雾都孤儿-第11章

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with　Nancy．Between　the　m，They　decided　that　Mrs　May　lie　and　Dr　Losberne　should　be　told，and　that　Mr　Brown　low　　would　come　to　the　hotel　that　evening　for　a　discussion．For　the　moment，nothing　would　be　said　to　O　liver　himself．

That　evening　at　the　hotel　O　liver’s　four　friends　met　as　arranged．Dr　Losberne，of　course，was　full　of　immediate　plans　to　rush　round　London　arresting　all　the　gang　and　hanging　the　mat　once．Mr　　Brown　low　，fortunately，was　able　to　persuade　him　to　abandon　this　wild　idea．

　‘The　n　what’s　to　be　done？’cried　the　doctor　impatiently．

　‘First，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　　calmly，　‘we　must　discover　who　he　inheritance　that　should　have　been　his．’

　‘Yes，yes，’said　　the　doctor，nodding　　in　agreement．　‘But　how　shall　we　achieve　the　se　aims？’

　‘We　　must　find　　this　　man　　Monks，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　．　‘Nancy　will　not　betray　the　man　who　is　special　to　her，but　she　will　surely　agree　to　tell　us　how　or　where　to　find　Monks．Then　we　must　find　a　way　to　force　Monks　to　talk．We　must　be　both　cautious　and　clever．After　all，we　have　no　proof　against　him，and　if　we　cannot　make　him　talk，this　mystery　will　never　be　solved．But　we’ll　have　to　wait　five　days　until　Sunday　before　we　can　meet　Nancy　on　London　Bridge．Until　the　n，we　can　do　nothing．’



　



12　　Nancy　keeps　an　appointment

　　

On　exactly　the　same　night　as　Nancy　had　met　Rose　May　lie，two　people　from　O　liver’s　home　town　were　making　their　way　towards　London．Their　progress　was　slow，since　they　travelled　on　foot，and　in　addition，the　girl　was　carrying　a　heavy　bag　on　her　back．The　young　man　carried　nothing．From　time　to　time　he　turned　to　shout　at　the　girl　behind　　him．　‘Hurry　up！What　a　　lazy　creature　you　are，Charlotte！I’ll　come　and　give　you　a　kick　if　you　don’t　move　faster！’

The　young　man　was　Noah　Claypole，who　had　made　O　liver’s　life　so　miserable　at　Mr　Sowerberry’s　house．He　was　now　taller　and　uglier　but　otherwise　little　changed．He　and　Charlotte　had　grown　tired　of　the　undertaking　business　and　had　set　off　to　London　to　start　a　new　life…with　all　the　money　from　Mr　So　wer　berry’s　shop　in　their　pockets．

Eventually，They　entered　London，and　Noah　began　to　look　for　a　quiet，cheap　pub　where　They　could　spend　the　night．Charlotte　followed　obediently　at　his　heels　as　They　walked　through　a　district　of　narrow，dirty　streets．

At　last　Noah　found　a　pub　that　he　thought　was　suitable．It　was　dark　and　dirty，with　a　few　rough…looking　men　in　the　bar．They　entered　and　asked　for　a　room　for　the　night　and　a　meal　of　cold　meat　and　beer，which　They　ate　in　the　bar．The　beer　madeNoah　talkative　and　he　began　to　boast．　‘So　it’s　no　more　coffins　for　us，my　girl．We　can　do　better　than　just　robbing　Mr　So　wer　berry．In　London　the　re　are　pockets，houses，coaches…even　banks！’

　‘I　like　the　sound　of　it，Noah，but　how　are　we　going　to　do　all　this？’asked　Charlotte．

　‘We　can　meet　people　who　know　about　the　se　things．I’d　like　to　be　the　leader　of　some　gang，if　the　re’s　a　good　profit　to　be　made　in　that　kind　of　work．’Noah　felt　very　pleased　with　himself，and　looked　forward　to　an　easy　life　of　crime　in　the　capital．

They　talked　about　their　plans　for　a　few　minutes．The　n　astranger，who　had　been　sitting　unseen　round　the　corner，cameup　to　the　m．The　stranger　was　Fagin．He　greeted　the　m　in　avery　friendly　and　cheerful　way，sat　down　with　the　m，and　immediately　ordered　more　beer　for　Noah．

　‘That’s　good　beer，’said　Noah，already　a　little　drunk．He　thanked　　the　　stranger　　for　　the　　drink．

　‘Expensive，too，’said　Fagin．　‘If　you　drink　that　everyday，my　dear，you’ll　need　to　empty　pockets，houses，coaches，even　banks．’

When　he　heard　his　own　words　repeated，Noah　went　pale　with　terror．The　stranger　must　have　heard　everything，even　how　They　had　robbed　Mr　So　wer　berry！

