oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第45章

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nicety　and　deliberation。　

“Now　it’s　loaded；”　said　Mr　Sikes；　when　he　had　finished。　

“Yes；　I　see　it　is；　sir；”　replied　Oliver。　

“Well；”　said　the　robber；　grasping　Oliver’s　wrist　tightly；　and　
putting　the　barrel　so　close　to　his　temple　that　they　touched；　at　
which　moment　the　boy　could　not　repress　a　start；　“if　you　speak　a　
word　when　you’re　out　o’　doors　with　me；　except　when　I　speak　to　
you；　that　loading　will　be　in　your　head　without　notice。　So；　if　you　do　
make　up　your　mind　to　speak　without　leave；　say　your　prayers　first。”　

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Having　bestowed　a　scowl　upon　the　object　of　this　warning；　to　
increase　its　effect；　Mr。　Sikes　continued：　

“As　near　as　I　know；　there　isn’t　anybody　as　would　be　asking　very　
partickler　arter　you；　if　you　was　disposed　of；　so　I　needn’t　take　this　
devil…and…all　of　trouble　to　explain　matters　to　you；　if　it　warn’t　for　
your　own　good。　D’ye　hear　me？”　

“The　short　and　the　long　of　what　you　mean；”　said　Nancy；　
speaking　very　emphatically；　and　slightly　frowning　at　Oliver　as　if　to　
bespeak　his　serious　attention　to　her　words；　“is；　that　if　you’re　
crossed　by　him　in　this　job　you　have　on　hand；　you’ll　prevent　his　
ever　telling　tales　afterwards；　by　shooting　him　through　the　head；　
and　will　take　your　chance　of　swinging　for　it；　as　you　do　for　a　great　
many　other　things　in　the　way　of　business；　every　month　of　your　
life。”　

“That’s　it！”　observed　Mr。　Sikes　approvingly；　“women　can　
always　put　things　in　fewest　words。—Except　when　it’s　blowing　up；　
and　then　they　lengthens　it　out。　And　now　that　he’s　thoroughly　up　to　
it；　let’s　have　some　supper；　and　get　a　snooze　before　starting。”　

In　pursuance　of　this　request；　Nancy　quickly　laid　the　cloth；　and；　
disappearing　for　a　few　minutes；　presently　returned　with　a　pot　of　
porter　and　a　dish　of　sheep’s　heads；　which　gave　occasion　to　several　
pleasant　witticisms　on　the　part　of　Mr。　Sikes；　founded　upon　the　
singular　coincidence　of　“jemmies”　being　a　cant　name；　common　to　
them。　and　also　to　an　ingenious　implement　much　used　in　his　
profession。　Indeed；　the　worthy　gentleman；　stimulated　perhaps　by　
the　immediate　prospect　of　being　on　active　service；　was　in　great　
spirits　and　good…humour；　in　proof　whereof；　it　may　be　here　
remarked；　that　he　humorously　drank　all　the　beer　at　a　draught；　and　
did　not　utter；　on　a　rough　calculation；　more　than　fourscore　oaths　

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during　the　whole　progress　of　the　meal。　

Supper　being　ended—it　may　be　easily　conceived　that　Oliver　
had　no　great　appetite　for　it—Mr。　Sikes　disposed　of　a　couple　of　
glasses　of　spirits　and　water；　and　threw　himself　on　the　bed；　
ordering　Nancy；　with　many　imprecations　in　case　of　failure；　to　call　
him　at　five　precisely。　Oliver　stretched　himself　in　his　clothes；　by　
command　of　the　same　authority；　on　a　mattress　upon　the　floor；　and　
the　girl；　mending　the　fire；　sat　before　it；　in　readiness　to　rouse　them　
at　the　appointed　time。　

For　a　long　time　Oliver　lay　awake；　thinking　it　not　impossible　that　
Nancy　might　seek　that　opportunity　of　whispering　some　further　
advice；　but　the　girl　sat　brooding　over　the　fire；　without　moving；　
save　now　and　then　to　trim　the　light。　Weary　with　watching　and　
anxiety；　he　at　length　fell　asleep。　

When　he　awoke；　the　table　was　covered　with　tea…things；　and　
Sikes　was　thrusting　various　articles　into　the　pockets　of　his　
greatcoat；　which　hung　over　the　back　of　a　chair；　while　Nancy　was　
busily　engaged　in　preparing　breakfast。　It　was　not　yet　daylight；　for　
the　candle　was　still　burning；　and　it　was　quite　dark　outside。　A　sharp　
rain；　too；　was　beating　against　the　window…panes；　and　the　sky　
looked　black　and　cloudy。　

“Now；　then！”　growled　Sikes；　as　Oliver　started　up；　“half…past　
five！　Look　sharp；　or　you’ll　get　no　breakfast；　for　it’s　late　as　it　is。”　

Oliver　was　not　long　in　making　his　toilet；　and　having　taken　some　
breakfast；　he　replied　to　a　surly　inquiry　from　Sikes；　by　saying　that　
he　was　quite　ready。　

