# ■ 4 Oliver in London

For some reason the Dodger did not want to enter London during daylight，so it was nearly eleven o'clock at night when They got near the centre. Oliver had never seen a dirtier or more miserable place. The streets in this district were narrow and muddy， and the re were terrible smells everywhere. Children wandered around even at this time of night，in and out of the many shops，playing and screaming．The pubs were full of people fighting，and big，evil－looking men stood in doorways or at dark corners． Oliver almost wanted to run away， but just the n the Dodger pushed open a door and pulled Oliver into a dark hall.

Who's the re？' a voice cried out．

It's me，' said the Dodger． The faint light of a candle appeared in the hall．

Who's the other one？'

A new friend. '

They went up some dark and broken stairs．Oliver could hardly see where he was going，but the Dodger seemed to know the way， and helped Oliver up. They entered a room with walls that were black with age and dirt．In front of the fire was a table with a candle stuck into a bottle of beer， and an old man， with a horribly ugly face and red hair， stood next to the fire cooking. He was wearing a dirty old coat and seemed to divide his attention between his cooking and a number of silk handkerchieves， which were hanging near the fire．The re were several rough beds in the room．Four or five boys， about the same age as the Artful Dodger， sat round the table， smoking and drinking like middle-aged men．They all looked up when the Dodger and Oliver entered．

This is him，Fagin，' the Dodger said to the old man． 'My friend Oliver Twist．'

Fagin smiled and shook Oliver's hand．The n all The young gentlemen came up to him and shook both his hands very hard， especially the hand which held his few possessions. One of the boys was particularly kind．He even put his hands in Oliver's pockets so that Oliver would not have to empty the m himself when he went to bed．The boys would probably have been even more helpful， but Fagin hit the m on their heads and shoulders until They left Oliver alone．

We're very glad to see you，Oliver，'said Fagin. 'I see you're staring at the handkerchieves， my dear．Aren't the re a lot？We've just taken the m all out to wash the m， that's all！Ha！ Ha！ Ha！'

This seemed to be a joke， as the old gentleman and all his young friends gave loud shouts of laughter. The n supper began. Oliver ate his share of the food and was the n given a glass of gin-and-water．Fagin told him to drink it fast．Immediately afterwards，Oliver felt himself lifted onto one of the beds and he sank into a deep sleep．

When he woke，it was late morning．Fagin was the only other person in the room， and he was boiling coffee in a pan．When the coffee was done，he turned towards Oliver and looked closely at the boy．Oliver was only just awake and his eyes were half－closed， so he seemed to be still fast asleep. Fagin the n locked the door and from a hidden hole in the floor，he took out a small box， which he placed carefully on the table． His eyes shone as he opened it and took out a gold watch covered in jewels.

Aah！' he said to himself． 'What fine men They were！Loyal to the end. They never told the priest where the jewels were． Nor about old Fagin．Not even at the very end． And why should They？ It was already too late．It wouldn't have stopped the rope going round their necks！'

Fagin took out at least six more watches， as well as rings and bracelets and many other valuable pieces of jewellery． He looked at the m with pleasure， the n replaced the m. 'What a good thing hanging is！'he murmured． 'Dead men can never talk，or betray old friends！'

At that moment he looked up and saw Oliver watching him．He closed the lid of the box with a loud crash，and picked up a bread knife from the table． 'Why are you watching me？ What have you seen？ Tell me－quick！'

I couldn't sleep any longer，sir，'said Oliver， terrified. 'I'm very sorry．'

You weren't awake an hour ago？'Fagin asked fiercely，still holding the knife.

I promise I was n't， sir，' replied Oliver．

Don't worry， my dear，' Fagin said， putting down the knife and becoming once again the kind old gentleman． He laughed． 'I only tried to frighten you，my dear. You're a brave boy，Oliver！ And did you see any of the pretty things？'

Yes， sir. '

Ah，' said Fagin， turning rather pale． 'They-They're mine， Oliver．All I have，in my old age．'

Oliver wondered why the old man lived in such an old， dirty place，when he had so many watches， but the n he thought that it must cost Fagin a lot of money to look after the Dodger and the other boys．So he said nothing，and got up and washed．When he turned towards Fagin， the box had disappeared．

Soon the Dodger entered with a cheerful young man named Charley Bates．

Have you been at work this morning？'Fagin asked the Dodger．

Hard at work，'answered the Dodger．

Good boys，good boys！'said Fagin． 'What have you got？'

A couple of pocket－books and some handkerchieves．'

Good workers， aren't They， Oliver？' said the old man．

Very good，' said Oliver． The others all started laughing，though Oliver saw nothing funny in his answer. Fagin inspected the handkerchieves and told the two boys that They were extremely well made and that he was very pleased with their work.

