AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE OF OLIVER’S, EXHIBITING DECIDED MARKS OF GENIUS, BECOMES A PUBLIC CHARACTER IN THE METROPOLIS
奥利弗的老相识，展现出明显的天赋，成为首都的公众人物。

Upon the night when Nancy, having lulled Mr. Sikes to sleep, hurried on her self-imposed mission to Rose Maylie, there advanced towards London, by the Great North Road, two persons, upon whom it is expedient that this history should bestow some attention.
在南茜哄睡了赛克斯先生后，匆匆向罗丝·梅莱走去的那个晚上，有两个人沿着北大路向伦敦前进，这个故事有必要对他们进行一些关注。

They were a man and woman; or perhaps they would be better described as a male and female: —
他们是一对男男女女；或者更确切地说，他们更适合被描述为一名男子和一名女子： —

for the former was one of those long-limbed, knock-kneed, shambling, bony people, to whom it is difficult to assign any precise age,–looking as they do, when they are yet boys, like undergrown men, and when they are almost men, like overgrown boys. —
前者是那种长腿、膝关节突出、踱步蹒跚、骨瘦如柴的人，很难确定他们的确切年龄 – 当他们还是男孩时，看起来像是没长好的男人，当他们几乎长成男人时，又像是没完全长开的男孩。 —

The woman was young, but of a robust and hardy make, as she need have been to bear the weight of the heavy bundle which was strapped to her back. —
女人年轻，但身体强健坚硬，正如她本应该承受背上背着的笨重包裹的重量一样。 —

Her companion was not encumbered with much luggage, as there merely dangled from a stick which he carried over his shoulder, a small parcel wrapped in a common handkerchief, and apparently light enough. —
她的同伴没有太多行李，只是从肩上横扛的一根棍子上悬挂着一个用普通手帕包着的小包裹，看起来似乎很轻。 —

This circumstance, added to the length of his legs, which were of unusual extent, enabled him with much ease to keep some half-dozen paces in advance of his companion, to whom he occasionally turned with an impatient jerk of the head: —
这一点，再加上他异常长的腿，使他能够很容易地领先大约六步，不时地带着不耐烦的头颈转向她： —

as if reproaching her tardiness, and urging her to greater exertion.
好像在责备她慢吞吞的速度，敦促她更加努力。

Thus, they had toiled along the dusty road, taking little heed of any object within sight, save when they stepped aside to allow a wider passage for the mail-coaches which were whirling out of town, until they passed through Highgate archway; —
于是，他们沿着尘土飞扬的道路前行，只在需要让出更宽通道给飞驰出城的马车时，才略微转移注意力，直到穿过Highgate的拱门； —

when the foremost traveller stopped and called impatiently to his companion,
那时，领先的旅行者停下来急躁地喊道他的同伴，

‘Come on, can’t yer? What a lazybones yer are, Charlotte.’
‘走啊，你不能再来点吗？夏洛特，你真是个懒骨头。’

‘It’s a heavy load, I can tell you,’ said the female, coming up, almost breathless with fatigue.
‘这是个沉重的负担，我告诉你，’那名女性气喘吁吁地赶上来说。

‘Heavy! What are yer talking about? What are yer made for?’ —
‘沉重！你在说什么？你究竟是做什么用的呢？’ —

rejoined the male traveller, changing his own little bundle as he spoke, to the other shoulder. —
男性旅行者说着话，同时将自己的小包裹换到另一只肩膀上。 —

‘Oh, there yer are, resting again! Well, if yer ain’t enough to tire anybody’s patience out, I don’t know what is!’
‘哦，你又在休息！好吧，如果你还不够让任何人的耐心磨尽，我就不知道该说什么了！’

‘Is it much farther?’ asked the woman, resting herself against a bank, and looking up with the perspiration streaming from her face.
“还有很远吗？”那位女人问道，她顶着一棵树休息，脸上的汗水直流。

‘Much farther! Yer as good as there,’ said the long-legged tramper, pointing out before him. —
“还远呢！你就快到了，”腿长的流浪汉指着前方说。 —

‘Look there! Those are the lights of London.’
“看那儿！那些是伦敦的灯光。”

‘They’re a good two mile off, at least,’ said the woman despondingly.
“至少还有两英里呢，”那女人气馁地说道。

‘Never mind whether they’re two mile off, or twenty,’ said Noah Claypole; for he it was; —
“管它是两英里还是二十英里，”诺亚·克莱波尔说道；因为他就是那个人； —

‘but get up and come on, or I’ll kick yer, and so I give yer notice.’
“起来继续走吧，否则我就踢你，先通知一下。”

As Noah’s red nose grew redder with anger, and as he crossed the road while speaking, as if fully prepared to put his threat into execution, the woman rose without any further remark, and trudged onward by his side.
随着诺亚的鼻子因愤怒变得更红，他一边说话一边穿过马路，仿佛准备着立即执行他的威胁，那位女人毫无异议地站起来，跟在他身旁继续往前走。

