oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第86章

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Chitling；　in　whose　conduct；　it　is　but　justice　to　say；　there　was　
nothing　very　conspicuous　or　peculiar；　inasmuch　as　there　are　a　
great　number　of　spirited　young　bloods　about　town；　who　pay　a　
much　higher　price　than　Mr。　Chitling　for　being　seen　in　good　society　
and　a　great　number　of　fine　gentlemen　（composing　the　good　society　
aforesaid）　who　establish　their　reputation　upon　very　much　the　
same　footing　as　flash　Toby　Crackit。　

“Now；”　said　Fagin；　when　they　had　left　the　room；　“I’ll　go　and　get　
you　that　cash；　Nancy。　This　is　only　the　key　of　a　little　cupboard　
where　I　keep　a　few　odd　things　the　boys　get；　my　dear。　I　never　lock　
up　my　money；　for　I’ve　got　none　to　lock　up；　my　dear—ha！　ha！　ha！—　
none　to　lock　up。　It’s　a　poor　trade；　Nancy；　and　no　thanks；　but　I’m　
fond　of　seeing　the　young　people　about　me；　and　I　bear　it　all；　I　bear　
it　all。　Hush！”　he　said；　hastily　concealing　the　key　in　his　breast；　
“who’s　that？　Listen！”　

The　girl；　who　was　sitting　at　the　table　with　her　arms　folded；　
appeared　in　no　way　interested　in　the　arrival；　or　to　care　whether　
the　person；　whoever　he　was；　came　or　went；　until　the　murmur　of　a　
man’s　voice　reached　her　ears。　The　instant　she　caught　the　sound；　
she　tore　off　her　bonnet　and　shawl；　with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　
and　thrust　them　under　the　table。　The　Jew；　turning　round　
immediately　afterwards；　she　muttered　a　complaint　of　the　heat；　in　a　
tone　of　languor　that　contrasted；　very　remarkably；　with　the　extreme　
haste　and　violence　of　this　action；　which；　however；　had　been　
unobserved　by　Fagin；　who　had　his　back　towards　her　at　the　time。　

“Bah！”　whispered　the　Jew；　as　though　nettled　by　the　
interruption；　“it’s　the　man　I　expected　before；　he’s　coming　
downstairs。　Not　a　word　about　the　money　while　he’s　here；　Nance。　

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Oliver　Twist　415　

He　won’t　stop　long。　Not　ten　minutes；　my　dear。”　

Laying　his　skinny　forefinger　upon　his　lip；　the　Jew　carried　a　
candle　to　the　door；　as　a　man’s　step　was　heard　upon　the　stairs　
without。　He　reached　it；　at　the　same　moment　as　the　visitor；　who；　
coming　hastily　into　the　room；　was　close　upon　the　girl　before　he　
observed　her。　

It　was　Monks。　

“Only　one　of　my　young　people；”　said　Fagin；　observing　that　
Monks　drew　back；　on　beholding　a　stranger。　“Don’t　move；　Nancy。”　

The　girl　drew　closer　to　the　table；　and　glancing　at　Monks　with　an　
air　of　careless　levity；　withdrew　her　eyes；　but　as　he　turned　his　
towards　Fagin；　she　stole　another　look；　so　keen　and　searching；　and　
full　of　purpose；　that　if　there　had　been　any　bystander　to　observe　the　
change；　he　could　hardly　have　believed　the　two　looks　to　have　
proceeded　from　the　same　person。　

“Any　news？”　inquired　Fagin。　

“Great。”　

“And—and—good？”　asked　Fagin；　hesitating　as　though　he　
feared　to　vex　the　other　man　by　being　too　sanguine。　

“Not　bad；　anyway；”　replied　Monks；　with　a　smile。　“I　have　been　
prompt　enough　this　time。　Let　me　have　a　word　with　you。”　

The　girl　drew　closer　to　the　table；　and　made　no　offer　to　leave　the　
room；　although　she　could　see　that　Monks　was　pointing　to　her。　The　
Jew；　perhaps　fearing　she　might　say　something　aloud　about　the　
money；　if　he　endeavoured　to　get　rid　of　her；　pointed　upward；　and　
took　Monks　out　of　the　room。　

“Not　that　infernal　hole　we　were　in　before；”　she　could　hear　the　
man　say　as　they　went　upstairs。　Fagin　laughed；　and　making　some　
reply　which　did　not　reach　her；　seemed；　by　the　creaking　of　the　

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Oliver　Twist　416　

boards；　to　lead　his　companion　to　the　second　storey。　

Before　the　sound　of　their　footsteps　had　ceased　to　echo　through　
the　house；　the　girl　had　slipped　off　her　shoes；　and　drawing　her　
gown　loosely　over　her　head；　and　muffling　her　arms　in　it；　stood　at　
the　door；　listening　with　breathless　interest。　The　moment　the　noise　
ceased；　she　glided　from　the　room；　ascended　the　stairs　with　
incredible　softness　and　silence；　and　was　lost　in　the　gloom　above。　

