Oliver twist summary. A Brief Retelling of Charles Dickens's The Adventures of Oliver Twist

The protagonist of the novel is Oliver Twist. He was born in a workhouse environment. Mom looked at Oliver once and died. As a child, he suffers bullying, hunger, does not know what parental care is. Once an undertaker's apprentice, Oliver is humiliated by the orphanage boy Noah Claypole. Twist demolishes everything, but beats strong opponent after Noe insults his mother. Oliver is punished, he runs from the undertaker.

A boy goes to London after seeing a road sign. He meets a beggar peer - the Artful Dodger. The boy introduced himself as Jack Dawkins. In the city, the Artful Dodger introduces the hero to the leader of the swindlers and thieves, Fagin. At the very first exit “on business”, Oliver sees how the Artful Dodger and his friend steal a handkerchief. He is horrified and runs, but he is caught and accused of stealing. The gentleman whose handkerchief was stolen dropped his claim: he takes Oliver to his house. The boy has been sick for many days, he is being treated and taken care of. Brownlow and the housekeeper, Bedwin, notice the resemblance between a boy and a young girl in a portrait that hangs in the living room.

But the past won't let Oliver go. Fagin kidnaps the boy and forces him to take part in a house robbery. The hero does not want to participate in the crime and decides to raise the alarm. However, he is immediately wounded in the arm. "Partner", a beggar boy Sikes from Fagin's company, throws Oliver into a ditch to escape the chase. The hero comes to his senses and hardly gets to the porch of the house. There Roz and her aunt Mrs. Maylie put the boy to bed, turn to the doctor. They're not going to hand him over to the police.

Old Sally died in the workhouse. It was this woman who looked after the hero's mother, and after her death she robbed her. Sally tells the warden that she stole a gold item from the hero's mother, gives the mortgage receipt to Corny and dies.

Nancy learns that Fagin is making a hero into a thief at the behest of a stranger. The stranger Monks demands that Fagin find Oliver and bring him to him.

The hero is surrounded by care and gradually recovers. He told his story, but nothing could confirm it. Brownlow left. But the attitude towards Oliver does not change for the worse. Then both women go with him to the village. There he meets a stranger, takes him for a madman. Then he sees in the window the same man with Fagin. Households come running to Oliver's cry, but it is not possible to find the aliens.

Monks found Corny and bought a tiny wallet from her. It was taken from the neck of Oliver's mother. Inside is a medallion with a wedding ring and curls, on inside was engraved: "Agnes". Monks threw the wallet into the stream. He then tells Fagin about it. Nancy hears everything, goes to Roz to inform her about what is happening. She tells her the story in detail, reports that Monks called the hero brother. Nancy then returns to the gang, asking not to give her away. Roz and Oliver find Brownlow and turn everything over to him. Now they need a description of the stranger's appearance. They get it from Nancy. Fagin suspects Nancy and learns about her affairs. He decides to punish her and tells Sikes that she has got herself a boyfriend. Bill Sikes kills a girl.

Brownlow takes over the investigation. Edwin Leeford is the name of a stranger. He is Oliver's brother. Their father was friends with Brownlow. He suffered in marriage, the son was vicious in his youth. Oliver's father fell in love with Agnes Fleming, but, having gone to Rome on business, fell ill and died. Found an envelope with my father's will. He allocated part of the money to his eldest son and wife, leaving Agnes the rest. The boy will receive an inheritance if he does not tarnish his honor. But the will was burned by Monks' mother. The letter was kept to shame Agnes. Her father died. Agnes' younger sister, Rose, is Mrs. Maylie's adopted niece. Monks runs away from home at the age of 18, commits a lot of crimes. His mother tells him about the history of the family, he sets himself the goal of discrediting his brother. Under pressure from Brownlow, Monks leaves England.

Fagin was arrested and executed, Sykes died. Oliver finds a family, Rose agrees with Harry (his admirer), who became a priest, instead of making a career.

SECTION I

tells about the place where Oliver Twist was born, and about the circumstances under which this happened

Every town in England has a workhouse. In one city, in such a public institution, “the mortal whose name you see in the title of this section was born.” If, at the moment of his birth, he was “surrounded by caring grandmothers, worried aunts, experienced mothers and wise doctors, then he would probably and inevitably have ended.” He didn't breathe for several minutes. But next to him were only a drunken old woman and a parish doctor, so Oliver and Nature fought on their own. As soon as he inhaled air, sneezed and screamed, the young mother stirred on the metal bed, raised herself with difficulty from the pillow, took the baby, "hotly pressed her cold lips to his forehead, ... shuddered, fell on the pillow - and died."

The doctor tried to do something, but in vain - the heart stopped forever. Leaving the room, he asked the beggar woman about the young woman, but she did not know who she was, nor how she got to the city.

Baba dressed the newborn in a poor, yellowed shirt, and it immediately became clear that the boy was not the son of a nobleman, but “a parish pupil, an orphan from a workhouse, a rootless, eternally hungry beggar who was not destined to know anything in life except kicks and side, whom everyone will shove and no one will pity.”

SECTION II

tells how Oliver Twist grew up, was brought up and fed

For the next eight to ten months, Oliver was on the verge of death. Then the parish leadership sent him to the “farm”, where, under the maternal supervision of an elderly woman, two or three dozen babies were busy on the floor. The old governess supported the experimental philosopher's theory "that a horse can live without food, who successfully confirmed it by reducing his horse's daily ration to one straw a day." The dashing steed died the day before he was supposed to switch to the consumption of fresh air itself.

Children starved, and died from accidents: either a child fell into a fire or managed to suffocate, or a cradle tumbled, scalded with boiling water. Sometimes there was an inquest into the death of a neglected parish child, but the doctor and the parish beadle swore that she wanted to hear parish advice from them.

This system of education paid off.

“On his maiden day, Oliver Twist was a pale, frail boy, too small and thin as a splinter.”

On this day, Mr. Bumble, the parish beadle, came to Mrs. Mann's "farm" to pick up Oliver. The hostess ordered the boy to be washed, and she herself began to generously treat the beadle with gin. Mr. Bumble drank half a glass in one gulp and began to tell the hostess of the establishment how he came up with the names of the kids in alphabetical order.

They brought in Oliver, who was ready to leave here with anyone and anywhere. But he "thought of pretending to be terribly unwilling to go," all the more so since Mrs. Mann, standing behind the beadle chair, writhed furiously and showed her fist.

In the robot house, Oliver was put before the eyes of the council. "Mr. Bumble hit him on the head with a stick to stir him up a bit, and once on the back to cheer him up ... and led him into a large room where about a dozen smooth gentlemen were sitting around." Oliver answered the gentlemen's questions quietly and haltingly, and the members of the council thought he was a fool.

They asked him if he knew that he had neither a father nor a mother, he was praying for all those who feed him, and the boy was only sobbing bitterly.

The members of the council said that Oliver was already big, and therefore he had to work off the bread. The boy had to twist the ropes.

The council "took care" of the inhabitants of the workhouse. She accepted to feed the poor three times a day with liquid porridge, she herself separated the spouses and made single men out of men, buried the dead poor. From such a life, the undertaker was never out of work.

The children were also given only porridge. It was poured into small bowls. After the bowls were empty, the children "carefully sucked their fingers, hoping that at least a grain of porridge stuck to them."

The guys went completely wild with hunger, and one of them said that, for goodness sake, he would eat his neighbor. His eyes were so wild that his comrades unconditionally believed him.

After dinner, Oliver asked for more porridge. The overseer was dumbfounded with surprise, and Then he yelled, calling the beadle.

Mr. Bumble immediately reported this to the council, and the gentleman in the white waistcoat said that Oliver Twist would end his life on the gallows. The gentlemen discussed this unheard-of adventure and decided to offer five pounds to whoever would take Oliver with them.

SECTION III

tells how Oliver Twist just missed a place that was by no means heavenly

"For a whole week after Oliver Twist committed his blasphemous and shameful crime - he asked for more porridge - he, according to the wise and merciful decision of the council, was kept locked up in a dark punishment cell." It would be natural to assume that, according to the prediction of the gentleman in the white waistcoat, he could hang himself with a handkerchief. However, firstly, the Rada declared handkerchiefs a luxury item, and, secondly, his young age and childish inexperience were an even greater hindrance.

Oliver wept bitterly every night, afraid of the dark. And in the morning in cold weather, he was doused with water from a pump and publicly flogged with rods as a warning and an example to others.

“One morning, when Oliver was in such a wonderful, blissful state, Mr. Hemfield, the chimney sweep, was walking along the main street of the town, thinking hard about how to pay the rent ...” Suddenly he saw a notice on the gate of the workhouse for five pounds for the boy. It was five pounds that was not enough for him.

The chimney sweep asked the council to hand over Oliver, because he just needs an apprentice. The council members knew that Mr. Hemfield had several boys who had suffocated in the chimneys, but decided that the chimney sweep's offer suited them.

The agreement was made and Mr. Bumble took Oliver to court to legalize the paperwork. The dear beadle explained to the boy that he should smile joyfully in court, and transparently hinted that if Oliver did not agree to go into science to become a chimney sweep, "then an unspeakably terrible punishment would befall him."

There were two old gentlemen sitting at the desk in the court. "The Judge had long ago lost his clarity of vision and was almost healthy," but even he noticed Hemfeld's vile, cruel mug and Oliver's pale, frightened little face.

The court refused to approve the agreement, and "the next morning the citizens of the city were again informed that Oliver Twist was 'on hire' and that five pounds sterling would be paid to whoever wanted to take him."

SECTION IV

Oliver is offered another job and starts working for the community.

The members of the council decided to send Oliver Twist to the sailors, so that on some boat he would either be caught to death or drowned by sailors who love such entertainment. But the boy was taken in by Mr. Sauerbury, the parish undertaker. “He was a tall, lean, oily man” with a face not for smiles, although he could joke on professional topics. The Undertaker met Mr. Bumble and laughed with him at the fact that, as glad introduced new system food for the guests of the workhouse, fairly narrowed streets from the coffin and lowered.

Little Oliver was given to the troopers "for testing." The next day the beadle Bumble took the boy to see Mr. Sowerbury. On the way, Oliver wept so bitterly that even the callous heart of the beadle ached a little.

At the undertaker's house, Mrs. Sauerbery pushed Oliver into the so-called "kitchen," where Charlotte's maid, "a scruffy girl in worn boots and frayed blue woolen stockings," fed the boy scraps that a dog would have scorned. At night, Oliver was made a bed in the workshop among the coffins.

Oliver meets fellow professionals. After the first participation in the funeral, he has an unpleasant impression of the craft of his master.

Oliver was terribly afraid of spending the night in the studio. “It seemed to him that just about some figure would let his head out of the coffin - and he would go crazy with horror.” But not only this terrible environment oppressed Oliver. Here he felt his loneliness especially sharply, and bitter sadness enveloped the boy.

In the morning Oliver was awakened by a knock on the door. Pulling back the heavy bolt, he saw "a smooth guy from the parish retreat, who was sitting on a pedestal in front of the house and crushing a piece of bread and butter ..." The guy said that his name was Noah Claypole and he would be Oliver's boss.

Oliver carried out all the orders of this big-faced, smooth Nezgrabi, and received kicks.

In the kitchen, Charlotte fed Noah a good piece of ham, and Oliver got the leftovers meant for him.

Noah wasn't some kind of foundling. He could trace his ancestry back to his parents, who could not feed their son and gave him up to the parish orphanage. The guys from the street teased Noah with offensive nicknames “skin”, “beggar”, and he silently endured. But now he was taking his anger out on Oliver.

Three weeks have passed. Mr. Sauerbery decided to take Oliver to the funeral to make him a golosіlnik.

The case was not long in coming. At night, a woman died, whose family lived in a dilapidated house on the outskirts of the city.

Undertaker and Oliver entered the unheated room. A very pale, gray-haired man and an old woman sat in front of a cold fireplace, and a bunch of children huddled in the corner.

The grief of her husband made him half mad. He tore his hair, shouted that he had been imprisoned for begging, and the woman had been starved to death. The mother of the deceased smiled senselessly and muttered something.

The deceased woman was buried in a mass grave, where there were so many coffins that the vetch to the upper surface was several feet away.

Oliver did not like the sight of the funeral at all, but Mr. Sauerberry said he would soon get used to it.

SECTION VI

Enraged by Noah's taunts, Oliver takes action and surprises him greatly.

The trial period expired, and Oliver was officially accepted as a student .. There were more deaths, a measles epidemic mowed down children. Oliver, in a hat with a ribbon to the knees, led the funeral processions and aroused the delight and tenderness of all the mothers of the city.

And in the undertaker's workshop, Oliver for many months meekly endured the bullying of Noah Claypole, who was furious with envy. Charlotte supported Noah in everything, especially since Mrs. Sauerbury hated Oliver fiercely, because her husband showed favor to him.

