oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第78章

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gloom；　supply　the　smallest　item　of　the　outline；　and　note　how　stiff　
and　solemn　it　seemed　to　stalk　along。　He　could　hear　its　garments　
rustling　in　the　leaves；　and　every　breath　of　wind　came　laden　with　
that　last　low　cry。　If　he　stopped　it　did　the　same。　If　he　ran；　it　
followed—not　running　too；　that　would　have　been　a　relief；　but　like　a　
corpse　endowed　with　the　mere　machinery　of　life；　and　borne　on　one　

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slow　melancholy　wind　that　never　rose　or　fell。　

At　times　he　turned；　with　desperate　determination；　resolved　to　
beat　this　phantom　off；　though　it　should　look　him　dead；　but　the　hair　
rose　on　his　head；　and　his　blood　stood　still；　for　it　had　turned　with　
him　and　was　behind　him　then。　He　had　kept　it　before　him　that　
morning；　but　it　was　behind　now—　always。　He　leaned　his　back　
against　a　bank；　and　felt　that　it　stood　above　him；　visibly　out　against　
the　cold　night…sky。　He　threw　himself　upon　the　road—on　his　back　
upon　the　road。　At　his　head　it　stood；　silent；　erect；　and　still—a　living　
gravestone；　with　its　epitaph　in　blood。　

Let　no　man　talk　of　murderers　escaping　justice；　and　hint　that　
Providence　must　sleep。　There　were　twenty　score　of　violent　deaths　
in　one　long　minute　of　that　agony　of　fear。　

There　was　a　shed　in　a　field　he　passed；　that　offered　shelter　for　
the　night。　Before　the　door；　were　three　tall　poplar…trees；　which　
made　it　very　dark　within；　and　the　wind　moaned　through　them　
with　a　dismal　wail。　He　could　not　walk　on；　till　daylight　came　again；　
and　here　he　stretched　himself　close　to　the　wall—to　undergo　new　
torture。　

For　now；　a　vision　came　before　him；　as　constant　and　more　
terrible　than　that　from　which　he　had　escaped。　Those　widely…
staring　eyes；　so　lustreless　and　so　glassy；　that　he　had　better　borne　
to　see　them　than　think　upon　them；　appeared　in　the　midst　of　the　
darkness—light　in　themselves；　but　giving　light　to　nothing。　There　
were　but　two；　but　they　were　everywhere。　If　he　shut　out　the　sight；　
there　came　the　room　with　every　well…known　object—some；　indeed；　
that　he　would　have　forgotten；　if　he　had　gone　over　its　contents　from　
memory—each　in　its　accustomed　place。　The　body　was　in　its　place；　
and　its　eyes　were　as　he　saw　them　when　he　stole　away。　He　got　up；　

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and　rushed　into　the　field　without。　The　figure　was　behind　him。　He　
re…entered　the　shed；　and　shrank　down　once　more。　The　eyes　were　
there；　before　he　had　laid　himself　along。　

And　here　he　remained；　in　such　terror　as　none　but　he　can　know；　
trembling　in　every　limb；　and　the　cold　sweat　starting　from　every　
pore；　when　suddenly　there　arose　upon　the　night…wind　the　noise　of　
distant　shouting；　and　the　roar　of　voices　mingled　in　alarm　and　
wonder。　Any　sound　of　men　in　that　lonely　place；　even　though　it　
conveyed　a　real　cause　of　alarm；　was　something　to　him。　He　
regained　his　strength　and　energy　at　the　prospect　of　personal　
danger；　and；　springing　to　his　feet；　rushed　into　the　open　air。　

The　broad　sky　seemed　on　fire。　Rising　into　the　air　with　showers　
of　sparks；　and　rolling　one　above　the　other；　were　sheets　of　flame；　
lighting　the　atmosphere　for　miles　around；　and　driving　clouds　of　
smoke　in　the　direction　where　he　stood。　The　shouts　grew　louder　as　
new　voices　swelled　the　roar；　and　he　could　hear　the　cry　of　Fire！　
mingled　with　the　ringing　of　an　alarm…bell；　the　fall　of　heavy　bodies；　
and　the　crackling　of　flames　as　they　twined　round　some　new　
obstacle　and　shot　aloft　as　though　refreshed　by　food。　The　noise　
increased　as　he　looked。　There　were　people　there—men　and　
women—light；　bustle。　It　was　like　new　life　to　him。　He　darted　
onward—straight；　headlong—dashing　through　brier　and　brake；　
and　leaping　gate　and　fence　as　madly　as　his　dog；　who　careered　with　
loud　and　sounding　bark　before　him。　

