# ■ 11 Nancy makes a visit

On the evening after the Bumbles' little business meeting，Mr Bill Sikes，waking from a sleep，called out to ask the time．

The room he was lying in was very small and dirty．It was a different room from the one he had occupied before the Chertsey expedition，but it was in the same poor part of London．The re were so few possessions or comforts in the room that it was clear Mr Sikes had met hard times．He himself was thin and pale from illness，and was lying on the bed，wrapped in an old coat．The white dog lay on the floor next to him．

Seated by the window was Nancy，repairing Sikes' old jacket．She，too，was thin and pale．At Sikes' voice she raised her head from her work． 'Not long past seven，'she said． 'How do you feel now，Bill？'

As weak as water．Help me get up，will you？'

As Nancy helped him out of bed，Sikes swore and cursed a ther clumsiness．Illness had not improved his temper．

You would n't speak like that if you knew how kindly I've nursed you the se last few days，'said Nancy． 'So many nights，I've looked after you．'She sat down in a chair，exhausted．

Get up！'shouted Sikes． 'What's wrong with you？'

But Nancy was unable to get up．Her head fell back against the chair and she fainted．

Sikes swore and cursed again，but Nancy remained unconscious．

What's the matter here？'asked a voice from the door，and Fagin，followed by the Artful Dodger and Charley Bates，entered the room．When They saw Nancy，They hurried to help her．Charley rubbed her hand s and the Dodger gave her a drink from the bottle he carried．Gradually，Nancy recovered her senses．

Sikes the n turned to Fagin． 'What are you here for？'he asked roughly． 'You haven't been here for weeks-all the time I was ill．I haven't two coins to rub together．Why didn't you help me？You treat me worse than a dog！'

Don't be bad-tempered，my dear，'said Fagin calmly． 'I haven't forgotten you，Bill．'

Well，what about some money，the n？I've done enough work for you recently-what about some money？'

I haven't a single coin with me，my dear，'said Fagin．

The n go and get some-you've got lots at home．No，I don't trust you．Nancy can go back with you to your house and fetch some money．I'll stay here and sleep．'

After a good deal of arguing，Fagin managed to reduce the amount Sikes was demanding from five pounds to three pounds．He went back to his house with Nancy and the boys．

When They were inside，Fagin told the girl， 'I'll just goupstairs and fetch the cash for Bill，my dear．The re's little money in this business，Nancy，little money and no thanks- but I'm fond of seeing The young people around me．'

Suddenly the re was a man's voice at the front door．As soon as Nancy heard it，she sat up in her chair．

That's the man I was expecting earlier，'said Fagin． 'Don't worry．He'll only be ten minutes．'

The man entered the room．It was Monks．When he saw Nancy，he moved back，as if he had expected no one but Fagin．

It's all right，only one of my young people，'Fagin said to him． 'Did you see him？'

Yes，'answered Monks．

Any news？'

Good news，'said Monks with a smile． 'Let me have a word with you．'He and Fagin went upstairs to talk privately．

As soon as They had left the room，Nancy took off her shoes and crept silently up the stairs to listen in the passage-as she had done once before．She was gone for a quarter of an hour，the n，like a ghost，she reappeared in the downstairs room and sat down．Immediately afterwards，the two men descended the stairs．

How pale you are，Nancy！'said Fagin，once Monks had left the house． 'What have you been doing to yourself？'

Nothing-except waiting here for you too long，'she answered，turning her face away from him． 'Now，where's the money for Bill？'

With a sigh for every piece of money，Fagin put the agreed amount into her hand.