Once Noah was left alone with Oliver and decided to make fun of the boy to his heart's content. First, he pulled Oliver's hair, his ear, called him a pidliza, and when all these bullying did not give the expected result, Noah began to laugh at Oliver's mother and called her a whore.

“Blushing with rage, Oliver jumped to his feet, knocked over a chair and a table, grabbed Noah by the throat, shook him so that his teeth snapped, and, putting all his strength into one blow, knocked his offender off his feet.” From the mortal insult inflicted on his mother, his spirit rebelled, his blood boiled and the little downtrodden boy in an instant turned into a formidable avenger.

Charlotte came running to Noah's cry, then Mrs. Sauerbery. They began to beat Oliver, who resisted, struggled and did not lose his fighting spirit, and then they stuffed him into the cellars and locked him there. The boy continued to beat on the door, trembling under his blows.

Mrs. Sauerbery sent Noah to the asylum and ordered Mr. Bumble to be brought immediately.

Noah rushed headlong through the gates of the workhouse. He pressed the blade of a knife to the bruise under his eye and yelled that Oliver wanted to kill him, the mistress and Charlotte.

When Mr. Bumble arrived at the undertaker's house, Oliver was still pounding on the cellar door. Mr. Sauerbery came back and dragged the little rebel out of the cellar by the collar. In general, he treated the guy kindly, but his wife's tears aroused his anger and he had only one thing left - to beat Oliver.

By evening, he sat locked up in the cellar, and when it got dark, the hostess sent him to sleep in the workshop. All night the boy wept, then prayed, and at dawn he pushed back the bolt and, hesitatingly, went out into the street. He went towards the workhouse. In the garden, behind bars, Oliver saw his comrade Dick, who at this early hour was already weeding the bed. He raised his pale face, ran to the gate, and held out his thin hand to Oliver. The boys said goodbye, and Dick blessed Oliver. Oliver remembered this blessing of a small child all his life.

CHAPTER VIII

Oliver goes to London. On the way he meets a strange young gentleman

Oliver walked quickly along the highway. Outside the city, he saw a sign that said that from here to London exactly seventy miles. The boy remembered the words of the old residents of the workhouse that a guy with a head in London could earn big money.

The first day Oliver came twenty miles. He ate the only piece of bread that was in his knapsack, and felt terrible hunger. At night, the boy buried himself in a haystack in the middle of the field, warmed up a little and fell asleep.

The next day he could barely move his legs from fatigue and hunger, and again spent the night in a cold, dank field. In the villages, Oliver tried to beg for a piece of bread, but in nine cases out of ten, when they saw the outstretched hand, the farmers shouted that they were about to set the dogs on him.

"On the seventh day after the escape, Oliver hobbled early in the morning to the town of Barnet." The town was still asleep. "A dirty, dusty boy sat down on someone's doorstep to give a breather to bloodied, broken legs." Nobody paid any attention to him. Suddenly Oliver noticed that a guy was looking at him. “He had a snub nose, a flat forehead ... and was grimy in a way that only a youngster can get dirty. As for his age, he was not tall, his legs were crooked, and his little eyes were quick and daring. This swaggering, self-confident Firth was the first to approach Oliver, asked where he was going, fed him ham and bread, and suggested that they go to London together. From further conversation, Oliver learned that his friend's name was Jack Dawkins, he had the allegiance of a respected old London gentleman and was now on his way to the capital. Jack admitted that among his friends he is better known by the nickname "Smart Dodger".

The guys entered London late at night, passed many streets and found themselves in a narrow, dirty, smelly alley near a house. The rogue pushed Oliver into the corridor and led him into a dimly lit room with walls blackened with age and dirt. There was a wooden table in front of the fireplace, a sausage was roasting on a wire over the fire, “and an old wrinkled Jew with an ugly face overgrown with a shaggy beard was bending over it with a long fork in his hand ... Four or five guys were sitting at the table, no older than Produ. They smoked long earthen pipes and drank alcohol like adults.”

Jack Dawkins called the old Fagin, introduced Oliver Twist to the company. They all shook hands with him warmly and sat down to supper. Feigin poured Oliver a glass of gin with hot water, ordered everyone to drink. The boy felt himself being transferred to one of the mattresses that lay on the floor, and fell into a deep sleep.

SECTION IX

contains additional information about the pleasant old gentleman and his capable pupils

Oliver woke up late in the morning and saw only an old Jew who was preparing breakfast. The boy lay with flattened eyelids, heard and saw the old man, but his thoughts were far from here. Feigin called Oliver, but he did not answer. Then the old man locked the door, pulled out a small box from the hiding place and began to examine the jewels.

After going through all this, the old man looked at Oliver and saw that he was not sleeping, and turned pale. He ran up to the boy, but then affectionately turned the conversation to the fact that he had to keep many children, and he earned this property for his old age.

The Dodger and Charlie Bates returned and sat down to breakfast. Then the guys gave Feigin two purses and four pocket squares, speaking among themselves in a language that Oliver hardly understood. He had no idea when and where the guys managed to work so well.

After a while, the guys and the old one started an exciting game: Feigin paced around the room, and Charlie and Proyda secretly pulled out various goods from his pockets. The old man suggested that Oliver steal a handkerchief from his pocket and praised him for his ability.

The young gentlemen were visited by two young ladies, Beth and Nancy. "They were very sweet and casual, and Oliver thought they were wonderful girls."

Oliver gets to know his new friends better and gains experience at a high price. A short but very important section of this legend

"For many days Oliver did not leave Feigin's room - either spitting marks from handkerchiefs ... then he took part in the game already mentioned, which the old gentleman and two guys played every morning."

Finally one morning Oliver, Charlie Bates and Dodger went into town. At the book stall, the guys saw an old gentleman in gold glasses, reading a book intently. Dodger and Charlie left Oliver, went up to the old one, Dodger pulled out a handkerchief from him, handed it to Charlie, after which the two of them rushed to their heels and disappeared around the corner.

That's when Oliver realized where Fagin got handkerchiefs, watches, and jewelry. The boy was burned by a hot wave of horror, and he rushed to run. The gentleman, book in hand, chased after Oliver, shouting, "Stop the thief!" These words had magical power. People dropped everything and ran after the boy.

Oliver was exhausted, a man caught up with him, hit him and knocked him down. The crowd surrounded the boy, the policeman arrived in time and led the young man to the court. The gentleman followed.

SECTION XI

tells about the police judge Mr. Feng and gives a certain idea of ​​\u200b\u200bhow he administers justice

Oliver was put in a cell that looked like a cellar. Fifty drunkards had been here since Saturday, many men and women held on unproven charges. This room was worse and dirtier than the cells in Newgate Prison, where the most dangerous criminals were kept.

After some time, Oliver was taken to court. The frightened boy could not say a word. The judge, Maeterlinck Feng, sat at the back of the room with a gloomy look. He rudely treated the old gentleman, who wanted to explain the essence of the matter, interrupted and insulted him. Then he started interrogating Oliver. The policeman, seeing that the boy was able to understand and answer anything, casually called Oliver Tom White, randomly spoke about the dead parents.

Oliver could hardly stand on his feet, lost consciousness and no longer heard the verdict of the judge: three months in a hard labor prison. Suddenly, the owner of a book stall ran into the hall and, ignoring the anger of Judge Feng, said that another guy had stolen the handkerchief. The enraged judge overturned the verdict and expelled everyone from the hall.

The old gentleman picked up the unconscious Oliver and took him to his house.

CHAPTER XII,

in which Oliver is being cared for better than ever, and revisiting the jolly old gentleman and his young friends

Mr. Brownlow took care of Oliver, but for many, many days the boy remained insensitive to the care of his new friends. He melted in a fever, like wax on fire.

But "in the end, Oliver woke up, frail, thin and pale, already transparent ..." With difficulty tearing his head away from the pillow, the boy looked around apprehensively and asked where he was. Immediately a clean and neatly dressed elderly woman came up to the bed. "She carefully laid Oliver's head on the pillow and looked into his eyes with such kindness and love that he involuntarily grabbed her hand with a thin hand and wrapped it around his neck." Mrs. Bedwin was moved to tears by this outburst of gratitude.

Oliver began to recover little by little. Mrs. Bedwin, the housekeeper, Mr. Brownlow, the doctor, the old nurse, supported the boy's strength with their care. After a while Oliver began to come out to the table. In the living room, he noticed a portrait of a charming young woman hanging on the wall. Oliver could not take his eyes off him, and Mr. Brownlow was surprised by the absolute resemblance of Oliver to the image of an unknown woman.

CHAPTER XIII

An understanding reader gets acquainted with new characters, as well as with various interesting events that are associated with these individuals and are directly related to this story.

When the little thieves returned to Fagin without Oliver, the old man greeted them with a furious cry. He was shaking Pass by the collar, pushing Charlie, asking where they had put the boy.

Suddenly, a stocky man of about thirty-five entered the room cursing, dressed in a black frock coat, greasy brown breeches, lace-up boots on thick legs that lacked shackles. This cute thug came with big dog, whom he kicked under the table, where he curled up and often batted his angry eyes.

It was Bill Sikes. He asked the guys about Oliver's arrest and gloated with Feigin, saying that when the boy tells something to the police, the gallows awaits the old one. Feigin, with a soapy and meaningful smile, affectionately said that others would burn with him.

All members of the honest company fell silent. After some time, Sykes offered to scout the police where Oliver was being held. It was decided to entrust the matter to Nancy, who had recently moved to Field Lane from the sailors' quarters and could not be afraid of being recognized.

Nancy changed into a simple suit and went to the police station. The cunning young lady took in the good-natured jailer what happened to Oliver, and reported everything to Bill Sykes and Fagin. These "caring" gentlemen decided that they would find the boy and shut him up before he betrayed them.

SECTION XIV

contains further details of Oliver's stay with Mr. Brownlow, as well as the famous prophecy that a gentleman named Grimvig uttered regarding Oliver when he went on an errand

Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. Bedwin avoided talking to Oliver about his past while he was still weak. Mrs. Bedwin talked about her wonderful children, taught the boy how to play cribbage, protected and entertained him in every possible way. Oliver's life at Mr. Brownlow's cabin was happy and secure. When the boy was fully recovered, the old gentleman invited him to his room. Oliver was struck by the abundance of books on the shelves, which reached right up to the ceiling. There was a conversation between Mr. Brownlow and Oliver about the future of the boy whom the old gentleman thought of helping to get back on his feet. Mr. Brownlow wanted to know how and where Oliver had lived before, but as soon as the boy opened his mouth to tell about his life on the “farm”, about wanderings in hire from the undertaker, Mr. Grimwig, an old friend of the owner of the house, entered the room.

He was a good man, and always contradicted everything and was dissatisfied with everything. He had no children, and therefore all the boys were the same for him. "In the depths of his heart, Mr. Grimwig was very inclined to recognize both the appearance and behavior of Oliver as extremely pleasant, but his inherent spirit of bickering rebelled against this." He proved to a friend that Oliver is not at all what he seems. Mr. Brownlow was about to argue with the visitor when Mrs. Bedwin brought in a package of books that a messenger had brought them. The old gentleman wanted to give money and several copies of books to the book dealer, but he had already disappeared. Oliver said that he could complete this task and run back and forth in ten minutes.

Putting five pounds in his pocket, he carefully took the books under his arm and went to the store. Looking after him, Mr. Grimwig said that they would see the boy for the last time, because he was stealing both books and money. Mr. Brownlow defended Oliver.

“It was already so dark that it was difficult to see the numbers on the dial, and the two old gentlemen were all sitting silently at the table on which the clock lay.”

which shows how sincerely Oliver Twist was loved by the jolly old Jew and Miss Nancy

William Sykes was sitting in the room of the stinking tavern. The circle of his feet perched a white red-eyed dog. Sikes kicked the dog for no apparent reason, and the dog, without thinking twice, silently dug its sharp teeth into the owner's boot. Sikes grabbed a knife and was about to cut the dog's throat, but suddenly the door opened and the dog rushed out of the room, almost knocking Feigin off his feet. Enraged, Sikes immediately transferred his anger to the old man, but he spoke in an affectionate voice and gave a share of the loot. Bill calmed down a bit and started talking about looking for Oliver.

Meanwhile, Oliver was heading towards the bookstore. Suddenly, someone’s hands grabbed him, and a familiar voice was heard behind him: “Oh, my dear brother, I found you!” It was Nancy.

Oliver screamed and struggled, but passers-by sympathized with the "sister", who yelled all over the street that the boy had run away from home, and his mother was being killed behind him.

Before Oliver, who with all his strength resisted and fought off Nancy, Bill Sikes approached with a dog. He ordered the boy to be quiet and dragged him into a labyrinth of dark narrow streets.

