oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第77部分

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fond　of　it。　They　remanded　him　till　today；　for　they　thought　they　
knew　the　owner。　Ah！　he　was　worth　fifty　boxes；　and　I’d　give　the　
price　of　as　many　to　have　him　back。　You　should　have　known　the　
Dodger；　my　dear；　you　should　have　known　the　Dodger。”　

“Well；　but　I　shall　know　him；　I　hope；　don’t　yer　think　so？”　said　
Mr。　Bolter。　

“I’m　doubtful　about　it；”　replied　Fagin；　with　a　sigh。　“If　they　don’t　
get　any　fresh　evidence；　it’ll　only　be　a　summary　conviction；　and　we　
shall　have　him　back　again　after　six　weeks　or　so；　but；　if　they　do；　it’s　
a　case　of　lagging。　They　know　what　a　clever　lad　he　is；　he’ll　be　a　lifer。　
They’ll　make　the　Artful　nothing　less　than　a　lifer。”　

“What　do　yer　mean　by　lagging　and　a　lifer？”　demanded　Mr。　
Bolter。　“What’s　the　good　of　talking　in　that　way　to　me；　why　don’t　
yer　speak　so　as　I　can　understand　yer？”　

Fagin　was　about　to　translate　these　mysterious　expressions　into　
the　vulgar　tongue；　and；　being　interpreted；　Mr。　Bolter　would　have　
been　informed　that　they　represented　that　combination　of　words；　
“transportation　for　life；”　when　the　dialogue　was　cut　short　by　the　
entry　of　Master　Bates；　with　his　hands　in　his　breeches　pockets；　and　
his　face　twisted　into　a　look　of　semi…comical　woe。　

“It’s　all　up；　Fagin；”　said　Charley；　when　he　and　his　new　
companion　had　been　made　known　to　each　other。　

“What　do　you　mean？”　

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“They’ve　found　the　gentleman　as　owns　the　box；　two　or　three　
more’s　a…coming　to　’dentify　him；　and　the　Artful’s　booked　for　a　
passage　out；”　replied　Master　Bates。　“I　must　have　a　full　suit　of　
mourning；　Fagin；　and　a　hatband；　to　wisit　him　in；　afore　he　sets　out　
upon　his　travels。　To　think　of　Jack　Dawkins—lummy　Jack—the　
Dodger—the　Artful　Dodger—going　abroad　for　a　common　
twopenny…halfpenny　sneeze…box！　I　never　thought　he’d　a　done　it　
under　a　gold　watch；　chain；　and　seals；　at　the　lowest。　Oh；　why　didn’t　
he　rob　some　rich　old　gentleman　of　all　his　walables；　and　go　out　as　a　
gentleman；　and　not　like　a　common　prig；　without　no　honour　nor　
glory！”　

With　this　expression　of　feeling　for　his　unfortunate　friend；　
Master　Bates　sat　himself　on　the　nearest　chair　with　an　aspect　of　
chagrin　and　despondency。　

“What　do　you　talk　about　his　having　neither　honour　nor　glory　
for！”　exclaimed　Fagin；　darting　an　angry　look　at　his　pupil。　“Wasn’t　
he　always　top…sawyer　among　you　all！　Is　there　one　of　you　that　could　
touch　him　or　come　near　him　on　any　scent！　Eh？”　

“Not　one；”　replied　Master　Bates；　in　a　voice　rendered　husky　by　
regret；　“not　one。”　

“Then　what　do　you　talk　of？”　replied　Fagin　angrily；　“what　are　
you　blubbering　for？”　

“‘Cause　it　isn’t　on　the　record；　is　it？”　said　Charley；　chafed　into　
perfect　defiance　of　his　venerable　friend　by　the　current　of　his　
regrets；　“’cause　it　can’t　come　out　in　the　’dictment；　’cause　nobody　
will　never　know　half　of　what　he　was。　How　will　be　stand　in　the　
Newgate　Calendar？　P’r’aps　not　be　there　at　all。　Oh；　my　eye；　my　eye；　
wot　a　blow　it　is！”　

“Ha！　ha！”　cried　Fagin；　extending　his　right　hand；　and　turning　to　

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Mr。　Bolter　in　a　fit　of　chuckling　which　shook　him　as　though　he　had　
the　palsy；　“see　what　a　pride　they　take　in　their　profession；　my　dear。　
Ain’t　it　beautiful？”　

