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“Now then； where are the witnesses？” said the clerk。
“Ah！ that’s right；” added the Dodger。 “Where are they？ I should
like to see ’em。”
This wish was immediately gratified； for a policeman stepped
forward who had seen the prisoner attempt the pocket of an
unknown gentleman in a crowd； and indeed take a handkerchief
therefrom； which； being a very old one； he deliberately put back
again； after trying it on his own countenance。 For this reason； he
took the Dodger into custody as soon as he could get near him；
and the said Dodger； being searched； had upon his person a silver
snuff…box； with the owner’s name engraved upon the lid。 This
gentleman had been discovered on reference to the Court Guide；
and being then and there present； swore that the snuff…box was
his； and that he missed it on the previous day； the moment he had
disengaged himself from the crowd before referred to。 He had also
remarked a young gentleman in the throng； particularly active in
making his way about； and that young gentleman was the prisoner
before him。
“Have you anything to ask this witness； boy？” said the
magistrate。
“I wouldn’t abase myself by descending to hold no conversation
with him；” replied the Dodger。
“Have you anything to say at all？”
“Do you hear his Worship ask if you’ve anything to say？”
inquired the jailer； nudging the silent Dodger with his elbow。
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“I beg your pardon；” said the Dodger； looking up with an air of
abstraction。 “Did you redress yourself to me； my man？”
“I never see such an out…and…out young wagabond； your
Worship；” observed the officer； with a grin。 “Do you mean to say
anything； you young shaver？”
“No；” replied the Dodger； “not here； for this ain’t the shop for
justice； besides which； my attorney is a…breakfasting this morning
with the wice…president of the House of Commons； but I shall have
something to say elsewhere； and so will he； and so will a wery
numerous and ’spectable circle of acquaintance as’ll make them
beaks wish they’d never been born； or that they’d got their
footmen to hang ’em up to their own hat…pegs； afore they let ’em
come out this morning to try it on upon me。 It’ll—”
“There！ He’s fully committed！” interposed the clerk。 “Take him
away。”
“Come on；” said the jailer。
“Oh； ah！ I’ll come on；” replied the Dodger； brushing his hat
with the palm of his hand。 “Ah！ （to the Bench） it’s no use your
looking frightened； I won’t show you no mercy； not a ha’porth of it。
You’ll pay for this； my fine fellers。 I wouldn’t be you for something！
I wouldn’t go free； now； if you was to fall down on your knees and
ask me。 Here； carry me off to prison！ Take me away！”
With these last words； the Dodger suffered himself to be led off
by the collar； threatening； till he got into the yard； to make a
parliamentary business of it； and then grinning in the officer’s
face； with great glee and self…approval。
Having seen him locked up by himself in a little cell； Noah
made the best of his way back to where he had left Master Bates。
After waiting here some time； he was joined by that young
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gentleman； who had prudently abstained from showing himself
until he had looked carefully abroad from a snug retreat； and
ascertained that his new friend had not been followed by any
impertinent person。
The two hastened back together； to bear to Mr。 Fagin the
animating news that the Dodger was doing full justice to his
bringing…up； and establishing for himself a glorious reputation。
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Chapter 44
The Time Arrives For Nancy To Redeem Her
Pledge To Rose Maylie—She Fails。
Adept as she was； in all the arts of cunning and
dissimulation； the girl Nancy could not wholly conceal the
effect which the knowledge of the step she had taken；
worked upon her mind。 She remembered that both the crafty Jew
and the brutal Sikes had confided to her schemes； which had been
hidden from all others； in the full confidence that she was
trustworthy and beyond the reach of their suspicion。 Vile as those
schemes were； desperate as were their originators； and bitter as
were her feelings towards Fagin； who had led her； step by step；
deeper and deeper down into an abyss of crime and misery；
whence was no escape； still； there were times when； even towards
