English
Thechurchclockschimedthreequarterspasteleven,astwofiguresemergedonLondonBridge.
One,whichadvancedwithaswiftandrapidstep,wasthatofawomanwholookedeagerlyaboutherasthoughinquestofsomeexpectedobject;theotherfigurewasthatofaman,whoslunkalonginthedeepestshadowhecouldfind,and,atsomedistance,accommodatedhispacetohers:stoppingwhenshestopped:andasshemovedagain,creepingstealthilyon:butneverallowinghimself,intheardourofhispursuit,togainuponherfootsteps.
Thus,theycrossedthebridge,fromtheMiddlesextotheSurreyshore,whenthewoman,apparentlydisappointedinheranxiousscrutinyofthefoot-passengers,turnedback.
Themovementwassudden;buthewhowatchedher,wasnotthrownoffhisguardbyit;for,shrinkingintooneoftherecesseswhichsurmountthepiersofthebridge,andleaningovertheparapetthebettertoconcealhisfigure,hesufferedhertopassontheoppositepavement.
Whenshewasaboutthesamedistanceinadvanceasshehadbeenbefore,heslippedquietlydown,andfollowedheragain.
Atnearlythecentreofthebridge,shestopped.Themanstoppedtoo.
Itwasaverydarknight.Thedayhadbeenunfavourable,andatthathourandplacetherewerefewpeoplestirring.
Suchastherewere,hurriedquicklypast:verypossiblywithoutseeing,butcertainlywithoutnoticing,eitherthewoman,orthemanwhokeptherinview.
TheirappearancewasnotcalculatedtoattracttheimportunateregardsofsuchofLondon’sdestitutepopulation,aschancedtotaketheirwayoverthebridgethatnightinsearchofsomecoldarchordoorlesshovelwhereintolaytheirheads;theystoodthereinsilence:neitherspeakingnorspokento,byanyonewhopassed.
Amisthungovertheriver,deepeningtheredglareofthefiresthatburntuponthesmallcraftmooredoffthedifferentwharfs,andrenderingdarkerandmoreindistinctthemurkybuildingsonthebanks.
Theoldsmoke-stainedstorehousesoneitherside,roseheavyanddullfromthedensemassofroofsandgables,andfrownedsternlyuponwatertooblacktoreflecteventheirlumberingshapes.
ThetowerofoldSaintSaviour’sChurch,andthespireofSaintMagnus,solongthegiant-wardersoftheancientbridge,werevisibleinthegloom;buttheforestofshippingbelowbridge,andthethicklyscatteredspiresofchurchesabove,werenearlyallhiddenfromsight.
Thegirlhadtakenafewrestlessturnstoandfro—closelywatchedmeanwhilebyherhiddenobserver—whentheheavybellofSt.Paul’stolledforthedeathofanotherday.
Midnighthadcomeuponthecrowdedcity.
Thepalace,thenight-cellar,thejail,themadhouse:thechambersofbirthanddeath,ofhealthandsickness,therigidfaceofthecorpseandthecalmsleepofthechild:midnightwasuponthemall.
Thehourhadnotstrucktwominutes,whenayounglady,accompaniedbyagrey-hairedgentleman,alightedfromahackney-carriagewithinashortdistanceofthebridge,and,havingdismissedthevehicle,walkedstraighttowardsit.
Theyhadscarcelysetfootuponitspavement,whenthegirlstarted,andimmediatelymadetowardsthem.
Theywalkedonward,lookingaboutthemwiththeairofpersonswhoentertainedsomeveryslightexpectationwhichhadlittlechanceofbeingrealised,whentheyweresuddenlyjoinedbythisnewassociate.
Theyhaltedwithanexclamationofsurprise,butsuppresseditimmediately;foramaninthegarmentsofacountrymancamecloseup—brushedagainstthem,indeed—atthatprecisemoment.
‘Nothere,’saidNancyhurriedly,‘Iamafraidtospeaktoyouhere.Comeaway—outofthepublicroad—downthestepsyonder!’
Assheutteredthesewords,andindicated,withherhand,thedirectioninwhichshewishedthemtoproceed,thecountrymanlookedround,androughlyaskingwhattheytookupthewholepavementfor,passedon.
Thestepstowhichthegirlhadpointed,werethosewhich,ontheSurreybank,andonthesamesideofthebridgeasSaintSaviour’sChurch,formalanding-stairsfromtheriver.
