# ■ 7 The robbery

A few days later, a visitor arrived in London from Oliver's home town. He was a large, fat man, and very proud of his hat, which showed the world that he was a most important official. It was, in fact, Mr Bumble the beadle, Oliver's old enemy.

Mr Bumble had completed his business in the city, and had just finished a most satisfactory meal in a pub. He pulled up his chair to the fire, to enjoy his hot gin-and-water in comfort, and opened the newspaper. The first thing he saw was this notice:

A reward of five pounds is offered for any information leading to the discovery of a young boy, Oliver Twist, who was kidnapped from his home in Pentonville last Thursday evening. I am also very interested in any information about his past.

The re was the n a full description of Oliver'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 Oliver'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, Oliver remained a prisoner. Fagin had told Oliver 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 Oliver 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 Oliver—and see Oliver with a rope around his neck. Oliver 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 Oliver 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 Oliver. '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 Oliver how good the Dodger was at his job, and what a friendly boy Charley was. It was, without doubt, an interesting evening for Oliver, 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 Oliver could not stop laughing, even though he knew it was wrong.

Fagin knew what he was doing. He had made sure that Oliver 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 Oliver. 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 Oliver 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 Oliver 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, Oliver was alone in Fagin's house when Nancy entered. She was so nervous and white-faced that Oliver 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, Oliver—are you ready? You have to come with me to Bill's house. '

Why? '

Oh—nothing important. '

Oliver 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.

Oliver, '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 Oliver decided it must be true. He was quiet while They walked quickly through the streets to Sikes' house.

Inside his room, Sikes sat Oliver 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 Oliver's head. If you say one word when you're outside with me, I'll shoot you. Understand? '

Oliver nodded, trying hard not to tremble.

Sikes and Oliver 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, Oliver 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 Oliver to get some sleep as They would be going out again later that night. Oliver 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 Oliver 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 Oliver after him. Inside the garden, They crept towards the house, and now, for the first time, Oliver 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 Oliver'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．'

Oliver, 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! '

Oliver stood still, frozen with fear. A light appeared, the n two men on the stairs, the m a sudden bright flash, and a loud bang. Oliver staggered back. Sikes seized the boy's collar through the window and pulled him back out into the garden.

They've hit him! ' shouted Sikes. 'He's bleeding. '

A bell rang loudly, above the noise of more gunshots and the shouts of men. Oliver felt himself being carried across rough ground, and the n he saw and heard no more

7 搶劫

幾天後，一位來訪者從奧利弗家鄉的小鎮來到了倫敦。他是一個高大、肥胖的人，對自己的帽子感到非常自豪，這帽子向別人表示他是位最重要的官員。其實，他就是班布爾先生，那位執事，奧利弗的老對頭。

班布爾先生在城裡辦完了公事，剛在一家酒館裡吃了一頓非常滿意的飯菜。他把椅子向爐旁拉了拉，舒服地喝著一杯辣辣的加了水的杜松子酒，打開報紙。首先跳入他眼簾的是這條消息：

啟事接著詳細地描述了奧利弗的穿著和長相，以及布朗洛先生家的詳細地址。班布爾先生揉了揉眼睛，把這條消息又看了一遍，不到十分鐘，他就找到了那個地址。他被帶到了布朗洛先生的書房，這位老先生和他的朋友格里姆威格先生正坐在裡面。

“你知道這可憐的孩子現在在哪兒嗎？”執事說明了來意後，布朗洛先生問道。

班布爾先生搖了搖頭。

“你知道他的任何好的方面嗎？”格里姆威格先生仔細打量著班布爾先生的臉，問道。

班布爾先生非常嚴肅地又搖了搖頭，撇了撇嘴。

“那麼，告訴我們你所知道的有關他的一切。”格里姆威格先生不耐煩地說。

班布爾先生摘下帽子，解開衣釦，雙臂交叉放在胸前，向後靠在椅子上。他用他那重要官員的嗓音說了足足二十分鐘。他的聽眾知道了奧利弗非法出生的詳細過程，以及作為濟貧院裡的孤兒他得到了怎樣寬厚的待遇。他們也得知他是一個忘恩負義的、危險的孩子，粗暴地毆打了另一個孩子，最後終於從他幹活的人家逃跑了。

老先生傷心地搖了搖頭，給了班布爾先生五個英鎊。“我會很高興給你三倍的錢——假如你說的事能證明他是個好孩子。”

如果班布爾早知道是這樣的話，他說的可能會與剛才說的完全不一樣，可現在已為時太晚了。他只好拿了錢，離開了。

有幾分鐘工夫，布朗洛先生在屋裡來回地踱著步，陷入了深思。他拉鈴叫來了貝德溫太太，他的女管家，把他所聽到的事告訴了她。

“我不相信這些。”她非常肯定地說。

“我說的是對的。”格里姆威格先生滿意地說，“你本應該聽我的話。”

布朗洛先生氣憤地說：“以後別再讓我聽到這孩子的名字，永遠不要。記住了嗎，貝德溫太太？”

