雾都孤儿-第4章

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O　liver　wondered　what　the　connection　was　between　playing　at　stealing　from　the　old　gentleman's　pocket　and　becoming　a　great　man。　But　he　followed　him　quietly　to　the　table　and　was　soon　deeply　involved　in　his　new　study。　

O　liver　remained　in　Fagin's　room　for　many　days；　picking　the　marks　and　names　out　of　the　handkerchieves　and　sometimes　playing　the　same　game　as　before。　One　evening　two　young　ladies　came　to　visit；　and　a　very　cheerful　party　followed。　O　liver　thought　They　were　very　nice；　friendly　girls。　

The　Dodger　and　Charley　Bates　went　out　to　work　every　day；　but　sometimes　came　home　with　no　handkerchieves；　and　Fagin　would　get　very　angry。　Once　he　even　knocked　the　m　both　down　the　stairs　and　sent　the　m　to　bed　with　no　dinner　because　They　had　returned　with　nothing。　

At　last；　the　morning　came　when　O　liver　was　allowed　to　go　out　to　work　with　the　two　other　boys　The　re　had　been　no　handkerchieves　for　him　to　work　on　for　several　days　and　the　re　was　not　very　much　to　eat　for　dinner。　The　three　boys　set　out；　but　They　walked　so　slowly　that　O　liver　thought　They　were　not　going　to　work　at　all。　The　n　suddenly　the　Dodger　stopped　and　put　his　finger　to　his　lips。　

'What's　the　matter？　'demanded　O　liver。　

'Be　quiet！　'replied　the　Dodger。　'Do　you　see　that　old　man　outside　the　book　shop？　He's　the　one。　'

O　liver　looked　from　the　Dodger　to　Charley　Bates　with　great　surprise　and　confusion；　but　he　had　been　told　not　to　ask　questions。　The　two　boys　walked　quickly　and　secretly　across　the　road　towards　the　old　gentleman。　O　liver　followed　behind　the　m；　watching　in　silent　amazement。　

The　old　gentleman　looked　quite　rich；　he　wore　gold　glasses；　white　trousers；　and　had　an　expensive　walking　stick　under　his　arm。　He　had　picked　up　a　book　and　was　standing　the　re；　reading　it　with　great　concentration—just　as　if　he　were　in　his　own　armchair　at　home。　O　liver；　his　eyes　wide　with　horror　and　alarm；　watched　as　the　Dodger　put　his　hand　　in　the　old　gentleman's　pocket；　took　out　a　hand　kerchief；　and　hand　ed　it　to　Charley　Bates。　The　n　the　two　of　the　m　ran　round　the　corner　as　fast　as　They　could。　

Suddenly；　the　whole　mystery　of　the　handkerchieves；　and　the　watches；　and　the　jewels；　and　Fagin；　became　clear。　O　liver　stood　for　a　moment　in　terror；　blood　rushing　through　him　until　he　felt　he　was　on　fire。　The　n；　confused　and　frightened；　he　started　to　run。　At　the　same　time；　the　old　gentleman；　putting　his　hand　　to　his　pocket　and　realizing　his　hand　kerchief　was　missing；　turned　round。　He　saw　O　liver　running　away；　so　he　naturally　thought　O　liver　was　the　thief。　With　loud　cries　of　'Stop　thief！　'；　he　ran　after　O　liver　with　the　book　still　in　his　hand　。　

The　old　gentleman　was　not　the　only　one　who　started　shouting。　The　Dodger　and　Charley　Bates；　not　wanting　to　attract　attention　to　the　mselves　by　running　down　the　street；　had　stopped　round　the　first　corner。　When　They　realized　what　was　happening；　They　also　shouted'　Stop　thief！　'and　joined　in　the　chase　like　good　citizens。　

The　cry　of　'Stop　thief！　'always　causes　great　excitement。　Everybody　in　the　street　stopped　what　They　were　doing　and　began　to　shout　the　mselves。　Many　joined　in　the　chase　with　enthusiasm　and　soon　the　re　was　a　big　crowd　running　after　O　liver。　

Finally；　They　caught　the　exhausted　boy。　He　fell　down　on　the　pavement　and　the　crowd　gathered　round　him。　

'Is　this　the　boy？　'They　asked　the　old　gentleman。　

'Yes；　'he　answered；　leaning　over　O　liver。　'But　I'm　afraid　he's　hurt　himself。　'

'I　did　that；　'said　a　huge　young　man　proudly。　'And　I　hurt　my　hand　　doing　it。　'The　old　gentleman　looked　at　him　with　an　expression　of　dislike。　

O　liver　lay　on　the　ground；　covered　with　mud　and　dust　and　bleeding　from　the　mouth；　and　looked　wildly　at　all　the　faces　surrounding　him。　At　that　moment　a　policeman　arrived　and　took　O　liver　by　the　collar。　'Come　on；　get　up；　'he　said　roughly。　

'It　wasn't　me；　sir；　'said　O　liver；　looking　round。　'It　was　two　other　boys。　They're　here　somewhere。　'

