目 录 上一节 下一节 
狗对于主人的打骂一般不会动辄予以报复，可赛克斯先生的狗却跟它的当家人一样生性暴躁，在这一时刻，或许是由于感到受了莫大的侮辱吧，它也没费什么事，一口便咬住了一只半长统靴，使劲摇了摇，便嗷嗷叫着缩回到一条长凳下边，正好躲过了赛克斯先生兜头砸过来的白锡酒壶。 'You would, would you?' said Sikes, seizing the poker in one hand, and deliberately opening with the other a large clasp-knife, which he drew from his pocket. 'Come here, you born devil! Come here! D'ye hear?' “你还敢咬我，你还敢咬我？”赛克斯说着，一手操起火钳，另一只手从衣袋里掏出一把大折刀，不慌不忙地打开。“过来啊，你这天生的魔鬼。上这边来。你聋了吗？” The dog no doubt heard; because Mr. Sikes spoke in the very harshest key of a very harsh voice; but, appearing to entertain some unaccountable objection to having his throat cut, he remained where he was, and growled more fiercely than before: at the same time grasping the end of the poker between his teeth, and biting at it like a wild beast. 狗无疑听见了，因为赛克斯先生说话时用的是极其刺耳的调门中最最刺耳的一个音阶，然而它显然对于脖子上挨一刀抱有一种说不出的厌恶，所以依旧呆在原来的地方，叫得比先前更凶了，与此同时亮出牙齿，咬住火钳的一端，像一头不曾驯化的野兽似的又咬又啃。 This resistance only infuriated Mr. Sikes the more; who, dropping on his knees, began to assail the animal most furiously. The dog jumped from right to left, and from left to right; snapping, growling, and barking; the man thrust and swore, and struck and blasphemed; and the struggle was reaching a most critical point for one or other; when, the door suddenly opening, the dog darted out: leaving Bill Sikes with the poker and the clasp-knife in his hands. 这种抵抗反而使赛克斯先生更加怒不可遏，他双膝跪下，开始对这头畜生发动极其凶猛的进攻。狗从右边跳到左边，又从左边跳到右边，上下扑腾，咆哮着，吠叫着。那汉子一边又戳又捅，一边赌咒发誓。这场较量正进行到对于双方都万分紧急的当儿，门忽然打开了，狗立刻丢下手持火钳和折刀的比尔·赛克斯，夺路逃了出去。 There must always be two parties to a quarrel, says the old adage. Mr. Sikes, being disappointed of the dog's participation, at once transferred his share in the quarrel to the new comer. 常言说一个巴掌不响，吵架总得双方。赛克斯先生一见狗不肯奉陪，失望之下，立刻把狗在这场争执中的角色交给了刚来的人。 
“老鬼，你搀和到我和我的狗中间来干吗？”赛克斯凶神恶煞地说。 'I didn't know, my dear, I didn't know,' replied Fagin, humbly; for the Jew was the new comer. “我不知道啊，亲爱的，我一点儿不知道。”费金低声下气地回答--来人原来正是老犹太。 'Didn't know, you white-livered thief!' growled Sikes. 'Couldn't you hear the noise?' “不知道，做贼心虚！”赛克斯怒吼道，“没听见嚷嚷吗？” 'Not a sound of it, as I'm a living man, Bill,' replied the Jew. “比尔，一点声音也没有，我又不是死人。”犹太人回答。 'Oh no! You hear nothing, you don't,' retorted Sikes with a fierce sneer. 'Sneaking in and out, so as nobody hears how you come or go! I wish you had been the dog, Fagin, half a minute ago.' “喔，是的。你没听见什么，你没听见，”赛克斯发出一声恶狠狠的冷笑，应声说道，“偷偷摸摸地跑来跑去，就不会有人知道你是怎么出去进来的了。费金啊，半分钟以前，你要是那只狗就好了。” 
“为什么？”费金强打起一副笑脸问。 'Cause the government, as cares for the lives of such men as you, as haven't half the pluck of curs, lets a man kill a dog how he likes,' replied Sikes, shutting up the knife with a very expressive look; 'that's why.' “因为政府虽说记挂你这号人的小命，你胆子连野狗的一半都赶不上，可它才不管人家高兴怎么样杀掉一只狗呢，”赛克斯一边回答，一边意味深长地合上折刀。“就这么回事。” The Jew rubbed his hands; and, sitting down at the table, affected to laugh at the pleasantry of his friend. He was obviously very ill at ease, however. 费金搓握手，在桌边坐了下来，听了朋友的这一番打趣，他假装乐呵呵地笑了笑。可是，他心里显然正烦着呢。 'Grin away,' said Sikes, replacing the poker, and surveying him with savage contempt; 'grin away. You'll never have the laugh at me, though, unless it's behind a nightcap. I've got the upper hand over you, Fagin; and, d--me, I'll keep it. There! If I go, you go; so take care of me.' “一边笑去，”赛克斯说着，把火钳放回原处，带着露骨的蔑视扫了他一眼。“一边笑去。轮不到你来笑话我，除非是喝了夜酒以后。我胜你一头，费金，我他妈会一直这样。听着，我完了你也完了，所以你给我当心点。” 'Well, well, my dear,' said the Jew, 'I know all that; we--we--have a mutual interest, Bill,--a mutual interest.' “好，好，我亲爱的，”犹太人说道，“我全懂，我们--我们--彼此都有好处，比尔--彼此都有好处。” 
