CHAPTER XXXII. OF THE HAPPY LIFE OLIVER BEGAN TO LEAD WITH HIS KIND FRIENDS

coachmancoulddismountfromhisbox,hehadtumbledoutofthecoach,bysomemeansorotherand,runningdowntothedesertedtenement,begankickingatthedoorlikeamadman. “Halloa?”saidalittleuglyhump-backedman:openingthedoorsosuddenly,thatthedoctor,fromtheveryimpetusofhislastkick,nearlyfellforwardintothepassage.“What’sthematterhere?” “Matter!”exclaimedtheother,collaringhim,withoutamoment’sreflection.“Agooddeal.Robberyisthematter.” “There’llbeMurderthematter,too,”repliedthehump-backedman,coolly,“ifyoudon’ttakeyourhandsoff.Doyouhearme?” “Ihearyou,”saidthedoctor,givinghiscaptiveaheartyshake. “Where’s—confoundthefellow,what’shisrascallyname—Sikesthat’sit.Where’sSikes,youthief?” Thehump-backedmanstared,asifinexcessofamazementandindignationthen,twistinghimself,dexterously,fromthedoctor’sgrasp,growledforthavolleyofhorridoaths,andretiredintothehouse.Beforehecouldshutthedoor,however,thedoctorhadpassedintotheparlour,withoutawordofparley. Helookedanxiouslyroundnotanarticleoffurniturenotavestigeofanything,animateorinanimatenoteventhepositionofthecupboardsansweredOliver’sdescription! “Now!”saidthehump-backedman,whohadwatchedhimkeenly,“whatdoyoumeanbycomingintomyhouse,inthisviolentway?Doyouwanttorobme,ortomurderme?Whichisit?” “Didyoueverknowamancomeouttodoeither,inachariotandpair,youridiculousoldvampire?”saidtheirritabledoctor. “Whatdoyouwant,then?”demandedthehunchback.“Willyoutakeyourselfoff,beforeIdoyouamischief?Curseyou!” “AssoonasIthinkproper,”saidMr.Losberne,lookingintotheotherparlourwhich,likethefirst,borenoresemblancewhatevertoOliver’saccountofit.“Ishallfindyouout,someday,myfriend.” “Willyou?”sneeredtheill-favouredcripple.“Ifyoueverwantme,I’mhere.Ihaven’tlivedheremadandallalone,forfive-and-twentyyears,tobescaredbyyou.Youshallpayforthisyoushallpayforthis.”Andsosaying,themis-shapenlittledemonsetupayell,anddancedupontheground,asifwildwithrage. “Stupidenough,this,”mutteredthedoctortohimself“theboymusthavemadeamistake.Here!Putthatinyourpocket,andshutyourselfupagain.”Withthesewordsheflungthehunchbackapieceofmoney,andreturnedtothecarriage. Themanfollowedtothechariotdoor,utteringthewildestimprecationsandcursesallthewaybutasMr.Losberneturnedtospeaktothedriver,helookedintothecarriage,andeyedOliverforaninstantwithaglancesosharpandfierceandatthesametimesofuriousandvindictive,that,wakingorsleeping,hecouldnotforgetitformonthsafterwards.Hecontinuedtoutterthemostfearfulimprecations,untilthedriverhadresumedhisseatandwhentheywereoncemoreontheirway,theycouldseehimsomedistancebehind:beatinghisfeetupontheground,andtearinghishair,intransportsofrealorpretendedrage. “Iamanass!”saidthedoctor,afteralongsilence.“Didyouknowthatbefore,Oliver?” “No,sir.” “Thendon’tforgetitanothertime.” “Anass,”saidthedoctoragain,afterafurthersilenceofsomeminutes.“Evenifithadbeentherightplace,andtherightfellowshadbeenthere,whatcouldIhavedone,single-handed?AndifIhadhadassistance,IseenogoodthatIshouldhavedone,exceptleadingtomyownexposure,andanunavoidablestatementofthemannerinwhichIhavehushedupthisbusiness.Thatwouldhaveservedmeright,though.Iamalwaysinvolvingmys