oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第113章
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proclaimed the fact to those in front； who immediately began to
pour round； pressing upon each other in an unbroken stream。
He planted a board； which he had carried up with him for the
purpose； so firmly against the door； that it must be matter of great
difficulty to open it from the inside； and creeping over the tiles；
looked over the low parapet。
The water was out； and the ditch a bed of mud。
The crowd had been hushed during these few moments；
watching his motions and doubtful of his purpose； but the instant
they perceived it and knew it was defeated； they raised a cry of
triumphant execration to which all their previous shouting had
been whispers。 Again and again it rose。 Those who were at too
great a distance to know its meaning； took up the sound； it echoed
and re…echoed； it seemed as though the whole city had poured its
population out to curse him。
On pressed the people from the front—on； on； on； in a strong；
struggling current of angry faces； with here and there a glaring
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torch to light them up； and show them out in all their wrath and
passion。 The houses on the opposite side of the ditch had been
entered by the mob； sashes were thrown up； or torn bodily out；
there were tiers and tiers of faces in every window； cluster upon
cluster of people clinging to every house…top。 Each little bridge
（and there were three in sight） bent beneath the weight of the
crowd upon it。 Still the current poured on to find some nook or
hole from which to vent their shouts； and only for an instant see
the wretch。
“They have him now；” cried a man on the nearest bridge。
“Hurrah！”
The crowd grew light with uncovered heads； and again the
shout uprose。
“I will give fifty pounds；” cried an old gentleman from the same
quarter； “to the man who takes him alive。 I will remain here； till he
comes to ask for it。”
There was another roar。 At this moment the word was passed
among the crowd that the door was forced at last； and that he who
had first called for the ladder had mounted into the room。 The
stream abruptly turned； as this intelligence ran from mouth to
mouth； and the people at the windows； seeing those upon the
bridges pouring back； quitted their stations； and； running into the
street； joined the concourse that now thronged pell…mell to the
spot they had left； each man crushing and striving with his
neighbour； and all panting with impatience to get near the door；
and look upon the criminal as the officers brought him out。 The
cries and shrieks of those who were pressed almost to suffocation；
or trampled down and trodden under foot in the confusion； were
dreadful； the narrow ways were completely blocked up； and at this
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time； between the rush of some to regain the space in front of the
house； and the unavailing struggles of others to extricate
themselves from the mass； the immediate attention was distracted
from the murder； although the universal eagerness for his capture
was； if possible； increased。
The man had shrunk down； thoroughly quelled by the ferocity
of the crowd； and the impossibility of escape； but seeing this
sudden change with no less rapidity than it had occurred； he
sprang upon his feet； determined to make （one last effort for his
life by dropping into the ditch； and； at the risk of being stifled；
endeavouring to creep away in the darkness and confusion。
Roused into new strength and energy； and stimulated by the
noise within the house which announced that an entrance had
really been effected； he set his foot against the stack of chimneys；
fastened one end of the rope tightly and firmly round it； and with
the other made a strong running…noose by the aid of his hands and
teeth almost in a second。 He could let himself down by the cord to
within a less distance of the ground than his own height； and had
his knife ready in his hand to cut it then and drop。
At the very instant when he brought the loop over his head
previous to slipping it beneath his arm…pits； and when the old
gentleman before mentioned （who had clung so tight to the railing
of the bridge as to resist the force of the crowd； and retain his
position） earnestly warned those about him that the man was
about to lower himself down—at that very instant the murderer；
looking behind him on the roof； threw his arms above his head；
and uttered a yell of terror。
“The eyes again！” he cried； in an unearthly screech。
Staggering as if struck by lightning； he lost his balance and
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tumbled over the parapet。 The noose was on his neck。 It ran up
with his weight； tight as a bowstring； and swift as the arrow it
speeds。 He fell for five…and…thirty feet。 There was a sudden jerk； a
terrific convulsion of the limbs； and there he hung； with the open
knife clenched in his stiffening hand。
The old chimney quivered with the shock； but stood it bravely。
The murderer swung lifeless against the wall； and the boy；
thrusting aside the dangling body which obscured his view； called
to the people to come and take him out； for God’s sake。
A dog； which had lain concealed till now； ran backwards and
forwards on the parapet； with a dismal howl； and； collecting
himself for a spring； jumped for the dead man’s shoulders。 Missing
his aim； he fell into the ditch； turning completely over as he went；
and striking his head against a stone； dashed out his brains。
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Chapter 51
Affording an explanation of more mysteries than
one； and comprehending a proposal of marriage
with no word of settlement or pin…money。
The events narrated in the last chapter were yet but two
days old； when Oliver found himself； at three o’clock in the
afternoon； in a travelling carriage rolling fast towards his
native town。 Mrs。 Maylie； and Rose； and Mrs。 Bedwin； and the
good doctor； were with him； and Mr。 Brownlow followed in a post…
chaise； accompanied by one other person whose name had not
been mentioned。
They had not talked much upon the way； for Oliver was in a
flutter of agitation and uncertainty which deprived him of the
power of collecting his thoughts； and almost of speech； and
appeared to have scarcely less effect on his companions； who
shared it； in at least an equal degree。 He and the two ladies had
been very carefully made acquainted by Mr。 Brownlow with the
nature of the admissions which had been forced from Monks； and
although they knew that the object of their present journey was to
complete the work which had been so well begun； still the whole
matter was enveloped in enough of doubt and mystery to leave
them in endurance of the most intense suspense。
The same kind friend had； with Mr。 Losberne’s assistance；
cautiously stopped all channels of communication through which
they could receive intelligence of the dreadful occurrences that
had so recently taken place。 “It was quite true；” he said； “that they
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must know them before long； but it might be at a better time than
the present； and it could not be at a worse。” So they travelled on in
silence； each busied with reflections on the object which had
brought them together； and no one disposed to give utterance to
the thoughts which crowded upon all。
But if Oliver； under these influences； had remained silent while
they journeyed towards his birth…place by a road he had never
seen； how the whole current of his recollections ran back to old
times； and what a crowd of emotions were awakened up in his
breast； when they turned into that which he had traversed on foot；
a poor； houseless； wandering boy； without a friend to help him； or
a roof to shelter his head。
“See there； there！” cried Oliver； eagerly clasping the hand of
Rose； and pointing out of the carriage window； “that’s the stile I
came over； there are the hedges I crept behind for fear any one
should overtake me an
