oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第94章

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should　like　to　be　the　captain　of　some　band；　and　have　the　whopping　

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of　’em；　and　follering　’em　about；　unbeknown　to　themselves。　That　
would　suit　me；　if　there　was　good　profit；　and　if　we　could　only　get　in　
with　some　gentleman　of　this　sort；　I　say　it　would　be　cheap　at　that　
twenty…pound　note　you’ve　got—especially　as　we　don’t　very　well　
know　how　to　get　rid　of　it　ourselves。”　

After　expressing　this　opinion；　Mr。　Claypole　looked　into　the　
porter…pot　with　an　aspect　of　deep　wisdom；　and　having　well　shaken　
its　contents；　nodded　condescendingly　to　Charlotte；　and　took　a　
draught；　wherewith　he　appeared　greatly　refreshed。　He　was　
meditating　another；　when　the　sudden　opening　of　the　door；　and　the　
appearance　of　a　stranger；　interrupted　him。　

The　stranger　was　Mr。　Fagin。　And　very　amiable　he　looked；　and　
a…very　low　bow　he　made；　as　he　advanced；　and　setting　himself　
down　at　the　nearest　table；　ordered　something　to　drink　of　the　
grinning　Barney。　

“A　pleasant　night；　sir；　but　cool　for　the　time　of　year；”　said　Fagin；　
rubbing　his　hands。　“From　the　country；　I　see；　sir？”　

“How　do　yer　see　that？”　asked　Noah　Claypole。　

“We　have　not　so　much　dust　as　that　in　London；”　replied　Fagin；　
pointing　from　Noah’s　shoes　to　that　of　his　companion　and　from　
them　to　the　two　bundles。　

“Yer　a　sharp　feller；”　said　Noah。　“Ha！　ha！　only　hear　that；　
Charlotte！”　

“Why；　one　need　be　sharp　in　this　town；　my　dear；”　replied　the　
Jew；　sinking　his　voice　to　a　confidential　whisper；　“and　that’s　the　
truth。”　

Fagin　followed　up　this　remark　by　striking　the　side　of　his　nose　
with　his　right　forefinger—a　gesture　which　Noah　attempted　to　
imitate；　though　not　with　complete　success；　in　consequence　of　his　

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own　nose　not　being　large　enough　for　the　purpose。　However；　Mr。　
Fagin　seemed　to　interpret　the　endeavour　as　expressing　a　perfect　
coincidence　with　his　opinion；　and　put　about　the　liquor　which　
Barney　reappeared　with；　in　a　very　friendly　manner。　

“Good　stuff　that；”　observed　Mr。　Claypole；　smacking　his　lips。　

“Dear！”　said　Fagin。　“A　man　need　be　always　emptying　a　till；　or　a　
pocket；　or　a　woman’s　reticule；　or　a　house；　or　a　mail…coach；　or　a　
bank；　if　he　drinks　it　regularly。”　

Mr。　Claypole　no　sooner　heard　this　extract　from　his　own　
remarks　than　he　fell　back　in　his　chair；　and　looked　from　the　Jew　to　
Charlotte　with　a　countenance　of　ashy　paleness　and　excessive　
terror。　

“Don’t　mind　me；　my　dear；”　said　Fagin；　drawing　his　chair　closer。　
“Ha！　ha！　it　was　lucky　it　was　only　me　that　heard　you　by　chance。　It　
was　very　lucky　it　was　only　me。”　

“I　didn’t　take　it；”　stammered　Noah；　no　longer　stretching　out　his　
legs　like　an　independent　gentleman；　but　coiling　them　up　as　well　as　
he　could　under　his　chair；　“it　was　all　her　doing：　yer’ve　got　it　now；　
Charlotte；　yer　know　yer　have。”　

“No　matter　who’s　got　it；　or　who　did　it；　my　dear！”　replied　Fagin；　
glancing；　nevertheless；　with　a　hawk’s　eye　at　the　girl　and　the　two　
bundles。　“I’m　in　that　way　myself；　and　I　like　you　for　it。”　

“In　what　way？”　asked　Mr。　Claypole；　a　little　recovering。　

“In　that　way　of　business；”　rejoined　Fagin；　“and　so　are　the　
people　of　the　house。　You’ve　hit　the　right　nail　upon　the　head；　and　
are　as　safe　here　as　you　could　be。　There　is　not　a　safer　place　in　all　
this　town　than　is　the　Cripples；　that　is；　when　I　like　to　make　it　so。　
And　I　have　taken　a　fancy　to　you　and　the　young　woman；　so　I’ve　said　
the　word；　and　you　may　make　your　minds　easy。”　

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Noah　Claypole’s　mind　might　have　been　at　ease　after　this　
assurance；　but　his　body　certainly　was　not；　for　he　snuffled　and　
writhed　about；　into　various　uncouth　positions；　eyeing　his　new　
friend　meanwhile　with　mingled　fear　and　suspicion。　

“I’ll　tell　you　more；”　said　Fagin；　after　he　had　reassured　the　girl；　
by　dint　of　friendly　nods　and　muttered　encouragements。　“I　have　got　
a　friend　that　I　think　can　gratify　your　darling　wish；　and　put　you　in　
the　right　way；　where　you　can　take　whatever　department　of　the　
business　you　think　will　suit　you　best　at　first；　and　be　taught　all　the　
others。”　

