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wot a blow it is！”
“Ha！ ha！” cried Fagin； extending his right hand； and turning to
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Mr。 Bolter in a fit of chuckling which shook him as though he had
the palsy； “see what a pride they take in their profession； my dear。
Ain’t it beautiful？”
Mr。 Bolter nodded assent； and Fagin； after contemplating the
grief of Charley Bates for some seconds with evident satisfaction；
stepped up to that young gentleman and patted him on the
shoulder。
“Never mind； Charley；” said Fagin soothingly； “it’ll come out；
it’ll be sure to come out。 They’ll all know what a clever fellow he
was； he’ll show it himself； 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；” continued the Jew。 “He shall 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。
“Ay； that he shall；” replied Fagin； “and we’ll have a bigwig；
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 papers—‘Artful Dodger shrieks of
laughter—here the court was convulsed’—eh； Charley； eh？”
“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？”
“Would！” cried Fagin。 “He shall—he will！”
“Ah； to be sure； so he will；” repeated Charley； rubbing his
hands。
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“I think I see him now；” cried the Jew； bending his eyes upon
his pupil。
“So do I；” cried Charley Bates。 “Ha！ ha！ ha！ so do I。 I see it all
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