登陆注册
5199200000076

第76章

'So I DO do as she bids me,' replied Mr. Chitling; 'I shouldn't have been milled, if it hadn't been for her advice. But it turned out a good job for you; didn't it, Fagin! And what's six weeks of it? It must come, some time or another, and why not in the winter time when you don't want to go out a-walking so much;eh, Fagin?'

'Ah, to be sure, my dear,' replied the Jew.

'You wouldn't mind it again, Tom, would you,' asked the Dodger, winking upon Charley and the Jew, 'if Bet was all right?'

'I mean to say that I shouldn't,' replied Tom, angrily. 'There, now. Ah! Who'll say as much as that, I should like to know; eh, Fagin?'

'Nobody, my dear,' replied the Jew; 'not a soul, Tom. I don't know one of 'em that would do it besides you; not one of 'em, my dear.'

'I might have got clear off, if I'd split upon her; mightn't I, Fagin?' angrily pursued the poor half-witted dupe. 'A word from me would have done it; wouldn't it, Fagin?'

'To be sure it would, my dear,' replied the Jew.

'But I didn't blab it; did I, Fagin?' demanded Tom, pouring question upon question with great volubility.

'No, no, to be sure,' replied the Jew; 'you were too stout-hearted for that. A deal too stout, my dear!'

'Perhaps I was,' rejoined Tom, looking round; 'and if I was, what's to laugh at, in that; eh, Fagin?'

The Jew, perceiving that Mr. Chitling was considerably roused, hastened to assure him that nobody was laughing; and to prove the gravity of the company, appealed to Master Bates, the principal offender. But, unfortunately, Charley, in opening his mouth to reply that he was never more serious in his life, was unable to prevent the escape of such a violent roar, that the abused Mr.

Chitling, without any preliminary ceremonies, rushed across the room and aimed a blow at the offender; who, being skilful in evading pursuit, ducked to avoid it, and chose his time so well that it lighted on the chest of the merry old gentleman, and caused him to stagger to the wall, where he stood panting for breath, while Mr. Chitling looked on in intense dismay.

'Hark!' cried the Dodger at this moment, 'I heard the tinkler.'

Catching up the light, he crept softly upstairs.

The bell was rung again, with some impatience, while the party were in darkness. After a short pause, the Dodger reappeared, and whispered Fagin mysteriously.

'What!' cried the Jew, 'alone?'

The Dodger nodded in the affirmative, and, shading the flame of the candle with his hand, gave Charley Bates a private intimation, in dumb show, that he had better not be funny just then. Having performed this friendly office, he fixed his eyes on the Jew's face, and awaited his directions.

The old man bit his yellow fingers, and meditated for some seconds; his face working with agitation the while, as if he dreaded something, and feared to know the worst. At length he raised his head.

'Where is he?' he asked.

The Dodger pointed to the floor above, and made a gesture, as if to leave the room.

'Yes,' said the Jew, answering the mute inquiry; 'bring him down.

Hush! Quiet, Charley! Gently, Tom! Scarce, scarce!'

同类推荐
  • 破山禅师语录

    破山禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 苏州竹庵衍禅师语录

    苏州竹庵衍禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无常三启经

    无常三启经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宁海将军固山贝子功绩录

    宁海将军固山贝子功绩录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 定鼎奇闻

    定鼎奇闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 恒春县志

    恒春县志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 禅宗决疑集

    禅宗决疑集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 带着缝纫机回古代

    带着缝纫机回古代

    新贵设计师夏颜,奋斗数年终于成立了自己的工作室。原本意气风发的时尚新秀,刚要大展拳脚的时候……却意外穿越了。且慢,人穿过来就算了,怎么连工作室也跟着来了?夏颜望着崭新的工业缝纫机傻眼了……没有电!怎么用?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 仙人寻凡记

    仙人寻凡记

    天天晒太阳,无所事事,与世无争,这是你的梦想吗?
  • 傲娇总裁带回家

    傲娇总裁带回家

    “咔擦——”黑暗中闪出一点火光,随后熄灭,香烟的味道随即散发出来。坐在沙发上久久沉默的男子终于开口说话:“这么说,白乐雅逃婚了,白家把你给弄来当顶替新娘?”
  • 瘫痪

    瘫痪

    陈集益,70后重要作家。曾就读于鲁迅文学院第七届中青年作家高级研讨班。浙江省作协签约作家。在《十月》《人民文学》《中国作家》《钟山》《天涯》等大型文学期刊发表小说六十万字。2009年获《十月》新锐人物奖。2010年获浙江省青年文学之星奖。
  • 人类群星闪耀时

    人类群星闪耀时

    没有哪一位艺术家能在全天二十四小时里不间断地创作艺术。他们成功完成的那些关键性的、具有恒久意义的作品,都出现在为数不多而且难得一现的灵感降临的瞬间。历史也是如此:我们敬慕一切时代中最伟大的诗人和表演艺术家,但是她也绝不是一位永无闲歇的创造者。歌德曾经充满敬畏地将历史称为"上帝的满是秘密的作坊"——即便在这个作坊里,无关紧要和日常繁琐之事也是无尽无休。在这里如同在艺术和生活的各种领域一样,那种精致的、令人难忘的时刻难得一现。大多时候,历史是一位编年记录人,她心思冷淡却持之以恒地将一个个环套编成一个巨大的链条——这链条延伸几千年,在它上面一个个平淡事实比肩而列,因为所有的精彩纷呈都需要准备时间,每一桩真正的事件都需要有发酵的过程。
  • 空山

    空山

    彼时,洪七正手握鸡翅,看着一只鸟飞过,远远地飞过。洪七与我相对坐着,一座大山的阴影覆盖着我们——时间在这里仿佛有着高深长阔的形状。山是华山。那枯树的形状仿佛是风随意塑造出来的,充满了不可驯服的野气。风也是带野气的——在山谷间,如同野狗一般跑来跑去——眼睛固然看不见,但能感觉得到。
  • 草原上的红飘带

    草原上的红飘带

    蒙古族女人娜仁花结婚不久就被丈夫抛弃了,可是她并没有倒下,她一个人抚养儿女,还收养了五个孤儿,历尽坎坷终于把孩子们抚养成人,并同时带领草原牧民积极投身于经济开发走上富裕之路。第三届网络原创文学现实主义题材征文大赛优胜奖获奖作品
  • 始乱终弃,豪门二手妻

    始乱终弃,豪门二手妻

    *******初遇,她被迫乞讨果腹,被他无情奚落后,一口咬在他的手背,只留下一句“我叫童凌薇,你给我记住”便仓皇逃离。数年后,她成为律师行最受器重的律政佳人,一心向上爬,经常不惜任何代价目的只为打赢官司。为得到摆在眼前的一个成为知名集团法律顾问的机会,她动用一切可以动用的关系和手段,依旧无门而入。终于他作为集团幕后最尊贵的执行总裁,向她提出邀请,但代价却是……出卖婚姻,她如愿以偿,本不在意的一场闹剧,却渐渐迷失了一颗心。*******