oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第57章

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words　here　and　there；　a　listener　might　easily　have　perceived　that　
Fagin　appeared　to　be　defending　himself　against　some　remarks　of　
the　stranger；　and　that　the　latter　was　in　a　state　of　considerable　
irritation。　They　might　have　been　talking；　thus；　for　a　quarter　of　an　
hour　or　more；　when　Monks—by　which　name　the　Jew　had　
designated　the　strange　man　several　times　in　the　course　of　their　
colloquy—said；　raising　his　voice　a　little：　

“I　tell　you　again；　it　was　badly　planned。　Why　not　have　kept　him　
here　among　the　rest；　and　made　a　sneaking；　snivelling　pick…pocket　
of　him　at　once？”　

“Only　hear　him！”　exclaimed　the　Jew；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　

“Why；　do　you　mean　to　say　you　couldn’t　have　done　it；　if　you　had　
chosen？”　demanded　Monks　sternly。　“Haven’t　you　done　it；　with　
other　boys；　scores　of　times？　If　you　had　had　patience　for　a　
twelvemonth；　at　most；　couldn’t　you　have　got　him　convicted；　and　
sent　safely　out　of　the　kingdom　perhaps　for　life？”　

“Whose　turn　would　that　have　served；　my　dear？”　inquired　the　
Jew　humbly。　

“Mine；”　replied　Monks。　

“But　not　mine；”　said　the　Jew　submissively。　“He　might　have　
become　of　use　to　me。　When　there　are　two　parties　to　a　bargain；　it　is　
only　reasonable　that　the　interests　of　both　should　be　consulted；　is　it　
not；　my　good　friend？”　

“What　then？”　demanded　Monks。　

“I　saw　it　was　not　easy　to　train　him　to　the　business；”　replied　the　
Jew；　“he　was　not　like　the　other　boys　in　the　same　circumstances。”　

“Curse　him；　no！”　muttered　the　man；　“or　he　would　have　been　a　
thief；　long　ago。”　

“I　had　no　hold　upon　him　to　make　him　worse；”　pursued　the　Jew；　

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anxiously　watching　the　countenance　of　his　companion。　“His　hand　
was　not　in。　I　had　nothing　to　frighten　him　with；　which　we　always　
must　have　in　the　beginning　or　we　labour　in　vain。　What　could　I　do？　
Send　him　out　with　the　Dodger　and　Charley？　We　had　enough　of　
that；　at　first；　my　dear；　I　trembled　for　us　all。”　

“That　was　not　my　doing；”　observed　Monks。　

“No；　no；　my　dear！”　renewed　the　Jew。　“And　I　don’t　quarrel　with　
it　now；　because；　if　it　had　never　happened；　you　might　never　have　
clapped　eyes　upon　the　boy　to　notice　him；　and　so　led　to　the　
discovery　that　it　was　him　you　were　looking　for。　Well！　I　got　him　
back　for　you　by　means　of　the　girl；　and　then　she　begins　to　favour　
him。”　

“Throttle　the　girl！”　said　Monks　impatiently。　

“Why；　we　can’t　afford　to　do　that　just　now；　my　dear；”　replied　the　
Jew；　smiling；　“and；　besides；　that　sort　of　thing　is　not　in　our　way；　or；　
one　of　these　days；　I　might　be　glad　to　have　it　done。　I　know　what　
these　girls　are；　Monks；　well。　As　soon　as　the　boy　begins　to　harden；　
she’ll　care　no　more　for　him；　than　for　a　block　of　wood。　You　want　
him　made　a　thief。　If　he　is　alive；　I　can　make　him　one　from　this　time；　
and　if—if—”　said　the　Jew；　drawing　nearer　to　the　other—“it’s　not　
likely；　mind—but　if　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst；　and　he　is　dead—　
”　

“It’s　no　fault　of　mine　if　he　is！”　interposed　the　other　man；　with　a　
look　of　terror；　and　clasping　the　Jew’s　arm　with　trembling　hands。　
“Mind　that；　Fagin！　I　had　no　hand　in　it。　Anything　but　his　death；　I　
told　you　from　the　first。　I　won’t　shed　blood；　it’s　always　found　out；　
and　haunts　a　man　besides。　If　they　shot　him　dead；　I　was　not　the　
cause；　do　you　hear　me？　Fire　this　infernal　den！　What’s　that？”　

“What？”　cried　the　Jew；　grasping　the　coward　round　the　body；　

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with　both　arms；　as　he　sprang　to　his　feet。　“Where？”　

“Yonder！”　replied　the　man；　glaring　at　the　opposite　wall。　“The　
shadow！　I　saw　the　shadow　of　a　woman；　in　a　cloak　and　bonnet；　pass　
along　the　wainscot　like　a　breath！”　

The　Jew　released　his　hold；　and　they　rushed　tumultuously　from　
the　room。　The　candle；　wasted　by　the　draught；　was　standing　where　
it　had　been　placed。　It　showed　them　only　the　empty　staircase；　and　
their　own　white　faces。　They　listened　intently；　but　a　profound　
silence　reigned　throughout　the　house。　

