oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第118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！
into the open yard。 There was nobody there to speak to him； but；
as he passed； the prisoners fell back to render him more visible to
the people who were clinging to the bars； and they assailed him
with opprobrious names； and screeched and hissed。 He shook his
fist； and would have spat upon them； but his conductors hurried
him on； through a gloomy passage lighted by a few dim lamps； into
the interior of the prison。
Here he was searched； that he might not have about him the
means of anticipating the law； this ceremony performed； they led
him to one of the condemned cells； and left him there—alone。
He sat down on a stone bench opposite the door； which served
for seat and bedstead； and casting his bloodshot eyes upon the
ground； tried to collect his thoughts。 After a while； he began to
remember a few disjointed fragments of what the judge had said；
though it had seemed to him； at the time； that he could not hear a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 571
word。 These gradually fell into their proper places； and by degrees
suggested more； so that in a little time he had the whole； almost as
it was delivered。 To be hanged by the neck； till he was dead—that
was the end。 To be hanged by the neck—till he was dead。
As it came on very dark； he began to think of all the men he had
known who had died upon the scaffold； some of them through his
means。 They rose up； in such quick succession； that he could
hardly count them。 He had seen some of them die—and had joked
too； because they died with prayers upon their lips。 With what a
rattling noise； the drop went down； and how suddenly they
changed； from strong vigorous men to dangling heaps of clothes！
Some of them might have inhabited that very cell—sat upon
that very spot。 It was very dark； why didn’t they bring a light？ The
cell had been built for many years。 Scores of men must have
passed their last hours there。 It was like sitting in a vault strewn
with dead bodies—the cap； the noose； the pinioned arms； the faces
that he knew； even beneath that hideous veil。—Light； light！
At length； when his hands were raw with beating against the
heavy door and walls； two men appeared； one bearing a candle；
which he thrust into an iron candlestick fixed against the wall； the
other dragging in a mattress on which to pass the night； for the
prisoner was to be left alone no more。
Then came night—dark； dismal； silent night。 Other watchers
are glad to hear this church clock strike； for they tell of life and
coming day。 To him they brought despair。 The boom of every iron
bell came laden with the one； deep； hollow sound—Death。 What
availed the noise and bustle of cheerful morning； which
penetrated even there； to him？ It was another form of knell； with
mockery added to the warning。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 572
The day passed off—day！ There was no day； it was gone as soon
as come—and night came on again； night so long； and yet so short；
long in its dreadful silence； and short in its fleeting hours。 At one
time he raved and blasphemed； and at another howled and tore
his hair。 Venerable men of his own persuasion had come to pray
beside him； but he had driven them away with curses。 They
renewed their charitable efforts and he beat them o￡ Saturday
night。 He had only one night more to live。 And as he thought of
this； the day broke—Sunday。
It was not until the night of this last awful day； that a withering
sense of his helpless； desperate state came in its full intensity upon
his blighted soul； not that he had ever held any defined or positive
hope of mercy； but that he had never been able to consider more
than the dim probability of dying so soon。 He had spoken little to
either of the two men； who relieved each other in their attendance
upon him； and they； for their parts； made no effort to rouse his
attention。 He had sat there； awake； but dreaming。 Now； he started
up； every minute； and with gasping mouth and burning skin；
hurried to and fro； in such a paroxysm of fear and wrath that even
they—used to such sights—recoiled from him with horror。 He
grew so terrible； at last； in all the tortures of his evil conscience；
that one man could not bear to sit there； eyeing him alone； and so
the two kept watch together。
He cowered down upon his stone bed； and thought of the past。
He had been wounded with some missiles from the crowd on the
day of his capture； and his head was bandaged with a linen cloth。
His red hair hung down upon his bloodless face； his beard was
torn； and twisted into knots； his eyes shone with a terrible light；
his unwashed flesh crackled with the fever that burned him up。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 573
Eight—nine—ten。 If it was not a trick to frighten him； and those
were the real hours treading on each other’s heels； where would
he be； when they came round again！ Eleven。 Another struck；
before the voice of the previous hour had ceased to vibrate。 At
eight； he would be the only mourner in his own funeral train； at
eleven—
Those dreadful walls of Newgate； which have hidden so much
misery and such unspeakable anguish； not only from the eyes； but；
too often； and too long； from the thoughts； of men； never held so
dread a spectacle as that。 The few who lingered as they passed；
and wondered what the man was doing who was to be hanged
tomorrow； would have slept but ill that night； if they could have
seen him。
From early in the evening until nearly midnight； little groups of
two and three presented themselves at the lodge gate； and
inquired； with anxious faces； whether any reprieve had been
received。 These being answered in the negative； communicated
the welcome intelligence to clusters in the street who pointed out
to one another the door from which he must come out； and
showed where the scaffold would be built； and walking with
unwilling steps away； turned back to conjure up the scene。 By
degrees they fell off； one by one； and； for an hour； in the dead of
night； the street was left to solitude and darkness。
The space before the prison was cleared； and a few strong
barriers； painted black； had been already thrown across the road
to break the pressure of the expected crowd； when Mr。 Brownlow
and Oliver appeared at the wicket； and presented an order of
admission to the prisoner； signed by one of the sheriffs。 They were
immediately admitted to the lodge。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 574
“Is the young gentleman to come too； sir？” said the man whose
duty it was to conduct them。 “It’s not a sight for children； sir。”
“It is not indeed； my friend；” rejoined Mr。 Brownlow； “but my
business with this man is intimately connected with him； and as
the child has seen him in the full career of his success and villainy；
I think it as well—even at the cost of some pain and fear—that he
should see him now。”
These few words had been said apart； so as to be inaudible to
Oliver。 The man touched his hat； and； glancing at Oliver with
some curiosity； opened another gate； opposite to that by which
they had entered； and led them on； through dark and winding
ways； towards the cells。
“This；” said the man； stopping in a gloomy passage where a
couple of workmen were making some preparations in profound
silence—“this is the place he passes through。 If you step this way；
you can see the door he goes out at。”
He led them into a stone kitchen； fitted with coppers for
dressing the prison food； and pointed to a door。 There was an open
grating above it； through which came the sound of men’s voices；
mingled with the noise of hammering； and the throwing down of
boards。 They were putting up the scaffold。
From this place； they passed through several strong gates；
opened by other turnkeys—from the inner side； and； having
entered an open yard； ascended a flight of narrow steps； and came
into a passage with a row of strong doors on the left hand。
Motioning them to remain where they were； the turnkey knocked
at one of these with