Tothisspot,themanbearingtheappearanceofacountryman,hastenedunobserved;andafteramoment’ssurveyoftheplace,hebegantodescend.
Thesestairsareapartofthebridge;theyconsistofthreeflights.
Justbelowtheendofthesecond,goingdown,thestonewallontheleftterminatesinanornamentalpilasterfacingtowardstheThames.
Atthispointthelowerstepswiden:sothatapersonturningthatangleofthewall,isnecessarilyunseenbyanyothersonthestairswhochancetobeabovehim,ifonlyastep.
Thecountrymanlookedhastilyround,whenhereachedthispoint;andasthereseemednobetterplaceofconcealment,and,thetidebeingout,therewasplentyofroom,heslippedaside,withhisbacktothepilaster,andtherewaited:prettycertainthattheywouldcomenolower,andthatevenifhecouldnothearwhatwassaid,hecouldfollowthemagain,withsafety.
Sotardilystolethetimeinthislonelyplace,andsoeagerwasthespytopenetratethemotivesofaninterviewsodifferentfromwhathehadbeenledtoexpect,thathemorethanoncegavethematterupforlost,andpersuadedhimself,eitherthattheyhadstoppedfarabove,orhadresortedtosomeentirelydifferentspottoholdtheirmysteriousconversation.
Hewasonthepointofemergingfromhishiding-place,andregainingtheroadabove,whenheheardthesoundoffootsteps,anddirectlyafterwardsofvoicesalmostcloseathisear.
Hedrewhimselfstraightuprightagainstthewall,and,scarcelybreathing,listenedattentively.
‘Thisisfarenough,’saidavoice,whichwasevidentlythatofthegentleman.
‘Iwillnotsuffertheyoungladytogoanyfarther.
Manypeoplewouldhavedistrustedyoutoomuchtohavecomeevensofar,butyouseeIamwillingtohumouryou.’
‘Tohumourme!’criedthevoiceofthegirlwhomhehadfollowed.‘You’reconsiderate,indeed,sir.Tohumourme!Well,well,it’snomatter.’
‘Why,forwhat,’saidthegentlemaninakindertone,‘forwhatpurposecanyouhavebroughtustothisstrangeplace?
Whynothaveletmespeaktoyou,abovethere,whereitislight,andthereissomethingstirring,insteadofbringingustothisdarkanddismalhole?’
‘Itoldyoubefore,’repliedNancy,‘thatIwasafraidtospeaktoyouthere.
Idon’tknowwhyitis,’saidthegirl,shuddering,‘butIhavesuchafearanddreaduponmeto-nightthatIcanhardlystand.’
‘Afearofwhat?’askedthegentleman,whoseemedtopityher.
‘Iscarcelyknowofwhat,’repliedthegirl.‘IwishIdid.
Horriblethoughtsofdeath,andshroudswithblooduponthem,andafearthathasmademeburnasifIwasonfire,havebeenuponmeallday.
Iwasreadingabookto-night,towilethetimeaway,andthesamethingscameintotheprint.’
‘Imagination,’saidthegentleman,soothingher.
‘Noimagination,’repliedthegirlinahoarsevoice.
‘I’llswearIsaw“coffin”writtenineverypageofthebookinlargeblackletters,—aye,andtheycarriedoneclosetome,inthestreetsto-night.’
‘Thereisnothingunusualinthat,’saidthegentleman.‘Theyhavepassedmeoften.’
‘Realones,’rejoinedthegirl.‘Thiswasnot.’
Therewassomethingsouncommoninhermanner,thatthefleshoftheconcealedlistenercreptasheheardthegirlutterthesewords,andthebloodchilledwithinhim.
Hehadneverexperiencedagreaterreliefthaninhearingthesweetvoiceoftheyoungladyasshebeggedhertobecalm,andnotallowherselftobecomethepreyofsuchfearfulfancies.
‘Speaktoherkindly,’saidtheyoungladytohercompanion.‘Poorcreature!Sheseemstoneedit.’
‘YourhaughtyreligiouspeoplewouldhaveheldtheirheadsuptoseemeasIamto-night,andpreachedofflamesandvengeance,’criedthegirl.
‘Oh,dearlady,whyar’n’tthosewhoclaimtobeGod’sownfolksasgentleandaskindtouspoorwretchesasyou,who,havingyouth,andbeauty,andallthattheyhavelost,mightbealittleproudinsteadofsomuchhumbler?’
