‘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.
‘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. I’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 waiting here some time,
he was joined by that young gentleman, who had prudently
abstained from showing himself until he had looked
carefully abroad from a snug retreat, and ascertained
that his new friend had not been followed by any impertinent
person.
The two hastened back together, to bear to Mr. Fagin
the animating news that the Dodger was doing full
justice to his bringing-up, and establishing for himself
a glorious reputation.
THE TIME ARRIVES FOR NANCY TO REDEEM HER PLEDGE TO
ROSE MAYLIE. SHE FAILS.
