oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第39章

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it；　my　dear？”　

“Not　a　bit　of　it；”　replied　the　Dodger；　stopping　the　subject　of　
discourse　as　Mr。　Chitling　was　about　to　reply。　“What　do　you　say；　
Charley？”　

“I　should　say；”　replied　Master　Bates；　with　a　grin；　“that　he　was　
uncommon　sweet　upon　Betsy。　See　how　he’s　a…blushing！　Oh；　my　

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eye！　here’s　a　merry…go…rounder！　Tommy　Chitling’s　in　love！　Oh；　
Fagin；　Fagin！　what　a　spree！”　

Thoroughly　overpowered　with　the　notion　of　Mr。　Chitling　being　
the　victim　of　the　tender　passion；　Master　Bates　threw　himself　back　
in　his　chair　with　such　violence；　that　he　lost　his　balance；　and　
pitched　over　upon　the　floor；　where　（the　accident　abating　nothing　
of　his　merriment）　he　lay　at　full　length　until　his　laugh　was　over；　
when　he　resumed　his　former　position；　and　began　another　laugh。　

“Never　mind　him；　my　dear；”　said　the　Jew；　winking　at　Mr。　
Dawkins；　and　giving　Master　Bates　a　reproving　tap　with　the　nozzle　
of　the　bellows。　“Betsy’s　a　fine　girl。　Stick　up　to　her；　Tom。　Stick　up　
to　her。”　

“What　I　mean　to　say；　Fagin；”　replied　Mr。　Chitling；　very　red　in　
the　face；　“is；　that　that　isn’t　anything　to　anybody　here。”　

“No　more　it　is；”　replied　the　Jew；　“Charley　will　talk。　Don’t　mind　
him；　my　dear；　don’t　mind　him。　Betsy’s　a　fine　girl。　Do　as　she　bids　
you；　Tom；　and　you　will　make　your　fortune。”　

“So　I　do　do　as　she　bids　me；”　replied　Mr。　Chitling；　“I　shouldn’t　
have　been　milled；　if　it　hadn’t　been　for　her　advice。　But　it　turned　out　
a　good　job　for　you；　didn’t　it；　Fagin？　And　what’s　six　weeks　of　it？　It　
must　come；　some　time　or　another；　and　why　not　in　the　winter　time　
when　you　don’t　want　to　go　out　a…walking　so　much；　eh；　Fagin？”　

“Ah；　to　be　sure；　my　dear；”　replied　the　Jew。　

“You　wouldn’t　mind　it　again；　Tom；　would　you；”　asked　the　
Dodger；　winking　upon　Charley　and　the　Jew；　“if　Bet　was　all　right？”　

“I　mean　to　say　that　I　shouldn’t；”　replied　Tom　angrily。　“There；　
now。　Ah！　Who’ll　say　as　much　as　that；　I　should　like　to　know；　eh；　
Fagin？”　

“Nobody；　my　dear；”　replied　the　Jew；　“not　a　soul；　Tom。　I　don’t　

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know　one　of　’em　that　would　do　it　besides　you；　not　one　of　’em；　my　
dear。”　

“I　might　have　got　clear　off；　if　I’d　split　upon　her；　mightn’t　I；　
Fagin？”　angrily　pursued　the　poor；　half…witted　dupe。　“A　word　from　
me　would　have　done　it；　wouldn’t　it；　Fagin？”　

“To　be　sure　it　would；　my　dear；”　replied　the　Jew。　

“But　I　didn’t　blab　it；　did　I；　Fagin？”　demanded　Tom；　pouring　
question　upon　question　with　great　volubility。　

“No；　no；　to　be　sure；”　replied　the　Jew；　“you　were　too　stouthearted　for　that。　A　deal　too　stout；　my　dear！”　

“Perhaps　I　was；”　rejoined　Tom；　looking　round；　“and　if　I　was；　
what’s　to　laugh　at；　in　that；　eh；　Fagin？”　

The　Jew；　perceiving　that　Mr。　Chitling　was　considerably　roused；　
hastened　to　assure　him　that　nobody　was　laughing；　and　to　prove　
the　gravity　of　the　company；　appealed　to　Master　Bates；　the　
principal　offender。　But；　unfortunately；　Charley；　in　opening　his　
mouth　to　reply　that　he　was　never　more　serious　in　his　life；　was　
unable　to　prevent　the　escape　of　such　a　violent　roar；　that　the　
abused　Mr。　Chitling；　without　any　preliminary　ceremonies；　rushed　
across　the　room　and　aimed　a　blow　at　the　offender；　who；　being　
skilful　in　evading　pursuit；　ducked　to　avoid　it；　and　chose　his　time　so　
well　that　it　lighted　on　the　chest　of　the　merry　old　gentleman；　and　
caused　him　to　stagger　to　the　wall；　where　he　stood　panting　for　
breath；　while　Mr。　Chitling　looked　on　in　intense　dismay。　