‘Where do you mean to stop for the night, Noah?’ —
“诺亚，你想在哪里过夜呢？” —

she asked, after they had walked a few hundred yards.
在走了几百码后，她问道。

‘How should I know?’ replied Noah, whose temper had been considerably impaired by walking.
“我怎么知道？”诺亚回答，因为走路累得心情已经很糟糕了。

‘Near, I hope,’ said Charlotte.
“希望是附近吧，”夏洛特说道。

‘No, not near,’ replied Mr. Claypole. ‘There! Not near; so don’t think it.’
“不，不近，”克雷波尔先生回答道。“不近！所以别想了。”

‘Why not?’
“为什么不呢？”

‘When I tell yer that I don’t mean to do a thing, that’s enough, without any why or because either,’ replied Mr. Claypole with dignity.
“我告诉你我不打算做某件事，那就够了，不需要问为什么，也不需要因为什么，”克雷波尔先生高贵地回答。

‘Well, you needn’t be so cross,’ said his companion.
“好了，你没必要这么生气，”他的伴侣说道。

‘A pretty thing it would be, wouldn’t it to go and stop at the very first public-house outside the town, so that Sowerberry, if he come up after us, might poke in his old nose, and have us taken back in a cart with handcuffs on,’ said Mr. Claypole in a jeering tone. —
“如果我们在城镇外的第一家公共房子停下来，让苏尔贝瑞找到我们并把我们带回去，绑着手铐，那会是多么有趣啊。”克莱波尔先生嘲讽地说道。 —

‘No! I shall go and lose myself among the narrowest streets I can find, and not stop till we come to the very out-of-the-wayest house I can set eyes on. —
“不！我要走进最狭窄的街道，直到找到最偏僻的房子为止。” —

‘Cod, yer may thanks yer stars I’ve got a head; —
“天呐，你应该庆幸我头脑聪明；要不是我们本意走错了路，绕路返回，你这位女士早就进了牢房。” —

for if we hadn’t gone, at first, the wrong road a purpose, and come back across country, yer’d have been locked up hard and fast a week ago, my lady. —
“如果我们不是一开始故意走错路，然后绕了一大圈回来，你早就被锁起来了，我的贵妇。” —

And serve yer right for being a fool.’
“自作孽，不可活。”他说。

‘I know I ain’t as cunning as you are,’ replied Charlotte; —
“我知道我没你聪明，”夏洛特回答。 —

‘but don’t put all the blame on me, and say I should have been locked up. —
“但别都怪在我头上，说我应该被关起来。” —

You would have been if I had been, any way.’
“如果我被抓，你也得被抓。”

‘Yer took the money from the till, yer know yer did,’ said Mr. Claypole.
“你从抽屉里拿走了钱，你知道你拿了。”克莱波尔先生说。

‘I took it for you, Noah, dear,’ rejoined Charlotte.
“我是为你拿的啊，亲爱的诺亚。”夏洛特回答。

‘Did I keep it?’ asked Mr. Claypole.
“我留下了吗？”克莱波尔先生问。

‘No; you trusted in me, and let me carry it like a dear, and so you are,’ said the lady, chucking him under the chin, and drawing her arm through his.
“没有；你信任我，让我好好保管，所以你很好。”夏洛特说着，捏了一下他的下巴，搭起了他的胳膊。

This was indeed the case; but as it was not Mr. Claypole’s habit to repose a blind and foolish confidence in anybody, it should be observed, in justice to that gentleman, that he had trusted Charlotte to this extent, in order that, if they were pursued, the money might be found on her: —
事实确实如此；但由于克莱波尔先生并不盲目地对任何人抱有愚蠢的信任，他之所以如此信任夏洛特，是为了万一他们被追捕，钱能在她身上找到： —

which would leave him an opportunity of asserting his innocence of any theft, and would greatly facilitate his chances of escape. —
这样他就有机会声称自己没有偷窃，大大方便了他逃跑的机会。 —

Of course, he entered at this juncture, into no explanation of his motives, and they walked on very lovingly together.
当然，在这种情况下，他没有解释自己的动机，他们很恩爱地一起走着。

In pursuance of this cautious plan, Mr. Claypole went on, without halting, until he arrived at the Angel at Islington, where he wisely judged, from the crowd of passengers and numbers of vehicles, that London began in earnest. —
符合这一谨慎计划，克莱波尔先生继续前行，没有停顿，直到他抵达伊斯灵顿的天使酒店，他明智地判断出，从乘客和车辆的拥挤程度来看，伦敦正式开始了。 —

