oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第67章
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thanks to all these vagabonds； male and female； and beg them to
accept a hundred pounds； or so； apiece； as a trifling mark of our
esteem； and some slight acknowledgement of their kindness to
Oliver？”
“Not exactly that；” rejoined Mr。 Brownlow； laughing； “but we
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must proceed gently and with great care。”
“Gentleness and care；” exclaimed the doctor。 “I’d send them
one and all to—”
“Never mind where；” interposed Mr。 Brownlow。 “But reflect
whether sending them anywhere is likely to attain the object we
have in view。”
“What object？” asked the doctor。
“Simply； the discovery of Oliver’s parentage； and regaining for
him the inheritance of which； if this story be true； he has been
fraudulently deprived。”
“Ah！” said Mr。 Losberne； cooling himself with his pocket…
handkerchief； “I almost forgot that。”
“You see；” pursued Mr。 Brownlow； “placing this poor girl
entirely out of the question； and supposing it were possible to
bring these scoundrels to justice without compromising her safety；
what good should we bring about？”
“Hanging a few of them at least； in all probability；” suggested
the doctor； “and transporting the rest。”
“Very good；” replied Mr。 Brownlow； smiling； abut no doubt
they will bring that about for themselves in the fulness of time；
and if we step in to forestall them； it seems to me that we shall be
performing a very quixotic act； in direct opposition to our own
interest—or at least Oliver’s； which is the same thing。”
“How？” inquired the doctor。
“Thus。 It is quite clear that we shall have extreme difficulty in
getting to the bottom of this mystery； unless we can bring this
man； Monks； upon his knees。 That can only be done by stratagem；
and by catching him when he is not surrounded by these people。
For； suppose he were apprehended； we have no proof against him。
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He is not even （so far as we know； or as the facts appear to us）
concerned with the gang in any of their robberies。 If he were not
discharged； it is very unlikely that he could receive any further
punishment than being committed to prison as a rogue and
vagabond； and of course ever afterwards his mouth would be so
obstinately closed that he might as well； for our purpose； be deaf；
dumb； blind； and an idiot。”
“Then；” said the doctor impetuously； “I put it to you again；
whether you think it reasonable that this promise to the girl
should be considered binding； a promise made with the best and
kindest intentions； but really—”
“Do not discuss the point； my dear young lady； pray；” said Mr。
Brownlow； interrupting Rose as she was about to speak。 “The
promise shall be kept。 I don’t think it will； in the slightest degree；
interfere with our proceedings。 But； before we can resolve upon
any precise course of action； it will be necessary to see the girl； to
ascertain from her whether she will point out this Monks； on the
understanding that he is to be dealt with by us； and not by the law；
or； if she will not； or cannot do that； to procure from her such an
account of his haunts and description of his person； as will enable
us to identify him。 She cannot be seen until next Sunday night；
this is Tuesday。 I would suggest that in the meantime we remain
perfectly quiet； and keep these matters secret even from Oliver
himself。”
Although Mr。 Losberne received with many wry faces a
proposal involving a delay of five whole days； he was fain to admit
that no better course occurred to him just then； and as both Rose
and Mrs。 Maylie sided very strongly with Mr。 Brownlow； that
gentleman’s proposition was carried unanimously。
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“I should like；” he said； “to call in the aid of my friend Grimwig。
He is a strange creature； but a shrewd one； and might prove of
material assistance to us； I should say that he was bred a lawyer；
and quitted the bar in disgust because he had only one brief and a
motion of course； in twenty years； though whether that is a
recommendation or not； you must determine for yourselves。”
“I have no objection to your calling in your friend if I may call in
mine；” said the doctor。
“We must put it to the vote；” replied Mr。 Brownlow； “who may
he be？”
“That lady’s son； and this young lady’s very old friend；” said the
doctor； motioning towards Mrs。 Maylie； and concluding with an
expressive glance at her niece。
Rose blushed deeply； but she did not make any audible
objection to this motion （possibly she felt in a hopeless minority）；
and Harry Maylie and Mr。 Grimwig were accordingly added to the
committee。
“We stay in town； of course；” said Mr。 Maylie； “while there
remains the slightest prospect of prosecuting this inquiry with a
chance of success。 I will spare neither trouble nor expense in
behalf of the object in which we are all so deeply interested； and I
am content to remain here； if it be for twelve months； so long as
you assure me that any hope remains。”
“Good！” rejoined Mr。 Brownlow。 “And as I see on the faces
about me； a disposition to inquire how it happened that I was not
in the way to corroborate Oliver’s tale； and had so suddenly left
the kingdom； let me stipulate that I shall be asked no questions
until such time as I may deem it expedient to forestall them by
