译《雾都孤儿》第十二章：南希如期赴约（一）
On exactly the same night as Nancy had met Rose Maylie, two people from Oliver's home town were making their way towards London. Their progress was slow, since they travelled on foot, and in addition, the girl was carrying a heavy bag on her back. The young man carried nothing. From time to time he turned to shout at the girl behind him. 'Hurry up! What a lazy creature you are, Charlotte! I'll come and give you a kick if you don't move faster!'
南希见罗斯·梅莱的当晚，奥利弗老家的两个人踏上了往伦敦的路。他们走得很慢，因为他们是徒步行走的，另外就是女孩背上背着沉甸甸的包裹。年轻男子两手空空，啥都没拿。他时不时回头朝走在后头的女孩吼。“走快点！你个懒骨头，夏洛特。还不走快点，我就要来踢你了。”
The young man was Noah Claypole, who had made Oliver's life so miserable at Mr Sowerberry's house. He was now taller and uglier but otherwise little changed. He and Charlotte had grown tired of the undertaking business and had set off to London to start a new life-with all the money from Mr Sowerberry's shop in their pockets.
年轻男子是诺亚·克莱普尔, 就是那个在苏尔伯里先生的店里将奥利弗生活弄得一团槽的人。现在他长得更高了，也更难看了，其他的变化不大。他和夏洛特都厌倦了殡葬事宜，就前往伦敦开始新生活――口袋里带着苏尔伯里先生店里的全部家当。
Eventually, they entered London, and Noah began to look for a quiet, cheap pub where they could spend the night. Charlotte followed obediently at his heels as they walked through a district of narrow, dirty streets.
终于，他们到了伦敦，诺亚开始找家安静、便宜的酒馆，他们能在那睡一晚。夏洛特跟着他的步伐穿过一片满是逼仄、肮脏街道的区域。
At last Noah found a pub that he thought was suitable. It was dark and dirty, with a few rough-looking men in the bar. They entered and asked for a room for the night and a meal of cold meat and beer which they ate in the bar. The beer made Noal talkative and he began to boast. 'So it's no more coffins for us, my girl. We can do better than just robbing Mr Sowerberry. In London there are pockets, houses, coaches - even banks.'
最后，诺亚找到一家他认为合适的酒馆。那里昏暗、脏乱不堪，吧台有几个长得粗犷的男子。他们走进去，要了间房过夜和点了餐，吃的是冷肉和冰啤酒。啤酒让诺亚话很多，他开始夸夸其谈。“现在看不到棺材了，我的女孩。我们能做的比抢劫苏尔伯里先生更好。伦敦，到处都是钱袋、房屋、马车――以及银行。”
'I like the sound of it, Noah, but how are we going to do all this?' asked Charlotte.
“我喜欢你说的。诺亚，但我们要怎样做呢？”夏洛特问。
'We can meet people who know about these things. I'd like to be the leader of some gang, if there's a good profit to be made in that kind of work.' Noah felt very pleased with himself, and looked forward to an easy life of crime in the capital.
“我们可以见一些了解这些的人。我想要成为一些团伙的头目，如果在那些行当里盈利可观的话。”诺亚觉得自己很好，期待在伦敦过一种轻松的与犯罪有关的生活。
They talked about their plans for a few minutes. Then a stranger, who had been sitting unseen round the corner, came up to them. The stranger was Fagin. He greeted them in a very friendly and cheerful way, sat down with them, and immediately ordered more beer for Noah.
他们谈了会他们的计划。然后一个坐在看不见的角落里的陌生人，走近他们。这个陌生人就是费金。他非常友好和开心欢迎他们，坐同一桌，立马给诺亚再点了些酒。
'That's good beer,' said Noah, already a little drunk. He thanked the stranger for the drink.
“真是好酒。”诺亚说，已经喝得有点醉了。他谢过陌生人点的酒。
'Expensive, too.' said Fagin. 'If you drink that every day, my dear, you'll need to empty pockets, houses, coaches, even banks.'