He　came　upon　the　spot。　There　were　half…dressed　figures　tearing　
to　and　fro；　some　endeavouring　to　drag　the　frightened　horses　from　
the　stables；　others　driving　the　cattle　from　the　yard　and　outhouses；　
and　others　coming　laden　from　the　burning　pile；　amidst　a　shower　of　
falling　sparks；　and　the　tumbling　down　of　red…hot　beams。　The　

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apertures；　where　doors　and　windows　stood　an　hour　ago；　disclosed　
a　mass　of　raging　fire；　walls　rocked　and　crumbled　into　the　burning　
well；　the　molten　lead　and　iron　poured　down；　white…hot；　upon　the　
ground。　Women　and　children　shrieked；　and　men　encouraged　each　
other　with　noisy　shouts　and　cheers。　The　clanking　of　the　engine…
pumps；　and　the　spurting　and　hissing　of　the　water　as　it　fell　upon　
the　blazing　wood；　added　to　the　tremendous　roar。　He　shouted；　too；　
till　he　was　hoarse；　and；　flying　from　memory　and　himself；　plunged　
into　the　thickest　of　the　throng。　

Hither　and　thither　he　dived　that　night；　now　working　at　the　
pumps；　and　now　hurrying　through　the　smoke　and　flame；　but　never　
ceasing　to　engage　himself　wherever　noise　and　men　were　thickest。　
Up　and　down　the　ladders；　upon　the　roofs　of　buildings；　over　floors　
that　quaked　and　trembled　with　his　weight；　under　the　lee　of　falling　
bricks　and　stones；　in　every　part　of　that　great　fire　was　he；　but　he　
bore　a　charmed　life；　and　had　neither　scratch　nor　bruise；　nor　
weariness　nor　thought；　till　morning　dawned　again；　and　only　smoke　
and　blackened　ruins　remained。　

This　mad　excitement　over；　there　returned；　with　tenfold　force；　
the　dreadful　consciousness　of　his　crime。　He　looked　suspiciously　
about　him；　for　the　men　were　conversing　in　groups；　and　he　feared　
to　be　the　subject　of　their　talk。　The　dog　obeyed　the　significant　beck　
of　his　finger；　and　they　drew　off；　stealthily；　together。　He　passed　
near　an　engine　where　some　men　were　seated；　and　they　called　to　
him　to　share　in　their　refreshment。　He　took　some　bread　and　meat；　
and　as　he　drank　a　draught　of　beer；　heard　the　firemen；　who　were　
from　London；　talking　about　the　murder。　“He　has　gone　to　
Birmingham；　they　say；”　said　one；　“but　they’ll　have　him　yet；　for　the　
scouts　are　out；　and　by　tomorrow　night　there’ll　be　a　cry　all　through　

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the　country。”　

He　hurried　off；　and　walked　till　he　almost　dropped　upon　the　
ground；　then　lay　down　in　a　lane；　and　had　a　long；　but　broken　and　
uneasy　sleep。　He　wandered　on　again；　irresolute　and　undecided；　
and　oppressed　with　the　fear　of　another　solitary　night。　

Suddenly；　he　took　the　desperate　resolution　of　going　back　to　
London。　

“There’s　somebody　to　speak　to　there；　at　all　events；”　he　thought。　
“A　good　hiding…place；　too。　They’ll　never　expect　to　nab　me　there；　
after　this　country　scent。　Why　can’t　I　lay　by　for　a　week　or　so；　and；　
forcing　blunt　from　Fagin；　get　abroad　to　France？　Damme；　I’ll　risk　
it。”　

He　acted　upon　this　impulse　without　delay；　and　choosing　the　
least　frequented　roads；　began　his　journey　back；　resolved　to　lie　
concealed　within　a　short　distance　of　the　metropolis；　and；　entering　
it　at　dusk；　by　a　circuitous　route；　to　proceed　straight　to　that　part　of　
it　which　he　had　fixed　on　for　his　destination。　

The　dog；　though。　If　any　description　of　him　were　out；　it　would　
not　be　forgotten　that　the　dog　was　missing；　and　had　probably　gone　
with　him。　This　might　lead　to　his　apprehension　as　he　passed　along　
the　streets。　He　resolved　to　drown　him；　and　walked　on；　looking　for　
a　pond；　and　picking　up　a　heavy　stone　and　tying　it　to　his　
handkerchief　as　he　went。　

