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

fection. Thesearrangementscompleted,hewasinformedofthenecessarysignsandtokensbywhichtorecognisetheArtfulDodger,andwasconveyedbyMasterBatesthroughdarkandwindingwaystowithinaveryshortdistanceofBowStreet.Havingdescribedtheprecisesituationoftheoffice,andaccompanieditwithcopiousdirectionshowhewastowalkstraightupthepassage,andwhenhegotintotheside,andpulloffhishatashewentintotheroom,CharleyBatesbadehimhurryonalone,andpromisedtobidehisreturnonthespotoftheirparting. NoahClaypole,orMorrisBolterasthereaderpleases,punctuallyfollowedthedirectionshehadreceived,which—MasterBatesbeingprettywellacquaintedwiththelocality—weresoexactthathewasenabledtogainthemagisterialpresencewithoutaskinganyquestion,ormeetingwithanyinterruptionbytheway. Hefoundhimselfjostledamongacrowdofpeople,chieflywomen,whowerehuddledtogetherinadirtyfrowsyroom,attheupperendofwhichwasaraisedplatformrailedofffromtherest,withadockfortheprisonersonthelefthandagainstthewall,aboxforthewitnessesinthemiddle,andadeskforthemagistratesontherighttheawfullocalitylastnamed,beingscreenedoffbyapartitionwhichconcealedthebenchfromthecommongaze,andleftthevulgartoimagine(iftheycould)thefullmajestyofjustice. Therewereonlyacoupleofwomeninthedock,whowerenoddingtotheiradmiringfriends,whiletheclerkreadsomedepositionstoacoupleofpolicemenandamaninplainclotheswholeantoverthetable.Ajailerstoodrecliningagainstthedock-rail,tappinghisnoselistlesslywithalargekey,exceptwhenherepressedanunduetendencytoconversationamongtheidlers,byproclaimingsilenceorlookedsternlyuptobidsomewoman“Takethatbabyout,”whenthegravityofjusticewasdisturbedbyfeeblecries,half-smotheredinthemother’sshawl,fromsomemeagreinfant.Theroomsmeltcloseandunwholesomethewallsweredirt-discolouredandtheceilingblackened.Therewasanoldsmokybustoverthemantel-shelf,andadustyclockabovethedock—theonlythingpresent,thatseemedtogoonasitoughtfordepravity,orpoverty,oranhabitualacquaintancewithboth,hadleftataintonalltheanimatematter,hardlylessunpleasantthanthethickgreasyscumoneveryinanimateobjectthatfrowneduponit. NoahlookedeagerlyabouthimfortheDodgerbutalthoughtherewereseveralwomenwhowouldhavedoneverywellforthatdistinguishedcharacter’smotherorsister,andmorethanonemanwhomightbesupposedtobearastrongresemblancetohisfather,nobodyatallansweringthedescriptiongivenhimofMr.Dawkinswastobeseen.Hewaitedinastateofmuchsuspenseanduncertaintyuntilthewomen,beingcommittedfortrial,wentflauntingoutandthenwasquicklyrelievedbytheappearanceofanotherprisonerwhohefeltatoncecouldbenootherthantheobjectofhisvisit. ItwasindeedMr.Dawkins,who,shufflingintotheofficewiththebigcoatsleevestuckedupasusual,hislefthandinhispocket,andhishatinhisrighthand,precededthejailer,witharollinggaitaltogetherindescribable,and,takinghisplaceinthedock,requestedinanaudiblevoicetoknowwhathewasplacedinthat’eredisgracefulsitivationfor. “Holdyourtongue,willyou?”saidthejailer. “I’manEnglishman,ain’tI?”rejoinedtheDodger.“Wherearemypriwileges?” “You’llgetyourprivilegessoonenough,”retortedthejailer,“andpepperwith’em.” “We’llseewottheSecretaryofStatefortheHomeAffairshasgottosaytothebeaks,ifIdon’t,”repliedMr.Dawkins.“Nowthen!Wotisthisherebusiness?Ishallthankthemadg’stratestodisposeofthisherelittleaffair,andnottokeepmewhiletheyreadthepaper,forI’vegotanappointmentwithagenelmanintheCity,andasIamamanofmywordandwerypunctualinbusinessmatters,he’llgoawayifIain’ttheretomytime,andthenpr’apstherwon’tbeanactionfordamageagainstthemaskepmeaway.Ohno,certainlynot!” Atthispoint,theDodger,withashowofbeingveryparticularwithaviewtoprocee