oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第41章

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forth；　by　night；　in　search　of　some　rich　offal　for　a　meal。　

He　kept　on　his　course；　through　many　winding　and　narrow　
ways；　until　he　reached　Bethnal　Green；　then；　turning　suddenly　off　
to　the　left；　he　soon　became　involved　in　a　maze　of　the　mean　and　

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Oliver　Twist　196　

dirty　streets　which　abound　in　that　close　and　densely　populated　
quarter。　

The　Jew　was　evidently　too　familiar　with　the　ground　he　
traversed　to　be　at　all　bewildered；　either　by　the　darkness　of　the　
night；　or　the　intricacies　of　the　way。　He　hurried　through　several　
alleys　and　streets；　and　at　length　turned　into　one；　lighted　only　by　a　
single　lamp　at　the　farther　end。　At　the　door　of　a　house　in　this　street；　
he　knocked；　and　having　exchanged　a　few　muttered　words　with　the　
person　who　opened　it；　he　walked　upstairs。　

A　dog　growled　as　he　touched　the　handle　of　a　room　door；　and　a　
man’s　voice　demanded　who　was　there。　

“Only　me；　Bill；　only　me；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew；　looking　in。　

“Bring　in　your　body　then；”　said　Sikes。　“Lie　down；　you　stupid　
brute！　Don’t　you　know　the　devil　when　he’s　got　a　greatcoat　on？”　

Apparently；　the　dog　had　been　somewhat　deceived　by　Mr。　
Fagin’s　outer　garment；　for　as　the　Jew　unbuttoned　it；　and　threw　it　
over　the　back　of　a　chair；　he　retired　to　the　corner　from　which　he　
had　risen；　wagging　his　tail　as　he　went；　to　show　that　he　was　as　well　
satisfied　as　it　was　in　his　nature　to　be。　

“Well！”　said　Sikes。　

“Well；　my　dear；”　replied　the　Jew。—“Ah！　Nancy。”　

The　latter　recognition　was　uttered　with　just　enough　of　
embarrassment　to　imply　a　doubt　of　its　reception；　for　Mr。　Fagin　
and　his　young　friend　had　not　met；　since　she　had　interfered　in　
behalf　of　Oliver。　All　doubts　upon　the　subject；　if　he　had　any；　were　
speedily　removed　by　the　young　lady’s　behaviour。　She　took　her　feet　
off　the　fender；　pushed　back　her　chair；　and　bade　Fagin　draw　up　his；　
without　saying　more　about　it；　for　it　was　a　cold　night；　and　no　
mistake。　

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Oliver　Twist　197　

“It　is　cold；　Nancy；　dear；”　said　the　Jew；　as　he　warmed　his　skinny　
hands　over　the　fire。　“It　seems　to　go　right　through　one；”　added　the　
old　man；　touching　his　side。　

“It　must　be　a　piercer；　if　it　finds　its　way　through　your　heart；”　
said　Mr。　Sikes。　“Give　him　something　to　drink；　Nancy。　Burn　my　
body；　make　haste！　It’s　enough　to　turn　a　man　ill；　to　see　his　lean　old　
carcass　shivering　in　that　way；　like　a　ugly　ghost　just　rose　from　the　
grave。”　

Nancy　quickly　brought　a　bottle　from　a　cupboard；　in　which　there　
were　many；　which；　to　judge　from　the　diversity　of　their　appearance；　
were　filled　with　several　kinds　of　liquids。　Sikes；　pouring　out　a　glass　
of　brandy；　bade　the　Jew　drink　it　off。　

“Quite　enough；　quite；　thank　ye；　Bill”　replied　the　Jew；　putting　
down　the　glass　after　just　setting　his　lips　to　it。　

“What！　You’re　afraid　of　our　getting　the　better　of　you；　are　you？”　
inquired　Sikes；　fixing　his　eyes　on　the　Jew。　“Ugh！”　With　a　hoarse　
grunt　of　contempt；　Mr。　Sikes　seized　the　glass；　and　threw　the　
remainder　of　its　contents　into　the　ashes：　as　a　preparatory　
ceremony　to　filling　it　again　for　himself；　which　he　did　at　once。　

The　Jew　glanced　round　the　room；　as　his　companion　tossed　
down　the　second　glassful；　not　in　curiosity；　for　he　had　seen　it　often　
before；　but　in　a　restless　and　suspicious　manner　habitual　to　him。　It　
was　a　meanly　furnished　apartment；　with　nothing　but　the　contents　
of　the　closet　to　induce　the　belief　that　its　occupier　was　anything　but　
a　working　man；　and　with　no　more　suspicious　articles　displayed　to　
view　than　two　or　three　heavy　bludgeons　which　stood　in　a　corner　
and　a　“life…preserver”　that　hung　over　the　chimney…piece。　

“There；”　said　Sikes；　smacking　his　lips。　“Now　I’m　ready。”　

“For　business？”　inquired　the　Jew。　

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Oliver　Twist　198　

“For　business；”　replied　Sikes；　“so　say　what　you’ve　got　to　say。”　

“About　the　crib　at　Chertsey；　Bill？”　said　the　Jew；　drawing　his　
chair　forward；　and　speaking　in　a　very　low　voice。　

“Yes。　Wot　about　it？”　inquired　Sikes。　

“Ah！　you　know　what　I　mean；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew。　“He　knows　
what　I　mean；　Nancy；　don’t　he？”　

