雾都孤儿-第6章

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any　information　about　his　past。　

The　re　was　the　n　a　full　description　of　O　liver's　clothe　s　and　appearance；　and　Mr　　Brown　low　's　full　address。　Mr　Bumble　rubbed　his　eyes；　read　the　notice　again；　and　was　at　the　address　in　less　than　ten　minutes。　He　was　shown　into　Mr　　Brown　low　's　study；　where　the　old　gentleman　and　his　friend　Mr　Grimwig　were　sitting。　

'Do　you　know　where　the　poor　boy　is　now？　'Mr　　Brown　low　　asked；　when　the　beadle　had　explained　the　reason　for　his　visit。　

Mr　Bumble　shook　his　head。　

'Do　you　know　anything　good　about　him？　'asked　Mr　

Grimwig；　looking　closely　at　Mr　Bumble's　face。　

Mr　Bumble　shook　his　head　again；　very　seriously；　and　turned　down　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　

'The　n　tell　us　everything　you　know　about　him；　'said　Mr　　Brown　low　　impatiently。　

Mr　Bumble　put　down　his　hat；　unbuttoned　his　coat；　folded　his　arms；　and　sat　back　in　his　chair。　He　spoke　in　his　most　important　and　official　voice；　and　talked　for　twenty　minutes。　His　listeners　heard　all　the　details　of　O　liver's　illegitimate　birth；　and　how　generously　he　had　been　treated　as　a　workhouse　orphan。　They　heard　how　he　had　always　been　an　ungrateful　and　dangerous　child；　violently　attacking　another　boy；　and　finally　running　away　from　the　house　where　he　had　been　working。　

The　old　gentleman　shook　his　head　sadly　and　gave　Mr　Bumble　the　five　pounds。　'I　would　have　been　happy　to　give　you　three　times　the　amount　if　your　story　had　proved　that　the　boy　was　good。　'

If　Mr　Bumble　had　known　this　earlier；　he　might　have　told　a　different　story；　but　now　it　was　too　late。　So　he　took　the　money　and　left。　

Mr　　Brown　low　　walked　up　and　down　his　room　for　several　minutes；　deep　in　thought。　He　rang　the　bell　for　Mrs　Bed　win；　his　housekeeper；　and　told　her　what　he　had　heard。　

'I　don't　believe　it；　'she　said；　with　great　certainty。　

'I　was　right；　'said　Mr　Grimwig　with　satisfaction。　'You　should　have　listened　to　what　I　said。　'

Mr　　Brown　low　　said　angrily；　'Never　let　me　hear　the　boy's　name　again。　Never。　Remember　that；　Mrs　Bed　win。　'

The　re　were　sad　hearts　at　Mr　　Brown　low　's　house　that　night。　

*　　*　　*

Meanwhile；　in　another　part　of　London；　O　liver　remained　a　prisoner。　Fagin　had　told　O　liver　how　ungrateful　he　had　been　to　run　away。　He　had　told　him　that　he　would　have　died　of　hunger　without　Fagin's　kindness。　He　went　on　to　tell　O　liver　the　story　of　another　young　boy；　who　had　gone　to　the　police　to　tell　the　m　about　the　gang；　but　who　had　finally　been　hanged　one　morning　for　being　a　thief。　Fagin　described　the　hanging　in　terrifying　detail；　and　said　that　he　hoped　he　would　never　have　to　tell　the　police　about　O　liver—and　see　O　liver　with　a　rope　around　his　neck。　O　liver　felt　his　blood　turn　cold。　

He　remained　locked　in　a　room　for　many　days；　seeing　nobody　between　early　morning　and　midnight。　He　spent　his　time　thinking　sadly　about　his　friends　in　Pentonville。　After　a　week　he　was　free　to　wander　round　the　house　during　the　day。　It　was　a　dirty　place；　full　of　rats　and　insects　but　no　other　living　thing。　All　the　windows　were　closed；　and　covered　with　wood　and　metal　bars　that　kept　out　the　light。　

One　afternoon　the　Dodger　and　Charley　Bates　were　at　home　and　They　started　telling　O　liver　about　their　lives　as　thieves。　

'Why　don't　you　become　one？　'Charley　asked　him。　'We　all　are　here—both　of　us；　and　Fagin；　Sikes；　Nancy…all　of　us。　

'I　don't　want　to　be；　'replied　O　liver。　'I　wish　They'd　let　me　go。　

'But　it's　a　good　life；　'the　Dodger　said；　taking　some　coins　from　his　pocket　and　throwing　the　m　up　in　the　air。　'What　does　it　matter　where　the　money　comes　from？　'he　said；　laughing。　

'If　you　don't　steal　it；　someone　else　will。　You　can　be　sure　of　that！　'