When Nancy was out in the street again，she sat down on a door step，and for a few minutes seemed unable to move．The n she started running wildly through the streets，and when she was exhausted she stopped and burst into tears．This strange mood seemed to leave her the n，and she turned and hurried back to Sikes' house．

At first when she returned，Sikes noticed nothing unusual about her．Fagin，with his sharp，suspicious eyes，would have noticed something at once．But as night came，the girl's nervous excitement increased and even Sikes was alarmed by the paleness in her cheeks and the fire in her eye．

He lay in bed，drinking hot gin-and-water，and staring at her． 'You look like a corpse that's come back to life again．What's the matter with you tonight？'

Nothing．Why are you staring at me so hard？'

Either you've caught the fever yourself，or-no，you're not going to…you wouldn't do that！'

Do what？'asked the girl．

The re's not a girl alive as loyal as you．If you weren't， I'd have cut your throat months ago．No，you must have the fever coming on，that's it．Now，give me some of my medicine．'

Nancy quickly poured out his medicine with her back to him．He took it，and after turning restlessly for some time，heeventually fell into a deep，heavy sleep．

The drug's taken effect at last，'Nancy said to herself as she rose from her position beside the bed． 'I hope I'm not too late．'

Quickly，she put on her coat and hat，looking round fearfully as if she expected at any moment to feel Sikes' heavy hand on her shoulder．She kissed the robber's lips softly，then ran from the house without a sound．

She hurried in the direction of west London，pushing past people on the pavement，and running across crowded streets with out looking．

The woman is mad！'said the people，turning to look ather as she rushed past the m．

She came to a wealthier part of the town where the street swere quieter，and before long she had reached her destination．It was a family hotel in a quiet street near Hyde Park．The clock struck eleven as she entered．

The man at the desk looked at her and asked， 'What do you want here？'

I want to see Miss May lie．'

The man looked at The young woman with strong disapproval． 'She won't want to see someone like you．Come on，get out．'

Let me see her-or two of you will have to throw me out！'said Nancy violently．

The man looked at her again，and decided it would be easierto do as she asked．He led her upstairs to Rose's room．

Nancy entered with a brave face but with fear in her heart．

Please sit down and tell me why you wish to see me，'said Rose May lie，looking with some surprise at this poor，rough girl from the streets．Rose's manner was so kind and sincere，and so unexpected，that Nancy burst into tears．

When she had recovered a little，she asked， 'Is the door shut？'

Yes，'answered Rose，a little nervously． 'But why？'

Because I am about to put my life，and the lives of others，in your hand s．I am the girl that kidnapped little Oliver and took him back to old Fagin's house on the night Oliver was going to the bookseller．'

You！'said Rose．

Yes，it was me．I am that wicked creature you have hear dab out．I've no friends except thieves and robbers．I've lived on the streets since I was a child，cold，hungry，among people who are always drunk and fighting．And that's where I'll die，too．'

I pity you！'said Rose in a broken voice．

But I'll tell you why I'm here．Do you know a man called Monks？'

No，'answered Rose．

He knows you．I heard him tell Fagin that you were at this hotel．Maybe he's changed his name．Soon after Oliver was put into your house on the night of the robbery，I listened insecret to a conversation between Monks and Fagin in the dark．And I heard Monks say that he'd seen Oliver in the street，and that he knew at once Oliver was the child he was looking for，although I couldn't hear why．Monks the n agreed to pay Fagin some money if he could find Oliver again，and more money if he could turn the poor boy into a thief．'

Why？'asked Rose．

He saw my shadow on the wall as I listened，and I had to escape．I didn't see him again until last night．'

And what happened the n？'

I listened at the door again．And I heard Monks say this：“So the only proof of the boy's identity is at the bottom of the river，and the old woman who received it is dead．”He and Fagin laughed．The n Monks said that he had all Oliver' s money safely now，but how funny it would be if the boy went to prison for stealing，after his father's unfair will．'

What is all this？'asked Rose．

It's the truth，lady．The n Monks said he couldn't have Oliver killed because suspicion would point to himself．Bu the 'd try for the rest of his life to harm the boy if he could．The n Monks laughed again about the money Oliver should have got from his father's will．“My young brother Oliver will n ever see that money！”he said．'

His brother！'exclaimed Rose．

Those were his words，'said Nancy，looking round uneasily，as if she still expected to see Sikes． 'And the n hetalked about how amazed you would be if you knew who

Oliver really was．

And this man was serious？'

His voice was full of anger and hatred．I know many people who do worse things，but I'd rather listen to all of the m than to this man Monks．But I must get back now，or people will wonder where I've been．'