'Oh　no；　They　aren't；　'replied　the　policeman。　In　fact；　he　was　right；　as　the　Dodger　and　Charley　had　quietly　disappeared　as　soon　as　the　crowd　had　caught　O　liver。　'Come　on；　get　up！　'

'Don't　hurt　him；　'said　the　old　gentleman。　

'I　won't；　said　the　policeman；　tearing　O　liver's　jacket　half　off　his　back　as　he　lifted　him　up。　

The　three　of　the　m　started　walking；　followed　by　the　excited　crowd。　



　

5　　O　liver's　life　changes

　　

O　liver　was　taken　to　the　nearest　police　station。　The　officer　at　the　gate　looked　at　the　boy。　'Another　young　thief；　eh？　'He　turned　to　the　old　gentleman；　'Are　you　the　person　who　was　robbed；　sir？　'

'Yes；　I　am；　'replied　the　old　gentleman；　'but　I'm　not　sure　that　this　boy　actually　took　the　hand　kerchief。　I　don't　really　want　to　take　him　to　court。　'

'Too　late。　He　must　go　before　the　magistrate　now。　'

O　liver　was　locked　in　a　small　stone　cell；　which　was　disgustingly　dirty　and　smelly　As　the　key　turned　in　the　lock；　the　old　gentleman　said　to　himself　thoughtfully；　'The　re's　something　in　that　boy's　face…　He　could　be　innocent。　Where　have　I　seen　someone　like　him　before？　'After　thinking　about　this　for　a　few　minutes；　he　said；　'No；　it　must　be　imagination。　'He　sighed　unhappily；　and　began　reading　the　book　again。　

Some　time　later；　the　officer　touched　his　shoulder　and　told　him　that　the　court　was　ready。　A　magistrate　was　a　judge　who　dealt　with　small　crimes　in　local　courts；　and　the　magistrate　for　this　district　was　well　known。　His　name　was　Mr　Fang　and　he　was　a　disagreeable；　bad…tempered　man。　Today　he　was　in　a　particularly　bad　mood。　He　frowned　angrily　at　the　old　gentleman；　and　asked　sharply；　

'Who　are　you？　'

'My　name；　sir；　is　　Brown　low　。　'

'Officer！　What　is　this　man　charged　with？　'

'He's　not　charged；　sir；　'answered　the　officer。　'He's　accusing　the　boy。　'

The　magistrate　looked　at　Mr　　Brown　low　　from　head　to　foot。　'And　what　have　you　got　to　say？　'

Mr　　Brown　low　　began　to　explain。　'I　was　standing　outside　a　book　shop—'

'Be　quiet；　sir！　'shouted　Mr　Fang。　'Policeman！　Now－you　arrested　the　boy。　What　happened？　'

The　policeman　told　the　magistrate　what　he　had　heard；　and　how　he　had　searched　O　liver　afterwards　and　found　nothing。　

'Are　the　re　any　witnesses？　'asked　the　magistrate。　

'None；　'answered　the　policeman。　

Mr　Fang　the　n　turned　to　Mr　　Brown　low　　and　angrily　told　him　to　describe　what　had　happened。　Mr　　Brown　low　　explained　that　he　had　run　after　the　boy　only　because　he　saw　him　running　away。　He　did　not　think　that　the　boy　was　the　actual　thief　and　he　hoped　that　the　boy　would　not　be　punished。　'He's　been　hurt　already；　'he　added；　'and　now　I'm　afraid　he's　very　ill。　'

'I　don't　believe　that　for　a　moment；　'said　Mr　Fang　unpleasantly。　He　turned　to　O　liver。　'Come　now；　don't　try　any　clever　tricks　with　me！　What's　your　name？　'he　demanded。　

O　liver　tried　to　reply；　but　he　was　too　weak　to　speak。　He　was　deadly　pale；　and　he　felt　the　room　spinning　round　him。　At　last　he　managed　to　whisper　a　request　for　water；　but　the　magistrate　refused　angrily。　Suddenly；　O　liver　fainted　and　fell　to　the　floor。　

Mr　Fang　stared　at　him　angrily。　'Guilty。　Three　months　'prison；　'he　said　immediately。　'Let　him　lie　the　re。　He'll　soon　be　tired　of　that。　'Mr　Fang　stood　up。　'This　court　is　now　closed。　'

At　that　moment　a　man　in　an　old　black　coat　rushed　in。　'Stop！　'he　shouted。　'Don't　take　the　boy　away。　I　saw　it　all。　I'm　the　book　shop　owner。　'

Mr　Fang's　face　was　black　with　anger　at　this　unexpected　interruption；　but　the　book　shop　owner　demanded　to　be　heard。　He　described　exactly　what　had　really　happened。　He　had　seen　two　boys　steal　the　hand　kerchief　and　the　n　run　away；　leaving　O　liver　to　be　arrested。　

In　a　final　burst　of　bad　temper；　Mr　Fang　said　that　his　time　had　been　wasted。　He　announced　that　O　liver　was　innocent；　and　ordered　everybody　out　of　the　court。　

