雾都孤儿-第13章

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y　his，and　the　n　you　can　go　where　you　please．’

At　that　moment　Dr　Losberne　rushed　into　the　room．　‘The　murderer　will　be　taken　tonight！His　dog’s　been　found．’

　‘And　Fagin？’asked　Mr　　Brown　low　．

　‘They’re　sure　of　him．They　may　have　him　already．’

Mr　　Brown　low　　turned　back　to　Monks．　‘Have　you　made　up　your　mind？’

　‘Yes，’replied　Monks．　‘And　you　promise…it’ll　remain　a　secret？No　police，or　charges　of　fraud　against　me？’

　‘Yes，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　．　‘You　have　my　promise．For　now，you　must　remain　here，locked　in　this　room．I　will　come　for　you　tomorrow　evening　and　take　you　to　sign　a　confession　in　front　of　witnesses．’

Mr　　Brown　low　　the　n　left　the　room　with　the　doctor，and　They　eagerly　discussed　the　news　of　the　hunt　for　the　criminals．　‘My　blood　boils　with　anger，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　．　‘This　poor　murdered　girl　must　be　revenged．You　stay　here　and　guard　Monks．I’ll　go　out　and　get　the　latest　news．’

The　two　men　parted，each　in　a　fever　of　excitement．Down　by　the　river　Thames　was　a　district　called　Rotherhithe　，one　of　the　dirtiest　and　roughest　places　in　London．The　houses　next　to　the　river　had　no　owners；They　were　broken　down　and　ruined，but　could　be　defended　against　attack．In　an　upper　room　of　one　of　the　se　houses，were　three　members　of　Fagin’s　gang．

　‘When　was　Fagin　taken，the　n？’asked　the　man　called　Toby．

　‘Two　o’clock　this　afternoon．Charley　and　I　escaped　up　the　chimney，but　Noah　was　caught．Bet　went　to　see　Nancy　and　when　she　saw　the　body，she　started　screaming　and　wouldn’t　stop．She’s　been　taken　to　hospital．’

　‘What’s　happened　to　Charley　Bates？’

　‘He’ll　come　here　when　it’s　dark．It’s　too　dangerous　now．’

　‘We’re　in　trouble，’said　Toby．　‘Fagin’s　going　to　hang…that’s　certain．’

　‘You　should　have　seen　him　when　he　was　caught，’said　another　robber．　‘The　police　carried　him　through　the　crowd　while　all　the　people　jumped　at　him，screaming　and　trying　to　attack　him．’

Suddenly　Sikes’　dog　ran　into　the　room．All　the　robbers　rushed　out　immediately　to　look　for　Sikes，but　the　re　was　no　sign　of　him．They　returned　to　the　upstairs　room．

　‘I　hope　he’s　not　coming　here，’said　Toby．

　‘The　dog’s　come　a　long　way，’said　another　man．　‘Covered　in　mud，and　tired　out．’

They　sat　the　re　in　silence，wondering　where　Sikes　was．It　was　already　dark　when　They　heard　a　sudden，hurried　knock　at　the　door　downstairs．

Toby　went　to　the　window　to　look　down，the　n　pulled　his　head　back　in，his　face　pale　with　fear．The　re　was　no　need　to　tell　tlec　others　who　it　was．

　‘We　must　let　him　in，’said　Toby，although　none　of　the　m　wanted　to　see　him．Toby　went　down　to　the　door　and　returned，followed　by　sikes．White…faced，with　a　three…day…old　beard，hollow　cheeks　and　staring　eyes，Sikes　looked　like　a　ghost．No　one　said　a　word．

　‘Nothing　to　say　to　me？’Sikes　asked．

The　only　answer　was　a　low　shout　of　many　voices　from　outside　in　the　distance，coming　closer．Lights　appeared．Looking　out，Sikes　saw　a　stream　of　people　crossing　the　bridge　towards　the　m．The　n　the　re　was　a　loud　knocking　on　the　door　and　more　shouts　from　the　crowd．

　‘The　doors　are　made　of　metal　and　They’re　locked　and　chained，’said　Toby．The　three　robbers　watched　Sikes　nervously，as　if　he　were　a　wild　animal．

　‘Bring　a　ladder！’shouted　some　of　the　crowd　below．

　‘Give　me　a　rope，quick，’Sikes　said　to　the　others．　‘I’ll　go　the　other　way，climb　down　the　back　and　escape　over　the　river．Get　me　a　rope…now！Or　I’ll　do　three　more　murders！’