It got dark. Mrs. Bedwin waited anxiously at the threshold of the house, "and two old gentlemen sat stubbornly in the dark drawing-room, with a clock ticking on the table between them."

SECTION XVI

tells what happened to Oliver Twist after he fell into the hands of Nancy

Sykes and Nancy took Oliver by the hand, and the man warned the boy that when he decides to scream, Piatak will grab him and tear him to pieces. The dog growled furiously, as if he understood his master's language.

They were walking along unfamiliar dark streets, when suddenly the dzigari was thumped eight times in the church. It was at eight o'clock that the guys who were to be executed for crimes were well known to the thieves standing under the gallows. Nancy spoke of these comrades of hers, but Sikes did not care much for their fate.

Oliver, Sikes, and Nancy approached a long-abandoned shop, which still had someone. The boy was pushed into a dark corridor. Where the candle flickered. Coming closer, Oliver saw Jack Dawkins, who recognized the boy and only smiled derisively. And in the moldy room, Oliver saw Charles Bates poking at him and rolling around with laughter, and Mr. Fagin bowing low to the taken aback boy.

Dodger and Charles forced Oliver to take off clean clothes and put on sackcloth, took books and five pounds. Oliver begged for the old gentleman to return his things, but the thieves only laughed at his despair.

Suddenly Oliver started to run. The guys ran after him, and Nancy closed the dog in the room so that he would not catch up with the captive. Sikes was angry, but the girl screamed that she would not allow the child to be tortured. She told Feigin that she would protect Oliver, whom they wanted to make a thief, just as they had made her a thief twelve years before. The old one began to threaten Nancy, and in a frenzy she rushed at him with her fists. Sikes intercepted the girl, she thrashed in his arms and fainted.

Oliver was led into a room and locked up.

It so happened that in bloody melodramas, tragic and comic scenes alternate: in one scene, the hero falls under the weight of shackles on a straw prison bed, and in the next, his faithful comrade, not knowing about the misfortune, amuses the audience with a funny song.

“In life, there are even more amazing transitions from a table that bends under dishes, to a death bed, from mourning to festive clothes.” But in life we ​​are not passive spectators, but actors.

Early in the morning Mr. Bumble came out of the gates of the workhouse and walked through the city with solemn steps. The council instructed him to take two women to London for the court to determine their right to settle. Before leaving, Bumble went to Mrs. Mann's to give her the money she had gladly allocated for the maintenance of the orphans. Mrs. Mann spoke of the children, boasting that they were all healthy, except for the two who had died that week, and little Dick. Beadle wanted to see Dick, and the boy was brought in. “He was thin and pale, his cheeks drooped, his large eyes shone painfully.”

Mr. Bumble asked the boy what was happening to him, and Dick told about his only wish. He would like someone to write a few words on paper before they die and save this note for Oliver Twist. Mr. Bumble was surprised and ordered the boy out.

The next day, Mr. Bumble quickly got down to business and ordered a modest lunch for himself on arrival: a few steaks, oyster sauce and porter. As he sipped his wine, he opened the newspaper and read an advertisement for Oliver Twist, about whom there is no information. Anyone who sheds light on his past will receive a reward of five guineas.

Mr. Bumble quickly found Mr. Brownlow's house and told the old gentleman “that Oliver is a foundling, the son of bad, unlucky parents, that from birth he was the incarnation of deceit, ingratitude, spitefulness; that he ended his short stay in his native city with a vile and brutal attack on an innocent boy, after which he disappeared under the cover of night from his master's house. For this information he received five guineas and left. Mr. Brownlow and Mr. Grimwig were amazed, but Mrs. Bedwin did not believe a single word of the beadle.

CHAPTER XVIII

How Oliver spent his time in the rescued company of his worthy friends

The next day, Feigin read a long sermon to Oliver about the sin of ingratitude, which, they say, the guy took to his soul, leaving his comrades. He recalled that he sheltered and fed the boy when he was dying of hunger. Along the way, he told a story about an ungrateful boy who went to the police to denounce his friends, but in court Feigin proved his innocence and accused the guy of serious crimes. They hung him. “In conclusion, Mr. Feigin did not spare gloomy colors to describe all those unpleasant sensations that the suicide bomber experienced in the process of hanging, and very friendly and sincerely expressed his ardent hope that he would never have to subject Oliver Twist to such a painful operation.”

Oliver had no doubt that Feigin had more than once destroyed his overinformed or overly talkative accomplices.

Many days later Oliver was completely alone. He sat near the only open window on the roof. Once Charles Bates and the Dodger began to slander Oliver to become a thief, like their whole company, but the boy objected that being a wurka is doing evil.

Feigin rejoiced at the abilities of his students, rubbing his hands with satisfaction, hearing their words.

Once, Mr. Chitling, an eighteen-year-old thief who had already served time in prison, came into the abandoned house, but considered Proda smarter, more skillful than himself, and treated him with some respect. Feigin ordered Oliver to obey the guys, he himself spoke about the advantages of the thieves' craft.

“From that day on, Oliver was rarely left alone, almost all the time the guys entertained him with their conversations, and every day they played with Feygin in ancient game... " At times, the old man talked about the robberies that he committed in his youth, and there was so much funny in those stories that Oliver involuntarily laughed from the bottom of his heart.

“In short, the cunning old Jew dragged the guy into his nets, ... poured poison into his soul, hoping to stain and discredit it forever.”

CHAPTER XIX,

in which an interesting idea is discussed and adopted

One cold rainy evening Feigin left the house and, skulking in the darkness, winding through the crooked dirty streets, went to meet Sikes. There was also Nancy, whom Feigin did not see, how she stood up for Oliver. The girl treated the old brandy, but he only dipped his lips into the glass. He came not to drink, but to talk about business.

There is a rich house in Chertsі. Thee Quack tried to persuade the servants to help the thieves, but he did not succeed. The cunning thief wanted to make the servant girl fall in love with him, walking in front of the house in a canary waistcoat, with sideburns glued on, then switched to mustaches and cavalry breeches, but zilch came out of that case.

Feigin was disappointed by the failure of Tebe Krekit. The only thing left for the thieves was to get into the house through a small window that had no bars. And then it was decided that the thieves would take Oliver with them. He would climb through the window into the house, open the bolt, and Quack and Sikes would take all the valuables.

Nancy, who until recently protected Oliver, helped her friends develop a cunning robbery plan.

Feigin, rubbing his hands, said that Oliver should be involved in the real case. Let the guy understand that he is one of them, that he is a thief - and then he will be them forever.

in which Oliver is placed at the disposal of Mr. William Sykes

In the morning, Oliver saw a pair of new boots with good soles near his mattress and decided that he would be fired. And it turned out that the boy would be taken to Bill Sykes' house. "Feygin's tone and facial expression frightened the guy even more than this message." The old man, with a terrible smile, warned Oliver to save himself Sikes, for whom it cost nothing to shed someone else's blood for a toy, and do whatever he says. Oliver decided that he would probably be a robber for a servant, and he stopped being afraid and began to read a book about famous criminals and the execution that befell them. The boy's blood ran cold with descriptions of horrific crimes, and he threw the book away. Suddenly, Nancy entered the room. She was very pale and spoke in a choked voice: “Forgive me, Lord! How could I…” Oliver helped her to sit up, wrapped a handkerchief around her cold legs, stirred up the coals in the fireplace. Gradually, the girl calmed down and sat silently for a long time.

When it was quite dark, Nancy came up and told Oliver that she would take him to Sikes. She asked the boy not to run away because she would be killed when he did. In the street, Oliver almost screamed for help, but remembered the girl's pained voice - and did not open his mouth.

Holding hands, Nancy and Oliver entered the house, where Bill was already waiting for them. The man showed a gun and said that he would shoot Oliver if he even spoke in the street. Nancy, staring at the boy intently, explained Sikes' words with a pinch that when Oliver stood back across the road, the thief would shoot him in the head.

Sykes woke Oliver early in the morning. They had a quick breakfast and left the room. Nancy didn't even look at the boy, petrified by the fire.

Expedition

A gray gloomy morning was visible in the yard. It was market day. “An endless line of wagons with all kinds of living creatures and meat carcasses” stretched to London, milkmaids walked with buckets of milk, men and women moved with baskets of fish on their heads. “Feet got bogged down in the mud almost up to the ankle, a thick steam swirled over the sweaty cattle ... The whistle of drivers, the barking of dogs, the lowing of oxen, the bleating of sheep, the grunting and squealing of pigs, the cries of hawkers, screams, abuse, quarrel from all sides .. crush, hustle, unwashed, unshaven, miserable, dirty personalities, scurrying about among the crowd - all this stunned, stunned the one who came here for the first time.

Sykes tugged at Oliver for that pandemonium, elbowing his way through. The boy, adjusting to the quick walk of the burglar, began to jog. On the way they were overtaken by an empty wagon, and Sikes asked a cabman to give them a ride, and to prevent Oliver from asking for help, he patted his pocket, where the pistol was, expressively.

They rode the cart for a long time, and then wandered around the surrounding fields for several hours until they reached the town of Hampton. There they dined with cold meat and sat in the tavern until night. Sykes met a man who was returning home on a cart, and struck up a good relationship with him. Late at night they left the inn, got on a cart, drove for a long time and walked again until they reached a dilapidated house on the river bank.

CHAPTER XXII

Sikes knocked on the door of the house. Thee Quack and Barney, who had been waiting for their accomplice for a long time, happily met him. Thee Quack had a liquid, carefully twisted into long spiral curls of hair, into which from time to time he ran his wandering fingers, adorned with large cheap rings. When he saw Oliver, he was terribly surprised. Sikes quietly explained something to him, and Thee laughed out loud.

Oliver is terribly tired. “He almost did not realize where he was and what was happening around him.” The men forced him to drink alcohol, and the boy fell into a heavy slumber.

Late at night the robbers began to gather. They took tools, knives, pistols, "wrapped their faces up to their eyes with large dark handkerchiefs" and, leading Oliver by the hand, left the house.

Friends quickly reached a lonely estate. “Only now Oliver, almost mad with despair and fear, realized that they had come here to rob, and maybe kill.” He turned pale, his eyes darkened, and a stifled cry of horror escaped from his chest. "Sykes uttered a terrible curse and cocked the trigger, but You ... covered Oliver's mouth with his hand and dragged the guy home." The robbers opened the frame of a small window, Sykes shoved Oliver through with his feet first and, having ordered the bolt of the front door to be pushed back, quietly lowered the boy to the floor. At this point, Oliver decided to "raise the inhabitants of the house to their feet, even if for this he has to pay with his life." But suddenly the figures of two men appeared on the stairs, “something flashed, boomed, smoke wafted ... and Oliver was thrown against the wall.”

Sikes put his hand through the window, grabbed the boy by the collar, pulled him out. Oliver felt himself being dragged somewhere and lost consciousness.

CHAPTER XXIII,

which retells the content of a pleasant conversation between Mr. Bumble and a certain lady, and shows that even the parish beadle is characterized by human weaknesses.

“Frost hit in the evening”, a piercing wind fluttered snowdrifts, knocked down white dust and, with a terrible howl, attacked obstacles in their path. People who live in warm houses, on cold winter evenings, they gather in front of the fireplace and thank God that they are at home. But “many stepchildren of society in such bad weather forever close their eyes to just the sky on our streets, and No matter what sins weigh on their souls, they are unlikely to suffer worse torments in the next world.”

The matron of the workhouse, Mrs. Corney, sat down before the merry fire of the fireplace, and enjoyed a cup of tea to amuse her soul. "The little teapot and the single cup on the table brought back to her sad memories of Mr. Corney (who died only twenty-five years ago), and she became extremely despondent." Suddenly, she was disturbed by a soft knock on the door. The figure of Mr. Bumble appeared on the threshold. Mrs. Corney hesitated whether it would be proper to receive the man at a later time, but nevertheless invited him into the room. They talked about today's terrible weather, about the shameless poor who are asking for help, about one ungrateful scoundrel who did not take raw potatoes and flour, for he, you see, is homeless and will not be able to cook food. And then this impudent man went and died on the street. They agreed that the main ambush of helping the poor is “to give her exactly what they don't need. Eventually they get tired of walking and give up.”

Mrs Corney gave Mr Bumble tea. They sat so closely at the table that the beadle, after finishing his tea, “wiped his lips and kissed the warden without further ado,” and then put his arm around her waist. Suddenly, this impudence was interrupted by a knock on the door. A terribly ugly bogadilka appeared on the threshold, who said that old Sally was dying in terrible agony and asked to call the matron. Mrs Corney asked Mr Bumble to wait for her while she herself went to the dying woman.

Left alone, the beadle counted the teaspoons, examined the silver jug, inspected the furniture intently, "as if adding up a detailed description of them."

