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oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第77部分

小说: oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪)) 字数: 每页4000字

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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

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