Chapter 31 Chapter Thirty

(Describe the new visitor's impression of Oliver.) The doctor went on and on, and gave countless assurances that they would be surprised when they saw the criminal.He asked the lady to take him by one arm, give Mrs. Maylie the other, and lead them upstairs in a courteous, demure manner. "Now," whispered the doctor, turning the handle of the bedroom door slightly, "we might as well hear what you think of him. He hasn't had a haircut in a while, but he doesn't look at all vicious. Etc. ! Let me see if he can visit first." The doctor took a few steps forward, looked into the room, and motioned for them to follow. As soon as they came in, the doctor closed the door and gently opened the bed curtain.What was lying on the bed was not the stubborn and vicious gangster as they expected, but a child who fell into a deep sleep under the pain and fatigue.His bruised arm was bandaged and splinted to his chest, his head resting on the other arm, which was half covered by his long hair, scattered on the pillow.

The good gentleman held the coverlet with one hand, and looked at it in silence for a minute or so.While he was looking at his patient so intently, the young lady approached slowly, and sitting down in a chair by the bed, brushed the hair from Oliver's face.She bent over Oliver, and a few tears fell on his brow. The child moved and smiled in sleep, as if these gestures of pity evoke some pleasant dream of love and tenderness he had never known.Sometimes, a friendly piece of music, the sound of gurgling water in a quiet place, the fragrance of a flower, or even just uttering a familiar word, will suddenly evoke some vague memories, reminding people of something that has never appeared in this life. They drift away like a breeze, as if awakening for a moment some long-separated and happier past, which mere meditation can't bring back.

"What's the matter?" cried the old lady. "The poor boy can't possibly be the apprentice of a band of robbers." "Sin," the doctor sighed, and lowered the curtain, "can hide in many sacred places. Who can say that a beautiful appearance can't hide evil intentions?" "But he's still so young," Ruth said bluntly. "My dear madam," replied the doctor, shaking his head sadly, "crime, like death, does not care only for the old and infirm. The youngest and prettiest are often its chosen victims." "But you just--oh! Do you really believe that this skinny kid volunteered to be the helper of the dregs of society?" asked Ruth.

The doctor shook his head, meaning he feared that might well be the case.Noting that they might disturb the patient, he led the way into the next room. "Even if he's done something bad," Ruth refused to let go, "think about how naive he is, think about how he may never have had a mother's love or the warmth of a family. Abuse, beatings, or the need for bread will drive He hangs out with people who make him do bad things. Auntie, dear auntie, think twice before you let them throw this sick boy in prison. There's no chance of getting right. Uh! You love me, and you know that because of your kindness and love, I never feel like I've lost my parents, but it's possible for me to do the same thing, as this poor kid Those who have no one to rely on and who cannot be cared for, please take pity on him before it is too late."

"My dear baby." The old lady hugged the weeping girl in her arms. "Did you think I'd hurt a hair on his head?" "Oh, no!" Ruth replied urgently. "No, certainly not," said the old lady. "I am numbered, and to have mercy on others is to forgive myself. What can I do, sir, if I want to save him?" "Let me see, ma'am," said the doctor, "let me see." Mr. Rosbery walked up and down the room with his hands in his pockets, pausing every now and then to balance himself on his heels, with a frightening crumpled brow.He uttered all kinds of emotions, such as "Now there is a way." The following words:

"I think I can do it if you give me carte blanche to frighten Kyles and that young man, Brittles, without any restraint. Kyles is a loyal servant, and the old servant of the family, it is I know. But you have a thousand ways to make it up to him, besides rewarding a good shooter like him. You don't object to that?" "There is no other way of protecting the child," replied Mrs. Maylie. "There is no other way," said the doctor. "No, you can trust me." "In this case, Auntie will entrust you with carte blanche," Ruth laughed through her tears, "but unless it is absolutely necessary, please don't make things too difficult for them."

"You seem to think," replied the doctor, "that, Miss Ruth, everyone here today, except yourself, is hard-hearted. Generally speaking, for the sake of all males growing up, I hope that when When the first qualified young man begged you for mercy, you were so kind and soft-hearted, but unfortunately I am not a young man, otherwise I would have seized such a favorable opportunity in front of me on the spot, and I would have done that." "You're as big a boy as poor Brittles," replied Ruth, blushing. "Okay," the doctor laughed happily. "That's by no means a very difficult thing. Let's go back to the boy, we haven't gotten to the point of agreement yet. He'll wake up in an hour or so, I'll bet. The policeman said that the patient can't move or talk, it will be life-threatening, we can probably talk to him lightly, there is no danger. Now, I promise - I will face him in front of you Conduct an examination, that is to say, based on what he said, we can make a judgment, and I can let you see clearly through calm reason that he is an out-and-out villain (this possibility is relatively high), then, he I can only resign myself to fate, and under any circumstances, I will no longer interfere in this matter."

"Oh no, Auntie!" pleaded Ruth. "Oh, yes, aunt!" said the doctor. "Is this a trade?" "He's not going to degenerate into a villain," said Ruth. "It can't be." "Very well," retorted the doctor, "that is all the more reason to accept my proposal." At last the treaty was concluded, and the several persons sat down and waited restlessly for Oliver to come to life. The patience of the two ladies was condemned to a more severe test than Mr. Rosbery had predicted to them, and the hours passed, and Oliver still slept.It is true that it was late in the evening when the kind doctor brought word that he was awake enough to talk to him.The doctor said that the boy was very sick and very weak from the loss of blood, but he was very restless and anxious to tell something, and the doctor personally thought that it would be better to give him such a message than to insist on keeping him quiet until the next morning. Chances are, he's going to talk about it anyway.

