Chapter 15【1 / 4】

151看书网【151kanshu.com】第一时间更新《雾都孤儿(中英文对照)》最新章节。

SHOWINGHOWVERYFONDOFOLIVERTWIST,THEMERRYOLDJEWANDMISSNANCYWERE

Intheobscureparlourofalowpublic-house,inthefilthiestpartofLittleSaffronHill;adarkandgloomyden,whereaflaringgas-lightburntalldayinthewinter-time;andwherenorayofsunevershoneinthesummer:theresat,broodingoveralittlepewtermeasureandasmallglass,stronglyimpregnatedwiththesmellofliquor,amaninavelveteencoat,drabshorts,half-bootsandstockings,whomevenbythatdimlightnoexperiencedagentofthepolicewouldhavehesitatedtorecogniseasMr。WilliamSikes。Athisfeet,satawhite-coated,red-eyeddog;whooccupiedhimself,alternately,inwinkingathismasterwithbotheyesatthesametime;andinlickingalarge,freshcutononesideofhismouth,whichappearedtobetheresultofsomerecentconflict。

‘Keepquiet,youwarmint!Keepquiet!’saidMr。Sikes,suddenlybreakingsilence。Whetherhismeditationsweresointenseastobedisturbedbythedog'swinking,orwhetherhisfeelingsweresowroughtuponbyhisreflectionsthattheyrequiredallthereliefderivablefromkickinganunoffendinganimaltoallaythem,ismatterforargumentandconsideration。Whateverwasthecause,theeffectwasakickandacurse,bestoweduponthedogsimultaneously。

Dogsarenotgenerallyapttorevengeinjuriesinflicteduponthembytheirmasters;butMr。Sikes'sdog,havingfaultsoftemperincommonwithhisowner,andlabouring,perhaps,atthismoment,underapowerfulsenseofinjury,madenomoreadobutatoncefixedhisteethinoneofthehalf-boots。Havinggiveninaheartyshake,heretired,growling,underaform;justescapingthepewtermeasurewhichMr。Sikeslevelledathishead。

‘Youwould,wouldyou?’saidSikes,seizingthepokerinonehand,anddeliberatelyopeningwiththeotheralargeclasp-knife,whichhedrewfromhispocket。‘Comehere,youborndevil!Comehere!D'yehear?’

Thedognodoubtheard;becauseMr。Sikesspokeintheveryharshestkeyofaveryharshvoice;but,appearingtoentertainsomeunaccountableobjectiontohavinghisthroatcut,heremainedwherehewas,andgrowledmorefiercelythanbefore:atthesametimegraspingtheendofthepokerbetweenhisteeth,andbitingatitlikeawildbeast。

ThisresistanceonlyinfuriatedMr。Sikesthemore;who,droppingonhisknees,begantoassailtheanimalmostfuriously。Thedogjumpedfromrighttoleft,andfromlefttoright;snapping,growling,andbarking;themanthrustandswore,andstruckandblasphemed;andthestrugglewasreachingamostcriticalpointforoneorother;when,thedoorsuddenlyopening,thedogdartedout:leavingBillSikeswiththepokerandtheclasp-knifeinhishands。

Theremustalwaysbetwopartiestoaquarrel,saystheoldadage。Mr。Sikes,beingdisappointedofthedog'sparticipation,atoncetransferredhisshareinthequarreltothenewcomer。

‘Whatthedevildoyoucomeinbetweenmeandmydogfor?’saidSikes,withafiercegesture。

‘Ididn'tknow,mydear,Ididn'tknow,’repliedFagin,humbly;fortheJewwasthenewcomer。

‘Didn'tknow,youwhite-liveredthief!’growledSikes。‘Couldn'tyouhearthenoise?’

‘Notasoundofit,asI'malivingman,Bill,’repliedtheJew。

‘Ohno!Youhearnothing,youdon't,’retortedSikeswithafiercesneer。‘Sneakinginandout,soasnobodyhearshowyoucomeorgo!Iwishyouhadbeenthedog,Fagin,halfaminuteago。’

‘Why?’inquiredtheJewwithaforcedsmile。

‘Causethegovernment,ascaresforthelivesofsuchmenasyou,ashaven'thalfthepluckofcurs,letsamankilladoghowhelikes,’repliedSikes,shuttinguptheknifewithaveryexpressivelook;‘that'swhy。’

TheJewrubbedhishands;and,sittingdownatthetable,affectedtolaughatthepleasantryofhisfriend。Hewasobviouslyveryillatease,however。

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