“No；　he　don’t；”　sneered　Mr。　Sikes。　“Or　he　won’t；　and　that’s　the　
same　thing。　Speak　out；　and　call　things　by　their　right　names；　don’t　
sit　there；　winking　and　blinking；　and　talking　to　me　in　hints；　as　if　you　
warn’t　the　very　first　that　thought　about　the　robbery。　Wot　d’ye　
mean？”　

“Hush；　Bill；　hush！”　said　the　Jew；　who　had　in　vain　attempted　to　
stop　this　burst　of　indignation；　“somebody　will　hear　us；　my　dear。　
Somebody　will　hear　us。”　

“Let　’em　hear！”　said　Sikes；　“I　don’t　care。”　But　as　Mr。　Sikes　did　
care；　on　reflection；　he　dropped　his　voice　as　he　said　the　words；　and　
grew　calmer。　

“There；　there；”　said　the　Jew　coaxingly。　“It　was　only　my　caution；　
nothing　more。　Now；　my　dear；　about　that　crib　at　Chertsey；　when　is　
it　to　be　done；　Bill；　eh？　When　is　it　to　be　done？　Such　plate；　my　dear；　
such　plate！”　said　the　Jew；　rubbing　his　hands；　and　elevating　his　
eyebrows　in　a　rapture　of　anticipation。　

“Not　at　all；”　replied　Sikes　coldly。　

“Not　to　be　done　at　all！”　echoed　the　Jew；　leaning　back　in　his　
chair。　

“No；　not　at　all；”　rejoined　Sikes。　“At　least　it　can’t　be　a　put…up　job；　
as　we　expected。”　

“Then　it　hasn’t　been　properly　gone　about；”　said　the　Jew；　
turning　pale　with　anger。　“Don’t　tell　me！”　

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“But　I　will　tell　you；”　retorted　Sikes。　“Who　are　you　that’s　not　to　
be　told？　I　tell　you　that　Toby　Crackit　has　been　hanging　about　the　
place　for　a　fortnight；　and　he　can’t　get　one　of　the　servants　into　a　
line。”　

“Do　you　mean　to　tell　me；　Bill；”　said　the　Jew；　softening　as　the　
other　grew　heated；　“that　neither　of　the　two　men　in　the　house　can　
be　got　over？”　

“Yes；　I　do　mean　to　tell　you　so；”　replied　Sikes。　“The　old　lady　has　
had　’em　these　twenty　year；　and；　if　you　were　to　give　’em　five　
hundred　pound；　they　wouldn’t　be　in　it。”　

“But　do　you　mean　to　say；　my　dear；”　remonstrated　the　Jew；　
“that　the　women　can’t　be　got　over？”　

“Not　a　bit　of　it；”　replied　Sikes。　

“Not　by　flash　Toby　Crackit？”　said　the　Jew　incredulously。　
“Think　what　women　are；　Bill。”　

“No；　not　even　by　flash　Toby　Crackit；”　replied　Sikes。　“He　says　
he’s　worn　sham　whiskers；　and　a　canary　waistcoat；　the　whole　
blessed　time　he’s　been　loitering　down　there；　and　it’s　all　of　no　use。”　

“He　should　have　tried　moustachios　and　a　pair　of　military　
trousers；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew。　

“So　he　did；”　rejoined　Sikes；　“and　they　warn’t　of　no　more　use　
than　the　other　plant。”　

The　Jew　looked　blank　at　this　information。　After　ruminating　for　
some　minutes　with　his　chin　sunk　on　his　breast；　he　raised　his　head；　
and　said；　with　a　deep　sigh；　that　if　flash　Toby　Crackit　reported　
aright；　he　feared　the　game　was　up。　

“And　yet；”　said　the　old　man；　dropping　his　hands　on　his　knees；　
ait’s　a　sad　thing；　my　dear；　to　lose　so　much　when　we　had　set　our　
hearts　upon　it。”　

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“So　it　is；”　said　Mr。　Sikes。　“Worse　luck！”　

A　long　silence　ensued；　during　which　the　Jew　was　plunged　in　
deep　thought　with　his　face　wrinkled　into　an　expression　of　villainy　
perfectly　demoniacal。　Sikes　eyed　him　furtively　from　time　to　time。　
Nancy；　apparently　fearful　of　irritating　the　housebreaker；　sat　with　
her　eyes　fixed　upon　the　fire；　as　if　she　had　been　deaf　to　all　that　
passed。　

“Fagin；”　said　Sikes；　abruptly　breaking　the　stillness　that　
prevailed；　“is　it　worth　fifty　shiners　extra；　if　it’s　safely　done　from　the　
outside？”　

“Yes；”　said　the　Jew；　as　suddenly　rousing　himself。　

“Is　it　a　bargain？”　inquired　Sikes。　

“Yes；　my　dear；　yes；”　rejoined　the　Jew；　his　eyes　glistening；　and　
every　muscle　in　his　face　working；　with　the　excitement　that　the　
inquiry　had　awakened。　

“Then；”　said　Sikes；　thrusting　aside　the　Jew’s　hand；　with　some　
disdain；　“let　it　come　off　as　soon　as　you　like。　Toby　and　I　were　over　
the　garden　wall　the　night　afore　last；　sounding　the　panels　of　the　
door　and　shutters。　The　crib’s　barred