Nancy；　scarcely　looked　at　the　boy；　threw　him　a　handkerchief　to　
tie　round　his　throat；　and　Sikes　gave　him　a　large；　rough　cape　to　
button　over　his　shoulders。　Thus　attired；　he　gave　his　hand　to　the　

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robber；　who；　merely　pausing　to　show　him　with　a　menacing　gesture　
that　he　had　that　same　pistol　in　a　side…pocket　of　his　greatcoat；　
clasped　it　firmly　in　his；　and；　exchanging　a　farewell　with　Nancy；　led　
him　away。　

Oliver　turned；　for　an　instant；　when　they　reached　the　door；　in　
the　hope　of　meeting　a　look　from　the　girl。　But　she　had　resumed　her　
old　seat　in　front　of　the　fire；　and　sat；　perfectly　motionless；　before　it。　

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Chapter　21　

The　Expedition。　

　It　was　a　cheerless　morning　when　they　got　into　the　street；　
blowing　and　raining　hard；　and　the　clouds　looking　dull　and　
stormy。　The　night　had　been　very　wet；　for　large　pools　of　
water　had　collected　in　the　road；　and　the　kennels　were　overflowing。　
There　was　a　faint　glimmering　of　the　coming　day　in　the　sky；　but　it　
rather　aggravated　than　relieved　the　gloom　of　the　scene：　the　
sombre　light　only　serving　to　pale　that　which　the　street　lamps　
afforded；　without　shedding　any　warmer　or　brighter　tints　upon　the　
wet　housetops；　and　dreary　streets。　There　appeared　to　be　nobody　
stirring　in　that　quarter　of　the　town；　for　the　windows　of　the　houses　
were　all　closely　shut；　and　the　streets　through　which　they　passed；　
were　noiseless　and　empty。　

By　the　time　they　had　turned　into　Bethnal　Green　Road；　the　day　
had　fairly　begun　to　break。　Many　of　the　lamps　were　already　
extinguished；　a　few　country　waggons　were　slowly　toiling　on；　
towards　London；　and　now　and　then；　a　stagecoach；　covered　with　
mud；　rattled　briskly　by；　the　driver　bestowing；　as　he　passed；　an　
admonitory　lash　upon　the　heavy　waggoner　who；　by　keeping　on　the　
wrong　side　of　the　road；　had　endangered　his　arriving　at　the　office；　a　
quarter　of　a　minute　after　his　time。　The　public…houses；　with　gaslights　burning　inside；　were　already　open。　By　degrees；　other　shops　
began　to　be　unclosed；　and　a　few　scattered　people　were　met　with。　
Then；　came　straggling　groups　of　labourers　going　to　their　work；　
then；　men　and　women　with　fish…baskets　on　their　heads；　donkey

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carts　laden　with　vegetables；　chaise…carts　filled　with　live　stock　or　
whole　carcasses　of　meat；　milk…women　with　pails：　an　unbroken　
concourse　of　people；　trudging　out　with　various　supplies　to　the　
eastern　suburbs　of　the　town。　As　they　approached　the　city；　the　
noise　and　traffic　gradually　increased：　when　they　threaded　the　
streets　between　Shoreditch　and　Smithfield；　it　had　swelled　into　a　
roar　of　sound　and　bustle。　It　was　as　light　as　it　was　likely　to　be；　till　
night　came　on　again；　and　the　busy　morning　of　half　the　London　
population　had　begun。　

Turning　down　Sun　Street　and　Crown　Street；　and　crossing　
Finsbury　Square；　Mr。　Sikes　struck；　by　way　of　Chiswell　Street；　into　
Barbican；　thence　into　Long　Lane；　and　so　into　Smithfield；　from　
which　latter　place　are　a　tumult　of　discordant　sounds　that　filled　
Oliver　Twist　with　amazement。　

It　was　market　morning。　The　ground　was　covered；　nearly　ankle…
deep；　with　filth　and　mire；　a　thick　steam　perpetually　rising　from　the　
reeking　bodies　of　the　cattle；　and　mingling　with　the　fog；　which　
seemed　to　rest　upon　the　chimney…tops；　hung　heavily　above。　All　the　
pens　in　the　centre　of　the　large　area；　and　as　many　temporary　pens　
as　could　be　crowded　into　the　vacant　space；　were　filled　with　sheep；　
tied　up　to　posts　by　the　gutter　side　were　long　lines　of　beasts　and　
oxen；　three　or　four　deep。　Countrymen；　butchers；　drovers；　hawkers；　
boys；　thieves；　idlers；　and　vagabonds　of　every　low　grade；　were　
mingled　together　in　a　mass；　the　whistling　of　drovers；　the　barking　
of　dogs；　the　bellowing　and　plunging　of　oxen；　the　bleating　of　sheep；　
the　grunting　and　squeaking　of　pigs；　the　cries　of　hawkers；　the　
shouts；　oaths；　and　quarrelling　on　all　sides；　the　ringing　of　bells　and　
roar　of　voices；　that　issued　from　every　public…house；　the　crowding；　
pushing；　driving；　beating；　whooping　and　yelling；　the　hideous　and　

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