English
UponthenightwhenNancy,havinglulledMr.Sikestosleep,hurriedonherself-imposedmissiontoRoseMaylie,thereadvancedtowardsLondon,bytheGreatNorthRoad,twopersons,uponwhomitisexpedientthatthishistoryshouldbestowsomeattention.
Theywereamanandwoman;orperhapstheywouldbebetterdescribedasamaleandfemale:fortheformerwasoneofthoselong-limbed,knock-kneed,shambling,bonypeople,towhomitisdifficulttoassignanypreciseage,—lookingastheydo,whentheyareyetboys,likeundergrownmen,andwhentheyarealmostmen,likeovergrownboys.
Thewomanwasyoung,butofarobustandhardymake,assheneedhavebeentobeartheweightoftheheavybundlewhichwasstrappedtoherback.
Hercompanionwasnotencumberedwithmuchluggage,astheremerelydangledfromastickwhichhecarriedoverhisshoulder,asmallparcelwrappedinacommonhandkerchief,andapparentlylightenough.
Thiscircumstance,addedtothelengthofhislegs,whichwereofunusualextent,enabledhimwithmucheasetokeepsomehalf-dozenpacesinadvanceofhiscompanion,towhomheoccasionallyturnedwithanimpatientjerkofthehead:asifreproachinghertardiness,andurginghertogreaterexertion.
Thus,theyhadtoiledalongthedustyroad,takinglittleheedofanyobjectwithinsight,savewhentheysteppedasidetoallowawiderpassageforthemail-coacheswhichwerewhirlingoutoftown,untiltheypassedthroughHighgatearchway;whentheforemosttravellerstoppedandcalledimpatientlytohiscompanion,
‘Comeon,can’tyer?Whatalazybonesyerare,Charlotte.’
‘It’saheavyload,Icantellyou,’saidthefemale,comingup,almostbreathlesswithfatigue.
‘Heavy!Whatareyertalkingabout?Whatareyermadefor?’
rejoinedthemaletraveller,changinghisownlittlebundleashespoke,totheothershoulder.‘Oh,thereyerare,restingagain!
Well,ifyerain’tenoughtotireanybody’spatienceout,Idon’tknowwhatis!’
‘Isitmuchfarther?’askedthewoman,restingherselfagainstabank,andlookingupwiththeperspirationstreamingfromherface.
‘Muchfarther!Yerasgoodasthere,’saidthelong-leggedtramper,pointingoutbeforehim.‘Lookthere!ThosearethelightsofLondon.’
‘They’reagoodtwomileoff,atleast,’saidthewomandespondingly.
‘Nevermindwhetherthey’retwomileoff,ortwenty,’saidNoahClaypole;forheitwas;‘butgetupandcomeon,orI’llkickyer,andsoIgiveyernotice.’
AsNoah’srednosegrewredderwithanger,andashecrossedtheroadwhilespeaking,asiffullypreparedtoputhisthreatintoexecution,thewomanrosewithoutanyfurtherremark,andtrudgedonwardbyhisside.
‘Wheredoyoumeantostopforthenight,Noah?’sheasked,aftertheyhadwalkedafewhundredyards.
‘HowshouldIknow?’repliedNoah,whosetemperhadbeenconsiderablyimpairedbywalking.
‘Near,Ihope,’saidCharlotte.
‘No,notnear,’repliedMr.Claypole.‘There!Notnear;sodon’tthinkit.’
‘Whynot?’
‘WhenItellyerthatIdon’tmeantodoathing,that’senough,withoutanywhyorbecauseeither,’repliedMr.Claypolewithdignity.
‘Well,youneedn’tbesocross,’saidhiscompanion.
‘Aprettythingitwouldbe,wouldn’tittogoandstopattheveryfirstpublic-houseoutsidethetown,sothatSowerberry,ifhecomeupafterus,mightpokeinhisoldnose,andhaveustakenbackinacartwithhandcuffson,’saidMr.Claypoleinajeeringtone.‘No!