Back！How can you go back to such a life？'asked Rose． 'You've told me all this．Now I can help you by letting you stay somewhere safe．'

No．Perhaps it's hard for you to believe，but the re's one man，the most dangerous of the m all，that I can never leave．You're the first person who's ever spoken to me so kindly-but it's too late．'

It's never too late！'

It is！'cried the girl． 'I can't leave him now．And if I tell anyone about this man，he'll die．'

But how can I find you again，when we want to investigate this mystery further？'

I'll meet you secretly，if you promise not to watch or follow me，'said Nancy． 'And if you promise just one more thing-not to do anything to hurt the man I can never leave．'

I promise．'

Every Sunday night，between eleven and twelve，I will walk on London Bridge if I am alive．Meet me the re if youwant more information．'

As Nancy said the se words，she left the room and ran down the stairs and out into the street once more．Rose was left alone，her thoughts in great confusion，as she wondered desperately what to do and who to ask for advice．

The next morning，Oliver，who had been out walking，ranin to Rose's room at the hotel．He was breathless with excitement．

I can't believe what I've seen！Now you'll all know that I've told you the truth！'he shouted．

I know you've always told us the truth-but what are you talking about？'asked Rose．

I've seen Mr Brown low,the kind man who was so good tome．

Where？'

Going into a house，'said Oliver，crying with joy． 'I've got the address here．'

Quick，'said Rose． 'Call a coach．I'll take you there immediately．'

The idea came to Rose that perhaps Mr Brown low would advise her．She had been afraid to tell Nancy's story to Dr Losberne，since the good doctor was very excitable and often acted with more enthusiasm than wisdom．

In less than five minutes They were in the coach on their way to the address．Rose went in first to talk to Mr Brown low alone．She was taken into his study，and polite greetings were exchanged．When They were seated again，Rose said，

This will surprose you very much，but you were once very kind to a dear friend of mine，and I'm sure you will be interested to hear news of him．'

Really？May I ask you his name？'

Oliver Twist．'

Mr Brown low said nothing for a few seconds，but simply stared at Rose．Finally he moved his chair nearer to her and said with great feeling， 'I once thought that he was a liar and a thief．If you have evidence to show me I was wrong，please tell me at once．'

I know him to be a child with a warm heart，'said Rose．

And despite the hardships of his life，he's a better person than almost anyone I know．'

I looked for him everywhere，'said Mr Brown low, 'but I could never find him．I could never quite believe that he really did intend to rob me．'

Rose told him everything that had happened to Oliver since the n．She finished by saying， 'And his only sorrow，for some months，has been that he could not find you，his former friend．'

Thank God！'said Mr Brown low. 'This is great happiness to me，great happiness．But why haven't you brought him with you，Miss May lie？'

He's waiting in a coach at the door，'replied Rose．

Mr Brown low hurried out of the room，down the stairs and into the coach without another word．In a minute he had returned with Oliver． 'How well he looks！'he said． 'New clothe s，the same sweet face，but not so pale；the same eyes，but not so sad．'

They talked with great joy for some time．The n Mr Brown low sent for Mrs Bed win，the old housekeeper．She came in quietly and waited for her orders．

You get blinder every day，'said Mr Brown low impatiently．

People's eyes，at my time of life，don't improve with age，'replied the old lady．

The n put on your glasses．'

As she searched for the m in her pocket，Oliver could not wait any longer and ran into her arms．

Dear God！'she said． 'It's my innocent boy！'

My dear old nurse！'cried Oliver．

I knew he would come back，'said the old lady，holding him in her arms． 'How well he's dressed-how well he looks again！'She laughed and cried at the same time，and could not let Oliver go．

While Oliver talked to Mrs Bed win，Rose asked Mr Brown low if she could speak to him privately．He led her in to another room，and the re listened，with a good deal of amaze ment，to Rose's account of her extraordinary conversation 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 Oliver himself．

That evening at the hotel Oliver'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．'