Mr。　Bolter　nodded　assent；　and　Fagin；　after　contemplating　the　
grief　of　Charley　Bates　for　some　seconds　with　evident　satisfaction；　
stepped　up　to　that　young　gentleman　and　patted　him　on　the　
shoulder。　

“Never　mind；　Charley；”　said　Fagin　soothingly；　“it’ll　come　out；　
it’ll　be　sure　to　come　out。　They’ll　all　know　what　a　clever　fellow　he　
was；　he’ll　show　it　himself；　and　not　disgrace　his　old　pals　and　
teachers。　Think　how　young　he　is　too！　What　a　distinction；　Charley；　
to　be　lagged　at　his　time　of　life！”　

“Well；　it　is　a　honour；　that　is！”　said　Charley；　a　little　consoled。　

“He　shall　have　all　he　wants；”　continued　the　Jew。　“He　shall　be　
kept　in　the　stone　jug；　Charley；　like　a　gentleman。　Like　a　gentleman！　
With　his　beer　every　day；　and　money　in　his　pocket　to　pitch　and　toss　
with；　if　he　can’t　spend　it。”　

“No；　shall　he　though？”　cried　Charley　Bates。　

“Ay；　that　he　shall；”　replied　Fagin；　“and　we’ll　have　a　bigwig；　
Charley—one　that’s　got　the　greatest　gift　of　the　gab—to　carry　on　his　
defence；　and　he　shall　make　a　speech　for　himself　too；　if　he　likes；　
and　we’ll　read　it　all　in　the　papers—‘Artful　Dodger　shrieks　of　
laughter—here　the　court　was　convulsed’—eh；　Charley；　eh？”　

“Ha！　ha！”　laughed　Master　Bates；　“what　a　lark　that　would　be；　
wouldn’t　it；　Fagin？　I　say；　how　the　Artful　would　bother　’em；　
wouldn’t　he？”　

“Would！”　cried　Fagin。　“He　shall—he　will！”　

“Ah；　to　be　sure；　so　he　will；”　repeated　Charley；　rubbing　his　
hands。　

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“I　think　I　see　him　now；”　cried　the　Jew；　bending　his　eyes　upon　
his　pupil。　

“So　do　I；”　cried　Charley　Bates。　“Ha！　ha！　ha！　so　do　I。　I　see　it　all　
afore　me；　upon　my　soul　I　do；　Fagin。　What　a　game！　What　a　regular　
game！　All　the　bigwigs　trying　to　look　solemn；　and　Jack　Dawkins　
addressing　of　’em　as　intimate　and　comfortable　as　if　he　was　the　
judge’s　own　son　making　a　speech　arter　dinner—ha！　ha！　ha！”　

In　fact；　Mr。　Fagin　had　so　well　humoured　his　young　friend’s　
eccentric　disposition；　that　Master　Bates；　who　bad　at　first　been　
disposed　to　consider　the　imprisoned　Dodger　rather　in　the　light　of　a　
victim；　now　looked　upon　him　as　the　chief　actor　in　a　scene　of　most　
uncommon　and　exquisite　humour；　and　felt　quite　impatient　for　the　
arrival　of　the　time　when　his　old　companion　should　have　so　
favourable　an　opportunity　of　displaying　his　abilities。　

“We　must　know　how　he　gets　on　today；　by　some　handy　means　or　
other；”　said　Fagin。　“Let　me　think。”　

“Shall　I　go？”　asked　Charley。　

“Not　for　the　world；”　replied　Fagin。　“Are　you　mad；　my　dear—　
stark　mad；　that　you’d　walk　into　the　very　place　where—No；　
Charley；　no。　One　is　enough　to　lose　at　a　time。”　

“You　don’t　mean　to　go　yourself；　I　suppose？”　said　Charley；　with　
a　humorous　leer。　

“That　wouldn’t　quite　fit；”　replied　Fagin；　shaking　his　head。　

“Then　why　don’t　you　send　this　new　cove？”　asked　Master　Bates；　
laying　his　hand　on　Noah’s　arm。　“Nobody　knows　him。”　

“Why；　if　he　didn’t　mind—”　observed　Fagin。　

“Mind！”　interposed　Charley。　“What　should　he　have　to　mind？”　

“Really　nothing；　my　dear；”　said　Fagin；　turning　to　Mr。　Bolter；　
“really　nothing。”　

