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expression was； for the instant； so precisely alike； that the
minutest line seemed copied with startling accuracy！
Oliver knew not the cause of this sudden exclamation； for； not
being strong enough to bear the start it gave him； he fainted away。
A weakness on his part； which affords the narrative an
opportunity of relieving the reader from suspense in behalf of the
two young pupils of the merry old gentleman； and of recording。
That when the Dodger； and his accomplished friend Master
Bates； joined in the hue…and…cry which was raised at Oliver’s
heels； in consequence of their executing an illegal conveyance of
Mr。 Brownlow’s personal property； as has been already described；
they were actuated by a very laudable and becoming regard for
themselves； and for as much as the freedom of the subject and the
liberty of the individual are among the first and proudest boasts of
a true…hearted Englishman； so I need hardly beg the reader to
observe； that this action should tend to exalt them in the opinion
of all public and patriotic men in almost as great a degree as this
strong proof of their anxiety； for their own preservation and safety
goes to corroborate and confirm the little code of laws which
certain profound and sound…judging philosophers have laid down
as the mainsprings of all Nature’s deeds and actions—the said
philosophers very wisely reducing the good lady’s proceedings to
matters of maxim and theory； and； by a very neat and pretty
compliment to her exalted wisdom and understanding； putting
entirely out of sight any considerations of heart； or generous
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impulse and feeling。 For these are matters totally beneath a female
who is acknowledged by universal admission to be far above the
numerous little foibles and weaknesses of her sex。
If I wanted any further proof of the strictly philosophical nature
of the conduct of these young gentlemen in their very delicate
predicament； I should at once find it in the fact （also recorded in a
foregoing part of this narrative）； of their quitting the pursuit； when
the general attention was fixed upon Oliver； and making
immediately for their home by the shortest possible cut。 Although
I do not mean to assert that it is usually the practice of renowned
and learned sages to shorten the road to any great conclusion
（their course indeed being rather to lengthen the distance； by
various circumlocutions and discursive staggerings； like unto
those in which drunken men under the pressure of a too mighty
flow of ideas are prone to indulge）； still； I do mean to say； and do
say distinctly； that it is the invariable practice of many mighty
philosophers； in carrying out their theories； to evince great
wisdom and foresight in providing against every possible
contingency which can be supposed at all likely to affect
themselves。 Thus； to do a great right； you may do a little wrong；
and you may take any means which the end to be attained； will
justify； the amount of the right； or the amount of the wrong； or
indeed the distinction between the two； being left entirely to the
philosopher concerned； to be settled and determined by his clear；
comprehensive； and impartial view of his own particular case。
It was not until the two boys had scoured； with great rapidity；
through a most intricate maze of narrow streets and courts； that
they ventured to halt beneath a low and dark archway。 Having
remained silent here； just long enough to recover breath to speak；
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Master Bates uttered an exclamation of amusement and delight；
and； bursting into an uncontrollable fit of laughter； flung himself
upon a door…step； and rolled thereon in a transport of mirth。
“What’s the matter？” inquired the Dodger。
“Ha！ ha！ ha！” roared Charley Bates。
“Hold your noise；” remonstrated the Dodger； looking cautiously
round。 “Do you want to be grabbed； stupid？”
“I can’t help it；” said Charley。 “I can’t help it！ To see him
splitting away at that pace； and cutting round the corners； and
knocking up again the posts； and starting on again as if he was
made of iron as well as them； and me with the wipe in my pocket；
singing out arter him—oh； my eye！” The vivid imagination of
Master Bates presented the scene before him in too strong
colours。 As he arrived at this apostrophe； he again rolled upon the
door…step； and laughed louder than before。
