oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第104章

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him；　and　ostentatiously　passing　a　pistol　into　a　more　convenient　
pocket。　“That’s　lucky—for　one　of　us。　Which　one　that　is；　don’t　
matter。”　

“I’ve　got　that　to　tell　you；　Bill；”　said　Fagin；　drawing　his　chair　
nearer；　“will　make　you　worse　than　me。”　

“Aye？”　returned　the　robber；　with　an　incredulous　air。　“Tell　
away！　Look　sharp；　or　Nance　will　think　I’m　lost。”　

“Lost！”　cried　Fagin。　“She　has　pretty　well　settled　that；　in　her　
own　mind；　already。”　

Sikes　looked　with　an　aspect　of　great　perplexity　into　the　Jew’s　
face；　and　reading　no　satisfactory　explanation　of　the　riddle　there；　
clenched　his　coat　collar　in　his　huge　hand　and　shook　him　soundly。　

“Speak；　will　you！”　he　said；　“or　if　you　won’t；　it　shall　be　for　want　
of　breath。　Open　your　mouth　and　say　wot　you’ve　got　to　say　in　plain　
words　Out　with　it；　you　thundering　old　cur；　out　with　it！”　

“Suppose　that　lad　that’s　lying　there—”　Fagin　began。　

Sikes　turned　round　to　where　Noah　was　sleeping；　as　if　he　had　
not　previously　observed　him。　“Well？”　he　said；　resuming　his　former　
position。　

“Suppose　that　lad；”　pursued　Fagin；　“was　to　peach—to　blow　
upon　us　all—first　seeking　out　the　right　folks　for　the　purpose；　and　
then　having　a　meeting　with　’em　in　the　street　to　paint　our　
likenesses；　describe　every　mark　that　they　might　know　us　by；　and　

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the　crib　where　we　might　be　most　easily　taken。　Suppose　he　was　to　
do　all　this；　and　besides　to　blow　upon　a　plant　we’ve　all　been　in；　
more　or　less—of　his　own　fancy；　not　grabbed；　trapped；　tried；　ear…
wigged　by　the　parson　and　brought　to　it　on　bread　and　water—but　
of　his　own　fancy；　to　please　his　own　taste；　stealing　out　at　nights　to　
find　those　most　interested　against　us；　and　peaching　to　them。　Do　
you　hear　me？”　cried　the　Jew；　his　eyes　flashing　with　rage。　
“Suppose　he　did　all　this；　what　then？”　

“What　then！”　replied　Sikes；　with　a　tremendous　oath。　“If　he　was　
left　alive　till　I　came；　I’d　grind　his　skull　under　the　iron　heel　of　my　
boot　into　as　many　grains　as　there　are　hairs　upon　his　head。”　

“What　if　I　did　it！”　cried　Fagin；　almost　in　a　yell。　“I；　that　know　so　
much；　and　could　hang　so　many　besides　myself！”　

“I　don’t　know；”　replied　Sikes；　clenching　his　teeth；　and　turning　
white　at　the　mere　suggestion。　“I’d　do　something　in　the　jail　that　’ud　
get　me　put　in　irons；　and　if　I　was　tried　along　with　you；　I’d　fall　upon　
you　with　them　in　the　open　court；　and　beat　your　brains　out　afore　
the　people。　I　should　have　such　strength；”　muttered　the　robber；　
poising　his　brawny　arm；　“that　I　could　smash　your　head　as　if　a　
loaded　wagon　had　gone　over　it。”　

“You　would？”　

“Would　I！”　said　the　housebreaker。　“Try　me。”　

“If　it　was　Charley；　or　the　Dodger；　or　Bet；　or—”　

“I　don’t　care　who；”　replied　Sikes　impatiently。　“Whoever　it　was；　
I’d　serve　them　the　same。”　

Fagin　looked　hard　at　the　robber；　and；　motioning　him　to　be　
silent；　stooped　over　the　bed　upon　the　floor；　and　shook　the　sleeper　
to　rouse　him。　Sikes　leaned　forward　in　his　chair；　looking　on　with　his　
hands　upon　his　knees；　as　if　wondering　much　what　all　this　

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questioning　and　preparation　was　to　end　in。　

“Bolter；　Bolter！　Poor　lad！”　said　Fagin；　looking　up　with　an　
expression　of　devilish　anticipation；　and　speaking　slowly　and　with　
marked　emphasis。　“He’s　tired—tired　with　watching　for　her　so　
long—watching　for　her；　Bill。”　

“Wot　d’ye　mean？”　asked　Sikes；　drawing　back。　

Fagin　made　no　answer；　but　bending　over　the　sleeper　again；　
hauled　him　into　a　sitting　posture。　When　his　assumed　name　had　
been　repeated　several　time；　Noah　rubbed　his　eyes；　and；　giving　a　
heavy　yawn；　looked　sleepily　about　him。　

“Tell　me　that　again—once　again；　just　for　him　to　hear；”　said　the　
Jew；　pointing　to　Sikes　as　he　spoke。　

“Tell　yer　what？”　asked　the　sleepy　Noah；　shaking　himself　
pettishly。　

“That　about—NANCY；”　said　Fagin；　clutching　Sikes　by　the　
wrist；　as　if　to　prevent　his　leaving　the　house　before　he　had　heard　
enough。　“You　followed　her？”　