A　minute　later，Sikes　appeared　on　the　roof　and　the　shouts　from　the　crowd　below　swelled　to　a　great　roar．The　n　the　front　door　was　smashed　down　and　people　streamed　into　the　house．Sikes　quickly　tied　the　rope　around　the　chimney，the　n　began　to　tie　the　other　end　around　himself，ready　to　lower　himself　to　the　ground　behind　the　house．But　just　as　he　put　the　rope　over　his　head，he　screamed　in　terror　and　threw　his　arms　above　his　head．He　staggered　back，slipped　and　fell　over　the　edge　of　the　roof．As　he　fell，the　rope　tightened　around　his　neck　with　a　horrible　jerk．In　a　second　the　murderer　was　dead，and　the　re　he　hung，his　body　swinging　gently　from　side　to　side．The　dog，which　had　followed　its　master　onto　the　roof，jumped　down　towards　the　lifeless　body，missed，and　fell　dead　on　the　stones　below．



　



14　　The　end　of　the　mystery

　　

The　next　day　O　liver　travelled　with　Mr　　Brown　low　，Dr　Losberne，Mrs　May　lie　and　Rose　back　to　his　birthplace．He　had　been　told　a　little　of　his　history，and　knew　that　the　re　would　be　more　explanations　at　the　end　of　this　journey．He　was　anxious　and　uncertain，wondering　what　he　would　hear．

But　towards　the　end　of　the　journey，he　began　to　recognize　familiar　places，and　in　great　excitement　pointed　the　m　out　to　Rose．The　re　was　the　path　he　had　taken　when　he　had　run　away．The　re，across　the　fields，was　the　　‘baby　farm’．The　n，as　They　drove　into　the　town，he　saw　the　house　of　Mr　So　wer　berry　the　undertaker，and　the　workhouse　that　had　been　his　prison．

They　stopped　at　the　biggest　hotel　in　the　town，and　went　in　to　their　rooms．During　dinner　Mr　　Brown　low　　stayed　in　a　separate　room，and　the　older　members　of　the　group　went　in　and　out　with　serious　faces．Mrs　May　lie　came　back　with　her　eyes　red　from　crying．All　this　made　Rose　and　O　liver，who　had　not　been　told　any　new　secrets，very　nervous　and　uncomfortable．

At　nine　o’clock　Dr　Losberne　and　Mr　　Brown　low　　brought　Monks　into　the　room．O　liver　was　very　surprised；this　was　the　same　man　he　had　bumped　into　once　outside　a　pub，and　seen　another　time　with　Fagin，looking　in　at　him　through　the　window　of　the　country　cottage．O　liver　was　told　that　Monks　was　his　half…brother，and　the　boy　stared　at　him　in　shock　and　amazement．Monks　looked　back　at　him　with　hatred．

　‘We　have　the　whole　story　here　in　the　se　papers，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　，putting　the　m　on　the　table．　‘All　we　need　now　is　for　you　to　sign　the　m，Monks．And　to　tell　O　liver　what　happened．’

Monks　started　hesitantly．　‘My　father　had　arrived　in　Italy　to　collect　the　money　he　had　inherited，when　suddenly　he　fell　ill．When　he　died，we　found　two　papers　in　his　desk．One　was　a　letter　to　his　girl；the　other　was　a　will．’

　‘What　was　the　letter？’asked　Mr　　Brown　low　．

　‘It　was　written　when　he　was　ill，telling　the　girl　how　ashamed　he　was　that　she　was　pregnant．He　asked　her　not　to　remember　him　as　a　bad　man　but　as　someone　who　had　made　a　mistake．He　reminded　her　of　the　day　he’d　given　her　the　locket　and　ring．’

O　liver’s　tears　fell　fast　as　he　listened　to　the　story　of　his　father．

　‘And　what　about　the　will？’asked　Mr　　Brown　low　．

Monks　was　silent．

　‘The　will，’continued　Mr　　Brown　low　，speaking　for　him，　‘was　in　the　same　spirit　as　the　letter．He　talked　of　the　misery　of　his　marriage　to　his　wife，and　the　evil　character　of　you，Monks，his　only　son，who　had　been　brought　up　by　your　mother　to　hate　him．He　left　you　and　your　mother　an　annual　income　of　800．The　rest　of　his　property　he　left　to　his　girl　Agnes　and　to　their　child，if　it　were　born　alive，and　if　it　showed　itself　to　be　of　a　good，kind　character．The　money　would　only　go　to　you，Monks，as　the　older　son，if　The　younger　turned　out　to　be　as　evil　as　you．’