“也很贵。”费金说。“如果你想每天都喝的话，亲爱的，你就得掏空别人的钱袋，房子，马车甚至是银行。”
When he heard his own words repeated, Noah went pale with terror. The stranger must have heard everything, even how they had robbed Mr Sowerberry!
当诺亚听到自己说过的话时，他吓得脸色惨白。这个陌生人一定全都听到了，包括他们怎样在苏尔伯里先生家行窃的。
'Don't worry,' laughed Fagin, pulling his chair closer. 'You're lucky it was only me who heard you.'
“不担心，”费金笑意盈盈，将椅子拉近了些。“你很走运只有我听到了你说的话。”
'I didn't take it,' said Noah quickly. 'It was the woman who did it.'
“不是我偷的”诺亚连忙说。“是那位女士偷的。”
'It doesn't matter who did it, my dear,' replied Fagin, looking quickly at Charlotte. 'Because I'm in that business myself. And the people in my house as well. I can introduce you to the right people, if you're interested. You both look like good workers.'
“谁偷的，这不重要，亲爱的。”费金回，快速扫了夏洛特一眼。“因为我就是干那行的。在我屋里的人也都是干那行的。我能介绍你给合适的人，要是感兴趣的话。你们两个都是好手。”
Charlotte and Noah felt a mixture of fear and pleasure. 'What would you want me to do?' asked Noah. 'Something light, if possible,' he added.
夏洛特和诺亚又惊又喜的。“你想我做什么？”诺亚问。“可能的话，轻松点的活。”他又补了一句。
'What about spying on people?' asked Fagin. 'Or robbing young children who are going shopping for their mothers? That's light work, and easy.'
“监视别人怎么样？”费金问。“或者抢劫那些替父母采买的小孩呢？这是份轻松的活，很容易的。”
Noah laughed. 'That sounds like just the thing for me! And what will I earn for this work?'
诺亚哈哈大笑。“这正是我想要的。我能从这赚到什么？”
'You can live free in my house, and give me half of what you earn.'
“你能免费住我那，给我你赚的一半。”
After further discussion, and the transfer of Mr Sowerberry's money from Noahs pocket to Fagin's, agreement was reached. The next day Noah and Charlotte went to live in Fagin's house and began to be instructed in their new profession.
经进一步讨论，双方达成一致，苏尔伯里先生的钱从诺亚处转到了费金那。第二天，诺亚和夏洛特去了费金的住处，开始接受他们新职业的指导。
Although training and experience had made Nancy an expert liar, she could not completely hide the fear in her mind. She knew she had taken an enormous risk in going to see Rose Maylie. If Fagin or Sikes ever found out...But she pushed these fears away. She was determined to keep her promise to Rose Maylie, and meet her as arranged.
尽管训练和经历让南希说谎成精，但也无法完全掩盖她心底的恐惧。她知道她要冒很大风险去见罗斯·梅莱。如果费金或赛克斯发现的话……她硬是将这些恐惧抛于脑后。她一定要对罗斯·梅莱信守承诺，按约定的见面。
图片截自扇贝阅读
On the first Sunday night after her meeting with Rose. she was in Sikes' room when the clock struck eleven. Fagin was there, too, discussing some business with Sikes. Nancy stood up and put on her coat. Sikes watched her, surprised.
见过罗斯后的第一个星期日晚上。当钟敲了十一声时，她在赛克斯房里。费金也在，正与赛克斯商议一些事。南希起身，穿上外套。赛克斯看着她，被吓了一跳。
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PS:本书为牛津系列简易读物，由著名作家查理德·罗杰根据英国作家查尔斯·狄更斯的同名小说改写。
英文为书虫系列原文，译文是笔者翻译。本文仅因个人兴趣而译，故本文谢绝转载和各种商业用途，同时承诺若出现任何责任由作者承担，必要时简书可删除文章。