“哼，”赛克斯似乎觉得老犹太得到的好处远比自己多，“得啦，你有什么要说的？” 'It's all passed safe through the melting-pot,' replied Fagin, 'and this is your share. It's rather more than it ought to be, my dear; but as I know you'll do me a good turn another time, and--' “保险着呢，都用坩锅熬过了。”费金答道，“你的一份我带来了，比你应得的多了许多，我亲爱的，不过我知道，下次你不会亏待我，再说--” 'Stow that gammon,' interposed the robber, impatiently. 'Where is it? Hand over!' “少来那一套，”那强盗不耐烦地打断了他的话，“在什么地方？拿来。” 'Yes, yes, Bill; give me time, give me time,' replied the Jew, soothingly. 'Here it is! All safe!' As he spoke, he drew forth an old cotton handkerchief from his breast; and untying a large knot in one corner, produced a small brown-paper packet. Sikes, snatching it from him, hastily opened it; and proceeded to count the sovereigns it contained. “行，行，比尔，别着急，别着急，”费金像哄孩子似地回答，“这儿呢。分文不少。”说着，他从怀里掏出一张旧的棉手帕，解开角上的一个大结，取出一个棕色小纸包。赛克斯劈手夺过纸包，忙不迭地打开来，一五一十地数着里边的金镑。 'This is all, is it?' inquired Sikes. “就这些，是吗？”赛克斯问。 
“全在这儿了。”费金回答。 'You haven't opened the parcel and swallowed one or two as you come along, have you?' inquired Sikes, suspiciously. 'Don't put on an injured look at the question; you've done it many a time. Jerk the tinkler.' “一路上你没有打开这个包，私吞一两个？”赛克斯满怀狐疑地问道，“别装出一副受委屈的样子，这事你干过多次了，拉一下铃。” These words, in plain English, conveyed an injunction to ring the bell. It was answered by another Jew: younger than Fagin, but nearly as vile and repulsive in appearance. 说得明白一点，这些话下达了拉铃的命令。铃声唤来了另一个犹太人，比费金年轻一些，但面目一样可憎。 Bill Sikes merely pointed to the empty measure. The Jew, perfectly understanding the hint, retired to fill it: previously exchanging a remarkable look with Fagin, who raised his eyes for an instant, as if in expectation of it, and shook his head in reply; so slightly that the action would have been almost imperceptible to an observant third person. It was lost upon Sikes, who was stooping at the moment to tie the boot-lace which the dog had torn. Possibly, if he had observed the brief interchange of signals, he might have thought that it boded no good to him. 比尔·赛克斯指了指空酒壶，犹太人立刻领会了这一暗示，又退出去盛酒去了，退出去之前，他与费金交换了一道异样的眼色，费金抬了抬眼睛，好像正等着对方的眼色似的，摇摇头作了回答，动作幅度极小，即使是一个细心旁观的第三者也几乎察觉不到。赛克斯一点也没发觉，那功夫他正弯腰系上被狗扯开的靴带。假如他注意到了的话，很可能会把两人之间一闪而过的暗号当作一个不祥之兆。 'Is anybody here, Barney?' inquired Fagin; speaking, now that that Sikes was looking on, without raising his eyes from the ground. “这儿有人吗，巴尼？”费金问，目光依旧没有从地上抬起来，因为赛克斯已经抬起头来。 
“一个人也没有。”巴尼回答，他的话不管是不是发自内心，一概是打鼻子里出来。 'Nobody?' inquired Fagin, in a tone of surprise: which perhaps might mean that Barney was at liberty to tell the truth. “没有一个人？”费金的嗓门里透出惊奇的意思来，也许是打算暗示巴尼，他不妨讲真话。 'Dobody but Biss Dadsy,' replied Barney. “除了达基小姐，没别的人。”巴尼答道。 'Nancy!' exclaimed Sikes. 'Where? Strike me blind, if I don't honour that 'ere girl, for her native talents.' “南希！’赛克斯嚷了起来，“在哪儿呢？我真服了她了，这姑娘是天才，我要是说瞎话，让我成瞎子。” 'She's bid havid a plate of boiled beef id the bar,' replied Barney. “她在柜上点了一碟煮牛肉。”巴尼回答。 
“她上这儿来，”赛克斯斟上一杯酒，说道，“叫她来。” Barney looked timidly at Fagin, as if for permission; the Jew reamining silent, and not lifting his eyes from the ground, he retired; and presently returned, ushering in Nancy; who was decorated with the bonnet, apron, basket, and street-door key, complete. 巴尼怯生生地看了一眼费金，像是在征得他的许可，见老犹太默默地坐着，眼睛都没抬一下，便退了出去，不多一会又领着南希进来了，这姑娘还戴着软帽，围着围裙，手拿篮子和大门钥匙，全副行头一样不少。
| 