telling my own story。 Believe me； I make this request with good
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reason； for I might otherwise excite hopes destined never to be
realised； and only increase difficulties and disappointments
already numerous enough。 Come！ Supper has been announced；
and young Oliver； who is all alone in the next room； will have
begun to think； by this time； that we have wearied of his company；
and entered into some dark conspiracy to thrust him forth upon
the world。”
With these words； the old gentleman gave his hand to Mrs。
Maylie； and escorted her into the supper…room。 Mr。 Losberne
followed； leading Rose； and the council was； for the present；
effectually broken up。
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Chapter 42
An Old Acquaintance Of Oliver’s； Exhibiting
Decided Marks Of Genius； Becomes A Public
Character In The Metropolis。
Upon the night when Nancy； having lulled Mr。 Sikes to
sleep； hurried on her self…imposed mission to Rose
Maylie； there advanced towards London； by the Great
North Road； two persons； upon whom it is expedient that this
history should bestow some attention。
They were a man and a woman； or perhaps they would be
better described as a male and female； for the former was one of
those long…limbed； knock…kneed； shambling； bony people； to whom
it is difficult to assign any precise age—looking as they do； when
they are yet boys； like undergrown men； and when they are almost
men； like overgrown boys。 The woman was young； but of a robust
and hardy make； as she need have been to bear the weight of the
heavy bundle which was strapped to her back。 Her companion
was not encumbered with much luggage； as there merely dangled
from a stick which he carried over his shoulder； a small parcel
wrapped in a common handkerchief； and apparently light enough。
This circumstance； added to the length of his legs； which were of
unusual extent； enabled him with much ease to keep some half…
dozen paces in advance of his companion； to whom he occasionally
turned with an impatient jerk of the head； as if reproaching her
tardiness； and urging her to greater exertion。
Thus； they had toiled along the dusty road； taking little heed of
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any object within sight； save when they stepped aside to allow a
wider passage for the mail…coaches which were whirling out of
town； until they passed through Highgate archway； when the
foremost traveller stopped and called impatiently to his
companion。
“Come on； can’t yer？ What a lazybones ye are； Charlotte。”
“It’s a heavy load； I can tell you；” said the female； coming up；
almost breathless with fatigue。
“Heavy！ What are yer talking about！ What are yer made for？”
rejoined the male traveller； changing his own little bundle as he
spoke； to the other shoulder。 “Oh； there yer are； resting again！
Well； if yer ain’t enough to tire anybody’s patience out； I don’t
know what is！”
“Is it much farther？” asked the woman； resting herself against a
bank； and looking up with the perspiration streaming from her
face。
“Much farther！ Yer as good as there；” said the long…legged
tramper； pointing out before him。 “Look there！ Those are the
lights of London。”
“They’re a good two mile off； at least；” said the woman
despondingly。
“Never mind whether they’re two mile off； or twenty；” said
Noah Claypole； for he it was； “but get up and come on； or I’ll kick
yer； and so I give yer notice。”
As Noah’s red nose grew redder with anger； and as he crossed
the road while speaking； as if fully prepared to put his threat into
execution； the woman rose without any further remark； and
trudged onward by his side。
“Where do you mean to stop for the night； Noah？” she asked；
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after they had walked a few hundred yards。
“How should I know？” replied Noah； whose temper had been
considerably impaired by walking。
“Near； I hope；” said Charlotte。
“No； not near；” replied Mr。 Claypole。 ‘‘There！ Not near； so don’t
think it。”
“Why not？”
“When I tell yer that I don’t mean to do a thing； that’s enough；
without any why or because either；” replied Mr。 Claypole； with
dignity。
“Well； you needn’t be so cross；” said his companion。
“A pretty thing it would be； wouldn’t it； to go and stop at the
very first public…house outside the town； so that Sowerberry； if he
came up after us； might poke in his old nose； and have us taken
back in a cart with handcuffs on；” said Mr Claypole； in a jeering
tone。 “No！ I shall go and lose myself among the narrowest streets I
can find； and not stop till we come to the very out…of…the…wayest
house I can set eyes on。 ’Cod； yer may thank yer stars I’ve got a
head； for if we hadn’t gone； at first； the wrong road a purpose； and
come back across country； yer’d have been locked up hard and
fast a week ago； my lady。 And serve yer right for being a fool。”
“I know I ain’t as cunning as you are；” replied Charlotte； “but
don’t put all the blame on me； and say I should have been locked
up。 You would have been if I had been； anyway。”
“Yer took the money from the till； yer know yer did；” said Mr。
Claypole。
“I took it for you； Noah dear；” rejoined Charlotte。
“Did I keep it？” asked Mr。 Claypole。
“No； you trusted in me； and let me carry it like a dear； and so
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you are；” said the lady； chucking him under the chin； and drawing
her arm t
