06-02-雾都孤儿 [59]
？It hought that after all the se years I'd finally tamed her．She must be ill-perhaps she's still got a bit of fever．'
'That must be it，'said Fagin，nodding thoughtfully．
As he walked home，Fagin's eyes were sharp with suspicion．He had suspected for a while that Nancy had become tired of Bill Sikes' brutality and violence，and that she had found a new friend to take his place．Her manner was different；she often left home alone，and she seemed lessinterested in the gang．And tonight，her desperate impatience to go out at a particular hour…He was certain he was right．He began to make plans．
First，he wanted to know who Nancy's new friend was．He could make him a valuable new member of the gang，with Nancy as his assistant．But the re was another，darker reason．Fagin，too，had become tired of Sikes．Sikes knew too much-too many dangerous secrets about Fagin himself．Fagin distrusted everybody，but he hated and distrusted Sikes most of all．It would be very convenient if Sikes could be…removed．
'With a little persuasion，'Fagin thought， 'perhaps the girl would poison Sikes．'Suddenly，his eyes narrowed in delight． 'Yes！First，I must have her watched，and find out who her new man is．The n I shall threaten to tell Sikes everything．She knows that neither she nor her new man will ever be safe from Sikes' violent jealousy．She will have no choice except to do as I ask her-and the n，once the murder is done，she will be in my power for ever！'
Early next morning Fagin called the newest member of his gang．Noah was doing very well．He had already broughthome quite a lot of money．He had found that robbing small children was indeed light，easy work，and he was proud of his success．
'I have another job for you now，'Fagin told him． 'It needs great care and secrecy．I want you to follow a woman．I want to know where she goes，who she sees，and if possible，what she says．I will pay you a pound for this information．'
Noah's eyes were wide with greed． 'I'm the right man forthis job．Who is she？'
'One of us．'
'What？You don't trust her，the n？'
'Exactly so，my dear．Exactly so，'smiled Fagin．The following Sunday，soon after eleven o'clock，a woman walked quickly through the dark streets towards Lond on Bridge．A mist hung over the river，and the buildings on the far bank could hardly be seen．A man followed some distance behind her，keeping to the darkest shadows．It was a cold，damp night，and the re were very few people on the streets at this late hour．
When the woman reached the centre of the bridge，she stopped and looked around anxiously．The man following hers topped too．The heavy bell of St Paul's cathe dral rang out，announcing the death of another day．Just as it finished，agrey haired man and a young woman got out of a coach and walked across the bridge．They met the woman，who tookthe m down some steps leading to the river bank．They stood indeep shadow by the wall of the bridge．The man hurried down some other steps，crept up to the corner of the wall，and listened．
Nancy spoke first． 'I'm so frightened tonight I can hardly breathe ．'
'Frightened of what？'asked Mr Brown low ．He seemed topity her．
'I wish I knew．Horrible thoughts of death，and blood，have been with me all day．I don't know why．'
'Speak to her kindly，'said Rose to Mr Brown low ． 'Poorgirl！She seems to need it．'
'I could n't come last Sunday，'continued the girl． 'I was kept in by force．But tonight he'll be out all night untilday light．Now，before I tell rou anything else，I must tell you that I don't want Fagin，or any of the other members of the gang，to be hand ed to the police．'
'Why not？'
'Because I couldn't betray the m．They've been loyal to me，and I'll stay loyal to the m．'
'The n just tell us how we can get Monks，and I promisen one of your friends will be harmed
'That must be it，'said Fagin，nodding thoughtfully．
As he walked home，Fagin's eyes were sharp with suspicion．He had suspected for a while that Nancy had become tired of Bill Sikes' brutality and violence，and that she had found a new friend to take his place．Her manner was different；she often left home alone，and she seemed lessinterested in the gang．And tonight，her desperate impatience to go out at a particular hour…He was certain he was right．He began to make plans．
First，he wanted to know who Nancy's new friend was．He could make him a valuable new member of the gang，with Nancy as his assistant．But the re was another，darker reason．Fagin，too，had become tired of Sikes．Sikes knew too much-too many dangerous secrets about Fagin himself．Fagin distrusted everybody，but he hated and distrusted Sikes most of all．It would be very convenient if Sikes could be…removed．
'With a little persuasion，'Fagin thought， 'perhaps the girl would poison Sikes．'Suddenly，his eyes narrowed in delight． 'Yes！First，I must have her watched，and find out who her new man is．The n I shall threaten to tell Sikes everything．She knows that neither she nor her new man will ever be safe from Sikes' violent jealousy．She will have no choice except to do as I ask her-and the n，once the murder is done，she will be in my power for ever！'
Early next morning Fagin called the newest member of his gang．Noah was doing very well．He had already broughthome quite a lot of money．He had found that robbing small children was indeed light，easy work，and he was proud of his success．
'I have another job for you now，'Fagin told him． 'It needs great care and secrecy．I want you to follow a woman．I want to know where she goes，who she sees，and if possible，what she says．I will pay you a pound for this information．'
Noah's eyes were wide with greed． 'I'm the right man forthis job．Who is she？'
'One of us．'
'What？You don't trust her，the n？'
'Exactly so，my dear．Exactly so，'smiled Fagin．The following Sunday，soon after eleven o'clock，a woman walked quickly through the dark streets towards Lond on Bridge．A mist hung over the river，and the buildings on the far bank could hardly be seen．A man followed some distance behind her，keeping to the darkest shadows．It was a cold，damp night，and the re were very few people on the streets at this late hour．
When the woman reached the centre of the bridge，she stopped and looked around anxiously．The man following hers topped too．The heavy bell of St Paul's cathe dral rang out，announcing the death of another day．Just as it finished，agrey haired man and a young woman got out of a coach and walked across the bridge．They met the woman，who tookthe m down some steps leading to the river bank．They stood indeep shadow by the wall of the bridge．The man hurried down some other steps，crept up to the corner of the wall，and listened．
Nancy spoke first． 'I'm so frightened tonight I can hardly breathe ．'
'Frightened of what？'asked Mr Brown low ．He seemed topity her．
'I wish I knew．Horrible thoughts of death，and blood，have been with me all day．I don't know why．'
'Speak to her kindly，'said Rose to Mr Brown low ． 'Poorgirl！She seems to need it．'
'I could n't come last Sunday，'continued the girl． 'I was kept in by force．But tonight he'll be out all night untilday light．Now，before I tell rou anything else，I must tell you that I don't want Fagin，or any of the other members of the gang，to be hand ed to the police．'
'Why not？'
'Because I couldn't betray the m．They've been loyal to me，and I'll stay loyal to the m．'
'The n just tell us how we can get Monks，and I promisen one of your friends will be harmed