那天晚上，布朗洛先生家裡的人心裡都很悲傷。

與此同時，在倫敦的另一個地方，奧利弗像個囚犯一樣被關著。費金已告訴他，逃跑是件忘恩負義的事。他還說，若不是自己對他仁慈，奧利弗本來是會餓死的。他又告訴了奧利弗另一個小男孩的事。這個孩子到警察局告發了他的同夥，結果在一天早晨作為小偷被送上了絞刑架。費金詳細地形容了絞刑的恐怖。他說，希望他自己永遠不會被迫到警察那兒去告發奧利弗——也不願看到絞索套在奧利弗的脖子上。奧利弗這時感到渾身的血液都凝固了。

他被鎖在小屋裡許多天，每天從清早到午夜見不到一個人，他的時間都是在苦苦思念他在本頓維爾的朋友中度過的。一星期後，他白天從小屋裡被放出來，只能在屋子裡轉來轉去。這是個很髒的地方，除了老鼠和蟲子外，沒有其它活物。所有的窗戶都是緊閉著的，上面還釘了許多木板和鐵棍，亮光透不進來。

一天下午，神偷和查理·貝茨在屋裡沒出去，他們同奧利弗聊起了他們的小偷生涯。

“你為什麼不也當個小偷？”查理問他，“我們都在一起——我們倆，還有費金，賽克斯，南希，我們都在一起。”

“我不想，”奧利弗回答道，“我真希望他們能放我走。”

“可是這種日子很舒服。”神偷說著從兜裡掏出了幾個硬幣拋向空中。“管他錢是從哪兒來的呢！”他笑著說，“你不去偷，別人也會去的。這是毫無疑問的！”

正在這時，費金與另外兩個年輕人走了進來，參加談天，其中的一個年輕人是剛從監獄裡出來的。大家拿他剃得很短的頭髮開著玩笑。幾個小時裡，大家圍著火爐坐著，又說又笑。費金告訴奧利弗，神偷幹得多麼巧妙，查理又是個多麼友好的孩子。被獨自鎖在小屋多日之後的今天對奧利弗來說無疑是很有趣的。

從那天晚上起，他很少一個人待著了，總是同神偷和查理在一起，常常同他們做著手帕的遊戲。有時，費金給他們講他年輕時幹過的一些盜竊的事。他維妙維肖地說著事情滑稽的細節，奧利弗雖然心裡明白這都是壞事，但還是不停地大笑著。

費金很清楚他在幹什麼。他知道奧利弗很孤獨、很痛苦，迫切需要朋友，哪怕是做罪犯的朋友。費金在試圖慢慢地、有計劃地毒害這孩子的心靈。

幾星期後一個寒冷、潮溼又颳著大風的晚上，費金穿上厚厚的大衣，豎起衣領，把整個臉都遮住，離開了家。他快步穿過幾條街，甚至在一些最漆黑的地方，他也準確無誤地走著。最後，他走進了一條只亮著一盞路燈的邪惡、狹窄的街道。他在一扇門上敲了幾下，小聲和來開門的人咕噥了幾句，便走進去上了樓。

費金進去時，比爾·賽克斯和他的狗正坐在火爐旁。這間房子昏暗、狹小，幾乎沒有什麼傢俱。南希也在這兒，費金不自在地瞟了她一眼。自從上次她向他撲來，阻止他毆打奧利弗之後，他一直沒再見到她。可她卻好像早已把那件事忘得一乾二淨了。她讓他拿過一把椅子，在爐火旁暖暖身子。

“我已經準備好做交易了，”比爾·賽克斯多疑地看著費金說，“你有什麼要說的就說吧，費金。”

“是關於到切特賽盜竊的事，比爾，”費金回答說，“在那邊那所房子裡有一些漂亮的銀製器皿！”

“我知道，我知道。”賽克斯說，“兩天前的夜裡，我過去看過那房子。到了晚上，那裡簡直像監獄一樣鎖得死死的，只有一個地方防備不嚴。”

“那是哪兒？”費金問，並把頭往前伸了伸，興奮地盯著賽克斯看。

“你以為我傻啊？我才不告訴你呢！不管怎麼說，我們需要有一個孩子。”

“那麼，是不是有個小地方，只有孩子才能從那裡鑽進去？”費金問。

“也許吧。反正我們需要一個小男孩。”

費金在考慮著，半天沒人吱聲。然後他給賽克斯遞了一個眼神，暗示他先讓南希出去。

“別擔心，”賽克斯說，“你可以信得過她——她不會走漏風聲的。是吧？”

“那還用說。”年輕的女人說著，拿起桌上的瓶子喝了一大口，然後大笑起來。“不管怎樣，費金，我知道你的心思。你是想讓奧利弗去幹這件事。”

“你真是個聰明的姑娘。”費金說道，邪惡地笑著。“這正是我的意思。聽著，比爾——這孩子已經練了好幾個星期了，該到他出力幹活的時候了，再說他也是最瘦小的。”

“他保險嗎？”賽克斯問，“他要是跟我耍花招，我會殺了他的。”