IshallgoandlosemyselfamongthenarroweststreetsIcanfind,andnotstoptillwecometotheveryout-of-the-wayesthouseIcanseteyeson.
‘Cod,yermaythanksyerstarsI’vegotahead;forifwehadn’tgone,atfirst,thewrongroadapurpose,andcomebackacrosscountry,yer’dhavebeenlockeduphardandfastaweekago,mylady.Andserveyerrightforbeingafool.’
‘IknowIain’tascunningasyouare,’repliedCharlotte;‘butdon’tputalltheblameonme,andsayIshouldhavebeenlockedup.YouwouldhavebeenifIhadbeen,anyway.’
‘Yertookthemoneyfromthetill,yerknowyerdid,’saidMr.Claypole.
‘Itookitforyou,Noah,dear,’rejoinedCharlotte.
‘DidIkeepit?’askedMr.Claypole.
‘No;youtrustedinme,andletmecarryitlikeadear,andsoyouare,’saidthelady,chuckinghimunderthechin,anddrawingherarmthroughhis.
Thiswasindeedthecase;butasitwasnotMr.Claypole’shabittoreposeablindandfoolishconfidenceinanybody,itshouldbeobserved,injusticetothatgentleman,thathehadtrustedCharlottetothisextent,inorderthat,iftheywerepursued,themoneymightbefoundonher:whichwouldleavehimanopportunityofassertinghisinnocenceofanytheft,andwouldgreatlyfacilitatehischancesofescape.
Ofcourse,heenteredatthisjuncture,intonoexplanationofhismotives,andtheywalkedonverylovinglytogether.
Inpursuanceofthiscautiousplan,Mr.Claypolewenton,withouthalting,untilhearrivedattheAngelatIslington,wherehewiselyjudged,fromthecrowdofpassengersandnumbersofvehicles,thatLondonbeganinearnest.
Justpausingtoobservewhichappearedthemostcrowdedstreets,andconsequentlythemosttobeavoided,hecrossedintoSaintJohn’sRoad,andwassoondeepintheobscurityoftheintricateanddirtyways,which,lyingbetweenGray’sInnLaneandSmithfield,renderthatpartofthetownoneofthelowestandworstthatimprovementhasleftinthemidstofLondon.
Throughthesestreets,NoahClaypolewalked,draggingCharlotteafterhim;nowsteppingintothekenneltoembraceataglancethewholeexternalcharacterofsomesmallpublic-house;nowjoggingonagain,assomefanciedappearanceinducedhimtobelieveittoopublicforhispurpose.
Atlength,hestoppedinfrontofone,morehumbleinappearanceandmoredirtythananyhehadyetseen;and,havingcrossedoverandsurveyeditfromtheoppositepavement,graciouslyannouncedhisintentionofputtingupthere,forthenight.
‘Sogiveusthebundle,’saidNoah,unstrappingitfromthewoman’sshoulders,andslingingitoverhisown;‘anddon’tyerspeak,exceptwhenyerspoketo.
What’sthenameofthehouse—t-h-r—threewhat?’
‘Cripples,’saidCharlotte.
‘ThreeCripples,’repeatedNoah,‘andaverygoodsigntoo.Now,then!
Keepcloseatmyheels,andcomealong.’
Withtheseinjunctions,hepushedtherattlingdoorwithhisshoulder,andenteredthehouse,followedbyhiscompanion.
TherewasnobodyinthebarbutayoungJew,who,withhistwoelbowsonthecounter,wasreadingadirtynewspaper.HestaredveryhardatNoah,andNoahstaredveryhardathim.
IfNoahhadbeenattiredinhischarity-boy’sdress,theremighthavebeensomereasonfortheJewopeninghiseyessowide;butashehaddiscardedthecoatandbadge,andworeashortsmock-frockoverhisleathers,thereseemednoparticularreasonforhisappearanceexcitingsomuchattentioninapublic-house.
‘IsthistheThreeCripples?’askedNoah.
‘Thatisthedabeofthis‘ouse,’repliedtheJew.