　‘Don’t　　worry，’laughed　　Fagin，pulling　　his　　chair　　closer．　‘You’re　lucky　it　was　only　me　who　heard　you．’

　‘I　didn’t　take　it，’said　Noah　quickly．　‘It　was　the　woman　who　did　it！’

　‘It　does　n’t　matter　who　did　it，my　dear，replied　Fagin，looking　quickly　at　Charlotte．　‘Because　I’m　in　that　business　myself．And　the　people　in　my　house　as　well．I　can　in　trod　uce　you　to　the　right　people，if　you’re　interested．You　both　look　like　good　workers．’

Charlotte　and　Noah　felt　a　mixture　of　fear　and　pleasure．　‘What　would　you　want　me　to　do？’asked　Noah．　‘Some　thing　light，if　possible，’he　added．

　‘What　about　spying　on　people？’asked　　Fagin．　‘Or　robbing　young　children　who　are　going　shopping　for　their　mothers？That’s　light　work，and　easy．’

Noah　laughed．　‘That　sounds　like　just　the　thing　for　me！And　what　will　I　earn　for　this　work？’

　‘You　can　live　free　in　my　house，and　give　me　half　of　what　you　earn．

After　fur　the　r　discussion，and　the　transfer　of　Mr　So　wer　berry’s　money　from　Noah’s　pocket　to　Fagin’s，agreement　was　reached．The　next　day　Noah　and　Charlotte　went　to　live　in　Fagin’s　house　and　began　to　be　instructed　in　their　new　profession．

Although　training　and　experience　had　made　Nancy　an　exper　tliar，she　could　not　completely　hide　the　fear　in　her　mind．She　knew　she　had　taken　an　enormous　risk　in　going　to　see　RoseMay　lie．If　Fagin　or　Sikes　ever　found　out…But　she　pushed　the　se　fears　away．She　was　determined　to　keep　her　promise　to　Rose　May　lie，and　meet　her　as　arranged．

On　the　first　Sunday　night　after　her　meeting　with　Rose，she　was　in　Sikes’　room　when　the　clock　struck　eleven．Fagin　was　the　re，too，discussing　some　business　with　Sikes．Nancy　stood　up　and　put　on　her　coat．Sikes　watched　her，surprised．

　‘Nancy！Where　are　you　going　　at　　this　time　of　night？’

　‘Not　far．’

　‘What　kind　of　answer　is　that？Where　are　you　going？’

　‘I　don’t　know，’replied　the　girl．

　‘The　n　I　do．Nowhere．Sit　down．’

　‘I’m　not　well．I　want　a　breath　of　air．’

Sikes　got　up　and　locked　the　door．

　‘Let　me　go！’said　the　girl　with　great　force．　‘Just　for　one　hour…let　me　go！’

Sikes　seized　her　arms　roughly．　‘The　girl’s　gone　mad！’

Nancy　fought　wildly，and　Sikes　had　to　hold　her　down　in　a　chair．She　continued　to　scream　and　fight　until　midnight，when，exhausted　and　tearful，she　stopped　struggling．She　went　into　　another　　room　　and　　threw　herself　on　a　bed．

　‘She’s　a　strange　girl，’Sikes　said　to　Fagin，shaking　his　head．　‘Why　did　she　suddenly　decide　to　go　out　tonight？It　hought　that　after　all　the　se　years　I’d　finally　tamed　her．She　must　be　ill…perhaps　she’s　still　got　a　bit　of　fever．’

　‘That　must　be　it，’said　Fagin，nodding　thoughtfully．

As　he　walked　home，Fagin’s　eyes　were　sharp　with　suspicion．He　had　suspected　for　a　while　that　Nancy　had　become　tired　of　Bill　Sikes’　brutality　and　violence，and　that　she　had　found　a　new　friend　to　take　his　place．Her　manner　was　different；she　often　left　home　alone，and　she　seemed　lessinterested　in　the　gang．And　tonight，her　desperate　impatience　to　go　out　at　a　particular　hour…He　was　certain　he　was　right．He　began　to　make　plans．

First，he　wanted　to　know　who　Nancy’s　new　friend　was．He　could　make　him　a　valuable　new　member　of　the　gang，with　Nancy　as　his　assistant．But　the　re　was　another，darker　reason．Fagin，too，had　become　tired　of　Sikes．Sikes　knew　too　much…too　many　dangerous　secrets　about　Fagin　himself．Fagin　distrusted　everybody，but　he　hated　and　distrusted　Sikes　most　of　all．It　would　be　very　convenient　if　Sikes　could　be…removed．

