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“and we’ll have a big-wig, 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 pa¬
pers—‘ Artful Dodger—shrieks of laugh¬
ter—here the court was convulsed’—eh,
Charley, eh?”
6 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?"
6 Would!” cried the Jew; “ he shall—
he will !”
“Ah, to be sure, so he will,” repeated
Charley, rubbing his hands.
“T think I see him now,” cried the
Jew, bending his eyes upon his pupil.
** So do I,” cried Charley Bates—* ha!
ha! ha! sodol. Isee it all afore me,
upon my soul I do, Fagin. What a game!
what a regular game! All the big-wigs
trying to look solemn, and Jack Dawkins
addressing of "em as intimate and com¬
fortable as if he was the judge’s own son
nae a speech arter dinner—ha! ha!
a kés
Ín fact the Jew had so well humoured
his young friend"s eccentric disposition,
that Master Bates, who had at first been
disposed to consider the imprisoned Dod¬
ger 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 compa¬
nion should have so favourable an oppor¬
tunity of displaying his abilities.
“ We must know how he gets on to-day
by some handy means or other,” said Fa¬
gin. § Let me think.”
“ Shall I go?’ asked Charley.
“ Not for the world,” replied the Jew.
4 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 do not mean to go yourself, I sup¬
yore ® said Charley, with a humorous
eer.
c That wouldn’t quite fit,” replied Fa¬
gin, shaking his head.
c Then why don’t you send this new
cove !” asked Master Bates, laying his
rag on Noah’s arm; "nobody knows
Im.”
c Why, if he didn’t mind,” observed
the Jew.
6 Mind!” interposed Charley. " What
should he have to mind ?”
“Really nothing my dear,” said Fa¬
:
gin, turning to Mr. Bolter, “really no¬
thing.” |
“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 isn’t.”’
“ Wot department has he got, Fagin!"
inquired Master Bates, surveying Noah’s
lanky 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 ?”
6 Never mind,” retorted Mr. Bolter ;
“and don’t yer take liberties with yer su¬
periors, 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 in¬
curred no possible danger in visiting the
police office; that masmuch as no account
of the little affair im which he had been
engaged, nor any description of his per¬
son, had yet been forwarded to the metro¬
polis, it was very probable that he was
not even suspected of having resorted to
it for shelter; and that, if he were pro¬
perly disguised, it would be as safe a spot
for him to visit as any in London, inas¬
much 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 represent¬
ations, but overborne in a much greater
degree by his fear of the Jew, Mr. Bolter
at length consented, with a very bad
orace, to undertake the expedition. By
Fagin’s directions, he immediately sub¬
stituted for his own attire a wagoner’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 turn¬
pike tickets, and a carter’s whip. Thus
equipped, he was to saunter into the
office, as some country fellow from
Covent Garden market might be supposed
to do, for the gratification of bis 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
inforrmed of the necessary signs and to¬
kens 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.