Just pausing to observe which appeared the most crowded streets, and consequently the most to be avoided, he crossed into Saint John’s Road, and was soon deep in the obscurity of the intricate and dirty ways, which, lying between Gray’s Inn Lane and Smithfield, render that part of the town one of the lowest and worst that improvement has left in the midst of London.
只是稍作停顿观察哪条街最拥挤，因此最好避开，他穿过了圣约翰路，很快沉浸在复杂而肮脏的道路中，这些道路位于格雷斯·因恩巷和史密斯菲尔德之间，使得这个城市的一部分成为伦敦留下的最低最糟糕的地方。

Through these streets, Noah Claypole walked, dragging Charlotte after him; —
诺亚·克莱波尔牵着夏洛特在这些街道上走着； —

now stepping into the kennel to embrace at a glance the whole external character of some small public-house; —
有时踏进人行道，一眼看完某家小酒馆的整体外貌； —

now jogging on again, as some fancied appearance induced him to believe it too public for his purpose. —
有时继续走着，因为某种想象中的景象让他觉得这里对他的目的太过显眼。 —

At length, he stopped in front of one, more humble in appearance and more dirty than any he had yet seen; —
最终，他停在了一家外观更为谦卑更为肮脏的酒馆前； —

and, having crossed over and surveyed it from the opposite pavement, graciously announced his intention of putting up there, for the night.
穿过马路，从对面人行道上审视过后，他优雅地宣布打算在那里过夜。

‘So give us the bundle,’ said Noah, unstrapping it from the woman’s shoulders, and slinging it over his own; —
‘那把包给我,’ 诺亚说，将包从女人肩膀上解下，挂在自己肩上； —

‘and don’t yer speak, except when yer spoke to. —
‘除非被我许可，不准发出声音。 —

What’s the name of the house–t-h-r–three what?’
那家酒馆的名字是– t-h-r–three what?’

‘Cripples,’ said Charlotte.
‘Cripples,‘夏洛特说。

‘Three Cripples,’ repeated Noah, ‘and a very good sign too. Now, then! —
‘三个跛子,‘诺亚重复道，’也是一个很好的招牌。现在！ —

Keep close at my heels, and come along.’ —
离我近一点，跟紧我，跟上来。’ —

With these injunctions, he pushed the rattling door with his shoulder, and entered the house, followed by his companion.
在这些指令下，他用肩膀推开吱吱作响的门，带着他的同伴走进了酒馆。

There was nobody in the bar but a young Jew, who, with his two elbows on the counter, was reading a dirty newspaper. —
酒吧里只有一个年轻的犹太人，他双肘搁在柜台上，正在看一份肮脏的报纸。 —

He stared very hard at Noah, and Noah stared very hard at him.
他凝视着诺亚，诺亚也在用力地凝视着他。

If Noah had been attired in his charity-boy’s dress, there might have been some reason for the Jew opening his eyes so wide; —
如果诺亚穿着他的慈善学童服装，犹太人睁大眼睛可能会有一些原因； —

but as he had discarded the coat and badge, and wore a short smock-frock over his leathers, there seemed no particular reason for his appearance exciting so much attention in a public-house.
但是他已经摆脱了外套和徽章，穿着皮衣上面罩着一件短款工作服，所以似乎没有什么特别的原因来激起公共酒店里这么多关注。

‘Is this the Three Cripples?’ asked Noah.
“这里是三座跛子吗？”诺亚问道。

‘That is the dabe of this ‘ouse,’ replied the Jew.
“这就是这个房子的名字，”犹太人回答道。

‘A gentleman we met on the road, coming up from the country, recommended us here,’ said Noah, nudging Charlotte, perhaps to call her attention to this most ingenious device for attracting respect, and perhaps to warn her to betray no surprise. —
“我们在路上遇到一个从乡间来的绅士，推荐我们来这里，”诺亚说着，可能在提醒夏洛特注意这种最巧妙的吸引尊重的伎俩，也可能在警告她不要露出惊讶之情。 —

‘We want to sleep here to-night.’
“我们想今晚住在这里。”

‘I’b dot certaid you cad,’ said Barney, who was the attendant sprite; ‘but I’ll idquire.’
“我肯定你可以，”作为服务生的巴尼说道，“但我会询问一下。”

‘Show us the tap, and give us a bit of cold meat and a drop of beer while yer inquiring, will yer?’ said Noah.
“带我们去酒水间，问问能不能给我们一点冷肉和一杯啤酒，”诺亚说道。

Barney complied by ushering them into a small back-room, and setting the required viands before them; having done which, he informed the travellers that they could be lodged that night, and left the amiable couple to their refreshment.
巴尼领着他们进入一个小后厅，摆上了所需的食物；做完这些之后，他告诉旅行者他们今晚可以住宿，然后离开了这对和蔼可亲的夫妻享用他们的点心。