‘Agentlemanwemetontheroad,comingupfromthecountry,recommendedushere,’saidNoah,nudgingCharlotte,perhapstocallherattentiontothismostingeniousdeviceforattractingrespect,andperhapstowarnhertobetraynosurprise.‘Wewanttosleephereto-night.’
‘I’bdotcertaidyoucad,’saidBarney,whowastheattendantsprite;‘butI’llidquire.’
‘Showusthetap,andgiveusabitofcoldmeatandadropofbeerwhileyerinquiring,willyer?’saidNoah.
Barneycompliedbyusheringthemintoasmallback-room,andsettingtherequiredviandsbeforethem;havingdonewhich,heinformedthetravellersthattheycouldbelodgedthatnight,andlefttheamiablecoupletotheirrefreshment.
Now,thisback-roomwasimmediatelybehindthebar,andsomestepslower,sothatanypersonconnectedwiththehouse,undrawingasmallcurtainwhichconcealedasinglepaneofglassfixedinthewallofthelast-namedapartment,aboutfivefeetfromitsflooring,couldnotonlylookdownuponanyguestsintheback-roomwithoutanygreathazardofbeingobserved(theglassbeinginadarkangleofthewall,betweenwhichandalargeuprightbeamtheobserverhadtothrusthimself),butcould,byapplyinghiseartothepartition,ascertainwithtolerabledistinctness,theirsubjectofconversation.
Thelandlordofthehousehadnotwithdrawnhiseyefromthisplaceofespialforfiveminutes,andBarneyhadonlyjustreturnedfrommakingthecommunicationaboverelated,whenFagin,inthecourseofhisevening’sbusiness,cameintothebartoinquireaftersomeofhisyoungpupils.
‘Hush!’saidBarney:‘stradegersidthenextroob.’
‘Strangers!’repeatedtheoldmaninawhisper.
‘Ah!Adrubudstoo,’addedBarney.‘Frobthecuttry,butsubthiginyourway,orI’bbistaked.’
Faginappearedtoreceivethiscommunicationwithgreatinterest.
Mountingastool,hecautiouslyappliedhiseyetothepaneofglass,fromwhichsecretposthecouldseeMr.Claypoletakingcoldbeeffromthedish,andporterfromthepot,andadministeringhomeopathicdosesofbothtoCharlotte,whosatpatientlyby,eatinganddrinkingathispleasure.
‘Aha!’hewhispered,lookingroundtoBarney,‘Ilikethatfellow’slooks.
He’dbeofusetous;heknowshowtotrainthegirlalready.
Don’tmakeasmuchnoiseasamouse,mydear,andletmehear‘emtalk—letmehear‘em.’
Heagainappliedhiseyetotheglass,andturninghiseartothepartition,listenedattentively:withasubtleandeagerlookuponhisface,thatmighthaveappertainedtosomeoldgoblin.
‘SoImeantobeagentleman,’saidMr.Claypole,kickingouthislegs,andcontinuingaconversation,thecommencementofwhichFaginhadarrivedtoolatetohear.
‘Nomorejollyoldcoffins,Charlotte,butagentleman’slifeforme:and,ifyerlike,yershallbealady.’
‘Ishouldlikethatwellenough,dear,’repliedCharlotte;‘buttillsain’ttobeemptiedeveryday,andpeopletogetclearoffafterit.’
‘Tillsbeblowed!’saidMr.Claypole;‘there’smorethingsbesidestillstobeemptied.’
‘Whatdoyoumean?’askedhiscompanion.
‘Pockets,women’sridicules,houses,mail-coaches,banks!’saidMr.Claypole,risingwiththeporter.
‘Butyoucan’tdoallthat,dear,’saidCharlotte.
‘Ishalllookouttogetintocompanywiththemascan,’repliedNoah.
‘They’llbeabletomakeususefulsomewayoranother.
Why,youyourselfareworthfiftywomen;IneverseesuchapreciousslyanddeceitfulcreeturasyercanbewhenIletyer.’