11 南希的造訪

在班布爾夫婦那次小小的業務洽談之後的晚上，比爾·賽克斯先生一覺醒來，大聲地問著是什麼時候了。

他躺在一間髒亂狹小的屋子裡。這已不是他去切特賽遠征之前住的那間房子了，但仍舊是在倫敦原先的那個貧民區。屋裡沒有什麼傢什和用具，很明顯，賽克斯先生遇上艱難的日子了。由於得了一場病，他非常瘦弱、蒼白，身上裹著一件破舊的大衣，縮在床上。那條白色的狗趴在旁邊的地上。

南希坐在窗戶旁邊，手裡縫補著賽克斯的一件舊外衣。她也很消瘦，面無血色。聽見賽克斯的喊聲，她停下手裡的活計，抬起頭說：“剛過七點鐘，比爾，你這會兒感覺怎麼樣了？”

“渾身沒勁。你扶我起來，行嗎？”

南希扶他從床上起來時，他張口就罵，嫌她笨手笨腳。一場大病也沒能使他暴躁的脾氣有所改變。

“你要是知道這些天我是怎麼伺候你的，就不該這樣對我惡語相加。”南希說。“這麼多個晚上，我都一直看護著你。”她疲憊地坐在一張椅子上。

“站起來！”賽克斯吼叫著，“你是怎麼了？”

可南希已經站不起身了。她的頭向後仰去，撞在椅子上；她昏了過去。

賽克斯又是一陣咒罵，可南希一點知覺都沒有了。

“這裡究竟出了什麼事？”從門外傳來了一個人的聲音，原來是費金走了進來，後面跟著插翅神偷和查理·貝茨。他們看到南希，連忙過去幫助她。查理不停地搓著她的兩隻手，神偷拿出自己帶在身上的一瓶酒給她灌了一口。慢慢地，南希恢復了知覺。

賽克斯這時轉向費金。“你來幹什麼？”他暴躁地問，“你已有好幾個星期不來這兒了——而我一直病著，身上連一個小錢都沒有了。你為什麼不來幫幫我？你待我連一條狗都不如！”

“親愛的，別生氣，”費金不慌不忙地說，“比爾，我可沒忘記你。”

“那麼，給我一些錢，怎麼樣？這些日子我可替你幹了不少活兒——給我點錢行嗎？”

“我身上連一個子兒都沒有了，親愛的。”費金說。

“那去拿點來——你家裡有的是錢。不，我才不會相信你呢。南希可以跟你回去拿點錢來。我留在這兒睡一覺。”

爭執了好一會兒，費金才設法將賽克斯提出的數額從五英鎊降到了三英鎊。南希以及兩個男孩一起跟著他回家了。

到了家裡，費金對那姑娘說：“親愛的，我上樓去給比爾找點現錢。這行當沒多少油水，南希，錢又少，又不落好——可我就是喜歡看著年輕人在我身邊。”

突然，前門外傳來了一個男人的聲音，南希一聽見這聲音，立刻在椅子上挺直了身子。

“這人是我早就等著的，”費金說，“別擔心，他待十分鐘就走。”

這男人走了進來，原來是蒙克斯。他看見南希在這兒，就又退了出去，看來，他原以為屋裡只有費金一個人。

“沒關係，她是我的一個年輕人。”費金對他說。“你見到他了嗎？”

“見到了。”蒙克斯說。

“有什麼消息嗎？”

“好消息，”蒙克斯笑著說。“我想跟你單獨談談。”他和費金上樓去進行祕密談話。

他們剛出去，南希就脫下鞋躡手躡腳地跟了上去，在過道里偷聽他們的談話——就跟上次一樣。一刻鐘之後，她像幽靈一樣，又回到了樓下的屋子裡坐定。緊接著，兩個男人也走下了樓梯。

蒙克斯剛出房門，費金就說：“南希，你臉色蒼白，到底怎麼了？”

“沒什麼——就是坐在這兒等的時間長了點，”她說著把臉扭到一邊去了。“好吧，你給比爾的錢呢？”

