Put the sentences in the right order. 1) In that one moment they took from him, with the most extraordinary rapidity, his snuff-box, note-case

1)The old man closed the lid ______ the box ______ a loud crash, and, laying his hand ______ a bread knife which was ______ the table, stood furiously _____ .

2) ______ this moment, the Dodger entered the room, accompanied ______ a young friend, whom Oliver saw ______ the evening.

3) And ______ that one moment they took ______ him, ______ the most extraordinary rapidity, his snuff-box, note-case, watch, pocket-handkerchief, even the spectacles-case.

4) Oliver wondered what picking the old gentleman's pocket ______ play had to do ______ his chances ______ being a great man.

Put the verbs, given in brackets, in the right tense form.

1)Oliver (do) not (answer), and Fagin (think) that the boy (be) asleep.

2) Then Fagin (take) out of the box such beauti­ful rings, bracelets and other articles of jewellery that Oliver (have) no idea even of their names.

3) They (play) the game when a couple of young ladies (come) in.

4) If the old gentleman (feel) a hand in any one of his pockets, he (cry) out where it (be); and then the game (begin) all over again.

5) Oliver (hold) up the bottom of the pocket with one hand and (draw) the handkerchief lightly out of it with the other.

Complete the sentences.

1) Laying his hand on a bread knife which was on the table, Fagin stood furiously up because …

2) First Oliver thought the old gentleman was a miser because …

3) Oliver laughed till the tears ran down his face because …

4) Oliver drew the handkerchief lightly out of Fagin's pocket because …

What do you think?

1)Do you think that Fagin really played with the knife because he wanted just to frighten Oliver?

2) Do you think that Oliver agreed with those who called Fagin a miser?

3) Why do you think Charley Bates kept laughing?

4) Why did Fagin and the boys play a curious game so many times?

5) Why did Fagin call Oliver a clever boy?

CHAPTER 5

Oliver Gets Experience at a High Price

For many days, Oliver remained in Fagin's room, picking the marks out of the pocket-handkerchiefs and sometimes taking part in the game, which the two boys and the merry old man played every morning.

Oliver saw that the old man's character was really strong. Whenever the Dodger or Charley Bates came home at night, empty-handed, Fagin would speak about their laziness and the necessity of an active life, and would send them supperless to bed.

More than once Oliver asked the old man to allow him to go out to work with his two companions. At length, one morning, Fagin said that Oliver might go with Charley Bates and the Dodger.

The Dodger's hat was cocked as usual; Charley Bates put his hands in his pockets; and Oliver was between them, wondering where they were going, and what kind of work he would do. But the boys were not in a hurry to start any work. They were just walking lazily along the streets, and soon Oliver began to think his companions were going to deceive the old gentleman, by not going to work at all.

At this moment the Dodger made a sudden stop; and, laying his finger on his lip, drew his companions back.

'What's the matter?' asked Oliver.

'Hush!' replied the Dodger. 'Do you see that old man at the book-stall?'

'The old gentleman over there?' said Oliver. 'Yes, I see him.'

'He'll do,' said the Dodger.

Oliver looked from one to the other with the greatest surprise, but he was not permitted to make any inquiries; the two boys walked across the road, and came up close to the old gentleman. Oliver stood looking at them in silent amazement.

The old gentleman was a very respectable-looking person, with a powdered head and gold spectacles. He was dressed in a bottle-green coat with a black velvet collar; wore white trousers; and carried a smart bamboo cane under his arm. He took up a book from the stall, and there he stood, reading it. He was so absorbed in reading that he saw neither the book-stall, nor the street, nor the boys, nor, in short, anything but the book.

Oliver's eyes were wide open. To his horror the Dodger plunged his hand into the old gentleman's pocket, drew out a handkerchief, handed it to Charley Bates, and the two boys ran away round the corner at full speed!

In an instant Oliver understood the whole mystery of the handkerchiefs, and the merry game, and the watches, and the jewels, and the old man.

He stood, for a moment, confused and frightened. Terror seized him, he took to his heelsand ran as fast as he could.

In the very instant when Oliver began to run, the old gentleman, putting his hand to his pocket, and missing his handkerchief, turned round. 'Stop thief!' shouted the old gentleman with all his might and ran after Oliver.

The old gentleman was not the only person who was running after Oliver. The Dodger and Charley Bates, un­willing to attract public attention by running down the open street, hid into the very first doorway round the corner. When they heard the cry and saw Oliver running, they guessed exactly how the matter stood. They shouted 'Stop thief!', too, and like good citizens they joined the crowd, running after Oliver.

The crowd was coming nearer and nearer to the wretched breathless child with agony in his eyes, and large drops of perspiration were streaming down his face. The next moment a heavy blow knocked the boy down, and in a moment there was a big crowd round Oliver. 'Where's the gentleman?' 'Here he is, coming down the street.' 'Make room there for the gentleman!' 'Is this the boy, sir?'

'Yes, I am afraid it is the boy. Poor fellow!' said the gentleman. 'He has hurt himself.'

'I did that, sir,' said a big fellow, stepping forward; 'and I cut my knuckle against his mouth. I stopped him, sir.'

The fellow touched his hat with a grin, expecting something for his pains; but, the old gentleman, eyeing him with an expression of dislike, looked anxiously round. At that moment a police officer (who is generally the last person to arrive in such cases) made his way through the crowd, and seized Oliver by the collar.

'Come, get up,' said the man, roughly.

'It wasn't me indeed, sir,' said Oliver, clasping his hands passionately, and looking round.

'Come, get up!'

'Don't hurt him,' said the old gentleman.