“Yer　speak　as　if　yer　were　in　earnest；”　replied　Noah。　

“What　advantage　would　it　be　to　me　to　be　anything　else？”　
inquired　Fagin；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　“Here！　Let　me　have　a　
word　with　you　outside。”　

“There’s　no　occasion　to　trouble　ourselves　to　move；”　said　Noah；　
getting　his　legs　by　gradual　degrees　abroad—again。　“She’ll　take　the　
luggage　upstairs　the　while。　Charlotte；　see　to　them　bundles！”　

This　mandate；　which　had　been　delivered　with　great　majesty；　
was　obeyed　without　the　slightest　demur；　and　Charlotte　made　the　
best　of　her　way　off　with　the　packages　while　Noah　held　the　door　
open　and　watched　her　out。　

“She’s　kept　tolerably　well　under；　ain’t　she？”　he　asked；　as　he　
resumed　his　seat；　in　the　tone　of　a　keeper　who　has　tamed　some　wild　
animal。　

“Quite　perfect；”　rejoined　Fagin；　clapping　him　on　the　shoulder。　
“You’re　a　genius；　my　dear。”　

“Why；　I　suppose　if　I　wasn’t；　I　shouldn’t　be　here；”　replied　Noah。　
“But；　I　say；　she’ll　be　back　if　yer　lose　time。”　

“Now；　what　do　you　think？”　said　Fagin。　“If　you　was　to　like　my　

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friend；　could　you　do　better　than　join　him？”　

“Is　he　in　a　good　way　of　business；　that’s　where　it　is！”　responded　
Noah；　winking　one　of　his　little　eyes。　

“The　top　of　the　tree；”　said　Fagin；　“employs　a　power　of　hands；　
has　the　very　best　society　in　the　profession。”　

“Regular　town…maders？”　asked　Mr。　Claypole。　

“Not　a　countryman　among　’em；　and　I　don’t　think　he’d　take　you；　
even　on　my　recommendation；　if　he　didn’t　run　rather　short　of　
assistants　just　now；”　replied　Fagin。　

“Should　I　have　to　hand　over？”　said　Noah；　slapping　his　breeches　
pocket。　

“It　couldn’t　possibly　be　done　without；”　replied　Fagin；　in　a　most　
decided　manner。　

“Twenty　pound；　though—it’s　a　lot　of　money！”　

“Not　when　it’s　in　a　note　you　can’t　get　rid　of；”　retorted　Fagin。　
“Number　and　date　taken；　I　suppose！　Payment　stopped　at　the　
bank？　Ah！　It’s　not　worth　much　to　him。　It’ll　have　to　go　abroad；　and　
he　couldn’t　sell　it　for　a　great　deal　in　the　market。”　

“When　could　I　see　him？”　asked　Noah　doubtfully。　

“Tomorrow　morning。”　

“Where？”　

“Here。”　

“Um！”　said　Noah。　“What’s　the　wages？”　

“Live　like　a　gentleman—board　and　lodging；　pipes　and　spirits　
free—half　of　all　you　earn；　and　half　of　all　the　young　woman　earns；”　
replied　Mr。　Fagin。　

Whether　Noah　Claypole；　whose　rapacity　was　none　of　the　least　
comprehensive；　would　have　acceded　even　to　these　glowing　terms；　
had　he　been　a　perfectly　free　agent；　is　very　doubtful；　but　as　he　

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recollected　that；　in　the　event　of　his　refusal　it　was　in　the　power　of　
his　new　acquaintance　to　give　him　up　to　justice　immediately　（and　
more　unlikely　things　had　come　to　pass）；　he　gradually　relented；　and　
said　he　thought　that　would　suit　him。　

“But；　yer　see；”　observed　Noah；　“as　she　will　be　able　to　do　a　good　
deal；　I　should　like　to　take　something　very　light。”　

“A　little　fancy　work？”　suggested　Fagin。　

“Ah！　something　of　that　sort；”　replied　Noah。　“What　do　you　think　
would　suit　me　now？　Something　not　too　trying　for　the　strength；　and　
not　very　dangerous；　you　know。　That’s　the　sort　of　thing！”　

“I　heard　you　talk　of　something　in　the　spy　way　upon　the　others；　
my　dear；”　said　Fagin。　“My　friend　wants　somebody　who　would　do　
that　well；　very　much。”　

“Why；　I　did　mention　that；　and　I　shouldn’t　mind　turning　my　
hand　to　it　sometimes；”　rejoined　Mr。　Claypole　slowly；　“but　it　
wouldn’t　pay　by　itself；　you　know。”　

“That’s　true！”　observed　the　Jew；　ruminating　or　pretending　to　
ruminate。　“No；　it　might　not。”　

“What　do　you　think；　then？”　asked　Noah；　anxiously　regarding　
him。　“Something　in　the　sneaking　way；　where　it　was　pretty　sure　
work；　and　not　much　more　risk　than　being　at　home。”　

“What　do　you　think　of　the　old　ladies？”　asked　Fagin。　“There’s　a　
good　deal　of　mon