‘Ah!’saidthegentleman.
‘ATurkturnshisface,afterwashingitwell,totheEast,whenhesayshisprayers;thesegoodpeople,aftergivingtheirfacessucharubagainsttheWorldastotakethesmilesoff,turnwithnolessregularity,tothedarkestsideofHeaven.
BetweentheMussulmanandthePharisee,commendmetothefirst!’
Thesewordsappearedtobeaddressedtotheyounglady,andwereperhapsutteredwiththeviewofaffordingNancytimetorecoverherself.Thegentleman,shortlyafterwards,addressedhimselftoher.
‘YouwerenotherelastSundaynight,’hesaid.
‘Icouldn’tcome,’repliedNancy;‘Iwaskeptbyforce.’
‘Bywhom?’
‘HimthatItoldtheyoungladyofbefore.’
‘Youwerenotsuspectedofholdinganycommunicationwithanybodyonthesubjectwhichhasbroughtushereto-night,Ihope?’askedtheoldgentleman.
‘No,’repliedthegirl,shakingherhead.‘It’snotveryeasyformetoleavehimunlessheknowswhy;Icouldn’tgivehimadrinkoflaudanumbeforeIcameaway.’
‘Didheawakebeforeyoureturned?’inquiredthegentleman.
‘No;andneitherhenoranyofthemsuspectme.’
‘Good,’saidthegentleman.‘Nowlistentome.’
‘Iamready,’repliedthegirl,ashepausedforamoment.
‘Thisyounglady,’thegentlemanbegan,‘hascommunicatedtome,andtosomeotherfriendswhocanbesafelytrusted,whatyoutoldhernearlyafortnightsince.
IconfesstoyouthatIhaddoubts,atfirst,whetheryouweretobeimplicitlyreliedupon,butnowIfirmlybelieveyouare.’
‘Iam,’saidthegirlearnestly.
‘IrepeatthatIfirmlybelieveit.ToprovetoyouthatIamdisposedtotrustyou,Itellyouwithoutreserve,thatweproposetoextortthesecret,whateveritmaybe,fromthefearofthismanMonks.
Butif—if—’saidthegentleman,‘hecannotbesecured,or,ifsecured,cannotbeacteduponaswewish,youmustdeliveruptheJew.’
‘Fagin,’criedthegirl,recoiling.
‘Thatmanmustbedeliveredupbyyou,’saidthegentleman.
‘Iwillnotdoit!Iwillneverdoit!’repliedthegirl.‘Devilthatheis,andworsethandevilashehasbeentome,Iwillneverdothat.’
‘Youwillnot?’saidthegentleman,whoseemedfullypreparedforthisanswer.
‘Never!’returnedthegirl.
‘Tellmewhy?’
‘Foronereason,’rejoinedthegirlfirmly,‘foronereason,thattheladyknowsandwillstandbymein,Iknowshewill,forIhaveherpromise:andforthisotherreason,besides,that,badlifeashehasled,Ihaveledabadlifetoo;therearemanyofuswhohavekeptthesamecoursestogether,andI’llnotturnuponthem,whomight—anyofthem—haveturneduponme,butdidn’t,badastheyare.’
‘Then,’saidthegentleman,quickly,asifthishadbeenthepointhehadbeenaimingtoattain;‘putMonksintomyhands,andleavehimtometodealwith.’
‘Whatifheturnsagainsttheothers?’
‘Ipromiseyouthatinthatcase,ifthetruthisforcedfromhim,therethematterwillrest;theremustbecircumstancesinOliver’slittlehistorywhichitwouldbepainfultodragbeforethepubliceye,andifthetruthisonceelicited,theyshallgoscotfree.’
‘Andifitisnot?’suggestedthegirl.
‘Then,’pursuedthegentleman,‘thisFaginshallnotbebroughttojusticewithoutyourconsent.InsuchacaseIcouldshowyoureasons,Ithink,whichwouldinduceyoutoyieldit.’
‘HaveIthelady’spromiseforthat?’askedthegirl.
‘Youhave,’repliedRose.‘Mytrueandfaithfulpledge.’
‘Monkswouldneverlearnhowyouknewwhatyoudo?’saidthegirl,afterashortpause.
‘Never,’repliedthegentleman.‘Theintelligenceshouldbebroughttobearuponhim,thathecouldneverevenguess.’