Now, this back-room was immediately behind the bar, and some steps lower, so that any person connected with the house, undrawing a small curtain which concealed a single pane of glass fixed in the wall of the last-named apartment, about five feet from its flooring, could not only look down upon any guests in the back-room without any great hazard of being observed (the glass being in a dark angle of the wall, between which and a large upright beam the observer had to thrust himself), but could, by applying his ear to the partition, ascertain with tolerable distinctness, their subject of conversation. —
这个后厅正好位于酒吧的后面，并且比酒吧低了几级，所以如果和这家酒店有关系的人，拉开了隐藏在最后面那个房间墙上的一个玻璃窗后面的小帘子，大概距离地面五英尺处，不仅可以看到后厅的客人而不至于被发现（因为这块玻璃位于一块暗色墙壁的角落，观察者必须将自己挤进这个角落和一根大立柱之间），而且还可以把耳朵贴近隔断，比较清楚地听到他们的谈话内容。 —

The landlord of the house had not withdrawn his eye from this place of espial for five minutes, and Barney had only just returned from making the communication above related, when Fagin, in the course of his evening’s business, came into the bar to inquire after some of his young pupils.
这家酒店的老板已经盯着这个窥视的地方看了五分钟，巴尼刚刚回来做完上面提到的通报时，菲金为了晚间的生意进入酒吧询问他年轻学生中的一些人的情况。

‘Hush!’ said Barney: ‘stradegers id the next roob.’
“嘘！”巴尼说：“下一间房间里是陌生人。”

‘Strangers!’ repeated the old man in a whisper.
“陌生人！”老人窃窃私语道。

‘Ah! Ad rub uds too,’ added Barney. ‘Frob the cuttry, but subthig in your way, or I’b bistaked.’
“啊！而且似乎不简单，”巴尼补充说，“乡下来的，但有什么隐情，在你的地盘上，不然我就赔给你看。”

Fagin appeared to receive this communication with great interest.
法金看起来对这个消息很感兴趣。

Mounting a stool, he cautiously applied his eye to the pane of glass, from which secret post he could see Mr. Claypole taking cold beef from the dish, and porter from the pot, and administering homeopathic doses of both to Charlotte, who sat patiently by, eating and drinking at his pleasure.
他爬上一个凳子，小心翼翼地把眼睛贴在玻璃窗上，从那个秘密的位置，他可以看到克莱普尔先生从盘子里拿冷牛肉，从罐子里拿波特，然后给坐在一旁的夏洛特施予微量疗法剂量，夏洛特则耐心地随意地吃喝。

‘Aha!’ he whispered, looking round to Barney, ‘I like that fellow’s looks. He’d be of use to us; —
“啊哈！” 他轻声对巴尼说，“我喜欢那个家伙的样子。他会对我们有用； —

he knows how to train the girl already. Don’t make as much noise as a mouse, my dear, and let me hear ‘em talk–let me hear ‘em.’
他已经知道如何训练这个女孩。亲爱的，别像老鼠那样发出声音，让我听他们说话–让我听他们说话。”

He again applied his eye to the glass, and turning his ear to the partition, listened attentively: —
他再次把眼睛贴在玻璃上，把耳朵靠在隔板上，专心聆听： —

with a subtle and eager look upon his face, that might have appertained to some old goblin.
他脸上挂着一种狡猾而渴望的表情，那可能是属于某个老妖精的表情。

‘So I mean to be a gentleman,’ said Mr. Claypole, kicking out his legs, and continuing a conversation, the commencement of which Fagin had arrived too late to hear. —
“所以我打算成为一个绅士，”克莱普尔先生说，伸展双腿，继续一场对话的话题，法金已经来不及听到开头。 —

‘No more jolly old coffins, Charlotte, but a gentleman’s life for me: —
“不再是老棺材的设计了，夏洛特，而是绅士的生活： —

and, if yer like, yer shall be a lady.’
如果你喜欢，你也可以成为淑女。”

‘I should like that well enough, dear,’ replied Charlotte; —
“亲爱的，我挺喜欢这个的，”夏洛特回答道； —

‘but tills ain’t to be emptied every day, and people to get clear off after it.’
“但是柜台不是每天都能清空，人们也不是每次都逃得掉。”

‘Tills be blowed!’ said Mr. Claypole; ‘there’s more things besides tills to be emptied.’
“柜台可以吹，”克莱普尔先生说，“除了柜台，还有更多要清空的东西。”

‘What do you mean?’ asked his companion.
“你是什么意思？”他的伙伴问道。

‘Pockets, women’s ridicules, houses, mail-coaches, banks!’ —
“口袋，女人的袋子，房子，马车，银行！ ”克莱普尔先生说，拿着波特站起来。 —

said Mr. Claypole, rising with the porter.
“Pockets, women’s ridicules, houses, mail-coaches, banks!” 克莱普尔先生说。