After breakfast They played a very strange game. The cheerful old man put a watch in his jacket pocket， with a guard-chain round his neck，and a notebook and a handkerchief in his trouser pocket．The n he went up and down the room holding a walking stick，just like the old gentlemen who walked in the streets. Sometimes he stopped at the fireplace， and sometimes at the door， pretending to stare with great interest into shop windows．He would the n constantly look round， as if afraid of thieves， touching all his pockets in such a natural and funny way that Oliver laughed until tears ran down his face．All the time， the two boys followed Fagin everywhere，and every time he turned round， They moved out of his sight so quickly that it was impossible to follow their movements.

Finally， the Dodger bumped into him accidentally from behind， and at that moment both boys took from him，very quickly， his watch， guard－chain，handkerchief，and notebook．If the old man felt a hand in any of his pockets he cried out， and the n the game began again.

Later， the boys went out again to do some more work. When They had gone，Fagin turned to Oliver． 'Take my advice， my dear，'he said． 'Make the m your models. Especially the Dodger． He'll be a great man himself， and will make you one too, if you copy him. Is my handkerchief hanging out of my pocket, my dear? '

Yes, sir, 'said Oliver.

See if you can take it out, without my feeling it. Just as you saw the m doing it when we were playing. '

Oliver held up the bottom of the pocket with one hand, as he had seen the Dodger hold it, and pulled the handkerchief lightly out of it with the other.

Has it gone? 'asked Fagin.

Here it is, sir, 'said Oliver, showing it in his hand.

You're a clever boy, my dear, 'said the old gentleman, putting his hand on Oliver's head. I've never seen a quicker boy. If you go on like this, you'll be the greatest man in London. Now come here and I'll show you how to take the marks out of handkerchieves. '

Oliver 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.

Oliver 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. Oliver 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 Oliver 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 Oliver 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 Oliver.

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

Oliver 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. Oliver 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. Oliver, 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. Oliver 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 Oliver running away, so he naturally thought Oliver was the thief. With loud cries of 'Stop thief! ', he ran after Oliver 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 Oliver.

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 Oliver. '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.

Oliver 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 Oliver by the collar. 'Come on, get up, 'he said roughly.

It wasn't me, sir, 'said Oliver, 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 Oliver. 'Come on, get up! '

Don't hurt him, 'said the old gentleman.

I won't, said the policeman, tearing Oliver's jacket half off his back as he lifted him up.

The three of the m started walking, followed by the excited crowd.

4 奧利弗在倫敦

由於某些原因，插翅神偷不願意在白天進倫敦，所以，他們到達市中心時，已經差不多是晚上11時了。奧利弗從未見過這麼齷齪、悲慘的地方。這個地區的街道狹窄泥濘，到處散發著燻人的臭氣。臨近半夜了，孩子們還在街頭遊逛著，在街頭的許多小鋪子裡進進出出，玩鬧、尖叫著。小酒館裡擠滿了打架的人。凶神惡煞般的大塊頭站在門口外黑暗的角落裡。奧利弗差點兒被嚇跑了。就在這時，神偷推開一扇門，將奧利弗拽到一個昏暗的門廳裡。

“是誰啊？”一個聲音喚道。

“是我。”神偷說。門廳裡出現了一絲微弱的蠟燭的光亮。

“另一個是誰呀？”

“一位新朋友。”

他們踩著漆黑、破爛的樓梯走上去，奧利弗幾乎什麼也看不見，全靠神偷扶著他往前走，而神偷顯得對這兒挺熟的。他們走進了一間屋子，由於年代已久，屋子的牆又黑又髒。爐前的桌子上放了一瓶啤酒，瓶口插著一節蠟燭。一位長著非常醜惡的臉和紅頭髮的老人站在火爐旁煮飯。他穿了一件破舊、骯髒的大衣，好像一邊煮著飯一邊注意著掛在爐旁邊的幾條絲手帕。屋裡擺著幾張簡陋的床。四五個與插翅神偷年齡差不多的男孩圍坐在桌子旁，像中年人一樣嘴裡叼著煙，喝著酒。神偷和奧利弗走進來時，他們都抬起頭來看著。

“這就是他，費金。”神偷跟老頭說。“我的朋友奧利弗·特威斯特。”

費金微笑著同奧利弗握握手，然後所有的小紳士們都走過來使勁地握著他的雙手，尤其是那隻拿著他僅有的幾件東西的手。一個孩子特別善良，竟然把手伸進了奧利弗的衣袋裡，這樣奧利弗在睡覺前就無需自己費力氣掏出兜裡的東西了。如果不是費金使勁地敲打他們的頭和肩膀，讓他們不再騷擾他，他們還可能會給奧利弗更殷勤的幫助。

“見到你很高興，奧利弗。”費金說，“我看你是在看那些手帕吧，親愛的，那豈不是有很多嗎？我們把它們全部拿了出來，準備洗一洗，不過如此而已！哈！哈！哈！”

