14. The end of the mystery（7）

　Fagin thought of nothing but death that night．He began to remember all the people he had ever known who had been hung．He could hardly count the m．They might have sat in the same prison cell as he was sitting in now．He thought about death by hanging-the rope，the cloth bag over the head，the sudden change from strong men to bundles of clothe s，hanging at the end of a rope．
　　As his last night came，despair seized Fagin's evil soul．He could not sit still，and hurried up and down his small cell，gasping with terror，his eyes flashing with hate and anger．The n he lay trembling on his stone bed and listened to the clock striking the hours．Where would he be when those hours came round again？
　　In the middle of that Sunday night，Mr Brown low and O liver were allowed to enter the prison．Several strong doors were unlocked，and eventually They entered Fagin's cell．The old robber was sitting on the bed，whispering to himself，his face more like a trapped animal's than a human's．
　　'You have some papers，Fagin，'said Mr Brown low quietly， 'which were given to you by Monks to look after．'
'It's a lie！'replied Fagin，not looking at him． 'I haven't got any．'
那天晚上，费金唯一想到的就是死。他开始回忆所有那些他认识的被处以绞刑的人。他根本数不清了。他们当初也许就是被关在眼下他坐着的这间囚室里。他想到了被绞死的情景——绳子，套在头上的布袋子，一个强壮的人忽然变为一团衣服，悬挂在绳子的一端。
　　当最后一个夜晚来临时，绝望吞噬着费金那罪恶的心灵。他坐立不安，在他的小牢房里上窜下跳，惊恐地喘着粗气，眼睛里闪烁着愤怒和憎恨的光。然后，他哆哆嗦嗦地躺在石头床上，听着报时的钟声。当这些时刻再次到来时，他会在哪里呢？
　　在那个星期天的半夜里，布朗洛先生和奥利弗被允许进入牢房。几扇沉重的大门开了锁，最终他们进入了费金的牢房。这个老强盗正坐在床上，喃喃自语，他的脸不像人脸，更像一个落网的动物的脸。
　　“费金，蒙克斯曾给你几份文件让你保管。”布朗洛先生平静地说。
　　“那是谎话，我一份都没有！”费金回答说，眼睛不看着布朗洛先生。