“如果他覺得他是我們自己人的話，他會一輩子都聽我們的。而這次行動就會使他產生這種感覺。”費金急切地說。“這孩子看上去很單純，他是最理想不過的人選。我們必須儘快讓他和我們一起進行一次犯罪行動，否則，他一旦跑了，到警察局告發了我們，他自己還可以不進監獄的。”

就這樣，奧利弗被選定協助賽克斯在兩天之後去幹這件入室盜竊的事。這次行動的計劃經過了非常周密的討論，各項準備工作都做好了。到這時，賽克斯已喝得酩酊大醉了。費金站起身來要走，他穿大衣時，死死地盯著南希看，皺了皺眉頭。不，他肯定他是可以信任她的，她很忠誠。

第二天夜裡，奧利弗獨自待在費金的家裡，這時南希來了。她驚恐萬分，臉色發白，因此奧利弗問她是否不舒服。

“上帝饒恕我！”她雙手直拍巴掌，說道，“我沒想到我會這麼做！”

“出事了嗎？”男孩問，“什麼事？”

她背對著他坐下，用雙手矇住臉。一會兒，她說：“我不明白為什麼，我有時有這種奇怪的感覺。快走，奧利弗——你準備好了嗎？你必須現在跟我到比爾那裡去。”

“什麼事？”

“嗯，沒什麼要緊事。”

奧利弗不相信她的話，可他想終於可能得到一個逃跑的好機會了，因此他未免太快地回答說：“我準備好了。”南希猜到他在想什麼。

“奧利弗，”她說，“這次不是你逃走的時候，我救過你一次，我還會這麼做的。但是，如果今兒晚上出了什麼事，那就可能意味著我得去死。”她非常認真地說著這番話，奧利弗想，這一定是真的。一路上他一聲不響，快步地朝前走著，穿過街道，直奔賽克斯家。

進了屋，賽克斯讓奧利弗坐在椅子上，“他一路上安靜嗎？”他問南希。

“安靜得像只小老鼠。”

“很高興聽到這個。”賽克斯說。“孩子，現在聽我說，”他把一支槍頂在奧利弗腦門上，“你跟我出去時，假如說一句話，我就開槍打死你，明白了嗎？”

奧利弗不停地點著頭，儘量不使自己發抖。

早晨5點鐘，賽克斯和奧利弗出發了。這時，天色還很黑，他們橫穿倫敦，從一頭走到另一頭。剛開始時街道上還是空蕩蕩的，過了一會兒店鋪開始開張，人們開始去工作了。漸漸地，嘈雜聲越來越大，車馬越來越多，他們穿過史密斯菲爾德的肉市時，奧利弗被那裡各種牲畜的形象和氣味，還有那熙熙攘攘推搡著、咒罵著、叫喊著的人群驚呆了。可比爾·賽克斯卻大步地朝前走著，一刻不停。

那天晚些時候，他們搭上了一輛從倫敦西部往鄉間去的馬車。夜幕降臨，又走了幾英里的鄉間小路，他們終於到達了坐落在一條河邊的一幢古老房屋。屋裡黑著燈，好像沒人。他們沒敲門就照直走了進去。

裡面有兩個男人，他們在賽克斯的指令下，為他和男孩子送上了吃的喝的。吃過飯後，賽克斯讓奧利弗去睡一會兒，因為這天深夜他們還得出去。到現在為止，奧利弗還不知道這次遠行的目的，可他累得頭痛，馬上就睡著了。

差不多一點半，人們就起來了，檢查了一下他們的工具，還把幾根木棍收集在一起。賽克斯和那個叫託比的人一起離開了這幢房子，奧利弗走在他們兩人中間。夜晚霧很大，四周非常安靜，他們匆匆地穿行在附近小鎮子荒僻的街道上。不久，他們又到了鄉間，走完幾條小道，最後停在了一座被一道高牆圍著的房屋前。比爾閃電般地爬上了牆，隨後把奧利弗也拉了上去。到了花園裡，他們躡手躡腳地向屋子靠近。直到現在，奧利弗才萬般驚恐地知道了這次遠行的目的是入室盜竊，很有可能還會謀財害命。

比爾·賽克斯打破房子後面的一個小窗戶，然後把手中的燈光射在了奧利弗的臉上。

“聽著，我從這兒把你放進去，你一直往前走，穿過大廳，到前門把我們放進去，如果你不照著我說的去做，你可以肯定我是會開槍打死你的。”

奧利弗被嚇傻了。他被舉起來，鑽過窗子，進到房裡。他萬般無奈，決定設法跑上樓，通知房主。他開始躡手躡腳地朝前走。

突然，廳裡傳來了一聲很響的動靜。

“回來！”賽克斯喊著，“回來！回來！”

奧利弗站在那兒一動不動，給嚇呆了。一盞燈亮起來，兩個男人出現在樓梯上，接著是一道閃光和砰的一響。奧利弗踉踉蹌蹌退了幾步。賽克斯將手伸進窗戶，抓住奧利弗的衣領，將他從屋裡揪到院子裡。

“他們打中他了！”賽克斯喊道，“他在流血。”

一陣響亮的鈴聲壓過了槍聲和人的吶喊聲。奧利弗覺得自己被人扛著跑過高低不平的地面，然後就對什麼也沒有知覺了。