費金在她手上放了彼此達成協議的錢數，每放下一塊錢就嘆一口氣。

南希出門來，又到了馬路上。她坐在一家門口的臺階上，有好一陣子似乎不能動彈了。接著，她拚命地在馬路上瘋跑著，直到疲憊不堪才停住腳，放聲大哭起來。然後，這種一時的奇怪心情好像消失了，她迴轉身，匆匆回到了賽克斯的家。

她初到家時，賽克斯並沒有注意到她反常的情緒。如果是費金，用那狡猾多疑的眼睛一掃，就會馬上注意到有什麼事不對頭了。可是到了晚上，這姑娘更加緊張不安，連賽克斯都對她蒼白的面色和著火似的眼睛起了警惕之心。

他躺在床上，喝著辣辣的加水杜松子酒，眼睛死盯著她。“你看上去像個還魂的死屍。你今晚是怎麼了？”

“沒什麼，你幹嗎這麼死死地盯著我看？”

“你要麼是也得了熱病，要麼就是想去——不，你不可能去……你不會那麼幹的！”

“幹什麼？”姑娘問。

“沒有另一個女孩子像你這樣忠實於我。不然的話，幾個月前我就割斷你的喉嚨了。不，你一定是染上了熱病，就是這樣。把我的藥遞給我。”

南希背對著他迅速將藥倒出來。他吃了藥，在床上來回地翻動著，不一會兒便死睡過去。

“這藥終於起作用了。”南希自言自語著，從床邊站了起來。“我希望我不會太遲了。”

她迅速套上外衣，戴上帽子，恐懼地朝四處看了看，好像隨時都會感覺到賽克斯一隻沉重的手壓在她的肩膀上。她輕柔地在盜賊的嘴脣上吻了一下，便不聲不響地從這房間跑了出去。

她急匆匆地朝著倫敦西部趕去，推搡著人行道上來往的行人，連看也不看一眼就跑步橫穿車水馬龍的街道。

“這女人一定是瘋了！”當她直衝過身旁時，人們轉過身來看著她說。

她來到了富裕一些的地區，這裡街道更僻靜，不一會兒她便到了她要找的地方。這是一個靠近海德公園、坐落在一條安靜的街道上的家庭旅館。當她走進去時，大鐘正好敲響了11點。

一個坐在櫃檯後面的男人問：“你有什麼事？”

“我想見梅利小姐。”

這男人帶著極端不屑的神情看著這個年輕的女人，說：“她是不會見像你這樣的人的，趕快出去。”

“讓我見見她——否則你們得有兩個人才能把我趕出去！”南希激烈地說。

那人又看了一眼南希，心想還不如答應她的請求更省事些，便領著她來到了樓上羅斯的房間。

南希故作鎮靜地走進屋子，其實心裡害怕得很。

“請坐下，告訴我你找我有什麼事，”羅斯·梅利稍帶驚奇地看著這個可憐、粗俗的遊蕩街頭的女孩，說道。羅斯的態度非常善良、真摯，這是南希萬萬沒有料到的，她哇地一聲哭了起來。

她稍稍平靜了一點，便問：“門關著嗎？”

“是的。”羅斯說，並有點不安地問，“這是為什麼？”

“因為我將要把自己的性命，還有別人的性命都交給您了。我就是那天晚上小奧利弗到書商家去時將他拐騙回費金家的那個女孩。”

“你！”羅斯說。

“是，是我，我就是那個您聽說過的壞傢伙。除了小偷和強盜我沒有別的朋友。我從小就住在街上，生活在寒冷和飢餓之中，身邊的人永遠喝得醉醺醺的，總要打架。我也將會死在那裡。”

“我很可憐你！”羅斯帶著哭腔說道。

“但我要告訴你，我是為什麼來找您的。您認識一個叫蒙克斯的男人嗎？”

“不認識。”羅斯答道。

“可他認識你，我聽他告訴費金說，你住在這家旅館。也可能是他改了姓名。盜竊的那天晚上，他們把奧利弗塞進了你們家。此後不久，我就偷聽到蒙克斯跟費金的對話。我聽見蒙克斯說，他在路上碰見了奧利弗，而且他一眼就認出了這就是他正在尋找的那個孩子。但我沒聽清為什麼。蒙克斯還答應，如果費金能再找到這孩子，他就給他一筆錢。要是他能把那可憐的孩子變成一個盜賊，他會給他更多的錢。”