‘But you can’t do all that, dear,’ said Charlotte.
“但是亲爱的，你做不到所有这些事情，”夏洛特说。

‘I shall look out to get into company with them as can,’ replied Noah. ‘They’ll be able to make us useful some way or another. —
“我会设法找机会与那些能帮助我们的人交往，”诺亚回答道。“无论如何他们总能让我们有所作为。” —

Why, you yourself are worth fifty women; —
“你自己就值五十个女人； —

I never see such a precious sly and deceitful creetur as yer can be when I let yer.’
我从没见过像你这样一个狡猾欺诈的家伙，当我让你时就。

‘Lor, how nice it is to hear yer say so!’ —
“看到你这样说真是太好了！” —

exclaimed Charlotte, imprinting a kiss upon his ugly face.
夏洛特惊叫道，在他丑陋的脸上印下一吻。

‘There, that’ll do: don’t yer be too affectionate, in case I’m cross with yer,’ said Noah, disengaging himself with great gravity. —
“好了，别太亲昵了，以防我生你的气，”诺亚庄重地挣脱开他说。 —

‘I should like to be the captain of some band, and have the whopping of ‘em, and follering ‘em about, unbeknown to themselves. —
“我想成为一支团伙的头目，并且打击他们，跟踪他们，让他们浑然不知。 —

That would suit me, if there was good profit; —
如果利润很可观的话，这对我来说很合适； —

and if we could only get in with some gentleman of this sort, I say it would be cheap at that twenty-pound note you’ve got,–especially as we don’t very well know how to get rid of it ourselves.’
如果我们能结交到这样的绅士，我说你手头的那二十英镑纸钞就花得值得，–特别是因为我们自己也不太知道怎么处理。

After expressing this opinion, Mr. Claypole looked into the porter-pot with an aspect of deep wisdom; and having well shaken its contents, nodded condescendingly to Charlotte, and took a draught, wherewith he appeared greatly refreshed. —
说完这番话，克莱罗普先生睿智地看了看啤酒壶的内容，将其摇了摇，鄙夷地对夏洛特点点头，饮了一口，看起来大为振奋。 —

He was meditating another, when the sudden opening of the door, and the appearance of a stranger, interrupted him.
他正在考虑着再喝一口，这时门突然被推开，一个陌生人出现了。

The stranger was Mr. Fagin. And very amiable he looked, and a very low bow he made, as he advanced, and setting himself down at the nearest table, ordered something to drink of the grinning Barney.
陌生人是费金先生。他看起来非常和蔼可亲，行了一个非常低的鞠躬，当他走过来坐到最近的桌子旁时，向嘴角笑嘻嘻的巴尼点了一杯饮料。

‘A pleasant night, sir, but cool for the time of year,’ said Fagin, rubbing his hands. —
“很愉快的一晚，先生，但对这个时候来说有点凉爽，”费金擦了擦手说。 —

‘From the country, I see, sir?’
“我看您是从乡下来的，先生？”

‘How do yer see that?’ asked Noah Claypole.
“你怎么看到的？”诺亚·克莱波尔问道。

‘We have not so much dust as that in London,’ replied Fagin, pointing from Noah’s shoes to those of his companion, and from them to the two bundles.
“伦敦可没有那么多灰尘，”费金回答道，指着诺亚的鞋，然后指向他的同伴和两捆包裹。

‘Yer a sharp feller,’ said Noah. ‘Ha! ha! only hear that, Charlotte!’
“你真是个敏锐的家伙，”诺亚说。“哈哈！夏洛特，听到了吗！”

‘Why, one need be sharp in this town, my dear,’ replied the Jew, sinking his voice to a confidential whisper; —
“在这个城市里，一个人必须要很敏锐，亲爱的，”犹太人密语着回答； —

‘and that’s the truth.’
“那是真的。”

Fagin followed up this remark by striking the side of his nose with his right forefinger,–a gesture which Noah attempted to imitate, though not with complete success, in consequence of his own nose not being large enough for the purpose. —
费金用右手食指敲了一下自己的鼻子，随后诺亚试图模仿这个动作，尽管由于自己的鼻子不够大，没有完全成功。 —

However, Mr. Fagin seemed to interpret the endeavour as expressing a perfect coincidence with his opinion, and put about the liquor which Barney reappeared with, in a very friendly manner.
然而，费金似乎将这个尝试解释为对他观点的完全一致，友好地将巴尼带来的酒倒了出来。

‘Good stuff that,’ observed Mr. Claypole, smacking his lips.
“这是好东西，”克莱波尔先生说着，舔了舔嘴唇。

‘Dear!’ said Fagin. ‘A man need be always emptying a till, or a pocket, or a woman’s reticule, or a house, or a mail-coach, or a bank, if he drinks it regularly.’
“亲爱的！”费金说。“一个人必须要时常清空一个抽屉，或一个口袋，或一个女士的小提包，或一座房子，或一辆驿车，或一家银行，如果他经常饮用它。”

