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“顶了尖了，雇了好多的帮手，全是这一行里最出色的高手。” 'Regular town-maders?' asked Mr. Claypole. “清一色的城里人？”克雷波尔先生问。 'Not a countryman among 'em; and I don't think he'd take you, even on my recommendation, if he didn't run rather short of assistants just now,' replied Fagin. “他们当中没有一个乡下人。要不是他眼下相当缺人手，就算是我推荐，恐怕他也不会要你。”费金回答。 'Should I have to hand over?' said Noah, slapping his breeches-pocket. “我是不是要先送礼？”诺亚在短裤口袋上拍了一巴掌，说。 'It couldn't possibly be done without,' replied Fagin, in a most decided manner. “不送礼恐怕办不成。”费金的态度十分明确。 
“二十镑，可是--这可是一大笔钱。” 'Not when it's in a note you can't get rid of,' retorted Fagin. 'Number and date taken, I suppose? Payment stopped at the Bank? Ah! It's not worth much to him. It'll have to go abroad, and he couldn't sell it for a great deal in the market.' “如果是一张没法出手的票据，情况就不同了。”费金回敬道。“号码和日期都记下来了吧？银行止付呢？啊！这种东西对他价值不大，往后只能弄到国外去，市场上卖不上一个好价钱。” 'When could I see him?' asked Noah doubtfully. “我什么时候可以见到他？”诺亚满腹疑窦，问道。 'To-morrow morning.' “明天早晨。”老犹太答。 'Where?' “在什么地方？” 
“就在这儿。” 'Um!' said Noah. 'What's the wages?' “嗯。”诺亚说道，“工钱怎么算啊？” 'Live like a gentleman--board and lodging, pipes and spirits free--half of all you earn, and half of all the young woman earns,' replied Mr. Fagin. “日子过得像一位绅士--食宿烟酒全部免费--加上你全部所得的一半，还有那位小娘子挣到的一半。”费金先生回答。 Whether Noah Claypole, whose rapacity was none of the least comprehensive, would have acceded even to these glowing terms, had he been a perfectly free agent, is very doubtful; but as he recollected that, in the event of his refusal, it was in the power of his new acquaintance to give him up to justice immediately (and more unlikely things had come to pass), he gradually relented, and said he thought that would suit him. 如果诺亚·克雷波尔是一位完全可以作主的经纪人，单凭他那份赤裸裸的贪婪，连像这样诱人的条件会不会接受，还大可怀疑。但他想到，要是他予以拒绝，这位新相识可以立刻将自己扭送法院（而且比这更不可思议的事情也发生过），他渐渐软下来，说他认为这还算合适。 'But, yer see,' observed Noah, 'as she will be able to do a good deal, I should like to take something very light.' “不过你要明白，”诺亚把话说明了，“既然她往后可以做的事很多，我希望找一件非常轻松的事。” 
“一件小小的，有趣的事？”费金提议。 'Ah! something of that sort,' replied Noah. 'What do you think would suit me now? Something not too trying for the strength, and not very dangerous, you know. That's the sort of thing!' “啊。反正是那类的事，”诺亚回答，“你认为眼下什么对我合适呢？不用花多大力气，又不太危险，你知道。那是一码事。” 'I heard you talk of something in the spy way upon the others, my dear,' said Fagin. 'My friend wants somebody who would do that well, very much.' “我听你说起过对其他人盯梢的事，亲爱的，”费金说道，“我朋友正需要这方面的能人，非常需要。” 'Why, I did mention that, and I shouldn't mind turning my hand to it sometimes,' rejoined Mr. Claypole slowly; 'but it wouldn't pay by itself, you know.' “是啊，我是说过，而且我有的时候并不反对于这种事，”克雷波尔先生慢吞吞地回答。“不过，这种事本身是赚不到钱的，你知道。” 'That's true!' observed the Jew, ruminating or pretending to ruminate. 'No, it might not.' “那倒是真的。”老犹太沉思着，或者说装出沉思的样子，说道。“是啊，赚不到钱。” 