“為什麼？”羅斯問。

“我偷聽時，他在牆上發現了我的影子，我不得不逃開。從那時起，一直到昨天晚上，我再沒見過他。”

“後來又發生了什麼事？”

“我昨天又去門口偷聽，聽見蒙克斯說： '唯一能證實這孩子身份的東西現在被扔在了河底，拿到過這東西的那個老女人已經死了。'他和費金放聲大笑。然後，蒙克斯說，他現在可以安全地得到奧利弗的全部錢財了，但是，在他父親立了不公正的遺囑之後，假如奧利弗因偷盜進了監獄，這事將是多麼地可笑啊。”

“這究竟是怎麼回事？”羅斯問道。

“這是事情的真相，小姐。蒙克斯後來說，為了避免讓人們猜疑他，他不會殺死奧利弗的。但他會在他的餘生，儘可能地去傷害這個孩子。然後蒙克斯又為奧利弗按父親的遺囑應該得到一筆錢的事大笑起來。 '我的小弟弟永遠也見不到這些錢了。'他說。”

“他的小弟弟！”羅斯驚叫著。

“這些是他的原話。”南希說著，不安地朝四處看著，好像她還怕看見賽克斯出現。“後來，他又提到，假如您知道了奧利弗的真實身份，您會多麼吃驚。”

“這個人說這話是當真的嗎？”

“他說話的聲音裡充滿了憤怒和憎恨。我見過許多做更壞的惡事的人，我倒寧願和他們打交道，也不願和蒙克斯這種人來往。現在我得走了，不然他們會猜疑我去了什麼地方。”

“回去！你怎麼還能回到那種生活中去呢？”羅斯問。“你已經跟我說了這些話了呀。現在，我要幫助你，讓你待在一個安全的地方。”

“不，您大概很難相信，有一個人，他們當中最危險的一個人，是我永遠不能離開的。您是我遇到的頭一個這麼好心地和我說話的人——可是太晚了。”

“還來得及！”

“不！”女孩大聲地說，“我現在不能離開他，我要是跟別人提起他，他必死無疑。”

“為了深入調查這件疑案，我怎麼才能再找到你呢？”

“如果您保證不監視或跟蹤我，我會偷偷地來見你。”南希說。“您還得向我保證另一件事——不做任何傷害這個我永遠不能離開的男人的事。”

“我向你保證。”

“那麼，每個星期天的晚上十一點到十二點之間，我在倫敦橋上散步，假如我還沒有死的話。您要想知道更多的事，就到那兒去找我。”

南希說完這些話，出了房間，跑下樓，到了馬路上。屋裡只剩下羅斯，她的思想陷入了混亂之中。她極力地想著應該怎麼辦，應該向誰去請求幫助。

第二天早晨，剛從外面散步回來的奧利弗跑進了旅館裡羅斯的房間，他興奮得都喘不上氣來了。

“我簡直不敢相信我的眼晴！現在你們可以知道，我跟你們說的都是實話了！”他嚷嚷著。

“我知道你一直說的是真話——可你現在說的是什麼事？”羅斯問。

“我看見布朗洛先生了，就是那個對我特別好的好心的先生。”

“在哪兒？”

“他正走進一所房子。”奧利弗說著，高興地流出了眼淚。“我記下地址了。”

“快去，”羅斯說，“叫一輛馬車，我馬上就帶你去。”

羅斯突然想到，布朗洛先生可能會給她出點主意。她先前不敢把南希的話告訴羅斯伯恩醫生，因為這個好心的老頭易於激動，他往往熱情有餘，而考慮不周。

不到五分鐘，他們便坐上了馬車，朝著那個地址趕去。羅斯首先自己進去，單獨和布朗洛先生談話。羅斯被帶進了他的書房，一番客氣的寒暄之後，都落了座，這時羅斯說：

“這大概會使您非常驚訝，您曾經善待過我的一位好朋友，您肯定會對有關他的消息很感興趣。”