“Hark！”　cried　the　Dodger；　at　this　moment；　“I　heard　the　tinkler。”　
Catching　up　the　light；　he　crept　softly　upstairs。　

The　bell　was　rung　again；　with　some　impatience；　while　the　party　
were　in　darkness。　After　a　short　pause；　the　Dodger　reappeared；　and　
whispered　to　Fagin　mysteriously。　

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“What！”　cried　the　Jew；　“alone？”　

The　Dodger　nodded　in　the　affirmative；　and；　shading　the　flame　
of　the　candle　with　his　hand；　gave　Charley　Bates　a　private　
intimation；　in　dumb　show；　that　he　had　better　not　be　funny　just　
then。　Having　performed　this　friendly　office；　he　fixed　his　eyes　on　
the　Jew’s　face；　and　awaited　his　directions。　

The　old　man　bit　his　yellow　fingers；　and　meditated　for　some　
seconds；　his　face　working　with　agitation　the　while；　as　if　he　dreaded　
something；　and　feared　to　know　the　worst。　At　length　he　raised　his　
head。　

“Where　is　he？”　he　asked。　

The　Dodger　pointed　to　the　floor　above；　and　made　a　gesture；　as　
if　to　leave　the　room。　

“Yes；”　said　the　Jew；　answering　the　mute　inquiry；　“bring　him　
down。　Hush！　Quiet；　Charley　I　Gently；　Tom！　Scarce；　scarce！”　

This　brief　direction　to　Charley　Bates；　and　his　recent　antagonist；　
was　softly　and　immediately　obeyed。　There　was　no　sound　of　their　
whereabouts；　when　the　Dodger　descended　the　stairs；　bearing　the　
light　in　his　hand；　and　followed　by　a　man　in　a　coarse　smock…frock；　
who；　after　casting　a　hurried　glance　round　the　room；　pulled　off　a　
large　wrapper　which　had　concealed　the　lower　portion　of　his　face；　
and　disclosed；　all　haggard；　unwashed；　and　unshorn；　the　features　of　
flash　Toby　Crackit。　

“How　are　you；　Faguey？”　said　this　worthy；　nodding　to　the　Jew。　
“Pop　that　shawl　away　in　my　castor；　Dodger；　so　that　I　may　know　
where　to　find　it　when　I　cut；　that’s　the　time　of　day　I　You’ll　be　a　fine　
young　cracksman　afore　the　old　file　now。”　With　these　words　he　
pulled　up　the　smock…frock；　and；　winding　it　round　his　middle；　drew　
a　chair　to　the　fire；　and　placed　his　feet　upon　the　hob。　

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“See　there；　Faguey；”　he　said；　pointing　disconsolately　to　his　top…
boots；　“not　a　drop　of　Day　and　Martin　since　you　know　when；　not　a　
bubble　of　blacking；　by　Jove！　But　don’t　look　at　me　in　that　way；　man。　
All　in　good　time。　I　can’t　talk　about　business　till　I’ve　eat　and　drank；　
so　produce　the　sustenance；　and　let’s　have　a　quiet　fill…out　for　the　
first　time　these　three　days！”　

The　Jew　motioned　to　the　Dodger　to　place　what　eatables　there　
were；　upon　the　table；　and；　seating　himself　opposite　the　
housebreaker；　waited　his　leisure。　

To　judge　from　appearances；　Toby　was　by　no　means　in　a　hurry　
to　open　the　conversation。　At　first；　the　Jew　contented　himself　with　
patiently　watching　his　countenance；　as　if　to　gain　from　its　
expression　some　clue　to　the　intelligence　he　brought；　but　in　vain。　
He　looked　tired　and　worn；　but　there　was　the　same　complacent　
repose　upon　his　features　that　they　always　wore；　and　through　dirt；　
and　beard；　and　whisker；　there　still　shone；　unimpaired；　the　self…
satisfied　smirk　of　flash　Toby　Crackit。　Then；　the　Jew；　in　an　agony　of　
impatience；　watched　every　morsel　he　put　into　his　mouth；　pacing　
up　and　down　the　room；　meanwhile；　in　irrepressible　excitement。　It　
was　all　of　no　use。　Toby　continued　to　eat　with　the　utmost　outward　
indifference；　until　he　could　eat　no　more；　then；　ordering　the　Dodger　
out；　he　closed　the　door；　mixed　a　glass　of　spirit…and…water；　and　
composed　himself　for　talking。　

“First　and　foremost；　Faguey—”　said　Toby。　

“Yes；　yes！”　interposed　the　Jew；　drawing　up　his　chair。　

Mr。　Crackit　stopped　to　take　a　draught　of　spirits…and…water；　and　
to　declare　that　the　gin　was　excellent；　then　placing　his　feet　against　
the　low　mantelpiece；　so　as　to　bring　his　boots　to　about　the　level　of　
his　eye；　he　quietly　resumed：　“First　and　foremost；　Faguey；”　said　the　