him； she felt some relenting； lest her disclosure should bring him
within the iron grasp he had so long eluded； and he should fall at
last—richly as he merited such a fate—by her hand。
But these were the mere wanderings of a mind unable wholly to
detach itself from old companions and associations though
enabled to fix itself steadily on one object； and resolved not to be
turned aside by any consideration。 Her fears for Sikes would have
been more powerful inducements to recoil while there was yet
time； but she had stipulated that her secret should be rigidly kept；
she had dropped no clue which could lead to his discovery； she
had refused； even for his sake； a refuge from all the guilt and
wretchedness that encompassed her—and what more could she
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do！ She was resolved。
Though all her mental struggles terminated in this conclusion；
they forced themselves upon her； again and again； and left their
traces too。 She grew pale and thin； even within a few days。 At
times； she took no heed of what was passing before her； or no part
in conversations where once she would have been the loudest。 At
other times； she laughed without merriment； and was noisy
without cause or meaning。 At others—often within a moment
afterwards—she sat silent and dejected； brooding with her head
upon her hands； while the very effort by which she roused herself；
told； more forcibly than even these indications； that she was ill at
ease； and that her thoughts were occupied with matters very
different and distant from those in course of discussion by her
companions。
It was Sunday night； and the bell of the nearest church struck
the hour。 Sikes and the Jew were talking； but they paused to
listen。 The girl looked up from the low seat on which she
crouched； and listened too。 Eleven。
“An hour this side of midnight；” said Sikes； raising the blind to
look out and returning to his seat。 “Dark and heavy it is too。 A
good night for business this。”
“Ah！” replied Fagin。 “What a pity； Bill； my dear； that there’s
none quite ready to be done。”
“You’re right for once；” replied Sikes gruffly。 “It is a pity； for
I’m in the humour too。”
Fagin sighed； and shook his head despondingly。
“We must make up for lost time when we’ve got things into a
good train。 That’s all I know；” said Sikes。
“That’s the way to talk； my dear；” replied Fagin； venturing to
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pat him on the shoulder。 “It does me good to hear you。”
“Does you good； does it！” cried Sikes。 “Well； so be it。”
“Ha！ ha！ ha！” laughed Fagin； as if he were relieved by even this
concession。 “You’re like yourself tonight； Bill！ Quite like yourself。”
“I don’t feel like myself when you lay that withered old claw on
my shoulder； so take it away；” said Sikes； casting off the Jew’s
hand。
“It makes you nervous； Bill—reminds you of being nabbed；
does it？” said Fagin； determined not to be offended。
“Reminds me of being nabbed by the devil；” returned Sikes。
“There never was another man with such a face as yours； unless it
was your father； and I suppose he is singeing his grizzled red
beard by this time； unless you came straight from the old un
without any father at all betwixt you； which I shouldn’t wonder at；
a bit。”
Fagin offered no reply to this compliment； but； pulling Sikes by
the sleeve； pointed his finger towards Nancy； who had taken
advantage of the foregoing conversation to put on her bonnet； and
was now leaving the room。
“Hallo！” cried Sikes。 “Nance。 Where’s the gal going to at this
time of night？”
“Not far。”
“What answer’s that？” returned Sikes。 “Where are you going？”
“I say； not far。”
“And I say where？” retorted Sikes。 “Do you hear me？”
“I don’t know where；” replied the girl。
“Then I do；” said Sikes； more in the spirit of obstinacy than
because he had any real objection to the girl going where she
listed。 “Nowhere。 Sit down。”
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“I’m not well。 I told you that before；” rejoined the girl。 “I want a
breath of air。”
“Put your head out of the winder；” replied Sikes。
“There’s not enough there；” said the girl。 “I want it in the
street。”
“Then you won’t have it；” replied Sikes。 With which assurance
he rose； locked the door； took the key out； and pulling her bonnet
from her head； flung it up to the top of an old press。 “There；” said
the robber。 “Now stop quietly where you are；