‘Lor,howniceitistohearyersayso!’exclaimedCharlotte,imprintingakissuponhisuglyface.
‘There,that’lldo:don’tyerbetooaffectionate,incaseI’mcrosswithyer,’saidNoah,disengaginghimselfwithgreatgravity.
‘Ishouldliketobethecaptainofsomeband,andhavethewhoppingof‘em,andfollering‘emabout,unbeknowntothemselves.
Thatwouldsuitme,iftherewasgoodprofit;andifwecouldonlygetinwithsomegentlemanofthissort,Isayitwouldbecheapatthattwenty-poundnoteyou’vegot,—especiallyaswedon’tverywellknowhowtogetridofitourselves.’
Afterexpressingthisopinion,Mr.Claypolelookedintotheporter-potwithanaspectofdeepwisdom;andhavingwellshakenitscontents,noddedcondescendinglytoCharlotte,andtookadraught,wherewithheappearedgreatlyrefreshed.
Hewasmeditatinganother,whenthesuddenopeningofthedoor,andtheappearanceofastranger,interruptedhim.
ThestrangerwasMr.Fagin.Andveryamiablehelooked,andaverylowbowhemade,asheadvanced,andsettinghimselfdownatthenearesttable,orderedsomethingtodrinkofthegrinningBarney.
‘Apleasantnight,sir,butcoolforthetimeofyear,’saidFagin,rubbinghishands.‘Fromthecountry,Isee,sir?’
‘Howdoyerseethat?’askedNoahClaypole.
‘WehavenotsomuchdustasthatinLondon,’repliedFagin,pointingfromNoah’sshoestothoseofhiscompanion,andfromthemtothetwobundles.
‘Yerasharpfeller,’saidNoah.‘Ha!ha!onlyhearthat,Charlotte!’
‘Why,oneneedbesharpinthistown,mydear,’repliedtheJew,sinkinghisvoicetoaconfidentialwhisper;‘andthat’sthetruth.’
Faginfollowedupthisremarkbystrikingthesideofhisnosewithhisrightforefinger,—agesturewhichNoahattemptedtoimitate,thoughnotwithcompletesuccess,inconsequenceofhisownnosenotbeinglargeenoughforthepurpose.
However,Mr.Faginseemedtointerprettheendeavourasexpressingaperfectcoincidencewithhisopinion,andputabouttheliquorwhichBarneyreappearedwith,inaveryfriendlymanner.
‘Goodstuffthat,’observedMr.Claypole,smackinghislips.
‘Dear!’saidFagin.‘Amanneedbealwaysemptyingatill,orapocket,orawoman’sreticule,orahouse,oramail-coach,orabank,ifhedrinksitregularly.’
Mr.Claypolenosoonerheardthisextractfromhisownremarksthanhefellbackinhischair,andlookedfromtheJewtoCharlottewithacountenanceofashypalenessandexcessiveterror.
‘Don’tmindme,mydear,’saidFagin,drawinghischaircloser.‘Ha!ha!itwasluckyitwasonlymethatheardyoubychance.Itwasveryluckyitwasonlyme.’
‘Ididn’ttakeit,’stammeredNoah,nolongerstretchingouthislegslikeanindependentgentleman,butcoilingthemupaswellashecouldunderhischair;‘itwasallherdoing;yer’vegotitnow,Charlotte,yerknowyerhave.’
‘Nomatterwho’sgotit,orwhodidit,mydear,’repliedFagin,glancing,nevertheless,withahawk’seyeatthegirlandthetwobundles.‘I’minthatwaymyself,andIlikeyouforit.’
‘Inwhatway?’askedMr.Claypole,alittlerecovering.
‘Inthatwayofbusiness,’rejoinedFagin;‘andsoarethepeopleofthehouse.
You’vehittherightnailuponthehead,andareassafehereasyoucouldbe.
ThereisnotasaferplaceinallthistownthanistheCripples;thatis,whenIliketomakeitso.