Mr. Claypole no sooner heard this extract from his own remarks than he fell back in his chair, and looked from the Jew to Charlotte with a countenance of ashy paleness and excessive terror.
克莱波尔先生刚听到自己话里的这一段就跌坐在椅子上，脸色苍白，满脸惊恐地看着从犹太人到夏洛特。

‘Don’t mind me, my dear,’ said Fagin, drawing his chair closer. ‘Ha! ha! —
“别管我，亲爱的，”费金说，拉近了他的椅子。“哈哈！幸好只有我碰巧听到了你。 —

it was lucky it was only me that heard you by chance. —
真是幸好只有我。” —

It was very lucky it was only me.’
“我没拿，”诺亚结结巴巴地说，不再像个独立的绅士般伸展腿，而是尽力地扭曲在椅子下；

‘I didn’t take it,’ stammered Noah, no longer stretching out his legs like an independent gentleman, but coiling them up as well as he could under his chair; —
“都是她干的；你已经有了，夏洛特，你知道的。” —

‘it was all her doing; yer’ve got it now, Charlotte, yer know yer have.’
“I didn’t take it,” stammered Noah, no longer stretching out his legs like an independent gentleman, but coiling them up as well as he could under his chair;，“it was all her doing; yer’ve got it now, Charlotte, yer know yer have.”

‘No matter who’s got it, or who did it, my dear,’ replied Fagin, glancing, nevertheless, with a hawk’s eye at the girl and the two bundles. —
“不管是谁得到了，或者是谁做的，亲爱的，”费金回答道，然而还是用鹰眼瞥了一眼女孩和两捆包裹。 —

‘I’m in that way myself, and I like you for it.’
“我自己也是这样的，我喜欢你这样。”

‘In what way?’ asked Mr. Claypole, a little recovering.
“以什么方式？”克莱波尔先生稍微恢复了些许。

‘In that way of business,’ rejoined Fagin; ‘and so are the people of the house. —
“在这种经营方式上，”费金回答，“房子里的人也是如此。 —

You’ve hit the right nail upon the head, and are as safe here as you could be. —
你说中了关键，在这里你是安全的，比你能想象的要安全。 —

There is not a safer place in all this town than is the Cripples; —
整个镇上没什么比跛子酒馆更安全的了； —

that is, when I like to make it so. And I have taken a fancy to you and the young woman; —
至少我愿意这么让它变得安全。我对你和这位年轻女士有好感； —

so I’ve said the word, and you may make your minds easy.’
所以我已经答应了，你们可以放心。”

Noah Claypole’s mind might have been at ease after this assurance, but his body certainly was not; —
诺亚·克莱波尔得到这个保证后心里或许能安心，但他的身体却明显不适； —

for he shuffled and writhed about, into various uncouth positions: —
他在各种古怪的姿势中蠕动和扭曲： —

eyeing his new friend meanwhile with mingled fear and suspicion.
一边用畏惧和怀疑交织的眼神盯着他的新朋友。

‘I’ll tell you more,’ said Fagin, after he had reassured the girl, by dint of friendly nods and muttered encouragements. —
“我会告诉你更多的，”费金在通过友好的点头和低声鼓励让女孩放心之后说。 —

‘I have got a friend that I think can gratify your darling wish, and put you in the right way, where you can take whatever department of the business you think will suit you best at first, and be taught all the others.’
“我有一个朋友，我想他能满足你心仪的愿望，给你指引正确的方向，让你能选择最适合自己的业务部门起步，并教你其他全部。”

‘Yer speak as if yer were in earnest,’ replied Noah.
“你说得好像是认真的，”诺亚回答道。

‘What advantage would it be to me to be anything else?’ —
“要我做其他事又有什么好处呢？” —

inquired Fagin, shrugging his shoulders. ‘Here! —
费金询问道，耸耸肩。“在这里！ —

Let me have a word with you outside.’
让我跟你外头说句话。”

‘There’s no occasion to trouble ourselves to move,’ said Noah, getting his legs by gradual degrees abroad again. —
“我们没必要自找麻烦去动一下，”诺厄逐渐将他的双腿伸到了外面。 —

‘She’ll take the luggage upstairs the while. —
“行李会被她搬到楼上去。 —

Charlotte, see to them bundles.’
夏洛特，看好那几捆。”

This mandate, which had been delivered with great majesty, was obeyed without the slightest demur; —
这一命令以极大的威严发出，毫无异议地被遵从； —

and Charlotte made the best of her way off with the packages while Noah held the door open and watched her out.
夏洛特迅速拿着包裹走开，诺厄打开门观察着她离开。

