06-02-雾都孤儿 [30]
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
'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