“是嗎？我能問一下他的名字嗎？”

“奧利弗·特威斯特。”

布朗洛先生只是盯著羅斯，半天不吱聲。最後他把椅子朝羅斯跟前挪動了一下，非常激動地說：“我曾一度以為他是個騙子，是個小偷。如果你有什麼證據能說明我是錯的，請你趕快告訴我。”

“我知道他是個好心的孩子，”羅斯說，“儘管他過了許多苦日子，但他比我所見過的大多數人要好。”

“我也在到處尋找他，”布朗洛先生說，“可一直沒能找到他。我也一直不太相信他是真的算計著來偷盜我。”

羅斯跟他說了從那以後奧利弗的全部經歷。她最後說：“幾個月來唯一使他傷心的事就是找不到您，他從前的好朋友。”

“感謝上帝！”布朗洛先生說，“這是我最大的快樂，最大的快樂。那你為什麼沒有帶他一起來，梅利小姐？”

“他現在就在門外馬車上等著。”羅斯回答道。

布朗洛先生什麼都顧不上說了，急忙走出房間，下了樓，上了馬車。一會兒，他跟奧利弗一起進來了。“他看上去多健康啊！”他說，“嶄新的衣服，還是那張可愛的臉，只是比以前紅潤多了；還是那雙眼睛，也不像以前那樣充滿了憂傷。”

他們非常高興地聊了一會兒，然後布朗洛先生叫人把老管家貝德溫太太找來。她輕輕地走進屋，站在那兒等候吩咐。

“你的眼睛一天不如一天了，”布朗洛先生不耐煩地說。

“到了我這個歲數，人的視力是不會隨著年紀的增長而變得更好的。”老管家說。

“那麼就戴上你的眼鏡。”

她把手伸進衣袋裡摸索著找眼鏡時，奧利弗再也忍不住了，一下撲進了她的懷裡。

“噢，上帝！”她說，“原來是我無辜的孩子！”

“親愛的老媽媽！”奧利弗叫著。

“我就知道他會回來的，”老婦人把他摟在懷裡說，“他穿得多好啊——氣色也恢復得很好了！”她高興地笑著，同時臉上流淌著淚水，緊緊地抱住奧利弗不鬆手。

奧利弗同貝德溫太太交談著，這時，羅斯提出是否能與布朗洛先生單獨談談。他把她帶到了另一個房間。在那裡，他驚訝萬分地聽著羅斯敘述她同南希非常怪異的談話。他們倆決定，這件事必須讓梅利夫人和羅斯伯恩醫生知道，另外，布朗洛先生當晚得去旅館同他們商量這件事。在這期間，他們決定什麼也不跟奧利弗說。

當天晚上，奧利弗的四位朋友按照預先的安排來到了旅館。當然，羅斯伯恩醫生有一腦子的計劃，他想立即就行動，跑到倫敦的各個地方把這夥匪徒都抓起來，立刻送到絞刑架上。幸虧有布朗洛先生極力勸阻他放棄這個不切實際的想法。

“那該怎麼辦？”醫生不耐煩地大聲說。

“首先，”布朗洛先生平靜地說，“我們必須弄清誰是奧利弗的親生父母。下一步——假如這個姑娘說的事都是真的——我們必須拿回應該屬於奧利弗的這份遺產。”

“對，對，”醫生點著頭表示同意地說，“可我們怎麼才能做到這一切呢？”

“我們必須要找到蒙克斯這個人。”布朗洛先生說，“南希不會背叛對她有特殊意義的那個人，但她肯定願意告訴我們怎樣或在哪兒能找到蒙克斯。如果是這樣，我們還必須設法讓蒙克斯開口說話，我們不但要小心謹慎，而且要善用心計。畢竟我們還沒有指控他的證據。假如我們沒有辦法使他說出一切，那麼這件謎案將永遠無法解開。但我們不得不再等待五天，從現在起，一直到星期天在倫敦橋上見到南希的時候為止。目前我們什麼也幹不了。”