CHAPTER XXIV,

which speaks of a thing that almost does not deserve attention. However, this section is short, and in our story it may still be important.

The body of the bogadilka, the herald of death, “was twisted from old age, her arms and legs were trembling, her face twisted in a stupid smile looked more like a mask created by the hand of a mad master than a creation of nature.”

The old woman could not keep up with her observation and lagged behind somewhere in the corridor. Mrs. Corney went up to the patient, who was lying in a bare room in the attic. Another old bogadilka was sitting by the bed, and an apothecary's apprentice was standing in front of the fireplace, who said that Sally had only two hours to live. The matron grimaced in annoyance, threw up her shawl, and sat down at the sick woman's feet.

The rich women moved closer to the smoldering fireplace and stretched out their bony hands to the fire. "In the ominous reflections, their wrinkled faces became even brighter."

Sally was lying unconscious, and the warden was about to leave, when suddenly the patient opened her eyes, saw the bogadilki and asked them to be driven out. Both monsters yelled pitifully, but obeyed the order of the boss and left.

"The dying woman tried with all her last strength not to let the spark of life die out." She began to talk about a young woman who had been picked up from the street more than ten years earlier. The unknown gave birth to a boy and died. Sally barely recalled those distant events, but she had the strength to say that she had stolen the only thing she had from the woman in labor. That was true gold, which could save her life, and she did not sell that thing - she hid it on her chest.

Dying, the young mother blessed her child and instructed Sally to save the only valuable thing for her son, but the bogadilka stole it. The patient could hardly say before her death that the boy's name was Oliver and that he was very similar to his mother.

The warden left the room and calmly said that Sally had not said anything worthwhile.

CHAPTER XXV,

in which we again return to Mr. Feygin and company

That same evening, when Sally was dying in the robot house, Mr. Feigin sat by the fire, lost in thought. Dodger, Charlie Bates, and Mr. Chitling were playing whist at the table behind him. Plut won all the time, although he played one against two. Charlie Bates understood what the trick was, but he laughed merrily as he watched the Rogue.

Mr. Chitling lost the last of his money and threw away his cards. Today he was taciturn, thinking about something intently, and Charlie knew well that Tommy Chitling had run into Bates. The love of a friend gave him a cheerful mood; he laughed as he rolled on the floor.

Suddenly, someone rang the doorbell. The guys instantly fell silent and inaudibly disappeared from the room! The rogue let a man in a rough work blouse into the house. Feigin took a closer look and recognized Thee Krekit.

Feigin and Plut were surprised to see the tired, dirty and unshaven face of the scruffy Tebe. Without waiting for questions, Quacking ordered food to be brought, and when he had eaten his fill, he ordered Walk to go out, drank gin and water and said that the case did not work out, that Oliver was shot, and his accomplices left him in a ditch and rushed in all directions, saving their skin.

CHAPTER XXVI,

in which a new mysterious character appears on the stage and many events take place that are inextricably linked with this narrative

Feigin, hearing the news about Oliver, “shouted, pulled his hair, ran out of the house and rushed down the street” the world behind his eyes. He calmed down a bit when he approached the Three Cripples Inn. Feigin was well known to all the frail inhabitants of the dirty back streets, who nodded affably to him. He nodded to them in the same friendly way and turned to the frail little man who sat, slumped into a child seat, in front of the door of his store, if he had seen Sikes. The little man replied that Bill wasn't here today. Feigin went into the tavern and went upstairs to a large room. There, men and women sat at a long table, "and in the corner, behind a disordered piano, a professional gentleman with a beetroot nose ..." He played some melody, and "a young lady entertained the listeners with a ballad of four verses." The faces of its supporters were marked with the seal of almost all vices and attracted attention precisely for their enormity. "Deceit, cruelty, drunken audacity were their expressive features, but the greatest and most miserable characters in this terrible picture were women - some still with traces of a youthful blush on their cheeks, ... others are already completely devoid of alluring signs of their sex, completely distorted and devastated by crime and debauchery; yet they are not yet out of their youth!” Among all this gathering, Feigin looked out for the person he needed, but that one was not there. He asked the innkeeper to tell him that 258 was looking for him, got out, hired a convertible and drove to the house where Sikes lived. In the room, Feigin saw only Nancy, who was completely drunk and did not react to the story that the case did not work out, and that the police were hunting for Syke. The old man began to ask the girl about Oliver, but she said that it was better for the boy to die than to be among the likes of them. These words angered Feigin. The old man firmly declared that when Sikes saved his skin, but returned without the boy, it would be better if she killed him herself, when she did not want to be strangled by the prison executioner. Saying this, Feigin mentioned that Oliver is a treasure for him, especially now that he "has got in touch with the devil himself in the flesh."

Suddenly Feigin realized that in unconsciousness he had blurted out too much, mastered himself and changed right before his eyes. He began to question Nancy, she hushed him up, but the girl asked him to repeat if he wanted something. The old man decided that she was drunk and did not understand his hints, and therefore calmed down and went home. Just before the very doors of the house, the man whom Feigin was looking for in the tavern suddenly approached the old one. Feigin really did not want to bring the stranger into the house, but he insisted that he wanted to talk warmly. They went into the room, sat down by the fireplace, and talked quietly about something. Monks (that's what Feygin called him several times) accused the old man that he had not kept his promise, had not made a sleazy pickpocket out of the boy, who would go to prison and stain himself forever. But Feigin justified himself, saying that this boy was not at all like the others: he could not be intimidated by anything, he did not want to steal, there were no sins behind him.

Monks suddenly exclaimed that he saw a woman's shadow flash across the wall. Feigin grabbed a candle, and they went around all the rooms, went down to the basement, but they did not find any woman.

CHAPTER XXVII

atones for one of the previous sections, in which, very politely, one lady is left alone

Mr. Bumble, who remained in Mrs. Corney's room, "counted the teaspoons again, weighed the sugar tongs in his hand, examined the milk jug more closely, examined the condition of the furniture with great care, ... and then began to count the spoons again" and briefly examined the contents of the master's dresser. What he saw in the boxes caused him great delight. There lay all sorts of articles of clothing of the most fashionable designs and best quality, "and in the box with the padlock, when he shook it, there was a pleasant sound, nothing but the clinking of coins."

He went back to the fireplace and sat down when Mrs Corney came running into the room. She was very excited, and Mr. Bumble, trying to calm the woman, embraced her and "in a passionate impulse snapped the tip of her chaste nose." Mrs Corney "wrapped her arms around Mr Bumble's neck". That evening they agreed to get married. There seemed to be a complete understanding between them, but Mrs. Corney did not say anything to her future husband about what she had heard from Sally.

Mr. Bumble stopped by the undertaker on his way home. The Sauerburys were not at home, but the shop was open. Mr. Bumble peered through the living room window and saw a table covered with a tablecloth, on which were seen bread, butter, a mug of beer and a bottle of wine. Mr. Noah Claypole sat at the table, casually lounging in an armchair, and Charlotte stood beside him, feeding him oysters. She tried to persuade him to eat another fat one, but Noah had already eaten too much and wanted to kiss Parlotta. Seeing this, Mr. Bumble burst into the room and yelled at the scoundrels. Charlotte has recovered, and Noah began to make excuses that the girl herself all the time climbs to kiss him.

Charlotte looked reproachfully at the guy, but he continued to accuse her of all sins.

CHAPTER XXVIII,

which speaks of Oliver Twist and recounts his further adventures

Sykes knew that he could not escape from his pursuers with a wounded boy in his arms. Cursing all the watchmen and faithful servants, he laid Oliver on the grass and, threatening with a pistol, ordered You to return. But the accomplice was more afraid of the people who raised the cry, and dogs, and therefore preferred to die from Bill's bullet rather than fall into the hands of enemies. Thee ran away headlong, and Sikes rushed after him, leaving the boy in a ditch.

There were three pursuers: Mr. Giles, Brittles, and a wandering tinker; who spent the night in the wing, woke up from the noise and joined the chase with his dogs. “Mr. Giles served as a butler and housekeeper for an old lady, Brittles was her footman, and that he began the service as a very young errand boy, he was still treated as a young man who still has everything ahead, although he already exchanged the fourth decade.

Chasing the thieves, the men themselves were seriously frightened, and therefore, not full of robbers, they returned close together to the house.

Unconscious and helpless, Oliver lay in the ditch all night. Finally, he opened his eyes, groaned in pain, slowly got up and wandered off, not knowing where. It seemed to him that Sikes and Quack were by his side, and the robber was squeezing his arm painfully.

Slowly the boy went out onto the road, saw the house and trudged towards the people. In the meantime, the heroes of the pursuers were refreshed by breakfast, and Mr. Giles related the events of the night to the cook and maid, boasting of the courage of his comrades and his own. The women groaned, surprised, clinging to each other in fear, when suddenly someone knocked on the door. Three daredevils, together with the dogs, moved to the door, opened them and, "timidly looking at each other over their shoulders, they caught not a monster on the porch, but poor little Oliver Twist." They grabbed him, dragged him into the hallway, and shouted that one of the thieves had been caught. This noise was interrupted by a melodious female voice. The servants were ordered to carry the wounded man upstairs and call for a doctor and a constable.

The girl who gave these orders did not want to see who the wounded robber was.

CHAPTER XXIX

introduces the inhabitants of the house to which Oliver got

Two women sat at a table in a cozy room. They were served by Mr. Giles, immaculately dressed in a black three-piece.

One woman was no longer young. She sat in a majestic pose and gazed intently at her young interlocutor.

The girl delighted the eye with the fresh beauty of youth. “She was not yet seventeen years old. She was so slender and graceful, so gentle and affectionate, so pure and beautiful that she seemed to be an unearthly creature, not related to the rough creatures that inhabit our world. She looked at the old woman, and her eyes shone with such love and sincere devotion, "that the spirits of heaven would laugh if they looked at her at that moment."

“A cabriolet drove up to the gate, from which a sleek gentleman jumped out and rushed at full speed to the porch.” He was in the room in a moment, shouting condolences to Mrs. Maley for the night's accident. Miss Rosa interrupted him and asked him to examine the wounded man.

Doctor Losburn was loved by the whole district for his sincerity and kindness. He stayed with the wounded man much longer than both mistresses had hoped, and then invited the women to look at the robber, because they never saw him. Mr. Giles at first simply hesitated to admit that he had shot the little boy, and then he did not turn his tongue to tell the truth, which could negate his fame.

tells of the impression he made on those who came to visit him

The doctor assured the women that the sight of the criminal would surprise them, and he was not mistaken. "Instead of the ugly, cruel villain they had hoped to see, a sick, emaciated child was lying on the bed, falling into a deep sleep." The girl went up to the boy, bent over him, her tears fell on his forehead.

"Oliver stirred and smiled in his sleep, as if this display of pity and compassion inspired him with a pleasant dream of love and affection he had never known." Women where could believe that this fragile boy could be a willing accomplice of the dregs of society. Touched, Rosa begged her aunt to condescend to him, not to give this sick child to prison. The old woman agreed to save the boy, and the doctor suggested that Mr. Giles and Brittle be forced to drop the charges.

Only in the evening Oliver came to his senses and told the whole story of his life. It was sad to hear about the torment and suffering that cruel people inflicted on him, and more than once his story was interrupted by sad sighs of listeners.

In the evening the doctor went down to the kitchen, where the servants were still discussing the events of the previous night, and in a firm voice asked Mr. Giles if he could swear that the boy who was upstairs was the one who had climbed in through the window at night? Giles looked hesitantly at Brittles, Brittles looked hesitantly at Giles, the constable, who had long been waiting for a statement, pricked up his ears to better hear the answer, when suddenly there was a creak of wheels outside and a bell rang at the gate. Brittles said they were CID agents called by Mr. Giles.

CHAPTER XXXI

speaks of a crisis

Brittles opened the door and led two men into the living room. One was stout, of medium height, with short, shiny black hair, a round face, and attentive eyes. His partner was a red-haired, bony man with an unpleasant physiognomy and an ominously upturned kirpa. Their names were Bleders and Daph. They immediately began to ask about the crime, and the doctor, in order to drag out time, told all the circumstances in great detail, with many digressions and repetitions. Then the agents, clicking handcuffs, began to ask about the boy, but the doctor, in order to divert their attention, took them to examine the crime scene.

Candles were brought, and Bleders and Daph, accompanied by the local constable and servants, inspected the house, rubbed the bushes with pitchforks, listened to the stories of witnesses several more times and noted numerous discrepancies in the testimony, and then held a meeting among themselves.

Meanwhile, the doctor and Rosa consulted how to save the child. Rosa offered to tell the agents honestly, but the doctor recalled the story of Oliver, who used to hang out with criminals, that he did not know where the dens of villains were, that he still took part in the robbery, and the butler's shot did not allow the guy to make a fuss and this justify yourself. Mr. Losbern was sure that the agents should not be told the truth about the guy, because they would never believe in his innocence.