‘She’s kept tolerably well under, ain’t she?’ he asked as he resumed his seat: —
“她被驯得相当不错，是吧？”他在重新坐下时问道： —

in the tone of a keeper who had tamed some wild animal.
就像一个驯服了野兽的园丁一样。

‘Quite perfect,’ rejoined Fagin, clapping him on the shoulder. ‘You’re a genius, my dear.’
“完美无瑕，”费金说着，拍了下他的肩膀。“你是个天才，亲爱的。”

‘Why, I suppose if I wasn’t, I shouldn’t be here,’ replied Noah. ‘But, I say, she’ll be back if yer lose time.’
“我想，要不是我是，我就不会在这儿了，”诺厄回答道。“不过，我说，她要是迟到你就等着瞧吧。”

‘Now, what do you think?’ said Fagin. ‘If you was to like my friend, could you do better than join him?’
“你觉得呢？”费金说。“如果你喜欢我的朋友，有比加入他更好的选择吗？”

‘Is he in a good way of business; that’s where it is!’ —
“他的生意还不错吗；这才是重点！”诺厄挤了一只小眼睛。 —

responded Noah, winking one of his little eyes.
“行业顶尖；拥有大量员工；跟这个圈子里最优秀的人打交道。”

‘The top of the tree; employs a power of hands; has the very best society in the profession.’
“如果你稍微喜欢我的朋友，能有更好的选择吗？”

‘Regular town-maders?’ asked Mr. Claypole.
‘城里的镇头们?’ 克莱珀尔先生问道。

‘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.
‘一个乡下人都没有；我想，即使是在我推荐下，他现在手下人有点短缺，他恐怕也不会接受你,’ 法金回答道。

‘Should I have to hand over?’ said Noah, slapping his breeches-pocket.
‘我需要付钱吗?’ 诺厄拍了拍自己的裤兜。

‘It couldn’t possibly be done without,’ replied Fagin, in a most decided manner.
‘没有这是绝对不可能的,’ 法金断然回答。

‘Twenty pound, though–it’s a lot of money!’
‘二十镑，嗯，这是一大笔钱!’

‘Not when it’s in a note you can’t get rid of,’ retorted Fagin. ‘Number and date taken, I suppose? —
‘当它是在你无法摆脱的票据上时，那就不算多,’ 法金反驳道. ‘编号和日期拿下了，我想? —

Payment stopped at the Bank? Ah! It’s not worth much to him. —
银行停止支付？啊！对他来说不值什么。 —

It’ll have to go abroad, and he couldn’t sell it for a great deal in the market.’
它将不得不流入海外，而且在市场上卖也卖不了多少.’

‘When could I see him?’ asked Noah doubtfully.
‘我什么时候能见到他?’ 诺厄怀疑地问道。

‘To-morrow morning.’
‘明天早上.’

‘Where?’
‘在哪里?’

‘Here.’
‘就在这里.’

‘Um!’ said Noah. ‘What’s the wages?’
‘嗯!’ 诺厄说。 ‘工资是多少?’

‘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.
‘生活像绅士一样——提供食宿，烟斗和烈酒自由 —— 你挣的一半，那个年轻女人挣的一半,’ 法金回答。

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; —
无论诺厄·克莱珀尔的贪婪程度有多广泛，如果他是完全自由的，是否会同意甚至这些诱人的条件，是非常可疑的； —

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.
但是当他回想起，如果拒绝的话，他的新朋友随时可以把他交给司法机构（更不可能的事情已经发生过），他逐渐软化，说他认为那适合他。

‘But, yer see,’ observed Noah, ‘as she will be able to do a good deal, I should like to take something very light.’
“但是，你看，”诺亚观察到，“她能做很多事情，我想要拿一些非常轻的东西。”

‘A little fancy work?’ suggested Fagin.
“一点花里胡哨的手艺？”费金建议道。

‘Ah! something of that sort,’ replied Noah. ‘What do you think would suit me now? —
“啊！这样的东西，”诺亚回答，“你觉得现在什么适合我呢？ —

Something not too trying for the strength, and not very dangerous, you know. —
不要太考验体力，也不要太危险，你知道的。 —

That’s the sort of thing!’
就这样的东西！”

‘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.’
“我听你对其他人谈到了间谍活动之类的事，亲爱的，”费金说。“我的朋友很需要一个能做得很好的人。”

‘Why, I did mention that, and I shouldn’t mind turning my hand to it sometimes,’ rejoined Mr. Claypole slowly; —
“嗯，我确实提到过那个，有时我也不介意转手干这个，”克莱普尔先生慢慢回答道； —

‘but it wouldn’t pay by itself, you know.’
“但这个单独做的话可能不划算，你知道。”

‘That’s true!’ observed the Jew, ruminating or pretending to ruminate. ‘No, it might not.’
“这倒是真的！”犹太人思考着或假装思考着。“不，可能不会划算。”