“Yes。”　

“To　London　Bridge？”　

“Yes。”　

“Where　she　met　two　people？”　

“So　she　did。”　

“A　gentleman　and　a　lady　that　she　had　gone　to　of　her　own　accord　
before；　who　asked　her　to　give　up　all　her　pals；　and　Monks　first；　
which　she　did—and　to　describe　him；　which　she　did—and　to　tell　
her　what　house　it　was　that　we　meet　at；　and　go　to；　which　she　did—　
and　where　it　could　be　best　watched　from；　which　she　did—and　
what　time　the　people　went　there；　which　she　did。　She　did　all　this。　
She　told　it　all　every　word　without　a　threat；　without　a　murmur—　

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she　did—did　she　not？”　cried　Fagin；　half…mad　with　fury。　

“All　right；”　replied　Noah；　scratching　his　head。　“That’s　just　what　
it　was！”　

“What　did　they　say　about　last　Sunday？”　

“About　last　Sunday！”　replied　Noah；　considering。　“Why；　I　told　
yer　that　before。”　

“Again。　Tell　it　again！”　cried　Fagin；　tightening　his　grasp　on　
Sikes；　and　brandishing　his　other　hand　aloft；　as　the　foam　flew　from　
his　lips。　

“They　asked　her；”　said　Noah；　who；　as　he　grew　more　wakeful；　
seemed　to　have　a　dawning　perception　who　Sikes　was—“they　
asked　her　why　she　didn’t　come　last　Sunday；　as　she　promised。　She　
said　she　couldn’t。”　

“Why—why？　Tell　him　that。”　

“Because　she　was　forcibly　kept　at　home　by　Bill；　the　man　she　
had　told　them　of　before；”　replied　Noah。　

“What　more　of　him？”　cried　Fagin。　“What　more　of　the　man　she　
had　told　them　of　before？　Tell　him　that；　tell　him　that。”　

“Why；　that　she　couldn’t　very　easily　get　out　of　doors　unless　he　
knew　where　she　was　going　to；”　said　Noah；　“and　so　the　first　time　
she　went　to　see　the　lady；　she—ha！　ha！　ha！　it　made　me　laugh　when　
she　said　it；　that　it　did—　she　gave　him　a　drink　of　laudanum。”　

“Hell’s　fire！”　cried　Sikes；　breaking　fiercely　from　Fagin。　“Let　me　
go！”　Flinging　the　old　man　from　him；　he　rushed　from　the　room；　and　
darted；　wildly　and　furiously；　up　the　stairs。　

“Bill；　Bill！”　cried　Fagin；　following　him　hastily。　“A　word。　Only　a　
word。”　

The　word　would　not　have　been　exchanged；　but　that　the　
housebreaker　was　unable　to　open　the　door；　on　which　he　was　

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expending　fruitless　oaths　and　violence；　when　the　Jew　came　
panting　up。　

“Let　me　out；”　said　Sikes。　“Don’t　speak　to　me；　it’s　not　safe。　Let　
me　out；　I　say！”　

“Hear　me　speak　a　word；”　rejoined　Fagin；　laying　his　hand　upon　
the　lock。　“You　won’t　be—”　

“Well；”　replied　the　other。　

“You　won’t　be—too—violent；　Bill？”　

The　day　was　breaking；　and　there　was　light　enough　for　the　men　
to　see　each　other’s　faces。　They　exchanged　one　brief　glance；　there　
was　a　fire　in　the　eyes　of　both；　which　could　not　be　mistaken。　“I　
mean；”　said　Fagin；　showing　that　he　felt　all　disguise　was　now　
useless；　“not　too　violent　for　safety。　Be　crafty；　Bill；　and　not　too　
bold。”　

Sikes　made　no　reply；　but；　pulling　open　the　door；　of　which　Fagin　
had　turned　the　lock；　dashed　into　the　silent　streets。　

Without　one　pause；　or　moment’s　consideration；　without　once　
turning　his　head　to　the　right　or　left；　or　raising　his　eyes　to　the　sky；　
or　lowering　them　to　the　ground；　but　looking　straight　before　him　
with　savage　resolution；　his　teeth　so　tightly　compressed　that　the　
strained　jaw　seemed　starting　through　his　skin；　the　robber　held　on　
his　headlong　course；　nor　muttered　a　word；　nor　relaxed　a　muscle；　
until　he　reached　his　own　door。　He　opened　it；　softly；　with　a　key；　
strode　lightly　up　the　stairs；　and　entering　his　own　room；　double…
locked　the　door；　and　lifting　a　heavy　table　against　it；　drew　back　the　
curtain　of　the　bed。　

The　girl　was　lying；　half…dressed；　upon　it。　He　had　roused　her　
from　her　sleep；　for　she　raised　herself　with　a　hurried　and　startled　
look。　

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“Get　up！”　said　the　man。　

“It　is　you；　Bill！”　said　the　girl；　with　an　expression　of　pleasure　at　
his　return。　

“It　is；”　was　the　reply。　“Get　up。”　

There　was　a　candle　burning；　but　the　man　hastily　drew　it　from　
t