　‘With　a　little　persuasion，’Fagin　thought，　‘perhaps　the　girl　would　poison　Sikes．’Suddenly，his　eyes　narrowed　in　delight．　‘Yes！First，I　must　　have　　her　　watched，and　　find　out　who　　her　new　　man　　is．The　n　I　　shall　　threaten　　to　tell　　Sikes　　everything．She　knows　that　neither　she　nor　her　new　man　will　ever　be　safe　from　Sikes’　violent　jealousy．She　will　have　no　choice　except　to　do　as　I　ask　her…and　the　n，once　the　murder　is　done，she　will　be　in　my　power　for　ever！’

Early　next　morning　Fagin　called　the　newest　member　of　his　gang．Noah　was　doing　very　well．He　had　already　broughthome　quite　a　lot　of　money．He　had　found　that　robbing　small　children　was　indeed　light，easy　work，and　he　was　proud　of　his　success．

　‘I　have　another　job　for　you　now，’Fagin　told　him．　‘It　needs　great　care　and　secrecy．I　want　you　to　follow　a　woman．I　want　to　know　where　she　goes，who　she　sees，and　if　possible，what　she　says．I　will　pay　you　a　pound　for　this　information．’

Noah’s　eyes　were　wide　with　greed．　‘I’m　the　right　man　forthis　job．Who　is　she？’

　‘One　of　us．’

　‘What？You　don’t　trust　her，the　n？’

　‘Exactly　so，my　dear．Exactly　so，’smiled　Fagin．The　following　Sunday，soon　after　eleven　o’clock，a　woman　walked　quickly　through　the　dark　streets　towards　Lond　on　Bridge．A　mist　hung　over　the　river，and　the　buildings　on　the　far　bank　could　hardly　be　seen．A　man　followed　some　distance　behind　her，keeping　　to　　the　　darkest　　shadows．It　was　　a　　cold，damp　night，and　the　re　were　very　few　people　on　the　streets　at　this　late　hour．

When　the　woman　reached　the　centre　of　the　bridge，she　stopped　and　looked　around　anxiously．The　man　following　hers　topped　too．The　heavy　bell　of　St　Paul’s　cathe　dral　rang　out，announcing　the　death　of　another　day．Just　as　it　finished，agrey　haired　man　and　a　young　woman　got　out　of　a　coach　and　walked　　　across　　　　the　bridge．They　met　the　woman，who　tookthe　m　down　some　steps　leading　to　the　river　bank．They　stood　indeep　shadow　by　the　wall　of　the　bridge．The　man　hurried　down　some　other　steps，crept　up　to　the　corner　of　the　wall，and　listened．

Nancy　spoke　first．　‘I’m　so　frightened　tonight　I　can　hardly　breathe　．’

　‘Frightened　of　what？’asked　Mr　　Brown　low　．He　seemed　topity　her．

　‘I　wish　I　knew．Horrible　thoughts　of　death，and　blood，have　been　with　me　all　day．I　don’t　know　why．’

　‘Speak　to　her　kindly，’said　Rose　to　Mr　　Brown　low　．　‘Poorgirl！She　seems　to　need　it．’

　‘I　could　n’t　come　last　Sunday，’continued　the　girl．　‘I　was　kept　in　by　force．But　tonight　he’ll　be　out　all　night　untilday　light．Now，before　I　tell　rou　anything　else，I　must　tell　you　that　I　don’t　want　Fagin，or　any　of　the　other　members　of　the　gang，to　be　hand　ed　to　the　police．’

　‘Why　not？’

　‘Because　I　couldn’t　betray　the　m．They’ve　been　loyal　to　me，and　I’ll　stay　loyal　to　the　m．’

　‘The　n　just　tell　us　how　we　can　get　Monks，and　I　promisen　one　of　your　friends　will　be　harmed，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　．

　‘And　Monks　will　never　know　how　you　found　out　about　him？’she　asked．

　‘We　promise，’said　Rose　gently．

Nancy　the　n　told　the　m，in　so　low　a　voice　that　the　listenerround　the　corner　could　hardly　hear　her，where　Monks　often　went　for　a　drink，and　what　he　looked　like．She　finished　by　saying，　‘On　his　throat，high　up，the　re　is—’

　‘A　bright　red　mark？’asked　Mr　　Brown　low　．

　‘Do　you　know　him？’asked　Nancy　in　surprise．

　‘I　think　I　do．’Mr　　Brown　low　　murmured　to　himself，　‘It　must　be　　him！’The　n　more　　loudly，he　said　to　Nancy，　‘Thank　you　for　everything　you’ve　told　us．But　now…how　can　you　go　back　to　the　se　people？Come　with　us　now，tonight．We　canarr　ange　for　you　to　be　hidden　from　the　m　all　forever，if　you　want　us　to．’

The　girl　shook　her　head．　‘I’m　chained　to　him，bad　as　Theyare．I’ve　gone　too　far　to　change　my　life　now．’She　looked　nervously　over　her　shoulder．　‘I　can　feel　those　dreadful