　‘My　mother，’said　Monks，　‘burnt　this　will，and　never　sent　the　letter．The　girl　Agnes　left　her　home　in　secret，so　that　her　pregnancy　would　not　bring　shame　on　her　family．I　swore　to　my　mother，when　she　was　dying，that　if　I　ever　found　my　half…brother，I　would　do　him　all　the　harm　I　could．He　would　feel　my　hatred　like　a　whip　on　his　back．I　paid　Fagin　to　trap　O　liver　into　a　life　of　crime．But　the　n　he　escaped，and　that　stupid，interfering　girl　Nancy　talked　to　you．If　I’d　had　the　chance，I　would　have　finished　what　I’d　begun．’Monks　stared　at　O　liver，and　his　lips　moved　in　a　silent　curse．

　‘And　the　locket　and　ring？’asked　Mr　　Brown　low　．

　‘I　bought　the　m　from　Mr　and　Mrs　Bumble，who　had　stolen　the　m　from　the　nurse，who　had　stolen　the　m　from　Agnes，the　dead　girl．I’ve　already　told　you　how　I　threw　the　m　into　the　river．

Mr　　Brown　low　　turned　to　Rose．　‘I　have　one　more　thing　to　explain，’he　said　to　the　girl．

　‘I　don’t　know　if　I　have　the　strength　to　hear　it　now，’she　murmured，　‘having　heard　so　much　already．’

Mr　　Brown　low　　put　his　hand　　under　her　arm．　‘You　have　a　great　deal　of　courage，dear　child，’he　said　kindly．He　turned　to　Monks．　‘Do　you　know　this　young　lady，sir？’

　‘Yes．’

　‘I　don’t　know　you，’said　Rose　faintly．

　‘The　father　of　poor　Agnes　had　two　daughters，’said　Mr　　Brown　low　．　‘What　happened　to　the　other　one，who　was　only　a　young　child　at　the　time？’

　‘When　Agnes　disappeared，’replied　Monks，　‘her　father　changed　his　name　and　moved　to　a　lonely　place　in　Wales，where　no　one　would　know　about　the　family　shame．He　died　very　soon　afterwards，and　this　young　daughter　was　taken　in　by　some　poor　people．My　mother　hated　Agnes　and　everybody　connected　with　her．She　hunted　for　this　young　sister，and　made　sure　that　her　life　would　be　unhappy．She　told　the　poor　people　who　had　taken　her　in　that　the　girl　was　illegitimate，and　that　she　came　from　a　bad　family　with　an　evil　reputation．So　the　child　led　a　life　of　miserable　poverty…until　Mrs　May　lie　saw　her　by　chance，pitied　her，and　took　her　home．’

　‘And　do　you　see　this　young　sister　now？’asked　Mr　　Brown　low　．

　‘Yes．Standing　by　your　side．’

Rose　could　hardly　speak．　‘So…O　liver　is　my　nephew？’

　‘I　can　never　call　you　aunt，’cried　O　liver．　‘You’ll　always　be　my　own　dear　sister！’

They　ran　into　each　other’s　arms，both　of　the　m　crying　in　their　happiness．A　father，sister　and　mother　had　been　lost　and　gained，and　it　was　too　much　for　one　evening．They　stood　for　a　long　time　in　silence，and　the　others　left　the　m　alone．The　court　was　full　of　faces；from　every　corner，all　eyes　were　on　one　man…Fagin．In　front　of　him，behind，above，below　…he　seemed　surrounded　by　staring　eyes．Not　one　of　the　faces　showed　any　sympathy　towards　him；all　were　determined　that　he　should　hang．At　last，the　re　was　a　cry　of　‘Silence！’，and　everyone　looked　towards　the　door．The　jury　returned，and　passed　close　to　Fagin．He　could　tell　nothing　from　their　faces；They　could　have　been　made　of　stone．The　n　the　re　was　complete　stillness…not　a　whisper，not　a　breath…Guilty．The　whole　court　rang　with　a　great　shout，echoing　through　all　the　rooms　as　the　crowd　ran　out　of　the　building　to　tell　all　the　people　waiting　outside．The　news　was　that　he　would　die　on　Monday．

Fagin　thought　of　nothing　but　death　that　night．He　began　to　remember　all　the　people　he　had　ever　known　who　had　been　hung．He　could　hardly　count　the　m．They　might　have　sat　in　the　same　prison　cell　as　he　was　sitting　in　now．He　thought　about　death　by　hanging…the　rope，the　cloth　bag　over　the　head，the　sudden　change　from　strong　men　to　bundles　of　clothe　s，hanging　at　the　end　of　a　rope．

As　his　last　night　came，despair　seized　Fagin’s　evil　soul．He　could　not　sit　still，and　hurried　up　and　down　his　small　cell，gasping　with　terror，his　eyes　flashing　with　hate　and　anger．The　n　he　lay　trembling　on　his　stone　bed　and　listened　to　the　clock　striking　the　hours．Where　would　he　be　when　those　hours　came　round　again？

In　the　middle　of　that　Sunday　night，Mr　　Brown　low　　and　O　liver