Stranica 229 [229]
171
* No, no,” replied Fagin, § not so bad
as that. Not quite so bad.”
cc What, I suppose he was ty
c Wanted,” interposed the Jew. “ Yes,
he was wanted.”
“ Very particular ?” inquired Mr. Bol¬
ter.
“No,” replied the Jew, “not very.
He was charged with attempting to pick
a pocket, and they found a silver snuff¬
box on him,—his own, my dear, his own,
for he took snuff himself, and was very
fond of it. They remanded him till to¬
day, 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 skould have known the
Dodger, my dear; you should have known
the Dodger.”
c Well, but I shall know him, I hope;
don’t yer think so?" said Mr. Bolter.
“I’m doubtful about it,” replied the
Jew, with a sigh. “If they dont get
any fresh evidence it’ll only be a sum¬
mary conviction, and we shall have him
ome seer after six Sia or so; but, if
they do, it’s a case o ine. The
kates what a clever lad ayy AA "11 bet
lifer: they "11 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;
stand yer ?”’
Fagin was about to translate these mys¬
terious expressions into the vulgar tongue,
and, being interpreted, Mr. Bolter would
have been informed that they represented
that combination of words, “ transporta¬
tion 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 ?” asked the Jew
with trembling lips.
the box; two er three more’s a coming
to *dentify him, and the Artful’s booked
for a passage out,” replied Master Bates.
$ [ must have a full suit of mourning, Fa¬
gin, 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 !
under a gold watch, chain, and seals, at
the lowest. Oh, why did’nt 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 him¬
self on the nearest chair with an aspect
of chagrin and despondency.
“'What do you talk about his havin
neither honour nor glory for?" exclaime
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,"
c Then what do you talk of?" replied
tg Jew angrily ; what are you blubbering
or!"
“’Cause it isn’t on the rec-ord, 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 indictment ; "cause nobody will never
know half of what he was. How will he
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 the Jew extending
his right hand, and turning to Mr. Bolter
in a fit of chuckling which shook him as
though he had the palsy ; “see what a pride:
Isn’t it beautiful ?”
Mr. Bolter nodded assent, and the Jew,
after contemplating the grief of Charley
Bates for some seconds with evident sa¬
tisfaction, stepped up to that young gen¬
tleman and patted him on the shoulder.
6 Never mind, Charley,” said Fagin
soothingly; “ it Il come out, itll be sure
to come out. They’ll all know what a
clever fellow he was; he’il show it him¬
self, 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,” conti¬
nued the Jew. “Heshall 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.
6 Ay, that he shall,” replied the Jew