The　order　was　obeyed；　and　as　Mr　　Brown　low　　turned　to　go　down　the　street；　he　saw　O　liver　lying　on　the　pavement；　shaking；　his　face　as　white　as　death。　

'Poor　boy！　Poor　boy！　'said　Mr　　Brown　low　；　bending　over　him。　He　called　a　coach　quickly；　laid　O　liver　on　the　seat；　and　drove　away。　

The　coach　stopped　at　a　neat　house　in　a　quiet；　shady　street　in　north　London。　O　liver　was　gently　carried　in　to　a　bed；　and　received　more　care　and　kindness　than　he　had　ever　had　in　his　life。　But　he　had　a　fever；　and　for　many　days　he　lay　the　re　unconscious。　When　he　eventually　awoke；　weak；　thin　and　pale；　he　looked　anxiously　around　the　room。　

'What　room　is　this？　Where　am　I？　'he　said。　'This　is　not　the　place　I　fell　asleep　in。　'

Mrs　Bed　win；　the　motherly　old　housekeeper；　heard　his　words；　and　instantly　came　to　him。　'Hush—be　quiet；　my　dear；　or　you'll　be　ill　again。　Lie　down。　'

He　lay　down；　and　woke　up　again　much　later。　After　a　while；　he　was　able　to　sit　up　in　a　chair；　although　he　was　still　too　weak　to　walk。　In　this　new　position　he　could　see　a　picture　of　a　woman　hanging　on　the　wall　opposite。　'Who　is　that；　madam？　'he　asked　the　old　housekeeper。　

'I　don't　know；　my　dear。　Do　you　like　it？　'

'The　eyes　look　so　sad；　and　They　seem　to　be　staring　at　me。　As　if　the　person　was　alive；　and　wanted　to　speak　to　me　but　couldn't。　'

'You're　weak　and　nervous　after　your　illness；　'Mrs　Bed　win　said　kindly。　'Don't　worry　about　things　like　that。　'

Later　that　day　Mr　　Brown　low　　came　in；　having　heard　that　the　boy　was　a　little　better　at　last。　He　was　delighted　to　see　that　O　liver　could　sit　up。　But　when　he　saw　O　liver's　face　clearly；　Mr　　Brown　low　　stared　hard　at　him。　

'I　hope　you're　not　angry　with　me；　sir；　'said　O　liver　anxiously。　

'No；　no。　Not　in　the　least；　'he　replied。　The　n　he　turned　to　the　housekeeper。　'But　look；　Mrs　Bed　win；　look　the　re！　'He　pointed　to　the　picture　of　the　woman　above　O　liver's　head　and　the　n　to　the　boy's　face。　It　was　a　living　copy　of　the　picture；　even　the　expression　was　the　same。　O　liver　did　not　understand　what　was　happening。　He　was　so　alarmed　by　Mr　　Brown　low　's　excitement　that　he　fainted　once　more。　

The　Dodger　and　Charley　Bates　had　left　the　crowd　which　was　chasing　O　liver　as　soon　as　They　could。　They　went　back　to　their　house　through　the　narrow　streets；　using　a　complicated　route　in　case　anyone　was　following　the　m。　Once　They　were　safely　away　from　other　people；　Charley　Bates　rolled　on　the　ground　and　laughed　and　laughed。　

'Ha！　Ha！　Ha！　When　I　saw　O　liver　running　away　so　fast；　round　all　the　corners；　bumping　into　walls…　and　all　the　time　I　had　the　hand　kerchief　in　my　pocket…　Ha！　Ha！　Ha！　'

'But　what'll　Fagin　say？　'asked　the　Dodger。　

'What　do　you　mean？　'

The　Dodger　said　nothing　more　but　led　Charley　Bates　into　the　house　and　up　the　stairs。　When　Fagin　saw　the　m　enter；　he　rose　to　his　feet。　

'Where's　O　liver？　'he　asked　the　m　furiously。　

The　two　boys　looked　uneasily　at　each　other；　but　said　nothing。　Fagin　took　hold　of　the　Dodger's　collar　and　shook　him　violently。　'Tell　me　or　I'll　kill　you！　'

The　Dodger　slid　out　of　his　coat　in　one　smooth　movement；　leaving　Fagin　holding　only　the　empty　coat。　'The　police　have　got　him；　'he　said　reluctantly。　He　looked　round　for　a　weapon　to　fight　with；　but　Fagin　already　had　a　heavy　metal　pot　in　his　hand　．He　threw　it　hard　at　the　Dodger；　but　missed　and　hit　Charley　Bates；　who　started　to　shout　with　fear。　

Suddenly；　all　this　noise　and　confusion　was　silenced　by　a　deep　voice　at　the　door。　

'What　the　devil's　going　on　here？　'the　voice　demanded。　

The　owner　of　the　voice　was　a　big　man　of　about　thirty…five　in　a　black　coat　and　very　dirty　t