這好像是一句笑話，因為老先生和他這些年輕的朋友都大笑起來。然後晚飯開始了。奧利弗吃完了他的一份，大家又給了他一杯加了水的杜松子酒。費金讓他一口氣喝下去。不一會兒，他覺得被人抬起來放在了一張床上，便睡了過去。

他一覺醒來，時間已近中午，屋裡只有費金一個人，他正在用一個平底鍋煮咖啡。咖啡煮好後，他轉身仔細看了一眼奧利弗。奧利弗這時剛剛醒來，眼睛還是半閉著的，所以，好像還在沉睡著。然後費金鎖上了房門，從地板上一個隱蔽的洞裡拿出了一個小盒子。他將小盒子小心地放在桌子上，打開盒蓋，從裡面拿出了一塊滿鑲著寶石的金錶。他看著金錶，眼睛發出了貪婪的光。

“噯呀！”他自言自語地說，“他們是多好的人啊！忠誠到底。他們一直沒告訴牧師珠寶在什麼地方。也沒把我老費金招出來。直到最後。他們為什麼要招出來呢？當時已經太晚了，招了也已經無法去掉就要套在他們脖子上的繩索了！”

費金又拿出了至少六塊手錶，還有戒指、手鐲和其它一些貴重的寶石飾品。他欣喜地看著這些東西，之後，又放了回去。“絞刑是多麼好的事！”他咕噥著，“人死了就再也不能開口說話了，也不能背叛老朋友了！”

就在這時，他抬起頭，看見奧利弗正在盯著他看。他嘩啦一下蓋上了盒蓋，從桌上抓起一把麵包刀。“你為什麼看著我？你都看見什麼了？快告訴我！”

“我醒來後睡不著了，先生。”奧利弗嚇得魂不附體地說，“對不起！”

“一小時以前你沒有醒吧？”他凶惡地問，手裡仍然攥著那把刀。

“我保證，我沒有，先生。”奧利弗回答說。

“別擔心，親愛的。”費金說著，放下手裡的刀，又成了原來那個善良的老先生了。他大笑著說：“我只是想嚇唬嚇唬你，親愛的。你是個勇敢的孩子，奧利弗！你看見那些漂亮的東西了嗎？”

“是的，先生。”

“噢！”費金應著，臉變得相當白了，“那——那是我自己的東西，奧利弗。是我這老頭子全部的家當。”

奧利弗很納悶，這老頭有那麼多金錶，他為什麼還住在這麼陳舊、破爛的地方；不過，然後他又想，他養活神偷和其他的孩子們肯定也得花去許多錢。因此他什麼也沒說，就起身去洗臉了，當他再轉身看費金時，那隻盒子已經不見了。

不一會兒，神偷和一個叫查理·貝茨的樂呵呵的年輕人走了進來。

“今兒上午你們工作了嗎？”費金問神偷。

“乾得很賣勁。”神偷回答說。

“好孩子，好孩子！”費金說，“你們都弄到什麼了？”

“幾個皮夾子和幾條手帕。”

“他們是好工人，對不對，奧利弗？”老頭說。

“非常好。”奧利弗說。別人都笑了，可奧利弗並不覺得他的回答有什麼好笑的。費金查看過手帕，告訴兩個孩子這些手帕做工精美，並表示對他們的工作感到高興。

早飯後，他們做著一種奇特的遊戲。高高興興的老頭將一塊手錶揣進他的上衣兜裡，將錶鏈套在脖子上，再把一個小本和一條手帕裝進褲袋裡。然後他手裡拄著手杖，來回地在屋裡走著，就好像那些走在馬路上的年老的紳士一樣。他一會兒停在爐旁，一會兒停在門口處，假裝饒有興趣地看著櫥窗裡的東西。他不停地左顧右盼，用一種自然而滑稽的動作摸索著渾身上下的衣兜，好像是怕有小偷。奧利弗被逗得笑出了眼淚。兩個男孩一直跟在費金的身後，每當他轉身時，他們倆就立刻躲得沒影了，讓他很難跟上他們的動作。

最後，神偷偶然地從後面撞了他一下，就在這個節骨眼上，他身上的手錶、錶鏈、手帕、記事本都到了兩個男孩手裡。如果老頭感到有手伸進兜裡，他就叫一聲。接著遊戲又重新開始。

之後，孩子們又出去做更多的工作了。他們走後，費金轉向奧利弗。“聽我的話，親愛的，”他說，“照著他們的榜樣去做，特別是神偷，他自己將來會成為一個了不起的人，假如你跟他學，你也會成為一個了不起的人的。我的手帕是不是從兜裡耷拉到外面了，親愛的？”

“是的，先生。”奧利弗說。

“試試看，你是否能在我不知不覺中將它拿走，就像你剛才看到他們做的那樣。”