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“Oh；　I　dare　say　about　that；　yer　know；”　observed　Noah；　backing　
towards　the　door；　and　shaking　his　head　with　a　kind　of　sober　alarm。　
“No；　no—none　of　that。　It’s　not　in　my　department；　that　ain’t。”　

“Wot　department　has　he　got；　Fagin？”　inquired　Master　Bates；　
surveying　Noah’s　lank　form　with　much　disgust。　“The　cutting　away　
when　there’s　anything　wrong；　and　the　eating　all　the　wittles　when　
there’s　everything　right；　is　that　his　branch？”　

“Never　mind；”　retorted　Mr。　Bolter；　“and　don’t　yer　take　liberties　
with　yer　superiors；　little　boy；　or　yer’ll　find　yerself　in　the　wrong　
shop。”　

Master　Bates　laughed　so　vehemently　at　this　magnificent　threat　
that　it　was　some　time　before　Fagin　could　interpose；　and　represent　
to　Mr。　Bolter　that　he　incurred　no　possible　danger　in　visiting　the　
police　office；　that；　inasmuch　as　no　account　of　the　little　affair　in　
which　he　had　been　engaged；　nor　any　description　of　his　person；　had　
yet　been　forwarded　to　the　metropolis；　it　was　very　probable　that　he　
was　not　even　suspected　of　having　resorted　to　it　for　shelter；　and　
that；　if　he　was　properly　disguised；　it　would　be　as　safe　a　spot　for　
him　to　visit　as　any　in　London；　inasmuch　as　it　would　be；　of　all　
places；　the　very　last；　to　which　he　could　be　supposed　likely　to　resort　
of　his　own　free…will。　

Persuaded；　in　part；　by　these　representations；　but　overborne　in　a　
much　greater　degree　by　his　fear　of　Fagin；　Mr。　Bolter　at　length　
consented；　with　a　very　bad　grace；　to　undertake　the　expedition。　By　
Fagin’s　directions；　he　immediately　substituted　for　his　own　attire；　a　
waggoner’s　frock；　velveteen　breeches；　and　leather　leggings；　all　of　
which　articles　the　Jew　had　at　hand。　He　was　likewise　furnished　
with　a　felt　hat　well　garnished　with　turnpike　tickets；　and　a　carter’s　
whip。　Thus　equipped；　he　was　to　saunter　into　the　office；　as　some　

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country　fellow　from　Covent　Garden　market　might　be　supposed　to　
do　for　the　gratification　of　his　curiosity；　and　as　he　was　as　awkward；　
ungainly；　and　raw…boned　a　fellow　as　need　be；　Mr。　Fagin　had　no　
fear　but　that　he　would　look　the　part　to　perfection。　

These　arrangements　completed；　he　was　informed　of　the　
necessary　signs　and　tokens　by　which　to　recognise　the　Artful　
Dodger；　and　was　conveyed　by　Master　Bates　through　dark　and　
winding　ways　to　within　a　very　short　distance　of　Bow　Street。　
Having　described　the　precise　situation　of　the　office；　and　
accompanied　it　with　copious　directions　how　he　was　to　walk　
straight　up　the　passage；　and　when　he　got　into　the　yard　take　the　
door　up　the　steps　on　the　right…hand　side；　and　pull　off　his　hat　as　he　
went　into　the　room；　Charley　Bates　bade　him　hurry　on　alone；　and　
promised　to　bide　his　return　on　the　spot　of　their　parting。　

Noah　Claypole；　or　Morris　Bolter　as　the　reader　pleases；　
punctually　followed　the　directions　he　had　received；　which—　
Master　Bates　being　pretty　well　acquainted　with　the　locality—were　
so　exact　that　he　was　enabled　to　gain　the　magisterial　presence　
without　asking　any　questions；　or　meeting　with　any　interruption　by　
the　way。　He　found　himself　jostled　among　a　crowd　of　people；　chiefly　
women；　who　were　huddled　together　in　a　dirty；　frowsy　room；　at　the　
upper　end　of　which　was　a　raised　platform　railed　off　from　the　rest；　
with　a　dock　for　the　prisoners　on　the　left　hand　against　the　wall；　a　
box　for　the　witnesses　in　the　middle；　and　a　desk　for　the　magistrates　
on　the　right；　the　awful　locality　last　named；　being　screened　off　by　a　
partition　which　concealed　the　Bench　from　the　common　gaze；　and　
left　the　vulgar　to　imagine　（if　they　could）　the　full　majesty　of　Ju