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“What do you mean？” said Charley。
“Toor rul lol loo； gammon and spinnage； the frog he wouldn’t；
and high cockolorum；” said the Dodger； with a slight sneer on his
intellectual countenance。
This was explanatory； but not satisfactory。 Master Bates felt it
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so； and again said； “What do you mean？”
The Dodger made no reply； but putting his hat on again； and
gathering the skirts of his long…tailed coat under his arm； thrust
his tongue into his cheek； slapped the bridge of his nose some half…
dozen times in a familiar but expressive manner； and turning on
his heel； slunk down the court。 Master Bates followed； with a
thoughtful countenance。
The noise of footsteps on the creaking stairs； a few minutes
after the occurrence of this conversation； roused the merry old
gentleman as he sat over the fire with a saveloy and a small loaf in
his left hand； a pocket…knife in his right； and a pewter pot on the
trivet。 There was a rascally smile on his white face as he turned
round； and； looking sharply out from under his thick red
eyebrows； bent his ear towards the door and listened。 “Why； how’s
this；” muttered the Jew； changing countenance； “only two of ’em？
Where’s the third？ They can’t have got into trouble。 Hark！”
The footsteps approached nearer； they reached the landing。
The door was slowly opened； and the Dodger and Charley Bates
entered； closing it behind them。
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Oliver Twist 125
Chapter 13
Some New Acquaintances Are Introduced To The
Intelligent Reader； Connected With Whom； Various
Pleasant Matters Are Related； Appertaining To This
History。
“W here’s Oliver？” said the Jew； rising with a
menacing look。 “Where’s the boy？”
The young thieves eyed their preceptor as if
they were alarmed at his violence； and looked uneasily at each
other： But they made no reply。
“What’s become of the boy？” said the Jew； seizing the Dodger
tightly by the collar； and threatening him with horrid
imprecations。 “Speak out； or I’ll throttle you！”
Mr。 Fagin looked so very much in earnest； that Charley Bates；
who deemed it prudent in all cases to be on the safe side； and who
conceived it by no means improbable that it might be his turn to
be throttled second； dropped upon his knees； and raised a loud；
well…sustained； and continuous roar—something between a mad
bull and a speaking…trumpet。
“Will you speak？” thundered the Jew； shaking the Dodger so
much that his keeping in the big coat at all seemed perfectly
miraculous。
“Why； the traps have got him； and that’s all about it；” said the
Dodger sullenly。 “Come； let go o’ me； will you！” And swinging
himself； at one jerk； clean out of the big coat； which he left in the
Jew’s hands； the Dodger snatched up the toasting…fork； and made
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a pass at the merry old gentleman’s waistcoat； which； if it had
taken effect； would have let a little more merriment out； than
could have been easily replaced。
The Jew stepped back； in this emergency； with more agility
than could have been anticipated in a man of his apparent
decrepitude； and； seizing up the pot； prepared to hurl it at his
assailant’s head。 But Charley Bates； at this moment； calling his
attention by a perfectly terrific howl； he suddenly altered its
destination； and flung it full at that young gentleman。
“Why； what the blazes is in the wind now！” growled a deep
voice。 “Who pitched that ’ere at me？ It’s well it’s the beer； and not
the pot； as hit me； or I’d have settled somebody。 I might have
know’d； as nobody but an infernal rich； plundering； thundering
old Jew could afford to throw away any drink but water—and not
that； unless he done the River Company every quarter。 Wot’s it all
about； Fagin？ D—me； if my neck…handkercher ain’t lined with
beer！ Come in； you sneaking warmint； wot are you stopping
outside for； as if you was ashamed of your master！ Come in！”
The man who growled out these words； was a stoutly…built
fellow about five…and…thirty； in a black velveteen coat； very soiled
drab breeches； lace…up half…boots and grey cotton stockings； which
inclosed a bulky pair of legs； with large； swelling calves—the kind
of legs； which； in such costume； always look in an unfinished and
incomplete state without a set of fetters to garnish them。 He had a
brown hat on his head； and a dirty belcher handkerchief round his
neck； with the long； frayed ends of which he smeared the beer
from his face as he spoke。 He disclosed； when he had done so； a
broad； heavy countenance with a beard of three days’ growth； and
two scowling eyes； one of which displayed various parti…coloured
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symptoms of having been recently damaged by a blow。
“Come in； d’ye hear？” growled this engaging ruffian。
A white； shaggy dog； with his face scratched and torn in twenty
different places； skulked into the room。
“Why didn’t you come in afore？” said the man。 “You’re getting
too proud to own me afore company； are you？ Lie down！”
This command was accompanied with a kick； which sent the
animal to the other end of the room。 He appeared well used to it；
however； for he coiled himself up in a corner very quietly； without
uttering a sound； and； winking his very ill…looking eyes twenty
times in a minute； appeared to occupy himself in taking a survey
of the apartment。
“What are you up to？ Ill…treating the boys； you covetous；
avaricious； in…sa…ti…a…ble old fence？” said the man； seating himself
deliberately。 “I wonder they don’t murder you！ I would if I was
them。 If I’d been your ’prentice； I’d have done it long ago； and—
no； I couldn’t have sold you afterwards； for you’re fit for nothing
but keeping as a curiosity of ugliness in a glass bottle； and I
suppose they don’t blow glass bottles large enough。”
“Hush！ hush！ Mr。 Sikes；” said the Jew； trembling； “don’t speak
so loud。”
“None of your mistering；” replied the ruffian； “you always
mean mischief when you come that。 You know my name： out with
it！ I shan’t disgrace it when the time comes。”
“Well； well； then—Bill Sikes；” said the Jew； with abject
humility。 “You seem out of humour； Bill。”
“Perhaps I am；” replied Sikes； “I should think you was rather
out of sorts； too； unless you mean as little harm when you throw
pewter pots about； as you do when you blab and—”
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“Are you mad？” said the Jew； catching the man by the sleeve；
and pointing towards the boys。
Mr。 Sikes contented himself with tying an imaginary knot
under his left ear； and jerking his head over on the right shoulder；
a piece of dumb show which the Jew appeared to understand
perfectly。 He then； in cant terms； with which his whole
conversation v。 as plentifully besprinkled； but which would be
quite unintelligible if they were recorded here； demanded a glass
of liquor。
“And mi