The　room　remained　deserted　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　or　more；　
the　girl　glided　back　with　the　same　unearthly　tread；　and；　
immediately　afterwards；　the　two　men　were　heard　descending。　
Monks　went　at　once　into　the　street；　and　the　Jew　crawled　upstairs　
again　for　the　money。　When　he　returned；　the　girl　was　adjusting　her　
shawl　and　bonnet；　as　if　preparing　to　be　gone。　

“Why；　Nance；”　exclaimed　the　Jew；　staring　back　as　he　put　down　
the　candle；　“how　pale　you　are！”　

“Pale！”　echoed　the　girl；　shading　her　eyes　with　her　hands；　as　if　to　
look　steadily　at　him。　

“Quite　horrible。　What　have　you　been　doing　to　yourself？”　

“Nothing　that　I　know　of；　except　sitting　in　this　close　place　for　I　
don’t　know　how　long　and　all；”　replied　the　girl　carelessly。　“Come！　
Let　me　get　back；　that’s　a　dear。”　

With　a　sigh　for　every　piece　of　money；　Fagin　told　the　amount　
into　her　hand。　They　parted　without　more　conversation；　merely　
interchanging　a　“good…night。”　

When　the　girl　got　into　the　open　street；　she　sat　down　upon　a　
doorstep；　and　seemed；　for　a　few　moments；　wholly　bewildered　and　
unable　to　pursue　her　way。　Suddenly　she　arose；　and　hurrying　on；　in　
a　direction　quite　opposite　to　that　in　which　Sikes　was　awaiting　her　
return；　quickened　her　pace；　until　it　gradually　resolved　into　a　

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Oliver　Twist　417　

violent　run。　After　completely　exhausting　herself；　she　stopped　to　
take　breath；　and；　as　if　suddenly　recollecting　herself；　and　deploring　
her　inability　to　do　something　she　was　bent　upon；　wrung　her　hands；　
and　burst　into　tears。　

It　might　be　that　her　tears　relieved　her；　or　that　she　felt　the　full　
hopelessness　of　her　condition；　but　she　turned　back；　and　hurrying　
with　nearly　as　great　rapidity　in　the　contrary　direction；　partly　to　
recover　lost　time；　and　partly　to　keep　pace　with　the　violent　current　
of　her　own　thoughts；　soon　reached　the　dwelling　where　she　had　left　
the　housebreaker。　

If　she　betrayed　any　agitation；　when　she　presented　herself　to　Mr。　
Sikes；　he　did　not　observe　it；　for　merely　inquiring　if　she　had　
brought　the　money；　and　receiving　a　reply　in　the　affirmative；　he　
uttered　a　growl　of　satisfaction；　and　replacing　his　head　upon　the　
pillow；　resumed　the　slumbers　which　her　arrival　had　interrupted。　

It　was　fortunate　for　her　that　the　possession　of　money　
occasioned　him　so　much　employment　next　day　in　the　way　of　eating　
and　drinking；　and　withal　had　so　beneficial　an　effect　in　smoothing　
down　the　asperities　of　his　temper；　that　he　had　neither　time　nor　
inclination　to　be　very　critical　upon　her　behaviour　and　deportment。　
That　she　had　all　the　abstracted　and　nervous　manner　of　one　who　is　
on　the　eve　of　some　bold　and　hazardous　step；　which　it　has　required　
no　common　struggle　to　resolve　upon；　would　have　been　obvious　to　
the　lynx…eyed　Fagin；　who　would　most　probably　have　taken　the　
alarm　at　once；　but　Mr。　Sikes；　lacking　the　niceties　of　
discrimination；　and　being　troubled　with　no　more　subtle　misgivings　
than　those　which　resolve　themselves　into　a　dogged　roughness　of　
behaviour　towards　everybody；　and　being；　furthermore；　in　an　
unusually　amiable　condition；　as　has　been　already　observed；　saw　

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Oliver　Twist　418　

nothing　unusual　in　her　demeanour；　and　indeed；　troubled　himself　
so　little　about　her；　that；　had　her　agitation　been　or　more　perceptible　
than　it　was；　it　would　have　been　very　unlikely　to　have　awakened　his　
suspicions。　

As　that　day　closed　in；　the　girl’s　excitement　increased；　and；　when　
night　came　on；　and　she　sat　by；　watching　until　the　housebreaker　
should　drink　himself　asleep；　there　was　an　unusual　paleness　in　her　
cheek；　and　a　fire　in　her　eye；　that　even　Sikes　observed　with　
astonishment。　

Mr。　Sikes　being　weak　from　the　fever；　was　lying　in　bed；　taking　
hot　water　with　his　gin　to　render　it　less　inflammatory；　and　had　
pushed　his　glass　towards　Nancy　to　be　replenished　for　the　third　or　
fourth　time；　when　these　symptoms　first　struck　him。　

“Why；　burn　my　body！”　said　the　man；　raising　himself　on　his　
hands　as　he　stared　the　girl　in　the　face。　“You　look　like　a　corpse　
come　to　life　again。　What’s　the　matter？”　

“Matter！”　replied　the　girl。　“Nothing。　What　do　you　look　at　me　so　
hard　for？”　

“What　foolery　is　t