Bleders and Daph made sure that none of the servants helped the robbers, and therefore they definitely need to see the boy, because the thieves could plant him in the open window.

The excited doctor suggested that the agents first refresh themselves, and over a glass of strong ale they began to argue which of the city's professionals could commit the robbery: Nosach Chikvida or Nezhenka. And then Mr. Bleder began to talk about the cases that he was investigating, about the cunning and deceit of criminals. The agents did not notice how doctor Losbern slipped out of the room, and then reappeared to take them to the patient.

Oliver dozed, but his condition worsened considerably. He looked at everyone with an absent-minded look, it was clear that he did not understand where he was and what was happening around.

The doctor said that this boy was injured with a crossbow, came to the house for help, and the butler "grabbed him and beat him so that the poor fellow almost gave his soul to God."

The frightened Mr. Giles looked dazedly at the doctor, then at the agents and could no longer swear that he had wounded this boy. They checked the pistols and found that the one from which they fired was loaded only with gunpowder. “This discovery made a great impression on everyone except the doctor who pulled the bullet out of the cartridge with his own hands ten minutes ago.” A weight was lifted from Mr. Giles's soul, because it turned out that he could not kill anyone with a pistol without a bullet.

Disappointed, the agents left with nothing, and Oliver began to recover a little, thanks to the care of Mrs. Maylie, Rose, and the good-hearted Mr. Losbern.

CHAPTER XXXII

O happy life that began for Oliver in a circle of good friends

Oliver was sick for a long time and hard, and in the end began to recover and could already show his gratitude to both women for their kindness.

After a while, Miss Rosa told Oliver that they were all going to the countryside, where the clean air, beauty and joys of spring would quickly put him on his feet.

Oliver was very worried that the kind gentleman and sweet old lady who had once taken care of him did not know if he was alive. When the boy was fully recovered, Mr. Losberne set off with him on the road in Mrs. Maylie's little carriage. They had already entered the suburbs of London, when suddenly Oliver saw the house where the thieves brought him. The doctor ordered the coachman to stop, ran to the house and began kicking at the door. Suddenly the door swung open and a frail hunchback stood on the threshold. The doctor grabbed him by the collar, pushed him inside and began to search the room, looking for Sikes. The hunchback began to swear and threaten the doctor, and he, realizing that Oliver was mistaken, threw a coin to the owner, ordered him to be quiet and went to the carriage. The hunchback followed him, saw Oliver in the corner of the carriage, and that hateful and vengeful look haunted the boy day and night for many months to come.

The doctor got into the carriage and thought about his act. What would he do if he met thieves in the house? He wouldn't be able to go to the police, because he would have to admit that he wiped Oliver's file. He acted in the heat of the moment, not thinking about the consequences, which could harm him and the boy.

After some time, the carriage drove up to a white house, which was empty, and a sign was hanging in the window: "For Rent." The neighbors said that Mr. Brownlow and his friend and housekeeper had gone to the West Indies.

Oliver and the doctor were disappointed by the failure. Being ill, the boy often dreamed of meeting his friends and was glad that he could tell how often he remembered them. And the doctor once again wanted to make sure that Oliver was telling the truth about his adventures.

Summer came, and everyone left for the village. “For Oliver, who until then knew only the crush and noise of a dirty city, began new life". Not far from the house where they settled was a modest rural churchyard. The boy often sat there near some abandoned grave, thinking about his mother and weeping furtively.

"The days surfaced calmly and carefree, the nights brought neither fear nor worries ..." Every Morning Oliver went to an old grandfather who helped the guy improve in reading and writing. After school he went for walks with Mrs. Maylie and Rosa. "With what pleasure Oliver listened to their voices, how he rejoiced when they stopped to admire a flower."

Early in the morning, Oliver ran out into the field, picking up a bunch of flowers, composing wonderful flowers to decorate the breakfast table with them. During the day he helped Mrs. Maley, worked in the garden, did various small tasks. Women wholeheartedly healed Oliver and were proud of him.

CHAPTER XXXIII,

in which the happiness of Oliver and his friends is suddenly overshadowed

Oliver had long recovered and grown stronger, but remained as gentle and caring as when pain and suffering weakened him.

One evening their walk dragged on. Rosa was in a cheerful mood, and they did not notice how they went far enough. She was tired and returned home at a slow pace. At home, the girl tried to be the same as always, but for some reason she was very cold. After a while, her cheeks flushed with heat, and then became marbled white; meek Blue eyes messed up the mess. And although Rose tried to be calm, Mrs. Mayley saw that she was very ill, and therefore sent for the doctor and wrote a letter to Mr. Harry Maley, although she had not yet sent it off.

Oliver himself took the letter to the doctor at the post station. Returning home, he ran into a tall man in a raincoat in the courtyard of the station, who looked dumbfounded at the boy with large black eyes and muttered: “ Devilry! Who would have thought? Get lost, obsession! He will crawl out of the grave to stand in my way!”

Shouting more disorderly words, he stepped towards Oliver and suddenly fell to the ground and spasmed, foaming at the lips. The boy thought he was crazy and ran home. Returning home, he was imbued with other concerns and forgot everything that concerned his own personality.

"Rosa Mail's condition worsened, and in the evening she became delirious." The local doctor did not leave the patient's bed, but could not help in any way. Rose was dying.

Doctor Losbern arrived late in the evening and confirmed the unfavorable diagnosis of the country doctor. “Rose has fallen into a deep sleep, from which, waking up, she will either recover and return to life, or say a final goodbye to them.” And only at lunch next day Mr. Losburn said that Rosa would live for the joy of everyone for many more summers.

CHAPTER XXXIV

gives some preliminary information about a young gentleman who first appears on the stage and tells of Oliver's new adventure

Oliver was not himself with happiness when he heard the good news. He ran into the field, picked up an armful of flowers to decorate the patient's room with bouquets. On the way home, a carriage overtook him, in which Oliver saw Mr. Giles and an unfamiliar young gentleman. The carriage stopped and the butler asked the boy through the window how Miss Rosa was feeling. Oliver happily replied that she was much better, the danger was completely gone. The stranger jumped out of the carriage, grabbed Oliver's hand and asked again about Rose's condition. It was Harry Maley, who, despite the age difference, looked very much like his mother, Mrs Maley. Oliver liked him with his good open face and pleasant, easy manner.

Mrs. Maylie looked impatiently like a son. When they met, they both did not hide their excitement. Harry affectionately rebuked his mother for not informing her of Rose's illness, and confessed his ardent love for the girl. The wise woman replied that Rose is like a daughter to her, but Harry cannot marry her, because her name is not her fault, but tarnished. Evil people will begin to vilify both him and their children. And then he may regret that he started his life like that, and Rosa will suffer. And Harry fervently assured his mother that for the sake of the happiness of his life, he would force Rose to listen to him and give an answer.

In the morning Oliver did not go into the field by himself. Mr. Harry accompanied him. They picked flowers, together they made a luxurious bouquet for Rosa, which, even withered, the girl kept on the windowsill.

Rosa had not yet gone out, there were no evening walks, and Oliver sat down to his books. One evening he sat with a book at the window and dozed off. Suddenly he heard Feigin's voice. The boy jumped up, looked out the window and saw the terrible face of the old thief, “and next to him, thick with rage or horror ... stood the same man whom Oliver had encountered at the post office.”

“It lasted for an instant, short and terrible, like a flash of lightning. And then both disappeared. Oliver screamed loudly and began to loudly call for help.

CHAPTER XXXV

narrates the unsatisfactory conclusion of Oliver's incident, as well as a rather important conversation between Harry Maley and Rosa

All the tenants jumped out at Oliver's cry. The men ran to look for the old Jew and his companion, but all searches were in vain. Nowhere around were there even traces of a hasty escape, but no one doubted that the boy had seen Feigin and the stranger.

When it got completely dark, the search had to be stopped. Giles toured all the taverns in the neighboring village, Mr. Maley and Oliver went to the neighboring town to inquire about the unexpected guests, but nothing came of it. Gradually, this story began to be forgotten.

Meanwhile, Rosa was recovering quickly. She was gradually going out for a walk in the garden, and her laughter had a beneficial effect on all the inhabitants of the house. And Oliver noticed that Mrs. Mayley and Harry were secluded for a long time and talked quietly about something, and traces of tears were visible on Pink's face. Everything was clear that some circumstance deprives the girl of peace of mind, and, possibly, someone else.

Finally, one morning, Harry Maley asked Rose to listen to him. He told the girl what terrible moments he experienced when he found out that she was melting, like a light shadow under a ray from heaven. Thoughts about her turned into terrible, unbearable torture, because she could die without knowing how madly he loves her.

Rose looked up and Harry saw two tears in her eyes. But the girl overcame herself and firmly declared that he should leave immediately, because important and noble deeds awaited him. He must find himself a girl whose name will not cast a shadow on him and his family. Rosa considered it her duty to dispel all the dreams of a young man in love, because one of his wrong steps could make it impossible to achieve success in life.

In the end, Harry wanted to know if Rosa's refusal would have been so categorical if he had been destined for a quiet, inconspicuous life, if he had been poor, was he sick and helpless? Without hesitation, the girl replied that she would never leave him in a difficult test.

CHAPTER XXXVI

very short and, at first glance, not so important, but it is necessary to read it - both as a continuation of the previous one, and as a key to one of the following

The doctor was surprised at Harry's decision to leave for London immediately and wanted to ask if the reason for such a hurry was that the elections would be held very soon and there was a need to fight for the votes. But Harry turned the conversation to something else.

Mr. Giles began to take things out, and Harry beckoned Oliver to him. He asked the boy, who had already learned to write and read well, to describe to him everything about Mrs Maylie and Rose, and to send letters to the main post office in London so that the women would not guess anything. "Oliver, whom such an important and honorable mission immediately raised in his own eyes, solemnly promised to keep the secret and send the most detailed messages."

The departure was hasty, but Rosa watched him from behind the white curtain and looked sadly after the carriage for a long time.

CHAPTER XXXVII

in which the reader will notice contradictions are quite characteristic of married life

Mr. Bumble sat in the living room of the workhouse and watched the flies fall into the paper flycatchers and beat in the colorful netting. Perhaps these doomed insects reminded him of some unfortunate event in his own life.

Mr. Bumble has changed a lot. Where did the lace-trimmed frock coat and the three-cornered hat go? Bumble was no longer a parish beadle. On marrying Mrs. Corney, he became warden of the workhouse. Only eight weeks had passed since that happy moment, and Mr. Bumble was already sighing that he had sold himself for six teaspoons.

Mrs. Bumble also did not feel happy in her married life. She disobeyed her husband, humiliated him in every possible way in front of the tenants, undermined his authority in the eyes of the godwomen, proved her case by force, scratching, pulling her hair, pushing her husband. She intimidated the once formidable master of the workhouse guests, forced him to obey her, and Mr. Bumble called her "dear", "darling", trying to hide from the sight of a grumpy woman.

One day he went to an inn and sat next to by a stranger. After a while, the stranger spoke to Mr. Bumble, treated him to a drink, and then began to ask about the history of the birth of Oliver Twist. He did not stand on ceremony with the retired bed - lol, offered him a sovereign for information about "the old witch who took birth with Oliver's mother."

Mr. Bumble quickly realized that he could earn a large sum, and therefore said that his wife had spoken to the dying Sally and knew something about the business that the stranger was so interested in. The man made an appointment for the spouses, wrote the address of some nook on the river bank, paid for the drink and moved to the door. Mr. Bumble stopped the stranger and asked who they were looking for. "My name is Monks," he replied, and hurriedly walked on.

CHAPTER XXXVIII,

which contains an account of what happened between the Bumblebees and Mr. Monks during their evening meeting

Black clouds poured the first drops of rain as Mr. and Mrs. Bumble set out late in the evening for their appointment. They walked in silence all the way.

The area in which they walked had long ruled as a refuge for the scum of society, who lived in hastily built shacks above the river itself. In the midst of this heap of shacks stood a dilapidated large building. When this ruin was a factory.

Mr. Bumble stopped in front of the high doors and peered at the slip of paper with the address on it. Suddenly the door swung open, and Monks stood on the threshold. He invited the couple to the house.

Mrs. Bumble entered first. Monks glared at her and asked her about the secret she had kept for years. But the woman, although she felt some fear at the sight of this sinister man, was not at a loss and answered that the first question was how much this secret costs.

Mr. Bumble listened to this trade with his neck and eyes wide, for his stern wife had not yet revealed more to him than he had known from the beginning.

