CHAPTER XXV. WHEREIN THIS HISTORY REVERTS TO MR. FAGIN AND COMPANY

haverylongface,ashedrewhalf-a-crownfromhiswaistcoat-pocket.“Ineverseesuchafellerasyou,Jackyouwineverything.Evenwhenwe’vegoodcards,CharleyandIcan’tmakenothingof’em.” Eitherthemasterorthemannerofthisremark,whichwasmadeveryruefully,delightedCharleyBatessomuch,thathisconsequentshoutoflaughterrousedtheJewfromhisreverie,andinducedhimtoinquirewhatwasthematter. “Matter,Fagin!”criedCharley.“Iwishyouhadwatchedtheplay.TommyChitlinghasn’twonapointandIwentpartnerswithhimagainsttheArtfullanddumb.” “Ay,ay!”saidtheJew,withagrin,whichsufficientlydemonstratedthathewasatnolosstounderstandthereason.“Try’emagain,Tomtry’emagain.” “Nomoreofitforme,thank’ee,Fagin,”repliedMr.Chitling“I’vehadenough.That’ereDodgerhassucharunofluckthatthere’snostandingagain’him.” “Ha!ha!mydear,”repliedtheJew,“youmustgetupveryearlyinthemorning,towinagainsttheDodger.” “Morning!”saidCharleyBates“youmustputyourbootsonover-night,andhaveatelescopeateacheye,andaopera-glassbetweenyourshoulders,ifyouwanttocomeoverhim.” Mr.Dawkinsreceivedthesehandsomecomplimentswithmuchphilosophy,andofferedtocutanygentlemanincompany,forthefirstpicture-card,atashillingatatime.Nobodyacceptingthechallenge,andhispipebeingbythistimesmokedout,heproceededtoamusehimselfbysketchingaground-planofNewgateonthetablewiththepieceofchalkwhichhadservedhiminlieuofcounterswhistling,meantime,withpeculiarshrillness. “Howpreciousdullyouare,Tommy!”saidtheDodger,stoppingshortwhentherehadbeenalongsilenceandaddressingMr.Chitling.“Whatdoyouthinkhe’sthinkingof,Fagin?” “HowshouldIknow,mydear?”repliedtheJew,lookingroundashepliedthebellows.“Abouthislosses,maybeorthelittleretirementinthecountrythathe’sjustleft,eh?Ha!ha!Isthatit,mydear?” “Notabitofit,”repliedtheDodger,stoppingthesubjectofdiscourseasMr.Chitlingwasabouttoreply.“Whatdoyousay,Charley?” “Ishouldsay,”repliedMasterBates,withagrin,“thathewasuncommonsweetuponBetsy.Seehowhe’sa-blushing!Oh,myeye!here’samerry-go-rounder!TommyChitling’sinlove!Oh,Fagin,Fagin!whataspree!” ThoroughlyoverpoweredwiththenotionofMr.Chitlingbeingthevictimofthetenderpassion,MasterBatesthrewhimselfbac