The conversation went on for a long time.Oliver told them the brief history of his life, often obliged to stop by pain and want of energy.It was a solemn thing, in a dimly lit room, to hear the feeble voice of the sick child pour out all the misfortunes that cruel men had brought upon him.Ah!When we oppress and ravage our own kind, why don't we think about it, the evidence of human crimes is like a thick cloud, although it rises very slowly, it can't escape the sky net, and finally there will always be evil retribution pouring on our heads—why don't we In imagination, listen to the sad and angry complaints of the dead, which cannot be suppressed by any force, and which cannot be blocked by any dignity—even if you just think about it for a while and listen to it, then the harm and indignation brought by daily life cannot be suppressed. There is no place for justice, suffering, pain, violence and injustice!

That night, a pair of kind hands smoothed Oliver's pillow, and beauty and goodness watched over him in his sleep.His heart was peaceful and happy, and he died without complaint. As soon as this important interview was over, when Oliver came to his senses, the doctor immediately rubbed his eyes, and at the same time reproached them for not being able to use them. Then he got up and went downstairs to enlighten Mr. Giles.Finding no one in or out of the living room, he could not help thinking that it might be better to undertake these tasks in the kitchen, so he went into the kitchen. In the House of Commons of the House Council there were assembled: the Maid, Mr Brittles, Mr Kells, the Tinker (who was specially invited to receive the feast of the day, in view of his services), and There is the police officer.The last gentleman, with his big head, big nose and big eyes, wore a big baton, and big half-boots, and looked as if he was enjoying his share of beer—and so it was.

The topic was still the thrilling story of the night before.When the doctor came in, Mr. Giles was detailing how calm he had been, and how calm he had been in danger.Mr. Brittles held a glass of beer in his hand, and before his superior finished speaking, he vouched for the truth of everything he said. "Sit down, sit down." The doctor said and waved his hand. "Thank you, sir," said Mr. Giles, "ma'am, miss, order us some beer. I don't think it's necessary to keep the cat in my own cabin, sir. I want to keep you company, so I come here." .” With Brittles in the lead, most of the ladies and gentlemen present muttered a few words of appreciation for Mr. Giles' presence.Mr. Giles prowled the place all week with a protective air, as if to say that as long as they behaved well he would never leave them alone. "How is the patient this evening, sir?" asked Giles. "That's all," replied the doctor. "I'm afraid you're in trouble, Mr. Giles." "I don't believe you mean, sir," Mr. Giles shuddered. "He's dying. As long as I'm thinking about it, I'm going to die. I don't want to spend a child, yes, not even Brittles for that matter--even if Give me all the tableware in the county, and I won't do it, sir." "That's all right," said the doctor vaguely. "Mr. Giles, are you a Protestant?" "Yes, sir, I believe so," said Mr. Giles faltering, turning pale. "And you, boy?" asked the doctor, turning suddenly to Brittles. "God bless, sir." Brittles jumped to his feet. "I'm as—as Mr. Giles, sir." "Then tell me," said the doctor, "you two, you two. Will you swear that the boy upstairs is the one that was shoved through the little window last night? Speak! Speak! We Waiting for your answer." The Doc, who is by all accounts the most tempered man in the world, should ask such a question in such a frighteningly angry tone that Kels and Brittles, already dazzled by beer and excitement, stared wide-eyed, do not know what to do. "Officer, please pay attention to their answers, is that okay?" The doctor shook his index finger very seriously, and tapped his nose again, asking the big man to show his maximum power of observation. "It's going to be a bit of an issue soon." The Inspector, trying to look astute as possible, picked up the baton which had been lying idle in the corner of the fireplace. "You can see that it's a simple matter of identification," said the doctor. "That's right, sir." As soon as the policeman answered, he coughed desperately, and in his haste he tried to finish the beer, but some of the beer went astray. "Someone has broken into the house," said the doctor. "Two people had caught a glimpse of a child for a moment, when the smoke was high, everyone was confused, and it was dark again. The next morning, a child came to the house because He happened to have his arms up again, and these men beat him up--thus putting his life in extreme danger--and swore that he was the thief. The question now is, according to the facts, whether the two men's Was the conduct justified, and if so, where did they put themselves?" The policeman nodded meaningfully, saying that if that wasn't a legitimate question, then he'd like to see what it was. "I'll ask you again," the doctor's voice was like thunder. "You two solemnly swear, can you testify against that child?" Brittles looked at Mr. Giles in bewilderment, Mr. Giles looked at Brittles in bewilderment, and the policeman put his hand behind his ear and waited to hear the two of them. answer.The two maids and the tinker sat up and listened.The doctor looked around with piercing eyes—at this moment, a bell rang at the gate, and at the same time there was the sound of wheels rolling. "There must be a policeman," announced Brittles, apparently greatly relieved. "What what?" the doctor yelled, and now it was his turn to be dazed. "A detective from Beaumont Street," answered Brittles, holding up a candle. "Mr. Giles and I sent for them this morning." ①The name of a street in London, where the Misdemeanor Court is located. "What?" the doctor yelled. "Yes," answered Brittles, "I sent a message from the coachman, and I've been wondering why they didn't come here, sir." "You did it, did you do it? You damned ones—how did the carriage arrive? It's so slow. I have nothing to say." The doctor said and walked away.