“What’ll Fagin say？” inquired the Dodger； taking advantage of
the next interval of breathlessness on the part of his friend to
propound the question。
“What？” repeated Charley Bates。
“Ah； what？” said the Dodger。 “Why； what should he say？”
inquired Charley； stopping rather suddenly in his merriment； for
the Dodger’s manner was impressive。 “What should he say？”
Mr。 Dawkins whistled for a couple of minutes； then； taking off
his hat； scratched his head； and nodded thrice。
“What do you mean？” said Charley。
“Toor rul lol loo； gammon and spinnage； the frog he wouldn’t；
and high cockolorum；” said the Dodger； with a slight sneer on his
intellectual countenance。
This was explanatory； but not satisfactory。 Master Bates felt it
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so； and again said； “What do you mean？”
The Dodger made no reply； but putting his hat on again； and
gathering the skirts of his long…tailed coat under his arm； thrust
his tongue into his cheek； slapped the bridge of his nose some half…
dozen times in a familiar but expressive manner； and turning on
his heel； slunk down the court。 Master Bates followed； with a
thoughtful countenance。
The noise of footsteps on the creaking stairs； a few minutes
after the occurrence of this conversation； roused the merry old
gentleman as he sat over the fire with a saveloy and a small loaf in
his left hand； a pocket…knife in his right； and a pewter pot on the
trivet。 There was a rascally smile on his white face as he turned
round； and； looking sharply out from under his thick red
eyebrows； bent his ear towards the door and listened。 “Why； how’s
this；” muttered the Jew； changing countenance； “only two of ’em？
Where’s the third？ They can’t have got into trouble。 Hark！”
The footsteps approached nearer； they reached the landing。
The door was slowly opened； and the Dodger and Charley Bates
entered； closing it behind them。
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Chapter 13
Some New Acquaintances Are Introduced To The
Intelligent Reader； Connected With Whom； Various
Pleasant Matters Are Related； Appertaining To This
History。
“W here’s Oliver？” said the Jew； rising with a
menacing look。 “Where’s the boy？”
The young thieves eyed their preceptor as if
they were alarmed at his violence； and looked uneasily at each
other： But they made no reply。
“What’s become of the boy？” said the Jew； seizing the Dodger
tightly by the collar； and threatening him with horrid
imprecations。 “Speak out； or I’ll throttle you！”
Mr。 Fagin looked so very much in earnest； that Charley Bates；
who deemed it prudent in all cases to be on the safe side； and who
conceived it by no means improbable that it might be his turn to
be throttled second； dropped upon his knees； and raised a loud；
well…sustained； and continuous roar—something between a mad
bull and a speaking…trumpet。
“Will you speak？” thundered the Jew； shaking the Dodger so
much that his keeping in the big coat at all seemed perfectly
miraculous。
“Why； the traps have got him； and that’s all about it；” said the
Dodger sullenly。 “Come； let go o’ me； will you！” And swinging
himself； at one jerk； clean out of the big coat； which he left in the
Jew’s hands； the Dodger snatched up the toasting…fork； and made
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a pass at the merry old gentleman’s waistcoat； which； if it had
taken effect； would have let a little more merriment out； than
could have been easily replaced。
The Jew stepped back； in this emergency； with more agility
than could have been anticipated in a man of his apparent
decrepitude； and； seizing up the pot； prepared to hurl it at his
assailant’s head。 But Charley Bates； at this moment； calling his
attention by a perfectly terrific howl； he suddenly altered its
destination； and flung it full at that young gentleman。
“Why； what the blazes is in the wind now！” growled a deep
voice。 “Who pitched that ’ere at me？ It’s well it’s the beer； and not
the pot； as hit me； or I’d have settled somebody。 I might have
know’d； as nobody but an infernal rich； plundering； thundering
old Jew could afford to throw away any drink but water—and not
that； unless he done the River Company every quarter。 Wot’s it all
about； Fagin？ D—me； if my neck…handkercher ain’t lined with
beer！ Come in； you sneaking warmint； wot are you stopping
outside for； as if you was ashamed of your master！ Come in！”
The man who growled out these words； was a stoutly…built