Monks offered twenty pounds, Mrs Bumble said she wanted twenty-five pounds in gold, and that was agreed upon. The woman saw the glitter of coins in dim light lantern and began to talk about the terrible death of Sally, who managed to tell about the thing stolen from Oliver's mother. In her hand, the dying woman held a bail receipt. Mrs. Bumble guessed that the bogadilka must have kept those precious trinkets at first, hoping to sell them, and then pledged them. The matron thought that maybe someday she would benefit from those things, and so she ransomed them. And now she hurriedly threw them on the table, as if rejoicing that she could finally get rid of these jewelry.

Monks began to look at the gold medallion and the gold ring, in the middle of which the name "Agnes" was carved, the number, and then there was a place for the surname.

Monks got what he wanted. Suddenly, with all his strength, he pulled the iron ring in the floor, lifted the secret cover, under which the river was seething, and threw the jewels into the stream.

CHAPTER XXXIX

brings on the stage respected faces already familiar to the reader and tells what the worthy Monks and the worthy Jew conferred about

Fortune has not been kind to William Sykes of late. He was ill for a long time so seriously that only thanks to Nancy's care he survived. “The illness did not soften the tough temper of Mr. Sykes: when the girl helped him get out of bed and led him to a chair, he scolded her for mediocrity, and even kicked her painfully.”

Tears trembled on Nancy's eyelashes, but her voice, full of feminine tenderness, sounded kindly when she began to say that she patiently nursed him like a small child, and now he does not think that he is hurting her. And Sikes did not even think to soften his rude tone, but went even further.

Feigin looked into the room, saw that Nancy, tired of sleepless nights, fainted, and rushed to save the girl. He was assisted by Dodger and Charlie Bates. Gradually, the girl came to her senses and, staggering, went to the bed and fell face down into the pillow.

Sikes was terribly surprised at the sudden appearance of friends, and they put bags of delicious food and alcohol on the table and began to treat the owner and Nancy.

Bill ate a little, but instead of thanking him, he cursed Feigin and demanded money. The old man had to go home with Nancy to give Sikes three pounds.

At home, Feigin found Thee Krekit, Mr. Chitling, Produ and young Bates. Chitling lost, but did not take his admiring glance off Crekit.

Dodger and Charlie ran outside to get back what they had lost by looting. Nancy received the promised money from Feigin and sat down at the table, but, hearing a man's voice, hastily tore off her shawl and hat and thrust them under the table.

Monks entered the room, wanting to talk to Feigin alone. The old man led the guest into another room. As soon as their footsteps died away, Nancy jumped up from her chair and, stealthily, followed them, stood under the door of the room and began to listen to the conversation of the men.

After some time, Monks left the house for the street, and Feigin, returning to the room, found Nancy, who was already about to leave.

Sikes, having received the money, did not pay attention to Nancy - he only ate and drank incessantly, and the girl walked excitedly, like a man who decided on a desperate step. Sikes demanded more gin, Nancy took the glass, turned her back to Bill, poured the drink and gave it to him to drink. After a while, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep, deep sleep.

Nancy realized that the opium she added to the gin had worked, dressed quickly and left the house. The girl fled to the zamozhnishu part of the city and stopped only at the door of the hotel-boarding house. It was about eleven o'clock at night, and the servants did not want to let Nancy in, but with incredible difficulty she managed to get a meeting with Miss Maley.

A strange date, which is a continuation of the events that were mentioned in the previous section

Nancy saw before her a slender and beautiful girl- and a passionate feeling of shame for her miserable existence in the most disgusting haunts of London among thieves and robbers seized her. Rose's heart broke with pity when she looked at Nancy, who told all she knew about Monks, who was looking for Oliver Twist to make him a thief; about Feigin's meeting with Monks, who boasted that he had destroyed the evidence of the boy's parentage and got his hands on the money of the Chortenyati, and now would like to destroy the boy.

Rose did not know how to proceed, but she really wanted to save Nancy. And the girl refused to accept help. They decided that Nancy would try to find out more about this dark affair, and that Rose would be waiting for her on London Bridge every week between eleven and twelve o'clock at night.

Although Rose asked Nancy to leave a gang of robbers, the girl returned to Sikes.

CHAPTER XLI,

which contains new discoveries and shows that surprises, like troubles, never walk alone

Rose felt a passionate desire to uncover the secret of Oliver's origin and decided to seek help from Harry, but could not finish the letter. She had been pondering the first line for a long time, when suddenly a breathless Oliver, who had gone for a walk under the protection of Mr. Giles, ran into the room. The boy said quickly that he had seen Mr. Brownlow in the city and remembered the house that this kind gentleman had entered. Rose decided to meet with Oliver's savior, ordered a carriage and, together with Oliver, went to Mr. Brownlow. The gentleman received her at once. In the room, Miss Maylie found herself in front of an elderly man with a pleasant face. Mr. Grimwig was also there, bowing primly to the girl. Miss Rose told the gentlemen all she knew about Oliver's fate and called the boy. Oliver's meeting with Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Grimwig, and the housekeeper, Mrs. Bedwin, moved the girl to tears. Then she told of her meeting with Nancy, and Mr. Brownlow commended her for her sensible decision to seek help from him rather than from Losburn's doctor, who, through his temper, might have resorted to some reckless step.

"They decided to find out who Oliver's parents were, and to return to him the inheritance that was ... taken away into him by untruth." To do this, they need to find Monks, find out his real name and pin him to the wall. In this they can help Nancy, with whom they must meet. Then the gentlemen went to Mrs. Maylie's and told her everything. It was decided that Miss Rosa and Auntie would not leave town anywhere until this confusing matter was resolved to the end.

CHAPTER XLII

Oliver, an old acquaintance, discovers undoubted signs of genius and becomes a public figure in the capital

Two travelers were approaching London by the northern route. The man “was one of those lanky, bow-legged, clumsy, bony little people, whose age is difficult to accurately determine - in their youth they look like immature men, and when they reach adulthood, they resemble overgrown youths. The woman was still young, but portly and strong, which she needed to carry a heavy bag tied behind her back. A light bundle dangled from the companion on a stick, and therefore he walked with an easy gait far ahead of the woman. They were Noah Claypole and Charlotte. They had stolen money from Mr. Sowerbury's cash register and were now running to London to hide from their master in the back alley of the capital. The city was foreign to them, but Noah unmistakably walked in the direction of gloomy, dirty back streets, until he stopped at the Three Cripples Inn. They went into this lair of criminals, ordered dinner and decided to spend the night here.

In the room where the strangers were brought there was a small inconspicuous window through which Feigin saw the strangers and heard their conversation about stealing twenty pounds and about Noah's desire to become a robber. Feigin realized that he could use this couple in his dark deeds, and therefore, without hesitation, he entered the room, repeated Noah's words about his desire to clean the cash registers of stores, pockets, women's bags, houses, mail coaches, banks and offered his assistance in the implementation of these plans.

CHAPTER XLIII

which tells how the clever Dodger got into a bind

The next day, Noah, who called himself Maurice Bolter, and Charlotte moved into Fagin, who wanted to ensure that the recruit from the very beginning of their acquaintance was carried away by his ingenious intricacy. “He told in detail about the grandiose scope of his operations, interweaving truth with fiction for his own benefit and alternating both with such skill that Mr. longed to awaken in him with stories about the gallows that awaits traitors. Further, Feigin told about the arrest of Proydi, ordered Poy to find the guy and find out how he was now doing there. The recruit was afraid to go to the police department, but did not dare to contradict the old man. Having changed into "a cabman's coat, short pleated trousers and leather gaiters," Noah safely entered the courtroom where the Proidy case was being considered.

Mr. Dawkins acted as if he were innocent, threatened the judges to address the Home Secretary, reminded them of his rights and privileges, pretended to intend to immediately sue them, demanded that the jailer give the names of those two old fraers out in the judges' chairs. This was said in such a way that a loud laughter of the audience was heard in the hall.

Convinced that Proda was taken out of the hall and locked in a small solitary cell, Noah hurried to Feigin "with the joyful news that the Dodger is doing honor to his tutor and creating a brilliant reputation for himself."

CHAPTER XLIV

It's time for Nancy to fulfill the promise she made to Mail Corner. She fails

Nancy couldn't hide her embarrassment at the thought of what her confiding in Angle and telling her about Fagin, Sykes, and the other members of the criminal gang would lead to. She recalled that they all trusted her with their secrets, revealed their vile plans to her, and now she could become the cause of their death. Sykes did not notice these fluctuations, mood changes, but Feigin saw them well.

On Sunday evening, Nancy wanted to leave the house to meet Miss Rosa, but Sykes forbade her to go out, "rather to do the opposite than to have any good reason not to let the girl out of the house." Nancy got angry, screamed, then began to beg, but Sikes took her clothes, twisted her arms and stuffed her into the closet, locking the door.

Sikes did not understand what had happened to Nancy, and Feigin, who witnessed her hysteria, suspected something and decided to follow the girl.

Noah Claypole receives a secret mission from Fagin

The next day, Feigin barely waited for his new accomplice. When Noah appeared, the old man praised him for a good job yesterday, taking six shillings and nine pence from the children, and instructed him to follow Nancy. Noah waited in vain for six evenings, and on Sunday evening Nancy carefully left the house and walked down the street. Noah approached her safe distance and followed, not taking the figure of the girl out of his eyes.

CHAPTER XLVI

Promises kept

At eleven o'clock, two figures appeared on London Bridge: a woman who seemed to be looking for someone, and a man who crept behind. “In the middle of the bridge, the woman stopped, and the pursuer also stopped.”

The night was dark, and the rare passers-by quickly walked their way, not noticing either the woman or the man.

It was midnight when a carriage stopped in the middle of the bridge, from which a young lady and a gray-haired gentleman got out. Nancy went up to them, but did not speak, because this is where a man in peasant clothes passed. The girl offered to go down the stairs from the bridge, not noticing that it was there that the peasant went and hid in the darkest corner in order to be able to continue the pursuit if necessary. But Nancy led her companions just to the spy, who could hear every word, and stopped. Unaware that they were being overheard, the girl shared her unsettling forebodings with Miss Rosa and the gentleman, who felt sorry for this lost soul.

The gentleman talked about his plans for a way to get the secret out of Monks through Fagin, but Nancy protested that she would never show this devil in human form, who ruined her life, but remained her accomplice. She secured their word of honor that neither Fagin nor Sikes would be harmed, and only then did she describe Monks. The gentleman completed the description and stated that he seemed to know the rascal. Saying goodbye, the gentleman assured Nancy that he would do everything in his power to get the girl out, give her a quiet, safe haven, restore peace of mind. He asked Nancy to leave everything, to give up the life of a thief and take advantage of the opportunity to breathe clean air. The gentleman saw that she was going through an internal struggle, but she could not give up the life that held her like a chain.

Nancy explained that she had gone too far to return, asking to be left in the house that she had created for herself with the deeds of her life.

Finally they said goodbye and parted ways. The spy, who heard everything from word to word, was surprised and stood still for some time, and then, stealthily, went to Feygin's house.

CHAPTER XLVII

fatal consequences

Late at night, Feigin sat in front of an extinguished fireplace "and thoughtfully chewed on his long black nails, exposing his toothless gums, on which fangs, similar to the teeth of a dog or a rat, protruded here and there."

Noah Claypole slept peacefully on the floor. Feigin looked at him, and annoyance grew in his soul at the girl who turned out to be a traitor.

Sikes entered the room with a package in his hand. Feigin stared at the robber, and then began to hint that there was a traitor among them. Sykes at first did not understand anything, and then declared that if such a thing happened, he would with my own hands would have finished off the bastard who would have betrayed them. Hearing this, Feigin woke up Noah and ordered him to tell them everything that he had learned while spying on Nancy.

Noah told in detail about Nancy's meeting with the lady and gentleman on London Bridge, about their conversation, about the fact that Nessie refused to give up her accomplices, but named the house where they meet.

On hearing all this, Sikes became furious and rushed out the door. Never stopping for a moment without squirming inwardly, despite simply himself with a wild resolute air and clenching his teeth so that his cheekbones popped out under the skin, the robber rushed with all his might until he was at the door of his dwelling. He went into the room where Nancy slept, turned the key twice in the lock, and pushed the heavy table against the door.

Nancy woke up and looked at him with blazing eyes. For some time the robber sat, breathing heavily, and then grabbed the girl and covered her mouth with his heavy paw. Nancy clung to his hands, begged for mercy, reminded her of what she had given up for him, spoke of her loyalty, but the killer pulled his hand away, grabbed a gun and hit the victim twice on the head with a heavy handle. Nancy fell, covered in blood, and immediately got up. Beside himself with anger, enraged at the sight of blood, Sikes grabbed a heavy club and hit Nancy on the head with it.

CHAPTER XLVIII

Sykes Escape

The clear sun, which equally generously pours its radiance through expensive colored glass and paper-covered windows, lit up the room where the murdered girl lay. This horrific sight frightened Sikes.