‘Ihavebeenaliar,andamongliarsfromalittlechild,’saidthegirlafteranotherintervalofsilence,‘butIwilltakeyourwords.’
Afterreceivinganassurancefromboth,thatshemightsafelydoso,sheproceededinavoicesolowthatitwasoftendifficultforthelistenertodiscovereventhepurportofwhatshesaid,todescribe,bynameandsituation,thepublic-housewhenceshehadbeenfollowedthatnight.
Fromthemannerinwhichsheoccasionallypaused,itappearedasifthegentlemanweremakingsomehastynotesoftheinformationshecommunicated.
Whenshehadthoroughlyexplainedthelocalitiesoftheplace,thebestpositionfromwhichtowatchitwithoutexcitingobservation,andthenightandhouronwhichMonkswasmostinthehabitoffrequentingit,sheseemedtoconsiderforafewmoments,forthepurposeofrecallinghisfeaturesandappearancesmoreforciblytoherrecollection.
‘Heistall,’saidthegirl,‘andastronglymademan,butnotstout;hehasalurkingwalk;andashewalks,constantlylooksoverhisshoulder,firstononeside,andthenontheother.
Don’tforgetthat,forhiseyesaresunkinhisheadsomuchdeeperthananyotherman’s,thatyoumightalmosttellhimbythatalone.
Hisfaceisdark,likehishairandeyes;and,althoughhecan’tbemorethansixoreightandtwenty,witheredandhaggard.
Hislipsareoftendiscolouredanddisfiguredwiththemarksofteeth;forhehasdesperatefits,andsometimesevenbiteshishandsandcoversthemwithwounds—whydidyoustart?’saidthegirl,stoppingsuddenly.
Thegentlemanreplied,inahurriedmanner,thathewasnotconsciousofhavingdoneso,andbeggedhertoproceed.
‘Partofthis,’saidthegirl,‘IhavedrawnoutfromotherpeopleatthehouseItellyouof,forIhaveonlyseenhimtwice,andbothtimeshewascoveredupinalargecloak.
Ithinkthat’sallIcangiveyoutoknowhimby.Staythough,’sheadded.
‘Uponhisthroat:sohighthatyoucanseeapartofitbelowhisneckerchiefwhenheturnshisface:thereis—’
‘Abroadredmark,likeaburnorscald?’criedthegentleman.
‘How’sthis?’saidthegirl.‘Youknowhim!’
Theyoungladyutteredacryofsurprise,andforafewmomentstheyweresostillthatthelistenercoulddistinctlyhearthembreathe.
‘IthinkIdo,’saidthegentleman,breakingsilence.‘Ishouldbyyourdescription.Weshallsee.Manypeoplearesingularlylikeeachother.Itmaynotbethesame.’
Asheexpressedhimselftothiseffect,withassumedcarelessness,hetookasteportwonearertheconcealedspy,asthelattercouldtellfromthedistinctnesswithwhichheheardhimmutter,‘Itmustbehe!’
‘Now,’hesaid,returning:soitseemedbythesound:tothespotwherehehadstoodbefore,‘youhavegivenusmostvaluableassistance,youngwoman,andIwishyoutobethebetterforit.WhatcanIdotoserveyou?’
‘Nothing,’repliedNancy.
‘Youwillnotpersistinsayingthat,’rejoinedthegentleman,withavoiceandemphasisofkindnessthatmighthavetouchedamuchharderandmoreobdurateheart.‘Thinknow.Tellme.’
‘Nothing,sir,’rejoinedthegirl,weeping.‘Youcandonothingtohelpme.Iampastallhope,indeed.’
‘Youputyourselfbeyonditspale,’saidthegentleman.
‘Thepasthasbeenadrearywastewithyou,ofyouthfulenergiesmis-spent,andsuchpricelesstreasureslavished,astheCreatorbestowsbutonceandnevergrantsagain,but,forthefuture,youmayhope.
Idonotsaythatitisinourpowertoofferyoupeaceofheartandmind,forthatmustcomeasyouseekit;butaquietasylum,eitherinEngland,or,ifyoufeartoremainhere,insomeforeigncountry,itisnotonlywithinthecompassofourabilitybutourmostanxiouswishtosecureyou.
