CHAPTER XLIII. WHEREIN IS SHOWN HOW THE ARTFUL DODGER GOT INTO TROUBLE

,ifhecan’tspendit.” “No,shallhethough?”criedCharleyBates. “Ay,thatheshall,”repliedFagin,“andwe’llhaveabig-wig,Charley:onethat’sgotthegreatestgiftofthegab:tocarryonhisdefenceandheshallmakeaspeechforhimselftoo,ifhelikesandwe’llreaditallinthepapers—‘ArtfulDodger—shrieksoflaughter—herethecourtwasconvulsed’—eh,Charley,eh?” “Ha!ha!”laughedMasterBates,“whatalarkthatwouldbe,wouldn’tit,Fagin?Isay,howtheArtfulwouldbother’emwouldn’the?” “Would!”criedFagin.“Heshall—hewill!” “Ah,tobesure,sohewill,”repeatedCharley,rubbinghishands. “IthinkIseehimnow,”criedtheJew,bendinghiseyesuponhispupil. “SodoI,”criedCharleyBates.“Ha!ha!ha!sodoI.Iseeitallaforeme,uponmysoulIdo,Fagin.Whatagame!Whataregulargame!Allthebig-wigstryingtolooksolemn,andJackDawkinsaddressingof’emasintimateandcomfortableasifhewasthejudge’sownsonmakingaspeecharterdinner—ha!ha!ha!” Infact,Mr.Faginhadsowellhumouredhisyoungfriend’seccentricdisposition,thatMasterBates,whohadatfirstbeendisposedtoconsidertheimprisonedDodgerratherinthelightofavictim,nowlookeduponhimasthechiefactorinasceneofmostuncommonandexquisitehumour,andfeltquiteimpatientforthearrivalofthetimewhenhisoldcompanionshouldhavesofavourableanopportunityofdisplayinghisabilities. “Wemustknowhowhegetsonto-day,bysomehandymeansorother,”saidFagin.“Letmethink.” “ShallIgo?”askedCharley. “Notfortheworld,”repliedFagin.“Areyoumad,mydear,starkmad,thatyou’dwalkintotheveryplacewhere—No,Charley,no.Oneisenoughtoloseatatime.” “Youdon’tmeantogoyourself,Isuppose?”saidCharleywithahumorousleer. “Thatwouldn’tquitefit,”repliedFaginshakinghishead. “Thenwhydon’tyousendthisnewcove?”askedMasterBates,layinghishandonNoah’sarm.“Nobodyknowshim.” “Why,ifhedidn’tmind—”observedFagin. “Mind!”interposedCharley.“Whatshouldhehavetomind?” “Reallynothing,mydear,”saidFagin,turningtoMr.Bolter,“reallynothing.” “Oh,Idaresayaboutthat,yerknow,”observedNoah,backingtowardsthedoor,andshakinghisheadwithakindofsoberalarm.“No,no—noneofthat.It’snotinmydepartment,thatain’t.” “Wotdepartmenthashegot,Fagin?”inquiredMasterBates,surveyingNoah’slankformwithmuchdisgust.“Thecuttingawaywhenthere’sanythingwrong,andtheeatingallthewittleswhenthere’severythingrightisthathisbranch?” “Nevermind,”retortedMr.Bolter“anddon’tyertakelibertieswithyersuperiors,littleboy,oryer’llfindyerselfinthewrongshop.” MasterBateslaughedsovehementlyatthismagnificentthreat,thatitwassometimebeforeFagincouldinterpose,andrepresenttoMr.Bolterthatheincurrednopossibledangerinvisitingthepolice-officethat,inasmuchasnoaccountofthelittleaffairinwhichhehadengaged,noranydescriptionofhisperson,hadyetbeenforwardedtothemetropolis,itwasveryprobablethathewasnotevensuspectedofhavingresortedtoitforshelterandthat,ifhewereproperlydisguised,itwouldbeassafeaspotforhimtovisitasanyinLondon,inasmuchasitwouldbe,ofallplaces,theverylast,towhichhecouldbesupposedlikelytoresortofhisownfreewill. Persuaded,inpart,bytheserepresentations,butoverborneinamuchgreaterdegreebyhisfearofFagin,Mr.Bolteratlengthconsented,withaverybadgrace,toundertaketheexpedition.ByFagin’sdirections,heimmediatelysubstitutedforhisownattire,awaggoner’sfrock,velveteenbreeches,andleatherleggings:allofwhicharticlestheJewhadathand.Hewaslikewisefurnishedwithafelthatwellgarnishedwithturnpiketicketsandacarter’swhip.Thusequipped,hewastosaunterintotheoffice,assomecountryfellowfromCoventGardenmarketmightbesupposedtodoforthegratificationofhiscuriousityandashewasasawkward,ungainly,andraw-bonedafellowasneedbe,Mr.Faginhadnofearbutthathewouldlooktheparttoper