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housebreaker；　“how’s　Bill？”　

“What！”　screamed　the　Jew；　starting　from　his　seat。　

“Why；　you　don’t　mean　to　say—”　began　Toby；　turning　pale。　

“Mean！”　cried　the　Jew；　stamping　furiously　on　the　ground。　
“Where　are　they？　Sikes　and　the　boy？　Where　are　they？”　Where　
have　they　been？　Where　are　they　hiding？　Why　have　they　not　been　
here？”　

“The　crack　failed；”　said　Toby；　faintly。　

“I　know　it；”　replied　the　Jew；　tearing　a　newspaper　from　his　
pocket　and　pointing　to　it。　“What　more？”　

“They　fired　and　hit　the　boy。　We　cut　over　the　fields　at　the　back；　
with　him　between　us—straight　as　the　crow　flies—through　hedge　
and　ditch。　They　gave　chase。　Damme！　the　whole　country　was　
awake；　and　the　dogs　upon　us。”　

“The　boy？”　gasped　the　Jew。　

“Bill　had　him　on　his　back；　and　scudded　like　the　wind。　We　
stopped　to　take　him　between　us；　his　head　hung　down；　and　he　was　
cold。　They　were　close　upon　our　heels；　every　man　for　himself；　and　
each　from　the　gallows！　We　parted　company；　and　left　the　youngster　
lying　in　a　ditch。　Alive　or　dead；　that’s　all　I　know　about　him。”　

The　Jew　stopped　to　hear　no　more；　but；　uttering　a　loud　yell；　and　
twining　his　hands　in　his　hair；　rushed　from　the　room；　and　from　the　
house。　

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Chapter　26　

In　Which　A　Mysterious　Character　Appears　Upon
The　Scene；　And　Many　Things；　Inseparable　From
This　History；　Are　Done　And　Performed。


The　old　man　had　gained　the　street　corner；　before　he　began　
to　recover　the　effect　of　Toby　Crackit’s　intelligence。　He　had　
relaxed　nothing　of　his　unusual　speed；　but　was　still　
pressing　onward；　in　the　same　wild　and　disordered　manner；　when　
the　sudden　dashing　past　of　a　carriage；　and　a　boisterous　cry　from　
the　foot　passengers；　who　saw　his　danger；　drove　him　back　upon　the　
pavement。　Avoiding；　as　much　as　possible；　all　the　main　streets；　and　
skulking　only　through　the　byways　and　alleys；　he　at　length　emerged　
on　Snow　Hill。　Here　he　walked　even　faster　than　before；　nor　did　he　
linger　until　he　had　again　turned　into　a　court；　when；　as　if　conscious　
that　he　was　now　in　his　proper　element；　he　fell　into　his　usual　
shuffling　pace；　and　seemed　to　breathe　more　freely。　

Near　to　the　spot　on　which　Snow　Hill　and　Holborn　Hill　meet；　
there　opens；　upon　the　right　hand　as　you　come　out　of　the　city；　a　
narrow　and　dismal　alley；　leading　to　Saffron　Hill。　In　its　filthy　shops　
are　exposed　for　sale　huge　bunches　of　second…hand　silk　
handkerchiefs；　of　all　sizes　and　patterns；　for　here　reside　the　traders　
who　purchase　them　from　pick…pockets。　Hundreds　of　these　
handkerchiefs　hang　dangling　from　pegs　outside　the　windows　or　
flaunting　from　the　door…posts—and　the　shelves；　within；　are　piled　
with　them。　Confined　as　the　limits　of　Field　Lane　are；　it　has　its　
barber；　its　coffee…shop；　its　beer…shop；　and　its　fried…fish　warehouse。　

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It　is　a　commercial　colony　of　itself—the　emporium　of　petty　larceny；　
visited　at　early　morning；　and　setting…in　of　dusk；　by　silent　
merchants；　who　traffic　in　dark　back…parlours；　and　who　go　as　
strangely　as　they　come。　Here；　the　clothesman；　the　shoe…vamper；　
and　the　rag…merchant；　display　their　goods；　as　signboards　to　the　
petty　thief；　here；　stores　of　old　iron　and　bones；　and　heaps　of　
mildewy　fragments　of　woollen…stuff　and　linen；　rust　and　rot　in　the　
grimy　cellars。　

It　was　into　this　place　that　the　Jew　turned。　He　was　well　known　to　
the　sallow　denizens　of　the　lane；　for　such　of　them　as　were　on　the　
look…out　to　buy　or　sell；　nodded；　familiarly；　as　he　passed　along。　He　
replied　to　their　salutations　in　the　same　way；　but　bestowed　no　
closer　recognition　until　he