Beforethedawnofmorning,beforethisriverwakestothefirstglimpseofday-light,youshallbeplacedasentirelybeyondthereachofyourformerassociates,andleaveasutteranabsenceofalltracebehindyou,asifyouweretodisappearfromtheearththismoment.Come!
Iwouldnothaveyougobacktoexchangeonewordwithanyoldcompanion,ortakeonelookatanyoldhaunt,orbreathetheveryairwhichispestilenceanddeathtoyou.
Quitthemall,whilethereistimeandopportunity!’
‘Shewillbepersuadednow,’criedtheyounglady.‘Shehesitates,Iamsure.’
‘Ifearnot,mydear,’saidthegentleman.
‘Nosir,Idonot,’repliedthegirl,afterashortstruggle.‘Iamchainedtomyoldlife.
Iloatheandhateitnow,butIcannotleaveit.
Imusthavegonetoofartoturnback,—andyetIdon’tknow,forifyouhadspokentomeso,sometimeago,Ishouldhavelaugheditoff.
But,’shesaid,lookinghastilyround,‘thisfearcomesovermeagain.Imustgohome.’
‘Home!’repeatedtheyounglady,withgreatstressupontheword.
‘Home,lady,’rejoinedthegirl.‘TosuchahomeasIhaveraisedformyselfwiththeworkofmywholelife.Letuspart.Ishallbewatchedorseen.Go!Go!
IfIhavedoneyouanyserviceallIaskis,thatyouleaveme,andletmegomywayalone.’
‘Itisuseless,’saidthegentleman,withasigh.‘Wecompromisehersafety,perhaps,bystayinghere.Wemayhavedetainedherlongerthansheexpectedalready.’
‘Yes,yes,’urgedthegirl.‘Youhave.’
‘What,’criedtheyounglady,‘canbetheendofthispoorcreature’slife!’
‘What!’repeatedthegirl.‘Lookbeforeyou,lady.Lookatthatdarkwater.
HowmanytimesdoyoureadofsuchasIwhospringintothetide,andleavenolivingthing,tocarefor,orbewailthem.
Itmaybeyearshence,oritmaybeonlymonths,butIshallcometothatatlast.’
‘Donotspeakthus,pray,’returnedtheyounglady,sobbing.
‘Itwillneverreachyourears,dearlady,andGodforbidsuchhorrorsshould!’repliedthegirl.‘Good-night,good-night!’
Thegentlemanturnedaway.
‘Thispurse,’criedtheyounglady.‘Takeitformysake,thatyoumayhavesomeresourceinanhourofneedandtrouble.’
‘No!’repliedthegirl.‘Ihavenotdonethisformoney.Letmehavethattothinkof.
Andyet—givemesomethingthatyouhaveworn:Ishouldliketohavesomething—no,no,notaring—yourglovesorhandkerchief—anythingthatIcankeep,ashavingbelongedtoyou,sweetlady.There.Blessyou!Godblessyou.Good-night,good-night!’
Theviolentagitationofthegirl,andtheapprehensionofsomediscoverywhichwouldsubjecthertoill-usageandviolence,seemedtodeterminethegentlemantoleaveher,assherequested.
Thesoundofretreatingfootstepswereaudibleandthevoicesceased.
Thetwofiguresoftheyoungladyandhercompanionsoonafterwardsappeareduponthebridge.Theystoppedatthesummitofthestairs.
‘Hark!’criedtheyounglady,listening.‘Didshecall!IthoughtIheardhervoice.’
‘No,mylove,’repliedMr.Brownlow,lookingsadlyback.‘Shehasnotmoved,andwillnottillwearegone.’
RoseMaylielingered,buttheoldgentlemandrewherarmthroughhis,andledher,withgentleforce,away.
Astheydisappeared,thegirlsunkdownnearlyatherfulllengthupononeofthestonestairs,andventedtheanguishofherheartinbittertears.
Afteratimeshearose,andwithfeebleandtotteringstepsascendedthestreet.
Theastonishedlistenerremainedmotionlessonhispostforsomeminutesafterwards,andhavingascertained,withmanycautiousglancesroundhim,thathewasagainalone,creptslowlyfromhishiding-place,andreturned,stealthilyandintheshadeofthewall,inthesamemannerashehaddescended.
Peepingout,morethanonce,whenhereachedthetop,tomakesurethathewasunobserved,NoahClaypoledartedawayathisutmostspeed,andmadefortheJew’shouseasfastashislegswouldcarryhim.
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