Suddenly a groan was heard, and the girl's hand trembled. Then, beside himself with fear and rage, Sikes beat Nancy again and again. Then he threw his stick into the fire, washed himself, cleaned his clothes, and backed toward the door, dragging the dog behind him.

Leaving the house, the killer quickly walked away. He walked through the streets, not making out the road, walked through the wilderness, wandered through the fields, started running, stopped, lay down to rest, and then walked again. “The morning was long gone, and after it the day, and it was already getting dark, and Sikes kept walking this way and that, circling in one place.” Finally, he entered the village, turned to a small pub, ordered dinner and sat in a corner, listening to the conversations of the peasants. Suddenly another guest appeared in the room. He was a noisy shopkeeper who sold all sorts of fillings. The peasants began to exchange jokes, asked about the goods. The shopkeeper was taking out belts, razors, soap and stain remover from his box. To confirm the effectiveness of the miracle cure, the shopkeeper took Sikes's hat, on which he noticed a stain, and wanted to remove it. The murderer sprang to his feet, snatched the hat from the hands of the astounded merchant, and rushed out into the street. There he saw a mail carriage and, hiding in the dark, began to listen to the conversation of the conductor and the postman. It was about the horrific murder of a young girl. Sikes waited for the carriage to leave, and then went down the deserted dark path. Suddenly, in the darkness, he saw the familiar figure of Nancy, heard her dying moan. The killer stopped for a moment, and then ran with all his might. The figure was not far behind him. “She flew nearby on the wings of a quiet sad wind, which did not intensify, but did not subside either.” The hair on Sikes' head stood up, the blood froze in his veins. His time was filled with a desperate determination to drive away the ghost, but the figure remained by his side all the time.

Sikes hid in a barn, but in front of him in the darkness the eyes of a murdered girl shone.

Suddenly, the night wind brought him heart-rending screams and cries. Somewhere far away there was a fire, and Sikes rushed there, closer to the human voices. He, along with men and women, rescued livestock, carried water, filled fire.

The morning has come. Weary people sat down near the ruins, started talking, and Sikes again heard about the murder of the girl. He hurried out of there, wandered again through the deserted fields, and then rushed straight to London, where, as he thought, no one would look for him. The only thing that can lead bloodhounds on his trail is a remarkable dog. Sikes decided to drown the dog, but he, sensing danger, ran away from the owner.

CHAPTER XLIX

Monks and Mr. Brownlow finally meet

Mr. Brownlow tracked down Monks and forced him to confess everything that the criminal did against Oliver, who was his half-brother.

The old gentleman was a friend of Monks's father, and knew well the torments and pains of his marriage to his first wife. Having Monks was ten years older than her husband and was not very worried that their marriage broke up, but, having learned about the birth of Oliver and about the will in his favor, she revealed the secret to her son. Monks destroyed evidence of Oliver's origin, tried to destroy the boy himself, but now, when Mr. Brownlow turned over the pages of his actions in front of him, the villain was really scared, because the police could find out about his meeting with Sykes, Fagin and other criminals. The old gentleman made Monks sign a confession about Oliver's parentage.

Chase and flight

Not far from the banks of the Thames is one of the most disgusting suburbs of London, most of whose inhabitants do not even know its name. The inhabitants of the n "apіzruynovannyh houses lived in extreme poverty, "only a great need for a secret hiding place, or hopeless difficulties can force a person to seek refuge here."

Here in one of these houses, in which strong doors and windows are still preserved, Thee Quack, Mr. Chitling and the escaped convict Kegs gathered.

Mr. Chitling witnessed how the police first arrested Feigin and then protected him from the mob, ready to tear the thief to pieces. Terrified at the memory of the sight, Mr. Chitling was telling the thieves about the fury of the mob, when suddenly Sikes the dog sprang into the room. The thieves rushed to look for Sikes, but he was nowhere to be found. And only late at night the killer knocked on the door of the house. They let him in, but Charlie Bages, who came a little later, raised a cry and started a fight with Sikes, because he did not want to be in the same house with Nancy's killer. The noise that arose among the robbers woke the people. Someone called the police, but people, without waiting for the lawyers, surrounded the house and began to break down the door.

Sikes, seeing that he could not escape through the windows and doors, climbed onto the roof, put his foot on the chimney, tied one end of the rope tightly around it, and made a loop on the other. On this rope, he decided to descend into a ditch with water and drown in the mud, or break free. The killer had already thrown the noose over his head, about to put it under his armpits, when, looking back, he threw up his hands and screamed in horror. Right in front of him, he saw the eyes of the Nancy he had killed. Sikes sharpened, lost his balance and flew down. The noose that was just around his neck tightened, and the killer hung with a groan between the roof and the ditch.

The dog, which until now had been hiding somewhere, jumped out onto the roof, howling sadly, began to run along the parapet, and then jumped on the shoulders of the Mertsev. Unable to resist, the dog somersaulted into the ditch, hit a stone and cracked his head.

finds out many secrets and tells about the marriage proposal, during which the question of dowry and money for trinkets for the wife was not considered

A few days after the events of the previous section, Oliver, along with Mrs. Maylie, Rosa, Mrs. Bedwin, and the doctor, rode in a carriage to his hometown. The boy already knew everything about Monks, his parents, and sat in a corner, silent and embarrassed.

When the carriage entered the city, Oliver became as if he were not himself. He looked at familiar places, laughed and cried at the same time, remembered Dick - his only comrade, who had once blessed him for a long and happy life.

Friends stayed at the main hotel in the city. When everyone was seated, Mr. Grimwig and Mr. Losbern came into Oliver's room, accompanied by Mr. Brownlow and her husband, when he looked into the boy's window and frightened him terribly with his unusual appearance. Oliver was informed that Monks, his half-brother, had signed papers in which the boy was recognized as heir to his father's fortunes. Then Monks was forced to tell how his mother burned the covenant, which was drawn up in favor of Oliver, and bequeathed to him her hatred for her father's illegitimate child and his beloved. The scoundrel swore to his mother to hunt the boy, to pursue him with extraordinary cruelty, to entangle the child in a web of evil and crimes in order to forever tarnish the name of his mother.

When it came to the engagement ring and locket, Mr. Brownlow led Mrs. Bumble and her husband into the room, who turned to Oliver with mock joy. But his wife told him to close his mouth, and he became embarrassed, muttered something, and finally fell silent.

The couple did not want to know Monks, it was not recognized that they had sold the wretched jewels to Oliver's mother. But then two paralyzed women were brought into the room, who told of an overheard conversation between Mrs. Bumble and a young woman who had just given birth to a boy and was dying. Mrs. and Mr. Bumble had to admit everything.

Secrets continued to be revealed in this room. It turned out that Rosa was the younger sister of Agnes, Oliver's mother. When Agnes became pregnant, she left the family. The saddened father changed his surname, moved to another corner of the country, where he died, leaving no letter, no notebook, no piece of paper that would help find his friends or relatives. The rose was adopted by a poor peasant family, but later handed it over to Mrs. Maylie, who fell in love with the girl.

Oliver threw himself into the arms of Rose, because now it became clear that she was his own aunt. “In one minute they found and lost their father, Mother and sister, and sadness merged in one bowl, but there was no bitterness in their tears,” because they were sanctified by deep feelings of love. "For a long, long time they sat alone," until Harry Mayley entered the room. He turned to Rosie to ask her again to be his wife. For the sake of his beloved, Harry gave up his career, upper world, and in return offered the girl a heart and a house.

Feigin's last night

The hall where Feigin was tried was filled up to the top rows. The offender stood like a pillar behind a wooden barrier, only occasionally shifting his gaze from the chairman of the court, who was delivering the accusatory speech, to the lawyer. He peered intently into the faces of the jurors, trying to guess their verdict, raised his eyes to the gallery and could not read the slightest sympathy in one face.

In the end, the jury decided the fate of the criminal - guilty!

“The house of court was moved by a powerful cry, repeated again and again, a. then echoed in bursts of roaring, each time louder and louder, like the roar of angry thunder. Then the crowd cheered in the street, welcoming the news that on Monday he would die.

Feigin silently listened to the verdict, looking intently at the judge and not understanding a word. He stood like a marble statue, his lower jaw dropped, and wide-open eyes stared at one point. The jailer had to take him by the shoulders so that he would understand that it was all over.

Feigin was taken to death row and left alone. At first he tried to collect his thoughts, then he began to recall speeches in court and think about those suicide bombers who were sitting in this cell, awaiting execution.

The day passed very quickly. At night, two jailers entered the cell to guard the prisoner in turn until the execution itself. Now Feigin no longer sat, but every minute jumped up and began to run around the cell in such a rage that the jailers guarded him together, afraid to stay with him eye to eye.

Monday, the day of execution, came suddenly for Feigin. He did not notice how three days flew by. On the day of the execution, Oliver and Mr. Brownlow came to the death row. Feigin was almost unconscious from fear of imminent death, but nevertheless recognized Oliver and told the boy where the papers were hidden, handed them over to Monks for safekeeping.

CHAPTER LIII

And last

A few words can tell about the fate of the heroes.

Rose Fleming and Harry Maley got married in the country church and moved into their new happy home. Harry became a priest.

Mrs. Maylie moved in with her son and daughter-in-law.

Oliver and Monks each got £3,000 from their parents' fortunes. Monks, without delay, squandered his share, went to prison for deceit and died there.

Mr. Brownlow adopted Oliver and settled near Rose and Harry.

Mr. Noah Claypole chose the profession of an informer. Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, deprived of their positions, ended up in the same workhouse where they ruled over others.

Young Charles Bates, shocked by Sykes's crime, came to the conclusion that he should put an end to his criminal past. Through hard work, he achieved a good goal and became a cattle breeder.

In the altar of the village church there is a marble plaque engraved with the name "Agnes". There is no coffin in this crypt, but if the souls of the dead return to those who were loved in life, then the shadow of Agnes should hover in this quiet place.

Little Oliver Twist is born into the world in a house for the poor, his mother dies in childbirth, and the boy himself remains in this institution until the age of nine, knowing nothing about his parents. None of the people around shows kindness or attention towards Oliver, the boy is only familiar with constant beatings, rude curses and a feeling of hunger.

When the boy grows up a little, he is sent to study at the undertaker's workshop, where the older comrade, who grew up in the orphanage, does not stop humiliating him and periodically beating him. For quite a long time, the timid Oliver meekly endures such treatment, but one day his enemy allows himself an insulting remark about his mother, and the boy, unable to stand it, rushes at the offender with his fists. Subjected to severe punishment, Oliver decides to run away from the undertaker and try to look for some other fate for himself.

On the way to London, he meets his peer, who introduced himself as the Artful Dodger, this cunning boy promises Oliver that he will help him get a good job in the capital. The rogue brings his new ward to a certain Fagin, a well-known buyer of stolen goods and patron of many London thieves. This man promises the boy to teach him a worthy craft and provide him with a job in the future, and Oliver will have to start by ripping marks from stolen handkerchiefs.

When Oliver is sent "on business" for the first time, the boy sees how his comrades deftly remove a handkerchief from the pocket of a random passerby, the boy comes into a panic and tries to run away. However, he is apprehended and brought before a judge, accused of attempted theft. But the gentleman, whose handkerchief was seized, does not make any claims, and the judge by the name of Brownlow simply feels sorry for the unfortunate boy, he takes Oliver to his home.

After these events, the child is ill for a long time, the judge takes care of him along with his housekeeper, while both are surprised at the striking resemblance of Oliver to the portrait attractive girl hanging in the living room. Mr. Brownlow is going to keep the boy forever and take care of his upbringing and education.

But Fagin is afraid that Oliver can put the police on his trail, so he, having tracked down Twist, kidnaps him and tries to turn the boy into a real thief, if not voluntarily, then by force. Fagin plans to rob a certain wealthy house, Bill Sykes, who was recently released from prison, should carry out the operation, and as an assistant he needs a thin boy who can be thrust through the window, and he will subsequently open it for robbers front door mansion. Oliver is chosen for this purpose.

The boy does not want to be a criminal, he intends, once inside, to raise an alarm in the house. However, the building is under guard, and Oliver, who has not yet been fully pushed through the window, is immediately wounded in the arm. Bill initially carries the boy away, bleeding profusely, but realizing that he is being chased, he throws Oliver into a ditch, without thinking about whether the child is still alive. Waking up, Twist gets to the porch of the first house that comes across, the elderly mistress of this building, Mrs. Maylie, and her young niece, called Roz, are imbued with deep compassion for the wounded boy and invite a doctor to him, determined not to betray him to the police.

