleman。　“The　
past　has　been　a　dreary　waste　with　you；　of　youthful　energies　
misspent；　and　such　priceless　treasures　lavished；　as　the　Creator　
bestows　but　once　and　never　grants　again；　but；　for　the　future；　you　
may　hope。　I　do　not　say　that　it　is　in　our　power　to　offer　you　peace　of　
heart　and　mind；　for　that　must　come　as　you　seek　it；　but　a　quiet　
asylum；　either　in　England；　or；　if　you　fear　to　remain　here；　in　some　
foreign　country；　it　is　not　only　within　the　compass　of　our　ability　but　
our　most　anxious　wish　to　secure　you。　Before　the　dawn　of　morning；　
before　this　river　wakes　to　the　first　glimpse　of　daylight；　you　shall　be　
placed　as　entirely　beyond　the　reach　of　your　former　associates；　and