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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第39章

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recognition upon Oliver than a humorous grin; but; turning away; 
beckoned the visitors to follow him down a flight of stairs。 They 
crossed an empty kitchen; and; opening the door of a low; earthy…

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Oliver Twist 163 

smelling room; which seemed to have been built in a small backyard were received with a shout of laughter。 

“Oh; my wig; my wig!” cried Master Charles Bates from whose 
lungs the laughter had proceeded; “here he is! oh cry; here he is! 
Oh; Fagin; look at him! Fagin do look at him! I can’t bear it; it is 
such a jolly game; I can’t bear it。 Hold me; somebody; while I laugh 
it out。” 

With this irrepressible ebullition of mirth; Master Bates laid 
himself flat on the floor; and kicked convulsively for five minutes; 
in an ecstasy of facetious joy。 Then jumping to his feet; he 
snatched the cleft stick from the Dodger; and; advancing to Oliver; 
viewed him round and round; while the Jew; taking off his nightcap; made a great number of low bows to the bewildered boy。 The 
Artful; meantime; who was of a rather saturnine disposition; and 
seldom gave way to merriment when it interfered with business; 
rifled Oliver’s pockets with steady assiduity。 

“Look at his togs; Fagin!” said Charley; putting the light so 
close to his new jacket as nearly to set him on fire。 “Look at his 
togs! Superfine cloth; and the heavy swell cut! Oh; my eye; what a 
game! And his books; too! Nothing but a gentleman; Fagin!” 

“Delighted to see you looking so well; my dear;” said the Jew; 
bowing with mock humility。 “The Artful shall give you another 
suit; my dear; for fear you should spoil that Sunday one。 Why; 
didn’t you write; my dear; and say you were coming。 We’d have got 
something warm for supper。” 

At this; Master Bates roared again; so loud; that Fagin himself 
relaxed; and even the Dodger smiled; but as the Artful drew forth 
the five…pound note at that instant; it is doubtful whether the sally 
or the discovery awakened his merriment。 

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Oliver Twist 164 

“Hallo! What’s this?” inquired Sikes; stepping forward as the 
Jew seized the note。 “That’s mine; Fagin。” 

“No; no; my dear;” said the Jew。 “Mine; Bill; mine。 You shall 
have the books。” 

“If that ain’t mine!” said Bill Sikes; putting on his hat with a 
determined air; “mine and Nancy’s; that is; I’ll take the boy back 
again。” 

The Jew started。 Oliver started too; though from a very 
different cause; for he hoped that the dispute might really end in 
his being taken back。 

“Come! Hand over; will you?” said Sikes。 

“This is hardly fair; Bill; hardly fair; is it; Nancy?” inquired the 
Jew。 

“Fair; or not fair;” retorted Sikes; “hand over; I tell you! Do you 
think Nancy and me has got nothing else to do with our precious 
time but to spend it in scouting arter; and kidnapping; every 
young boy as gets grabbed through you? Give it here; you 
avaricious old skeleton; give it here!” 

With this gentle remonstrance; Mr。 Sikes plucked the note from 
between the Jew’s finger and thumb; and looking the old man 
coolly in the face; folded it up small; and tied it in his neckerchief。 

“That’s for our share of the trouble;” said Sikes; “and not half 
enough; neither。 You may keep the books; if you’re fond of 
reading。 If you ain’t; sell ’em。” 

“They’re very pretty;” said Charley Bates; who; with sundry 
grimaces; had been affecting to read one of the volumes in 
question; “beautiful writing; isn’t it; Oliver?” At sight of the 
dismayed look with which Oliver regarded his tormentors; Master 
Bates; who was blessed with a lively sense of the ludicrous; fell 

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Oliver Twist 165 

into another ecstasy; more boisterous than the first。 

“They belong to the old gentleman;” said Oliver; wringing his 
hands; “to the good; kind old gentleman who took me into his 
house; and had me nursed; when I was near dying of the fever。 Oh; 
pray send them back; send him back the books and money。 Keep 
me here all my life long; but pray; pray send them back。 He’ll 
think I stole them; the old lady—all of them who were so kind to 
me—will think I stole them。 Oh; do have mercy upon me; and send 
them back!” 

With those words; which were uttered with all the energy of 
passionate grief; Oliver fell upon his knees at the Jews feet; and 
beat his hands together; in perfect desperation。 

“The boy’s right;” remarked Fagin; looking covertly round; and 
knitting his shaggy eyebrows into a hard knot。 “You’re right; 
Oliver; you’re right; they will think you have stolen ’em。 Ha! ha!” 
chuckled the Jew; rubbing his hands; “it couldn’t have happened 
better; if we had chosen our time!” 

“Of course it couldn’t;” replied Sikes; “I know’d that; directly I 
see him coming through Clerkenwell; with the books under his 
arm。 It’s all right enough。 They’re soft…hearted psalm…singers; or 
they wouldn’t have taken him in at all; and they’ll ask no questions 
after him; fear they should be obliged to prosecute; and so get him 
lagged。 He’s safe enough。” 

Oliver had looked from one to the other; while these words 
were being spoken; as if he were bewildered; and could scarcely 
understand what passed; but when Bill Sikes concluded; he 
jumped suddenly to his feet; and tore wildly from the room; 
uttering shrieks for help; which made the bare old house echo to 
the roof。 

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“Keep back the dog; Bill!” cried Nancy; springing before the 
door; and closing it as the Jew and his two pupils darted out in 
pursuit。 “Keep back the dog; he’ll tear the boy to pieces。” 

“Serve him right!” cried Sikes; struggling to disengage himself 
from the girl’s grasp。 “Stand off from me; or I’ll split your head 
against the wall。” 

“I don’t care for that; Bill; I don’t care for that;” screamed the 
girl; struggling violently with the man; “the child shan’t be torn 
down by the dog; unless you kill me first。” 

“Shan’t he!” said Sikes; setting his teeth。 “I’ll soon do that if you 
don’t keep off。” 

The housekeeper flung the girl from him to the farther end of 
the room; just as the Jew and the two boys returned; dragging 
Oliver among them。 

“What’s the matter here!” said Fagin; looking round。 

“The girl’s gone mad I think;” replied Sikes savagely。 

“No; she hasn’t;” said Nancy; pale and breathless from the 
scuffle; “no; she hasn’t; Fagin; don’t think it。” 

“Then keep quiet; will you?” said the Jew; with a threatening 
look。 

“No; I won’t do that; neither;” replied Nancy; speaking very 
loud。 “Come! What do you think of that?” 

Mr。 Fagin was sufficiently well acquainted with the manners 
and customs of that particular species of humanity to which Nancy 
belonged; to feel tolerably certain that it would be rather unsafe to 
prolong any conversation with her; at present。 With the view of 
diverting the attention of the company; he turned to Oliver。 

“So you wanted to get away
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