奧利弗學著神偷的樣子，一隻手向上托住衣兜的底部，用另一隻手輕輕抽出了手帕。

“拿走了嗎？”費金問。

“在這兒呢，先生。”奧利弗說著把手裡的手帕給他看。

“你真是個聰明的孩子，親愛的。”老先生摸著奧利弗的頭說，“我還從沒見過比你更伶俐的孩子，如果你照著這樣繼續學下去，你會成為倫敦最偉大的人物。你過來，我教給你怎樣去掉手帕上的記號。”

奧利弗搞不明白，玩從老先生兜裡偷東西的遊戲和成為一個偉大的人物這二者之間有什麼聯繫。但他一聲不響地跟他走到了桌邊，很快便投入了這項新的學習。

奧利弗在費金的屋裡待了許多天，學習拆掉手帕上的記號和名字，有時也玩和以前一樣的那個遊戲。一天晚上，有兩位年輕的女士前來造訪，他們在一起聚會，玩得非常愉快。奧利弗覺得這兩個女孩非常和善友好。

神偷和查理·貝茨每天都出去工作，但有時他們帶不回來手帕，這時，費金就很生氣。有一次，就因為他們沒帶回東西來，他竟然將他們倆打下樓梯，並且不給他們吃晚飯。

這天早上，奧利弗終於被允許與這兩個男孩一起出去工作。他們已經有好幾天沒帶回手帕來給他拆記號了，所以他們也沒能吃到足夠的晚飯。早晨，這三個男孩子出發了。他們走得非常慢，使奧利弗以為他們不是去工作的。突然，神偷停住了腳步，將一個手指豎在嘴脣上。

“出了什麼事？”奧利弗問。

“別出聲！”神偷說，“你看見站在書店外面的那個老頭了嗎？就是他。”

奧利弗極度驚奇和迷惑地看看神偷，又看看查理·貝茨，但人家告訴過他不許提問題。兩個男孩偷偷地快速穿過馬路，朝老先生走去，奧利弗尾隨在他們後面，驚奇地悄悄看著。

老先生看上去很富有，他戴著一副金邊眼鏡，身穿一條白色褲子，一根昂貴的手杖夾在腋下。他從書攤上拿起一本書，站在那兒專心地看著——就好像坐在家裡的軟椅上一樣。奧利弗睜大了一雙恐懼和驚慌的眼睛，看著神偷將手伸進了老先生的兜裡，抽出了一條絲手帕，遞給了查理·貝茨，然後兩人繞過拐角儘快地跑開了。

頓時，關於手帕的祕密及手錶、寶石和費金的事都變得一清二楚了。奧利弗害怕地在那裡站了一會兒，感到渾身的血流加快了，他覺得自己在發燒。然後，迷惑和害怕使他撒腿就跑。就在這時，老先生把手伸進了褲兜裡，發現手帕不見了，他轉過身來，正好看見奧利弗從他身邊跑開，所以，理所當然地，他認為奧利弗是小偷。他大聲地喊著：“抓賊！”並追趕著奧利弗，手裡仍然拿著那本書。

喊叫起來的人不止老先生一個，神偷和查理·貝茨為了不一直順著馬路跑下去而引起別人的注意，已停在了第一個拐角處。當他們認識到發生了什麼事時，也摻和在人群裡，像好公民一樣喊著：“抓賊！”並參加了追逐。

“抓賊！”這喊聲往往能引起極大的騷動。街上的每一個人都停下正在做的事，跟著喊。許多人以極大的熱情加入了追逐的人群。很快就有一大幫人在追趕奧利弗。

最後，這個筋疲力盡的孩子終於被他們抓住了。他摔倒在人行道上，人們將他團團圍住。

“是這個男孩嗎？”他們問老先生。

“是的。”他回答道，並俯下身看著奧利弗。“恐怕他是傷著自己了。”

“那是我弄的，”一個大個子年輕人自豪地說，“都把我的手弄痛了。”老先生反感地看了他一眼。

奧利弗躺在地上，渾身上下沾滿了泥土，嘴裡往外流著血，驚慌失措地看著圍著他的一張張面孔。不一會兒，警察趕來了，抓住領子拎起了奧利弗，粗暴地說：“站起來，跟我走！”

“先生，不是我，”奧利弗四下裡張望著說，“是另外的兩個男孩，他們就在附近的什麼地方。”

“噢，不，他們不在這裡。”警察說。其實，他說得對，在追趕的人群將奧利弗抓住後，神偷和查理·貝茨就溜之大吉了。“起來！”

“別打他。”老先生說。

“我不會打他的。”警察說著將他從地上拉起來，差點兒把他的上衣從身上扯下來。

他們三個人朝前走去，沸沸揚揚的人群跟在他們身後。