Fagin　entered　at　this　point；　with　two　young　men；　and　joined　in　the　conversation。　One　of　The　young　men　had　just　come　out　of　prison；　and　the　re　were　many　cheerful　jokes　about　his　very　short　hair…cut。　Everybody　sat　around　the　fire；　talking　and　laughing　for　hours　Fagin　told　O　liver　how　good　the　Dodger　was　at　his　job；　and　what　a　friendly　boy　Charley　was。　It　was；　without　doubt；　an　interesting　evening　for　O　liver；　after　so　many　days　locked　up　alone。　

After　that　evening　he　was　rarely　on　his　own　again。　He　spent　a　lot　of　time　with　the　Dodger　and　Charley；　and　often　played　the　hand　kerchief　game　with　the　m。　At　other　times　Fagin　would　tell　the　m　all　about　robberies　he　had　committed　in　his　younger　days；　telling　the　stories　so　well　and　putting　in　so　many　funny　details　that　O　liver　could　not　stop　laughing；　even　though　he　knew　it　was　wrong。　

Fagin　knew　what　he　was　doing。　He　had　made　sure　that　O　liver　was　so　lonely　and　miserable　that　he　would　be　　desperate　for　any　friends；　however　criminal。　Slowly　and　deliberately；　Fagin　was　trying　to　poison　The　young　boy's　mind。　

One　damp；　cold；　windy　night　a　few　weeks　later；　Fagin　put　on　his　heavy　coat　and；　with　the　collar　pulled　up　high　to　hide　his　face；　left　his　home。　He　walked　fast　through　the　streets；　never　losing　his　way　even　in　the　darkest　places。　Finally；　he　reached　an　evil；　narrow　street　lit　only　by　a　single　lamp。　He　knocked　on　a　door；　said　something　quietly　to　the　person　who　opened　it；　the　n　walked　upstairs。　

Bill　Sikes　was　sitting　by　his　fire　with　his　dog　when　Fagin　entered。　The　room　was　a　small；　dark　place　with　almost　no　furniture。　Nancy　was　the　re；　too；　and　Fagin　glanced　at　her　uneasily。　He　had　not　seen　her　since　she　had　attacked　him　to　stop　him　hitting　O　liver。　However；　she　seemed　to　have　forgotten　all　about　it；　because　she　told　him　to　pull　up　a　chair　and　warm　himself　by　the　fire。　

'I'm　ready　for　business；　'Bill　Sikes　said；　looking　at　Fagin　suspiciously。　'Say　what　you　have　to　say；　Fagin。　'

'It's　about　the　robbery　at　Chertsey；　Bill；　'answered　Fagin。　'Some　lovely　silver　in　that　house　down　the　re！　'

'I　know；　I　know；　'Sikes　said。　'I　was　down　the　re　two　nights　ago　to　have　a　look　at　the　house。　But　it's　locked　like　a　prison　at　night；　all　except　one　part。　'

'Where's　that？　'asked　Fagin；　bending　his　head　forwards；　his　eyes　staring　excitedly　at　Sikes。　

'Do　you　think　I'm　stupid？　I'm　not　telling　you！　Anyway；　what　we　need　is　a　boy。　'

'So　the　re's　a　small　place　where　only　a　boy　can　enter　the　house？　'asked　Fagin。　

'Maybe。　But　we　need　a　boy。　'

The　re　was　silence　for　a　time；　while　Fagin　thought。　The　n　he　made　a　sign　to　Sikes　to　tell　Nancy　to　leave　the　room。　

'Don't　worry；　Sikes　said。　'You　can　trust　her—she　won't　talk。　Isn't　that　right？　'

'Of　course　it's　right；　'answered　The　young　woman；　taking　a　large　drink　from　the　bottle　on　the　table；　and　laughing。　'Anyway；　Fagin；　I　know　your　idea　is　for　O　liver　to　do　the　job。　'

'You're　a　clever　girl；　said　Fagin；　smiling　evilly。　'That's　exactly　what　I　had　in　mind。　Listen；　Bill—the　boy's　been　training　for　a　few　weeks；　and　it's　time　he　did　some　work。　He's　the　smallest　one；　anyway。　'

'Is　he　safe？　'asked　Sikes。　'Because　if　he　tries　any　tricks　on　me；　I'll　kill　him！　'

'He'll　be　ours　for　life；　if　he　feels　he's　one　of　us。　And　this　job　will　make　him　feel　like　that；　'said　Fagin　eagerly。　'The　boy　looks　so　innocent　he's　perfect。　And　we've　got　to　include　him　in　some　crime　as　soon　as　we　can。　Otherwise；　if　he　escapes　now；　he　can　tell　the　police　about　us　and　stay　free　himself。　'

So　it　was　decided　that　O　liver　would　help　Sikes　with　the　robbery　in　two　days'　time。　The　plan　was　discussed　in　great　detail　and　all　the　arrangements　made。　By　the　n；　Sikes　was　very　drunk；　and　Fagin　got　up　to　leave。　As　he　put　on　his　coat；　he　stared　hard　at　Nancy；　frowning　a　little。　No；　he　was　sure　he　could　trust　her；　she　was　loyal。　