AndIhavetakenafancytoyouandtheyoungwoman;soI’vesaidtheword,andyoumaymakeyourmindseasy.’
NoahClaypole’smindmighthavebeenateaseafterthisassurance,buthisbodycertainlywasnot;forheshuffledandwrithedabout,intovariousuncouthpositions:eyeinghisnewfriendmeanwhilewithmingledfearandsuspicion.
‘I’lltellyoumore,’saidFagin,afterhehadreassuredthegirl,bydintoffriendlynodsandmutteredencouragements.
‘IhavegotafriendthatIthinkcangratifyyourdarlingwish,andputyouintherightway,whereyoucantakewhateverdepartmentofthebusinessyouthinkwillsuityoubestatfirst,andbetaughtalltheothers.’
‘Yerspeakasifyerwereinearnest,’repliedNoah.
‘Whatadvantagewoulditbetometobeanythingelse?’inquiredFagin,shrugginghisshoulders.‘Here!Letmehaveawordwithyououtside.’
‘There’snooccasiontotroubleourselvestomove,’saidNoah,gettinghislegsbygradualdegreesabroadagain.‘She’lltaketheluggageupstairsthewhile.Charlotte,seetothembundles.’
Thismandate,whichhadbeendeliveredwithgreatmajesty,wasobeyedwithouttheslightestdemur;andCharlottemadethebestofherwayoffwiththepackageswhileNoahheldthedooropenandwatchedherout.
‘She’skepttolerablywellunder,ain’tshe?’heaskedasheresumedhisseat:inthetoneofakeeperwhohadtamedsomewildanimal.
‘Quiteperfect,’rejoinedFagin,clappinghimontheshoulder.‘You’reagenius,mydear.’
‘Why,IsupposeifIwasn’t,Ishouldn’tbehere,’repliedNoah.‘But,Isay,she’llbebackifyerlosetime.’
‘Now,whatdoyouthink?’saidFagin.‘Ifyouwastolikemyfriend,couldyoudobetterthanjoinhim?’
‘Isheinagoodwayofbusiness;that’swhereitis!’respondedNoah,winkingoneofhislittleeyes.
‘Thetopofthetree;employsapowerofhands;hastheverybestsocietyintheprofession.’
‘Regulartown-maders?’askedMr.Claypole.
‘Notacountrymanamong‘em;andIdon’tthinkhe’dtakeyou,evenonmyrecommendation,ifhedidn’trunrathershortofassistantsjustnow,’repliedFagin.
‘ShouldIhavetohandover?’saidNoah,slappinghisbreeches-pocket.
‘Itcouldn’tpossiblybedonewithout,’repliedFagin,inamostdecidedmanner.
‘Twentypound,though—it’salotofmoney!’
‘Notwhenit’sinanoteyoucan’tgetridof,’retortedFagin.‘Numberanddatetaken,Isuppose?PaymentstoppedattheBank?Ah!It’snotworthmuchtohim.
It’llhavetogoabroad,andhecouldn’tsellitforagreatdealinthemarket.’
‘WhencouldIseehim?’askedNoahdoubtfully.
‘To-morrowmorning.’
‘Where?’
‘Here.’
‘Um!’saidNoah.‘What’sthewages?’
‘Livelikeagentleman—boardandlodging,pipesandspiritsfree—halfofallyouearn,andhalfofalltheyoungwomanearns,’repliedMr.Fagin.
WhetherNoahClaypole,whoserapacitywasnoneoftheleastcomprehensive,wouldhaveaccededeventotheseglowingterms,hadhebeenaperfectlyfreeagent,isverydoubtful;butasherecollectedthat,intheeventofhisrefusal,itwasinthepowerofhisnewacquaintancetogivehimuptojusticeimmediately(andmoreunlikelythingshadcometopass),hegraduallyrelented,andsaidhethoughtthatwouldsuithim.
‘But,yersee,’observedNoah,‘asshewillbeabletodoagooddeal,Ishouldliketotakesomethingverylight.’
