雾都孤儿- 第4部分

O　liver　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，　O　liver？’　said　the　old　man．

　‘Very　good，’　said　O　liver．　The　others　all　started　laughing，though　O　liver　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　O　liver　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　O　liver．　‘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　O　liver。　

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

O　liver　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　O　liver；　showing　it　in　his　hand。　

'You're　a　clever　boy；　my　dear；　'said　the　old　gentleman；　putting　his　hand　on　O　liver'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。　'

O　liver　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。　

O　liver　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。　O　liver　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　O　liver　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　O　liver　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　O　liver。　

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

O　liver　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。　O　liver　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。　O　liver；　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。　O　liver　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　O　liver　running　away；　so　he　naturally　thought　O　liver　was　the　thief。　With　loud　cries　of　'Stop　thief！　'；　he　ran　after　O　liver　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　O　liver。　

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　O　liver。　'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。　

O　liver　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　O　liver　by　the　collar。　'Come　on；　get　up；　'he　said　roughly。　

'It　wasn't　me；　sir；　'said　O　liver；　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　O　liver。　'Come　on；　get　up！　'

'Don't　hurt　him；　'said　the　old　gentleman。　

'I　won't；　said　the　policeman；　tearing　O　liver's　jacket　half　off　his　back　as　he　lifted　him　up。　

The　three　of　the　m　started　walking；　followed　by　the　excited　crowd。　



　

5　　O　liver's　life　changes

　　

O　liver　was　taken　to　the　nearest　police　station。　The　officer　at　the　gate　looked　at　the　boy。　'Another　young　thief；　eh？　'He　turned　to　the　old　gentleman；　'Are　you　the　person　who　was　robbed；　sir？　'

'Yes；　I　am；　'replied　the　old　gentleman；　'but　I'm　not　sure　that　this　boy　actually　took　the　hand　kerchief。　I　don't　really　want　to　take　him　to　court。　'

'Too　late。　He　must　go　before　the　magistrate　now。　'

O　liver　was　locked　in　a　small　stone　cell；　which　was　disgustingly　dirty　and　smelly　As　the　key　turned　in　the　lock；　the　old　gentleman　said　to　himself　thoughtfully；　'The　re's　something　in　that　boy's　face…　He　could　be　innocent。　Where　have　I　seen　someone　like　him　before？　'After　thinking　about　this　for　a　few　minutes；　he　said；　'No；　it　must　be　imagination。　'He　sighed　unhappily；　and　began　reading　the　book　again。　

Some　time　later；　the　officer　touched　his　shoulder　and　told　him　that　the　court　was　ready。　A　magistrate　was　a　judge　who　dealt　with　small　crimes　in　local　courts；　and　the　magistrate　for　this　district　was　well　known。　His　name　was　Mr　Fang　and　he　was　a　disagreeable；　bad…tempered　man。　Today　he　was　in　a　particularly　bad　mood。　He　frowned　angrily　at　the　old　gentleman；　and　asked　sharply；　

'Who　are　you？　'

'My　name；　sir；　is　　Brown　low　。　'

'Officer！　What　is　this　man　charged　with？　'

'He's　not　charged；　sir；　'answered　the　officer。　'He's　accusing　the　boy。　'

The　magistrate　looked　at　Mr　　Brown　low　　from　head　to　foot。　'And　what　have　you　got　to　say？　'

Mr　　Brown　low　　began　to　explain。　'I　was　standing　outside　a　book　shop—'

'Be　quiet；　sir！　'shouted　Mr　Fang。　'Policeman！　Now－you　arrested　the　boy。　What　happened？　'

The　policeman　told　the　magistrate　what　he　had　heard；　and　how　he　had　searched　O　liver　afterwards　and　found　nothing。　

'Are　the　re　any　witnesses？　'asked　the　magistrate。　

'None；　'answered　the　policeman。　

Mr　Fang　the　n　turned　to　Mr　　Brown　low　　and　angrily　told　him　to　describe　what　had　happened。　Mr　　Brown　low　　explained　that　he　had　run　after　the　boy　only　because　he　saw　him　running　away。　He　did　not　think　that　the　boy　was　the　actual　thief　and　he　hoped　that　the　boy　would　not　be　punished。　'He's　been　hurt　already；　'he　added；　'and　now　I'm　afraid　he's　very　ill。　'

'I　don't　believe　that　for　a　moment；　'said　Mr　Fang　unpleasantly。　He　turned　to　O　liver。　'Come　now；　don't　try　any　clever　tricks　with　me！　What's　your　name？　'he　demanded。　

O　liver　tried　to　reply；　but　he　was　too　weak　to　speak。　He　was　deadly　pale；　and　he　felt　the　room　spinning　round　him。　At　last　he　managed　to　whisper　a　request　for　water；　but　the　magistrate　refused　angrily。　Suddenly；　O　liver　fainted　and　fell　to　the　floor。　

Mr　Fang　stared　at　him　angrily。　'Guilty。　Three　months　'prison；　'he　said　immediately。　'Let　him　lie　the　re。　He'll　soon　be　tired　of　that。　'Mr　Fang　stood　up。　'This　court　is　now　closed。　'

At　that　moment　a　man　in　an　old　black　coat　rushed　in。　'Stop！　'he　shouted。　'Don't　take　the　boy　away。　I　saw　it　all。　I'm　the　book　shop　owner。　'

Mr　Fang's