'Oh no, I won't hurt him,' replied the officer. 'Will you stand upon your legs, you young devil?'

Oliver, who could hardly stand, made a shift to raise himself on his feet, and was at once draggedalong the streets by the police officer. The gentleman walked on with them by the officer's side. Many of the crowd got a little ahead and stared back at Oliver from time to time.

When they reached the court house, Oliver was searched and then locked up in a cell.

'There is something in that boy's face,' said the old gentleman to himself as he walked slowly away, 'something that touches and interests me. Can he be innocent? The poor boy looked like —' continued the old gentleman, halting very abruptly, and staring up into the sky, 'Where have I seen something like that look before? No,' said the old gentleman, shaking his head; 'it must be imagination.'

He was roused by a touch on the shoulder. The man with the keys asked the old gentleman to follow him into the office. Oliver was already there; trembling very much at the awfulness of the scene.

The old gentleman bowed respectfully.

Mr. Fang, the magistrate,was a lean, long-backed, stiff-necked, middle-sized man, with no great quantity of hair. In the morning newspaper he read an article, criticizing him for his wrong decisions. He was out of temper, and he looked up angrily.

'Who are you?' said Mr. Fang.

'My name, sir,' said the old gentleman, speaking like a gentleman, 'my name, sir, is Brownlow.'

'Officer!' said Mr. Fang, throwing the paper on one side, 'what's this fellow charged with?'

'He's not charged at all, your worship,'replied the officer. 'He appears against this boy, your worship.'

'Are there any witnesses?' inquired Mr. Fang.

'None, your worship,' replied the policeman.

'Now,' said Mr. Fang addressing Mr. Brownlow, 'what's the charge against this boy? What have you got to say, sir?'

Mr. Brownlow described the case, saying that he ran after the boy because he saw him running away. 'Sir, I think that he may be innocent. He has been hurt already,' said the old gentleman in conclusion. 'And I fear,' he added, with great energy, looking at the boy, 'I really fear that he is ill.'

'What's your name, you hardened scoundrel?' demanded Mr. Fang.

Oliver tried to reply but his tongue failed him. He was deadly pale; and the whole place seemed turning round and round.

'Oh, he won't speak out!' said Mr. Fang. 'Very well, very well. Officer, where does he live? Has he any parents?'

'He says they died in his infancy, your worship,' replied the officer.

'Nonsense!' said Mr. Fang: 'don't try to make a fool of me.'

 'I think he really is ill, your worship,' said the of­ficer.

'I know better,' said Mr. Fang.

'Take care of him, officer,' said the old gentleman, raising his hands instinctively; 'he'll fall down.'

'Stand away, officer,' cried Mr. Fang; 'let him fall if he likes.'

Oliver faintedand fell to the floor. The men in the office looked at each other, but no one dared to help the boy.

'Let him lie there; he'll soon be tired of that,' said Mr. Fang.

'How do you propose to deal with the case, sir?' inquired the clerk in a low voice.

'Heis sentenced tothree months,' replied Mr. Fang. 'Hard labour,of course. Clear the office.'

The door was opened for this purpose, and a couple of men were preparing to carry the insensible boy to his cell when an elderly man rushed hastily into the office.

'Stop, stop! Don't take him away!' cried the newcomer, breathless with haste.

'What is this? Who is this? Turn this man out. Clear the office!' cried Mr. Fang.

'I will speak,' cried the man; 'I will not be turned out. I saw it all. I keep the book-stall. Mr. Fang, you must hear me. You must not refuse, sir.' His manner was determined; and the matter was growing rather too serious to be hushed up.

'Now, man, what have you got to say?' growled Mr. Fang, remembering the morning newspaper.

'The robbery was committedby another boy, and I saw that this poor boy was perfectly amazed and stupe­fied by it.'

'Why didn't you come here before?' said Fang, after a pause.

'I hadn't anybody to help me in the shop,' replied the man. 'I could get nobody till five minutes ago; and I've run here all the way.'

'The boy is discharged. Clear the office!' said the magistrate. 'Officer, do you hear? Clear the office!'

Mr. Brownlow found little Oliver Twist lying on his back on the pavement in the court yard, with his shirt unbuttoned, his face deadly white.

'Poor boy, poor boy!' said Mr. Brownlow, bending over him. 'Call a coach, somebody. Directly!'

When a coach came Mr. Brownlow carefully laid Oliver on the seat, and away they drove.

Helpful Words & Notes

He was so absorbed in reading— Он был так увлечен чтением

he took to his heels— он бросился бежать

dragv — тащить, волочить

magistraten — мировой судья

what's this fellow charged with?— в чем обвиняется этот молодой человек?

your worship— ваша честь; в Великобритании используется как титул при обращении к судьям и другим официальным лицам

faintv — падать в обморок

sentence tov — приговаривать к

hard labour— каторга, каторжные работы

commitv — совершать

Activities

Answer the questions.

1) What did Fagin do when the Dodger or Charley Bates came home empty-handed?

2) What did Charley Bates and the Dodger do when they saw an old gentleman?

3) What did Oliver understand in an instant?

4) What did Charley Bates and the Dodger do when they saw Oliver running and heard the cry?

5) Where did the police officer take Oliver?

6) What did the old gentleman think about when Oliver was locked up in his cell?

7) What did Mr. Brownlow ask the magistrate to do?

8) What did the magistrate sentence Oliver to at first?

9) Who came rushing into the court room and why didn't he come earlier?

10) What did the elderly man say?

11) What did Mr. Fang have to do?

12) What did Mr. Brownlow do when he saw Oliver?

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