“It’s　your　fancy；”　said　the　Jew；　taking　up　the　light　and　turning　
to　his　companion。　

“I’ll　swear　I　saw　it！”　replied　Monks；　trembling。　“It　was　bending　
forward　when　I　saw　it　first；　and　when　I　spoke；　it　darted　away。”　

The　Jew　glanced　contemptuously　at　the　pale　face　of　his　
associate；　and；　telling　him　he　could　follow；　if　he　pleased；　ascended　
the　stairs。　They　looked　into　all　the　rooms；　they　were　cold；　bare　and　
empty。　They　descended　into　the　passage；　and　thence　into　the　
cellars　below。　The　green　damp　hung　upon　the　low　walls；　the　tracks　
of　the　snail　and　slug　glistened　in　the　light　of　the　candle；　but　all　was　
still　as　death。　

“What　do　you　think　now？”　said　the　Jew；　there’s　not　a　creature　
in　the　house　except　Toby　and　the　boys；　and　they’re　safe　enough。　
See　here！”　

As　a　proof　of　the　fact；　the　Jew　drew　forth　two　keys　from　his　
pocket；　and　explained；　that　when　he　first　went　downstairs；　he　had　
locked　them　in；　to　prevent　any　intrusion　on　the　conference。　

This　accumulated　testimony　effectually　staggered　Mr。　Monks。　
His　protestations　had　gradually　become　less　and　less　vehement　as　
they　proceeded　in　their　search　without　making　any　discovery；　and；　

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now；　he　gave　vent　to　several　very　grim　laughs；　and　confessed　it　
could　only　have　been　his　excited　imagination。　He　declined　any　
renewal　of　the　conversation；　however；　for　that　night；　suddenly　
remembering　that　it　was　past　one　o’clock。　And　so　the　amiable　
couple　parted。　

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Chapter　27　

Atones　For　The　Unpoliteness　Of　A　Former　Chapter；
Which　Deserted　A　Lady　Most　Unceremoniously。


As　it　would　be　by　no　means　seemly　in　a　humble　author　to　
keep　so　mighty　a　personage　as　a　beadle　waiting；　with　his　
back　to　the　fire；　and　the　skirts　of　his　coat　gathered　up　
under　his　arms；　until　such　time　as　it　might　suit　his　pleasure　to　
relieve　him；　and　as　it　would　still　less　become　his　station；　or　his　
gallantry；　to　involve　in　the　same　neglect　a　lady　on　whom　that　
beadle　had　looked　with　an　eye　of　tenderness　and　affection；　and　in　
whose　ear　he　had　whispered　sweet　words；　which；　coming　from　
such　a　quarter；　might　well　thrill　the　bosom　of　maid　or　matron　of　
whatsoever　degree；　the　historian　whose　pen　traces　these　words—　
trusting　that　he　knows　his　place；　and　that　he　entertains　a　
becoming　reverence　for　those　upon　earth　to　whom　high　and　
important　authority　is　delegated—hastens　to　pay　them　that　
respect　which　their　position　demands；　and　to　treat　them　with　all　
that　duteous　ceremony　which　their　exalted　rank；　and　（by　
consequence）　great　virtues；　imperatively　claim　at　his　hands。　
Towards　this　end；　indeed；　he　had　purposed　to　introduce；　in　this　
place；　a　dissertation　touching　the　divine　right　of　beadles；　and　
elusidative　of　the　position；　that　a　beadle　can　do　no　wrong；　which　
could　not　fail　to　have　been　both　pleasurable　and　profitable　to　the　
right…minded　reader；　but　which　he　is　unfortunately　compelled；　by　
want　of　time　and　space；　to　postpone　to　some　more　convenient　and　
fitting　opportunity；　on　the　arrival　of　which；　he　will　be　prepared　to　

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show；　that　a　beadle　properly　constituted—that　is　to　say；　a　
parochial　beadle；　attached　to　a　parochial　workhouse；　and　
attending　in　his　official　capacity　the　parochial　church—is；　in　right　
and　virtue　of　his　office；　possessed　of　all　the　excellences　and　best　
qualities　of　humanity；　and　that　to　none　of　those　excellences；　can　
mere　companies’　beadles；　or　court…of…law　beadles；　or　even　chapel…
of…ease　beadles　（save　the　last；　and　they　in　a　very　lowly　and　inferior　
degree）；　lay　the　remotest　sustainable　claim。　

Mr。　Bumble　had　recounted　the　teaspoons；　reweighed　the　sugar…
tongs；　made　a　closer　inspection　of　the　milk…pot；　and　ascertained　to　
a　nicety　the　exact　condition　of　the　furniture；　down　to　the　very　
horse…hair　seats　of　the　chairs；　and　had　repeated　each　process　full　
half　a　dozen　times；　before　he　began　to　think　that　it　was　time　for　
Mrs。　Corney　to　ret