“那你意思如何？”诺亚焦急地望着他，问道。“可不可以偷偷摸摸干点什么，只要事情靠得住，而且不比呆在家里危险多少。” 'What do you think of the old ladies?' asked Fagin. 'There's a good deal of money made in snatching their bags and parcels, and running round the corner.' “在老太太身上打主意怎么样啊？”费金问，“把她们的手提袋、小包裹夺过来，转个弯就跑不见了，可有不少的钱好赚呢。” 'Don't they holler out a good deal, and scratch sometimes?' asked Noah, shaking his head. 'I don't think that would answer my purpose. Ain't there any other line open?' “有的时候，她们不是要大喊大叫，用手乱抓吗？”诺亚摇着脑袋反问道，“那种事恐怕不合我的意。还有没有别的路子？” 'Stop!' said Fagin, laying his hand on Noah's knee. 'The kinchin lay.' “有了。”费金将一只手搁在诺亚的膝盖上，说道。“收娃娃税。”“这是什么？”克雷波尔先生听不懂了。 'The kinchins, my dear,' said Fagin, 'is the young children that's sent on errands by their mothers, with sixpences and shillings; and the lay is just to take their money away--they've always got it ready in their hands,--then knock 'em into the kennel, and walk off very slow, as if there were nothing else the matter but a child fallen down and hurt itself. Ha! ha! ha!' “娃娃嘛，亲爱的，”老犹太说道，“就是母亲派去买东西的小孩，他们身上总是带着些个六便士银币或者先令出来。收税，就是把他们的钱抢走--他们向来是把钱捏在手里--然后将他们推到水沟里，再慢慢吞吞地走开，就好像什么事没有，不就是有个小孩自己掉进沟里摔疼了？哈哈哈！” 
“哈哈！”诺亚欣喜若狂地双腿直蹬，放声大笑。“哦哟哟，就干这事。” 'To be sure it is,' replied Fagin; 'and you can have a few good beats chalked out in Camden Town, and Battle Bridge, and neighborhoods like that, where they're always going errands; and you can upset as many kinchins as you want, any hour in the day. Ha! ha! ha!' “说定了，”费金回答，“我们可以在坎登镇、决战桥，以及周围一带划几块好地盘给你，那些地方派小孩出来买东西的很多，白天无论哪个时间，你爱把多少娃娃推到沟里都成。哈哈哈！” With this, Fagin poked Mr. Claypole in the side, and they joined in a burst of laughter both long and loud. 说到这里，费金戳了一下克雷波尔先生的肋骨，两人同时爆发出一阵经久不息的高声大笑。 'Well, that's all right!' said Noah, when he had recovered himself, and Charlotte had returned. 'What time to-morrow shall we say?' “呵，一切都很好。”诺亚说道，他已经止住笑，夏洛蒂也回到了屋里。“我们说定，明天什么时间？” 'Will ten do?' asked Fagin, adding, as Mr. Claypole nodded assent, 'What name shall I tell my good friend.' “十点钟行不行？”费金问，他见克雷波尔先生点头认可，又补充说，“我向我的好朋友介绍的时候，该如何称呼呢？” 
“波尔特先生，”诺亚回答，他对这类紧急情况已有所准备。“莫里斯·波尔特先生。这位是波尔特夫人。” 'Mrs. Bolter's humble servant,' said Fagin, bowing with grotesque politeness. 'I hope I shall know her better very shortly.' “身为波尔特夫人恭顺的仆人，”费金边说边鞠躬，礼貌周全得令人可笑，“相信无需多时就能进一步熟识夫人。” 'Do you hear the gentleman, Charlotte?' thundered Mr. Claypole. “夏洛蒂，这位绅士在说话，你听见没有？”克雷波尔先生发出雷鸣般的吼声。 'Yes, Noah, dear!' replied Mrs. Bolter, extending her hand. “听见了，诺亚，唷。”波尔特夫人伸出一只手来，回答道。 'She calls me Noah, as a sort of fond way of talking,' said Mr. Morris Bolter, late Claypole, turning to Fagin. 'You understand?' “她管我叫诺亚，作为一种亲昵的称呼，”莫里斯·波尔特先生，即前克雷波尔，朝费金转过身去，说道。“你明白吗？” 
“噢，是的，我明白--完全明白，”费金回答，他只有这一次讲的是实话。“明儿见。明儿见。” With many adieus and good wishes, Mr. Fagin went his way. Noah Claypole, bespeaking his good lady's attention, proceeded to enlighten her relative to the arrangement he had made, with all that haughtiness and air of superiority, becoming, not only a member of the sterner sex, but a gentleman who appreciated the dignity of a special appointment on the kinchin lay, in London and its vicinity. 伴随着许许多多的再会与美好的祝愿，费金先生动身上路了。诺亚·克雷波尔先叫他那位贤明的太太注意力集中，开始围绕自己敲定的事情对她进行开导，那种居高临下、目空一切的神气，不仅对于堂堂大丈夫中的一员十分得体，而且俨然就是一位绅士，深知在伦敦及其附近收娃娃税是一项多么体面的特别任命。
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