按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 390
rascal—”
“It’s not of him I want to hear； I’ve heard enough of him；” said
the stranger； stopping Mr。 Bumble in the very outset of a tirade on
the subject of poor Oliver’s vices。 “It’s of a woman； the hag that
nursed his mother。 Where is she？”
“Where is she？” said Mr。 Bumble； whom the gin…and…water had
rendered facetious。 “It would be hard to tell。 There’s no midwifery
there； whichever place she’s gone to； so I suppose she’s out of
employment； anyway。”
“What do you mean？” demanded the stranger sternly。
“That she died last winter；” rejoined Mr。 Bumble。
The man looked fixedly at him when he had given this
information； and although he did not withdraw his eyes for some
time afterwards； his gaze gradually became vacant and abstracted；
and he seemed lost in thought。 For some time； he appeared
doubtful whether he ought to be relieved or disappointed by the
intelligence； but at length he breathed more freely； and
withdrawing his eyes； observed that it was no great matter。 With
that he rose； as if to depart。
But Mr。 Bumble was cunning enough； and he at once saw that
an opportunity was opened； for the lucrative disposal of some
secret in the possession of his better half。 He well remembered the
night of old Sally’s death； which the occurrences of that day had
given him good reason to recollect； as the occasion on which he
had proposed to Mrs。 Corney； and although that lady had never
confided to him the disclosure of which she had been the solitary
witness； he had heard enough to know that it related to something
that had occurred in the old woman’s attendance； as workhouse
nurse； upon the young mother of Oliver Twist。 Hastily calling this
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 391
circumstance to mind； he informed the stranger； with an air of
mystery； that one woman had been closeted with the old harridan
shortly before she died； and that she could； as he had reason to
believe； throw some light on the subject of his inquiry。
“How can I find her？” said the stranger； thrown off his guard；
and plainly showing that all his fears （whatever they were） were
aroused afresh by the intelligence。
“Only through me；” rejoined Mr。 Bumble。
“When？” cried the stranger hastily。
“Tomorrow；” rejoined Bumble。
“At nine in the evening；” said the stranger； producing a scrap of
paper； and writing down upon it； an obscure address by the waterside； in characters that betrayed his agitation； “at nine in the
evening； bring her to me there。 I needn’t tell you to be secret。 It’s
your interest。”
With these words； he led the way to the door； after stopping to
pay for the liquor that had been drunk。 Shortly remarking that
their roads were different； he departed without more ceremony
than an emphatic repetition of the hour of appointment for the
following night。
On glancing at the address； the parochial functionary observed
that it contained no name。 The stranger had not gone far； so he
made after him to ask it。
“What do you want；” cried the man； turning quickly round； as
Bumble touched him on the arm； “following me？”
“Only to ask a question；” said the other； pointing to the scrap of
paper。 “What name am I to ask for？”
“Monks！” rejoined the man； and strode hastily away。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 392
Chapter 38
Containing An Account Of What Passed Between
Mr。 And Mrs。 Bumble； And Mr。 Monks； At Their
Nocturnal Interview。
It was a dull； close； overcast summer evening。 The clouds；
which had been threatening all day； spread out in a dense and
sluggish mass of vapour； already yielded large drops of rain；
and seemed to presage a violent thunder…storm； when Mr。 and
Mrs。 Bumble； turning out of the main street of the town； directed
their course towards a scattered little colony of ruinous houses；
distant from it some miles and a half； or thereabouts； and erected
on a low； unwholesome swamp； bordering upon the river。
They were both wrapped in old and shabby outer garments；
which might； perhaps； serve the double purpose of protecting
their persons from the rain； and sheltering them from observation。
The husband carried a lantern； from which； however； no light yet
shone； and trudged a few paces in front as though—the way being
dirty—to give his wife the benefit of treading in his heavy
footprints。 They went on； in profound silence； every now and then；
Mr。 Bumble relaxed his pace； and turned his head as if to make
sure that his helpmate was following； then； discovering that she
was close at his heels he mended his rate of walking； and
proceeded； at a considerable increase of speed； towards their place
of destination。
This was far from being a place of doubtful character； for it had
long been known as the residence of none but low ruffians； who；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 393
under various pretences of living by their labour； subsisted chiefly
on plunder and crime。 It was a collection of mere hovels—some；
hastily built with loose bricks； others； of old worm…eaten ship…
timber jumbled together without any attempt at order or
arrangement； and planted； for the most part； within a few feet of
the river’s bank。 A few leaky boats drawn up on the mud； and
made fast to the dwarf wall which skirted it； and here and there an
oar or coil of rope； appeared； at first； to indicate that the
inhabitants of these miserable cottages pursued some avocation
on the river； but a glance at the shattered and useless condition of
the articles thus displayed； would have led a passer…by； without
much difficulty； to the conjecture that they were disposed there；
rather for the preservation of appearances； than with any view of
their being actually employed。
In the heart of this cluster of huts； and skirting the river； which
its upper storey overhung； stood a large building； formerly used as
a manufactory of some kind。 It had； in its day； probably furnished
employment to the inhabitants of the surrounding tenements。 But
it had long since gone to ruin。 The rat； the worm； and the action of
the damp； had weakened and rotted the piles on which it stood；
and a considerable portion of the building had already sunk down
into the water； while the remainder； tottering and bending over
the dark stream； seemed to wait a favourable opportunity of
following its old companion； and involving itself in the same fate。
It was before this ruinous building that the worthy couple
paused； as the first peal of distant thunder reverberated in the air；
and the rain commenced pouring violently down。
“The place should be somewhere here；” said Bumble；
consulting a scrap of paper he held in his hand。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 394
“Hollo； there！” cried a voice from above。
Following the sound； Mr。 Bumble raised his head； and descried
a man looking out of a door； breast…high； on the second storey。
“Stand still a minute；” cried the voice； “I’ll be with you directly。”
With which the head disappeared； and the door closed。
“Is that the man？” asked Mr。 Bumble’s good lady。
Mr。 Bumble nodded in the affirmative。
“Then； mind what I told you；” said the matron； “and be careful
to say as little as you can； or you’ll betray us at once。”
Mr。 Bumble； who had eyed the building with very rueful looks；
was apparently about to express some doubts relative to the
advisability of proceeding any further with the enterprise just
then； when he was prevented by the appearance of Monks； who
opened a small door； near which they stood； and beckoned them
inwards。
“Come in！” he cried impatiently； stamping his foot upon the
ground。 “Don’t keep me here！”
The woman； who had hesitated at first； walked boldly in；
without any other invitation。 Mr。 Bumble； who was ashamed or
afraid to lay behind； followed； obviously very ill at ease and with
scarcely any of that remarkable dignity which was usually his chief
characteristic。
“What the devil made you stand lingering there； in the wet？”
said Monks； turning round； and addressing Bumble； after he had
bolted the door behind them。
“We—we were only cooling ourselves；” stammered Bumble；
looking apprehensively about him。
“Cooling yourselves！” retorted Monks。 “Not all the rain that
ever fell； or ever will fall； will put as much of hell’s fire out； as a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist 395
man can carry about with him。 You won’t cool yourself so easily；
don’t think it！”
With this agreeable speech； Monks turned short upon the
matron； and bent his gaze upon her； till even she； who was not
easily cowed； was fain to withdraw her eyes； and turn them
towards the ground。
“This is the woman； is it？” demanded Monks。
“Hem！ That is the woman；” replied Mr。 Bumble； mindful of his
wife’s caution。
“You think women never can keep secrets； I suppose？” said the
matron； interposing； and returning； as she spoke；