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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 Justice。
There were only a couple of women in the dock； who were
nodding to their admiring friends； while the clerk read some
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depositions to a couple of policemen and a man in plain clothes
who leant over the table。 A jailer stood reclining against the dock
rail； tapping his nose listlessly with a large key； except when he
repressed an undue tendency to conversation among the idlers； by
proclaiming silence； or looked sternly up to bid some woman
“Take that baby out；” when the gravity of justice was disturbed by
feeble cries； half…smothered in the mother’s shawl； from some
meagre infant。 The room smelled close and unwholesome； the
walls were dirt…coloured； and the ceiling blackened。 There was an
old smoky bust over the mantel…shelf； and a dusty clock above the
dock—the only thing present； that seemed to go on as it ought； for
depravity； or poverty； or an habitual acquaintance with both； had
left a taint on all the animate matter； hardly less unpleasant than
the thick greasy scum on every inanimate object that frowned
upon it。
Noah looked eagerly about him for the Dodger； but although
there were several women who would have done very well for that
distinguished character’s mother or sister； and more than one man
who might be supposed to bear a strong resemblance to his father；
nobody at all answering the description given him of Mr。 Dawkins
was to be seen。 He waited in a state of much suspense and
uncertainty until the women； being committed for trial； went
flaunting out； and then was quickly relieved by the appearance of
another prisoner who he felt at once could be no other than the
object of his visit。
It was indeed Mr。 Dawkins； who； shuffling into the office with
the big coat tucked up as usual； his left hand in his pocket； and his
hat in his right hand； preceded the jailer； with a rolling gait
altogether indescribable； and； taking his place in the dock；
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requested in an audible voice to know what he was placed in that
’ere disgraceful sitivation for。
“Hold your tongue； will you？” said the jailer。
“I’m an Englishman； ain’t I？” rejoined the Dodger。 “Where are
my priwileges？”
“You’ll get your privileges soon enough；” retorted the jailer；
“and pepper with ’em。”
“We’ll see wot the Secretary of State for the Home Affairs has
got to say to the beaks； if I don’t；” replied Mr。 Dawkins。 “Now
then！ Wot is this here business？ I shall thank the madg’strates to
dispose of this here little affair； and not to keep me while they read
the paper； for I’ve got an appointment with a gentleman in the
city； and as I’m a man of my word and wery punctual in business
matters； he’ll go away if I ain’t there to my time； and then p’r’aps
there won’t be an action for damage against them as kept me
away。 Oh； no； certainly not！”
At this point； the Dodger； with a show of being very particular
with a view to proceedings to be had thereafter； desired the jailer
to communicate “the names of them two files as was on the
bench；” which so tickled the spectators； that they laughed almost
as heartily as Master Bates could have done if he had heard the
request。
“Silence； there！” cried the jailer。
“What is this？” inquired one of the magistrates。
“A pick…pocketing case； your Worship。”
“Has the boy ever been here before？”
“He ought to have been； a many times；” replied the jailer。 “He
has been pretty well everywhere else。 I know him well； your
Worship。”
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“Oh！ you know me； do you？” cried the Artful； making a note of
the statement。 “Wery good。 That’s a case of deformation of
character； anyway。” Here there was another laugh； and another
cry of silence。
“Now then； where are the witnesses？” said the clerk。
“Ah！ that’s right；” added the Dodg