At the same time, an old woman named Sally dies in the workhouse, who once had to care for Oliver's deceased mother, and after her death, Sally appropriated a piece of gold that she was begged to keep. Before her death, the woman manages to give the overseer of the workhouse a receipt for the pawn of this item.
Fagin is extremely worried about the disappearance of the boy. Bill Sykes' friend Nancy hears from him that Oliver is worth a lot of money, and an interested girl overhears his conversation with a certain Mr. Monks. It becomes clear that Fagin is trying to make a thief out of the boy on someone else's order, and Monks demands to immediately find Oliver, regardless of whether the boy is still alive or dead.

Twist himself is gradually recovering, surrounded by the cares of Mrs. Maylie and Roz. He frankly tells women about everything that happened to him, but his words are not confirmed by anything. It turns out that Judge Brownlow has left for the West Indies for a long time, and when Oliver recognizes the mansion that Sikes tried to rob, Mrs. Mayley's family doctor sees that the boy's description does not match reality. However, Oliver's patrons do not at all lose their disposition towards the child, going on vacation in the countryside in the spring, they take him with them.

Monks continues to search for the boy, and manages to redeem a small purse taken by the late Sally from the body of Oliver's deceased mother. The purse contains a locket with the name "Agnes", a wedding ring and two curls, Monks throws it all into the river, not wanting anyone to be able to find these items and find out the truth about the orphan's origins.

Nancy overhears his conversation with Fagin again, and the girl, not wanting to be an accomplice of these dishonest and cruel people, hurries to Mrs. Maylie and tells her everything that she has learned. According to her, Monks called Oliver his brother and hoped that they would still make a thief out of the boy and subsequently he would be on the gallows, in which case the money due to him by birthright would go to Monks.

Roz thinks hard about who to consult in such a situation. Oliver accidentally meets Judge Brownlow, and soon he, along with Miss Maley, goes to visit him. Harry, the son of Mrs. Mayley, is also initiated into the heart of the matter; this young man and Roz have long been indifferent to each other. The interested parties collectively decide, with Nancy's help, to either see Monks, or at least form a more detailed idea of ​​his appearance.

However, Fagin, seeing how Nancy is trying to sneak out of the house, asks one of the henchmen to follow her. Upon learning the truth, he becomes furious and immediately tells Sikes that his girlfriend betrayed their entire gang of thieves. Bill, who has lost his temper, brutally cracks down on the girl.

Brownlow gradually restores the whole story, including Oliver. The father of Edwin, now hiding under the name of Monks, and Oliver did not feel happy in his first marriage. He left the family, falling in love with a young girl, Agnes Fleming. Having then gone abroad on business, he died in Rome. The widow and son hurried to come to Italy, fearing to lose a solid inheritance. They managed to find an envelope with a letter addressed to Brownlow, where the head of the family left only a small amount to his official wife and son, who always showed the most nasty inclinations, and the rest of the state was asked to be transferred to Agnes and her unborn child, if he survives and becomes an adult.

However, the boy was supposed to inherit the funds only if he did not commit any illegal acts, while there were no barriers for the girl. Monks' mother immediately destroyed this order, and the letter was soon shown to Agnes's father. After a short time, he died of a broken heart, unable to withstand the shame, after his death, a little girl, Rose, was left, who was then taken up by Mrs. Maylie.

Having matured, Monks left his mother, having previously completely robbed her, and began to lead the most criminal and immoral life. However, the unfortunate woman, just before her death, found him and told the truth about her father and his will. The dishonest man devised a cunning plan for Oliver and began to put it into action, but is thwarted first by Nancy and then by the intervening Mr. Brownlow. The judge insists that Monks immediately leave England, as his father demanded.

Thus, the orphan Oliver has a loving aunt, Rose has no doubts about her origin, and she decides to marry Harry Maley. Brownlow adopts Oliver, and Fagin is subsequently arrested and executed.

An orphan boy who had the terrible fate of an outcast. Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse. His mother died immediately after giving birth. It will be nine years before it becomes known who his parents were.

In the meantime, he grows up in this charitable institution, goes to school. Children in the workhouse are starved, beaten, severely punished, and humiliated. Oliver is soon taken on as an apprentice by an undertaker, where a boy from the Noah Claypole Orphanage already lives, who has made a habit of beating and humiliating Oliver. He dutifully endures bullying, until Noe once spoke ill of his mother. Here Oliver could not stand it and beat his offender hard.

He is punished and escapes from the undertaker. Oliver heads to . Exhausted by cold, hunger and fatigue, on the seventh day of the journey, he meets a boy nicknamed the Artful Dodger, who leads the fugitive to the head of the London thieves, Fagin. He promises Oliver his patronage. When he first goes "on business", he runs in fear. He is caught like a thief and taken to the judge. Mr. Branlow, who has been robbed, fortunately sympathizes with the frightened child and takes him in. In the gentleman's house, the sick Oliver is nursed.

Mr. Branlow intends to adopt the boy. Fagin fears that Oliver will betray him to the authorities. He finds the fugitive and kidnaps him. He certainly needs to make a thief out of the boy, completely subordinating him to himself. In the new “case”, Oliver will have to climb into the window and open the door to the robbers from the inside, and Bill Sykes, already an experienced thief, will take out the silverware. Oliver does not want to participate in the crime and is going to make a fuss. But the boy is wounded when he was only half pushed through the window. Sykes retrieves Oliver, who is bleeding, and flees.

Hearing the chase, he throws the wounded man into a ditch to the mercy of fate. Recovering, Oliver gets to some house, where he is picked up by Mrs. Maylie with her niece Rose. They call a doctor, take care of a sick boy. And in the workhouse, before her death, old Sally gives the warden Mrs. Corney a mortgage receipt for a golden little thing that she stole from Oliver's dying mother. Fagin's gang is preoccupied with finding Oliver. It turns out that the order to make him a thief came from a certain Monks, who fears that the boy was killed, and the investigation will come to him. Fagin promises to find Oliver. But Sikes' girlfriend, Nancy, accidentally overhears Fagin, who says that the fugitive is worth a lot of money, and a mysterious will.

Oliver is getting better. The mistress of the house and Dr. Losbern take care of him. The boy tells them about his ordeals. In the spring everyone goes to the village. There, one day, Oliver was met by a terrible-looking man who brought down a bunch of curses on the boy and fell in a fit. Oliver thought he was just crazy. But after a while he saw in the window the face of Fagin and that lunatic. Households came running to his cry, but the search for villains was in vain. Monks finds Mrs. Corney, buys a purse from her for 25 pounds, which the old woman Sally once removed from the neck of Oliver's mother. It contained a gold locket with two curls and a wedding ring and was engraved with the name "Agnes".

Monks gets rid of things by throwing them into the river. When he tells this to Fagin, Nancy overhears the conversation again. She tries to save Oliver: she goes to Mrs. Mayley's niece, Rose, and tells her everything about the danger looming over Oliver: if Fagin and Monks find him, they will make him a thief, he will go to prison, and about that he will be executed as a criminal. And all this is connected with some will. Roz seeks advice from Mr. Branlow, who once took pity on Oliver and took him in.

Branlow gathers advice: Dr. Losbern, Grimwig (Branlow's friend) and Lady Maylie's son Harry. They decide that Nancy should show them Monks, or at least describe him. Fagin suspected Nancy of treason. On his behalf, Nancy is tracked down and reported on her meeting with Roz. Fagin, determined to get rid of Nancy, tells Sikes that his girlfriend has betrayed everyone. Sykes, in a rage, kills Nancy. And Mr. Branlow conducts his own inquiry.

Monks turns out to be Edwin Leeford, and he is Oliver's paternal brother. Being unhappy in marriage, the father breaks up with the first family and marries Agnes Fleming, but dies before the birth of his son, Oliver. In his will, he leaves 800 pounds to his ex-wife and son, who has already gone down the slippery path of crime, and the bulk of his fortune to Agnes and the unborn child. Agnes also had a younger sister, who, after the death of their father, was taken in by Mrs. Maylie. Her name was Rose.

Monks, having learned from his mother about the secret of the family and about the will, makes a plan to capture and destroy Oliver as the main heir. But Nancy interfered, telling Rose about the impending crime against Oliver. Mr. Branlow locates Monks and informs him of the results of his investigation. To avoid prison, Monks leaves England and dies in a foreign land.

Now Oliver is a rich heir, besides, in the person of Roses, he finds his own aunt. Roz and Mrs. Mayley's son, Harry, have long loving friend friend, now they can get married, because they have no blood relationship. Mr. Branlow adopts Oliver. Sykes dies, like all members of the gang. Fagin is executed.

The Adventures of Oliver Twist was the second major work for the twenty-five year old. This book is an important milestone in his life. After its publication, as they say, the British writer woke up famous.

The young classic did his job: he wrote a deliberately controversial book, risking that it would not be "accepted", he wrote, according to Pasternak's later definition, creating "a cubic piece of smoking conscience." In addition to the exciting romantic plot typical of 18th century novels, Dickens' book has a social function, it reveals the plight of children of the lower strata, as well as the distancing of the authorities from solving their primary problems. Let's try to make it short. "The Adventures of Oliver Twist" is a novel that contains a statement of an obvious social problem. The child is unprotected. Its prospects: on the one hand, state-owned institutions that steal childhood from people and deprive grown-up children of prospects, and on the other, the criminal world that involves children, maims, and then kills them at a young age.

Ch. Dickens "The Adventures of Oliver Twist" sets out in chronological order. The boy was born in a workhouse. His father is unknown, and the young mother died during her first birth. His childhood is devoid of a smile, it was only one continuous discrimination with beatings, a half-starved existence and humiliation. From the government house he was sent as an apprentice to a master undertaker. Here he faced cruelty and injustice, so he fled.

He goes to London, where he falls into the sphere of influence of the leader of the thieves, the Jew Fagin. He stubbornly tries to teach the boy to steal. But for Oliver Twist, the moment when, in front of his eyes, the "mentors" the Artful Dodger and Charlie Bates "get" a handkerchief from a gaping gentleman, becomes a moment of truth. He, horrified, rushes away, and those around him catch him like a thief. Unfortunately, the summary does not convey all the emotions of the child.

The adventures of Oliver Twist are finally illuminated by a ray of light: to his happiness, Oliver, under these circumstances, meets Mr. Brandlow (who is still acting as a victim). This man later changed the fate of the boy, researching his pedigree and at the end of the book becoming his adoptive father. After repeated attempts to involve the boy in robberies (Fagin contrives to kidnap him from Mr. Brandlow), he, wounded, finds himself in the family of Mrs. Maylie, who lives with the girl Rose (the younger sister of Oliver's late mother) as an adoptive niece. Suddenly, the girl Nancy, who lives with Figin's accomplice, comes to their house and tells the overheard dark plans of the criminals regarding the unfortunate boy.

Realizing that the boy's life and fate are in danger, Rose, in search of an assistant, accidentally meets Mr. Brandlow. He conducts a whole investigation, attracting other worthy people to him. The plot becomes more and more interesting - even the summary speaks of this. "The Adventures of Oliver Twist" acquires the features of a good detective. Gradually emerge "skeletons in the closet". It turns out that the deceased mother of Oliver Agnes, like the boy, after coming of age (provided that he grows up a decent person) received an inheritance from a lover who suddenly died in Rome. For the deceased Mr. Liford, a married man, the love of a girl was the only consolation. His wife was a real monster, and his son Edwin (who later became Monks) showed a tendency to a criminal path from childhood. Upon learning of the death of Lyford in Rome, the legal wife arrived and destroyed the will, then appeared to the father of her mistress and threatened him, a weak man, to change his surname and run away with his two daughters from home. A disgraced Agnes runs away from her father to the workhouse, where she dies in childbirth with Oliver. Her father, believing that the eldest daughter committed suicide, also dies of grief. The youngest daughter is adopted into Mrs. Maylie's family.

We conclude our summary. "The Adventures of Oliver Twist" is a novel that shows the ins and outs of the underworld: meanness and self-interest. Having become a complete villain, Monks learns from his mother about his half-brother Oliver. He instructs Fagin to make a thief out of an innocent boy and, "stretching it through prisons", lead him to the gallows. The plan is hellish, but the legacy is at stake. Mr. Brandlow already knows about his identity, who came out to the hiding scoundrel even without the help of the brave Nancy, who was brutally killed by Fagin's accomplice. He "pins the scoundrel to the wall" by means of irrefutable facts and the threat of extradition to justice (in this case, the criminal is waiting for the gallows). By this, he forces Monks to leave the country without prospects for return and inheritance. Justice triumphs. The criminal who killed Nancy does not live to see the investigation, and the villain Fagin, by a court decision, receives the gallows for his "merits".

The novel "The Adventures of Oliver Twist" after its publication stirred up a significant public outcry. The classic book raised a significant problem to the level of national discussion: destitute children, growing up in an indifferent society, turn into its dregs. They wander, and in order to survive, go to crime.