‘Alittlefancywork?’suggestedFagin.
‘Ah!somethingofthatsort,’repliedNoah.‘Whatdoyouthinkwouldsuitmenow?Somethingnottootryingforthestrength,andnotverydangerous,youknow.That’sthesortofthing!’
‘Iheardyoutalkofsomethinginthespywayupontheothers,mydear,’saidFagin.‘Myfriendwantssomebodywhowoulddothatwell,verymuch.’
‘Why,Ididmentionthat,andIshouldn’tmindturningmyhandtoitsometimes,’rejoinedMr.Claypoleslowly;‘butitwouldn’tpaybyitself,youknow.’
‘That’strue!’observedtheJew,ruminatingorpretendingtoruminate.‘No,itmightnot.’
‘Whatdoyouthink,then?’askedNoah,anxiouslyregardinghim.‘Somethinginthesneakingway,whereitwasprettysurework,andnotmuchmoreriskthanbeingathome.’
‘Whatdoyouthinkoftheoldladies?’askedFagin.‘There’sagooddealofmoneymadeinsnatchingtheirbagsandparcels,andrunningroundthecorner.’
‘Don’ttheyholleroutagooddeal,andscratchsometimes?’askedNoah,shakinghishead.‘Idon’tthinkthatwouldanswermypurpose.Ain’tthereanyotherlineopen?’
‘Stop!’saidFagin,layinghishandonNoah’sknee.‘Thekinchinlay.’
‘What’sthat?’demandedMr.Claypole.
‘Thekinchins,mydear,’saidFagin,‘istheyoungchildrenthat’ssentonerrandsbytheirmothers,withsixpencesandshillings;andthelayisjusttotaketheirmoneyaway—they’vealwaysgotitreadyintheirhands,—thenknock‘emintothekennel,andwalkoffveryslow,asiftherewerenothingelsethematterbutachildfallendownandhurtitself.Ha!ha!ha!’
‘Ha!ha!’roaredMr.Claypole,kickinguphislegsinanecstasy.‘Lord,that’stheverything!’
‘Tobesureitis,’repliedFagin;‘andyoucanhaveafewgoodbeatschalkedoutinCamdenTown,andBattleBridge,andneighborhoodslikethat,wherethey’realwaysgoingerrands;andyoucanupsetasmanykinchinsasyouwant,anyhourintheday.Ha!ha!ha!’
Withthis,FaginpokedMr.Claypoleintheside,andtheyjoinedinaburstoflaughterbothlongandloud.
‘Well,that’sallright!’saidNoah,whenhehadrecoveredhimself,andCharlottehadreturned.‘Whattimeto-morrowshallwesay?’
‘Willtendo?’askedFagin,adding,asMr.Claypolenoddedassent,‘WhatnameshallItellmygoodfriend.’
‘Mr.Bolter,’repliedNoah,whohadpreparedhimselfforsuchemergency.‘Mr.MorrisBolter.ThisisMrs.Bolter.’
‘Mrs.Bolter’shumbleservant,’saidFagin,bowingwithgrotesquepoliteness.‘IhopeIshallknowherbetterveryshortly.’
‘Doyouhearthegentleman,Charlotte?’thunderedMr.Claypole.
‘Yes,Noah,dear!’repliedMrs.Bolter,extendingherhand.
‘ShecallsmeNoah,asasortoffondwayoftalking,’saidMr.MorrisBolter,lateClaypole,turningtoFagin.‘Youunderstand?’
‘Ohyes,Iunderstand—perfectly,’repliedFagin,tellingthetruthforonce.‘Good-night!Good-night!’
Withmanyadieusandgoodwishes,Mr.Faginwenthisway.
NoahClaypole,bespeakinghisgoodlady’sattention,proceededtoenlightenherrelativetothearrangementhehadmade,withallthathaughtinessandairofsuperiority,becoming,notonlyamemberofthesternersex,butagentlemanwhoappreciatedthedignityofaspecialappointmentonthekinchinlay,inLondonanditsvicinity.
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