‘What do you think, then?’ asked Noah, anxiously regarding him. —
“你觉得怎么样？”诺亚焦虑地看着他问道。 —

‘Something in the sneaking way, where it was pretty sure work, and not much more risk than being at home.’
“做那种偷偷摸摸的事，相当有把握的活，风险也不会比家里大多少。”

‘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.’
“你觉得老太太们怎么样？”费金问。“抢夺她们的包和包裹，然后跑到拐角处有很多钱可赚。”

‘Don’t they holler out a good deal, and scratch sometimes?’ asked Noah, shaking his head. —
“她们不会大声尖叫，有时候还挠来挠去吗？”诺亚摇着头问道。 —

‘I don’t think that would answer my purpose. —
“我不认为那会符合我的目的。 —

Ain’t there any other line open?’
没有其他通道吗？’

‘Stop!’ said Fagin, laying his hand on Noah’s knee. ‘The kinchin lay.’
“停！”菲金说着，将手放在诺亚的膝盖上。“小孩留下。”

‘What’s that?’ demanded Mr. Claypole.
“那是什么？”克莱波尔先生要求道。

‘The kinchins, my dear,’ said Fagin, ‘is the young children that’s sent on errands by their mothers, with sixpences and shillings; —
“亲爱的，” 菲金说，“小孩们就是那些被母亲派去办事的年轻孩子，他们手里拿着一便士和一先令； —

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!’
然后，行动就是把他们的钱拿走–他们总是把它准备好–然后把他们打到排水沟里，慢慢走开，就好像只是一个孩子摔倒受伤了一样。哈！哈！哈！”

‘Ha! ha!’ roared Mr. Claypole, kicking up his legs in an ecstasy. ‘Lord, that’s the very thing!’
“哈！哈！” 克莱波尔先生大喊，欣喜若狂地扑腾着双腿。“主啊，正是这样啊！”

‘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; —
“当然了，” 菲金回答，“你可以在卡姆登镇、巴特尔桥和像那样的地方画出几个好地点，他们总是去跑腿； —

and you can upset as many kinchins as you want, any hour in the day. Ha! ha! ha!’
你可以在白天的任何时候推倒那么多小孩。哈！哈！哈！”

With this, Fagin poked Mr. Claypole in the side, and they joined in a burst of laughter both long and loud.
菲金戳了戳克莱波尔先生的肋骨，他们一起发出长时间的大笑声。

‘Well, that’s all right!’ said Noah, when he had recovered himself, and Charlotte had returned. —
“好了，没问题！”当他恢复过来，夏洛特回来时，诺亚说。 —

‘What time to-morrow shall we say?’
“我们明天说十点行吗？”

‘Will ten do?’ asked Fagin, adding, as Mr. Claypole nodded assent, ‘What name shall I tell my good friend.’
“十点可以吗？”菲金问道，加上克莱波尔先生点头表示同意，“我应该告诉我那位好朋友什么名字？”

‘Mr. Bolter,’ replied Noah, who had prepared himself for such emergency. —
“博尔特先生，”准备好的诺亚答道。 —

‘Mr. Morris Bolter. This is Mrs. Bolter.’
“莫里斯·博尔特先生。这位是博尔特夫人。”

‘Mrs. Bolter’s humble servant,’ said Fagin, bowing with grotesque politeness. —
菲金以古怪的礼貌鞠躬道：“博尔特夫人的仆人。” —

‘I hope I shall know her better very shortly.’
‘我希望很快能更好地了解她。’

‘Do you hear the gentleman, Charlotte?’ thundered Mr. Claypole.
‘夏洛特，你听到那位先生说的吗？’克雷波尔先生雷鸣般地说道。

‘Yes, Noah, dear!’ replied Mrs. Bolter, extending her hand.
‘是的，亲爱的诺亚!’ 柏特太太回答道，伸出手。

‘She calls me Noah, as a sort of fond way of talking,’ said Mr. Morris Bolter, late Claypole, turning to Fagin. ‘You understand?’
‘她叫我诺亚，是一种亲昵的说话方式，’晚期克雷波尔先生莫里斯·柏特转向费金说道。’你明白吗？’

‘Oh yes, I understand–perfectly,’ replied Fagin, telling the truth for once. —
‘哦，是的，我完全明白，’费金一次说真话。 —

‘Good-night! Good-night!’
‘晚安！晚安！’

With many adieus and good wishes, Mr. Fagin went his way. —
和许多道别和祝福，费金先生踏上了回家的路。 —

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.
诺亚·克雷波尔向他贵妇妻子请教，开始向她详细解释他所做的安排，展现出一种高傲和优越感，这不仅符合男性的气质，还展现了一个重视在伦敦及周边地区从事幼童盗窃的特殊任命的绅士的尊严。