The　animal　looked　up　into　his　master’s　face　while　these　
preparations　were　making；　and；　whether　his　instinct　apprehended　
something　of　their　purpose；　or　the　robber’s　sidelong　look　at　him　
was　sterner　than　ordinary；　he　skulked　a　little　farther　in　the　rear　
than　usual；　and　cowered　as　he　came　more　slowly　along。　When　his　
master　halted　at　the　brink　of　a　pool；　and　looked　round　to　call　him；　

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he　stopped　outright。　

“Do　you　hear　me　call？　Come　here！”　cried　Sikes。　

The　animal　came　up　from　the　very　force　of　habit；　but　as　Sikes　
stooped　to　attach　the　handkerchief　to　his　throat；　he　uttered　a　low　
growl　and　started　back。　

“Come　back！”　said　the　robber。　

The　dog　wagged　his　tail；　but　moved　not。　Sikes　made　a　running…
noose　and　called　him　again。　

The　dog　advanced；　retreated；　paused　an　instant；　turned；　and　
scoured　away　at　his　hardest　speed。　

The　man　whistled　again　and　again；　and　sat　down　and　waited　in　
the　expectation　that　he　would　return。　But　no　dog　appeared；　and　at　
length　he　resumed　his　journey。　

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Chapter　49　

Monks　And　Mr。　Brownlow　At　Length　Meet—Their
Conversation；　And　The　Intelligence　That　Interrupts
It。


The　twilight　was　beginning　to　close　in；　when　Mr。　Brownlow　
alighted　from　a　hackney…coach　at　his　own　door　and　
knocked　softly。　The　door　being　opened；　a　sturdy　man　got　
out　of　the　coach　and　stationed　himself　on　one　side　of　the　steps；　
while　another　man；　who　had　been　seated　on　the　box；　dismounted　
too；　and　stood　upon　the　other　side。　At　a　sign　from　Mr。　Brownlow；　
they　helped　out　a　third　man；　and　taking　him　between　them；　
hurried　him　into　the　house。　This　man　was　Monks。　

They　walked　in　the　same　manner　up　the　stairs　without　
speaking；　and　Mr。　Brownlow；　preceding　them；　led　the　way　into　a　
back　room。　At　the　door　of　this　apartment；　Monks；　who　had　
ascended　with　evident　reluctance；　stopped。　The　two　men　looked　to　
the　old　gentleman　as　if　for　instructions。　

“He　knows　the　alternative；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow。　“If　he　hesitates　
or　moves　a　finger　but　as　you　bid　him；　drag　him　into　the　street；　call　
for　the　aid　of　the　police；　and　impeach　him　as　a　felon　in　my　name。”　

“How　dare　you　say　this　of　me？”　asked　Monks。　

“How　dare　you　urge　me　to　it；　young　man？”　replied　Mr。　
Brownlow；　confronting　him　with　a　steady　look。　“Are　you　mad　
enough　to　leave　this　house？　Unhand　him。　There；　sir。　You　are　free　
to　go；　and　we　to　follow。　But　I　warn　you；　by　all　I　hold　most　solemn　
and　most　sacred；　that　the　instant　you　set　foot　in　the　street；　that　

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instant　will　I　have　you　apprehended　on　a　charge　of　fraud　and　
robbery。　I　am　resolute　and　immovable。　If　you　are　determined　to　be　
the　same；　your　blood　be　upon　your　own　head！”　

“By　what　authority　am　I　kidnapped　in　the　street；　and　brought　
here　by　these　dogs？”　asked　Monks；　looking　from　one　to　the　other　
of　the　men　who　stood　beside　him。　

“By　mine；”　replied　Mr。　Brownlow。　“Those　persons　are　
indemnified　by　me。　If　you　complain　of　being　deprived　of　your　
liberty—you　had　power　and　opportunity　to　retrieve　t　as　you　came　
along；　but　you　deemed　it　advisable　to　remain　quiet—I　say　again；　
throw　yourself　for　protection　on　the　law。　I　will　appeal　to　the　law　
too；　but　when　you　have　gone　too　far　to　recede；　do　not　sue　to　me　for　
leniency；　when　the　power　will　have　passed　into　other　hands；　and　
do　not　say　I　plunged　you　down　the　gulf　into　which　you　rushed　
yourself。”　

Monks　was　plainly　disconcerted；　and　alarmed　besides。　He　
hesitated。　

“You　will　decide　quickly；”　said　Mr。　Brownlow；　with　perfect　
firmness　and　composure。　“If　you　wish　me　to　prefer　my　charges　
publicly；　and　consign　you　to　a　punishment　the　extent　of　which；　
although　I　can；　with　a　shudder；