The　next　night；　O　liver　was　alone　in　Fagin's　house　when　Nancy　entered。　She　was　so　nervous　and　white…faced　that　O　liver　asked　her　if　she　was　ill。　

'God　forgive　me！　'she　said；　beating　her　hand　s　togethe　r。　'I　never　thought　I　would　do　this！　'

'Has　anything　happened？　'asked　the　boy。　'What　is　it？　'

She　sat　with　her　back　to　him；　and　hid　her　face　with　her　hand　s。　After　a　while　she　said；　'I　don't　know　why　I　feel　so　strange　sometimes。　Come　on；　O　liver—are　you　ready？　You　have　to　come　with　me　to　Bill's　house。　'

'Why？　'

'Oh—nothing　important。　'

O　liver　did　not　believe　her；　but　he　thought　that　at　last　this　might　be　an　opportunity　to　escape。　So　he　said；　rather　too　quickly；　'I'm　ready。　'Nancy　guessed　what　he　was　thinking。　

'O　liver；　'she　said；　'this　is　not　the　time　to　escape。　I've　saved　you　once；　and　I　will　again；　but　if　anything　happens　tonight；　it　might　mean　my　death。　'She　said　this　so　seriously　that　O　liver　decided　it　must　be　true。　He　was　quiet　while　They　walked　quickly　through　the　streets　to　Sikes'　house。　

Inside　his　room；　Sikes　sat　O　liver　down　on　a　chair。　'Did　he　come　quietly？　'he　asked　Nancy。　

'Quiet　　as　　a　　mouse。　'　

'Glad　to　hear　it；　'said　Sikes。　'Now　listen　to　me；　boy。　'He　put　a　gun　against　O　liver's　head。　If　you　say　one　word　when　you're　outside　with　me；　I'll　shoot　you。　Understand？　'　

O　liver　nodded；　trying　hard　not　to　tremble。　

Sikes　and　O　liver　started　out　at　five　o'clock　in　the　morning；　while　it　was　still　dark。　They　crossed　from　one　side　of　London　to　the　other。　At　first　the　streets　were　empty；　the　n　shopsbegan　to　open　and　people　started　going　to　work。　Gradually；　the　noise　and　traffic　increased；　and　as　They　passed　through　the　meat　market　at　Smithfield；　O　liver　was　amazed　by　the　sight　and　smells　of　so　many　animals；　and　by　the　huge　crowds　of　people；　all　pushing　and　swearing　and　shouting。　But　Bill　Sikes　marched　on　without　stopping．

Later　in　the　day　They　were　given　a　lift　in　a　horse　and　cart　from　west　London　out　into　the　country。　Night　fell；　and　after　walking　a　few　more　miles　down　country　roads；　They　finally　arrived　at　an　old　house　standing　alone　by　a　river。　It　was　dark　and　seemed　to　be　empty　They　went　inside　without　knocking。　

Inside　were　two　other　men；　who；　at　Sikes　command；　produced　food　and　drink　for　him　and　the　boy。　The　n　Sikes　told　O　liver　to　get　some　sleep　as　They　would　be　going　out　again　later　that　night。　O　liver　still　had　no　idea　of　the　purpose　of　this　expedition；　but　his　head　　ached　with　tiredness　and　he　soon　fell　asleep。　

At　half　past　one　the　men　got　up　and　checked　their　equipment；　gathering　several　sticks　as　well。　Sikes　and　the　man　called　Toby　left　the　house　togethe　r；　with　O　liver　walking　between　the　m。　The　re　was　now　a　thick　fog　and　the　night　was　very　still　as　They　hurried　through　the　deserted　streets　of　the　nearby　town。　Out　in　the　country　again；　They　walked　down　several　small　roads　until　finally　They　stopped　at　a　house　surrounded　by　a　high　wall。　As　quick　as　lightning；　Toby　climbed　up　and　　　pulled　　　O　liver　　　after　　　him。　Inside　the　garden；　They　crept　towards　the　house；　and　now；　for　the　first　time；　O　liver　realized　in　horror　that　the　purpose　of　the　expedition　was　robbery；　and　maybe　even　murder。　

Bill　Sikes　broke　open　a　small　window　at　the　back　of　the　house；　the　n　shone　his　light　into　O　liver's　face。　

'Now　listen。　I'm　going　to　put　you　through　here．Go　straight　through　into　the　hall　and　on　to　the　front　door；　and　let　us　in。　　And　if　you　don't；　you　can　be　sure　I'll　shoot　you．'　

O　liver；　stupid　with　terror；　was　lifted　through　the　window　into　the　house。　Desperately；　he　decided　to　try　to　run　upstairs　and　warn　the　family。　He　began　to　creep　forwards。　

Suddenly；　the　re　was　a　loud　noise　from　the　hall。　

'Come　back！　'　shouted　Sikes。　'Back！　Back！　'

O　liver　stood　still；　frozen　with　fear。　A　light　appeared；　the　n　two　m