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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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Oliver Twist 469
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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Oliver Twist 470
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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Oliver Twist 471
“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 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 wai