English
Theoffencehadbeencommittedwithinthedistrict,andindeedintheimmediateneighborhoodof,averynotoriousmetropolitanpoliceoffice.
ThecrowdhadonlythesatisfactionofaccompanyingOliverthroughtwoorthreestreets,anddownaplacecalledMuttonHill,whenhewasledbeneathalowarchway,andupadirtycourt,intothisdispensaryofsummaryjustice,bythebackway.
Itwasasmallpavedyardintowhichtheyturned;andheretheyencounteredastoutmanwithabunchofwhiskersonhisface,andabunchofkeysinhishand.
‘What’sthematternow?’saidthemancarelessly.
‘Ayoungfogle-hunter,’repliedthemanwhohadOliverincharge.
‘Areyouthepartythat’sbeenrobbed,sir?’inquiredthemanwiththekeys.
‘Yes,Iam,’repliedtheoldgentleman;‘butIamnotsurethatthisboyactuallytookthehandkerchief.I—Iwouldrathernotpressthecase.’
‘Mustgobeforethemagistratenow,sir,’repliedtheman.‘Hisworshipwillbedisengagedinhalfaminute.Now,younggallows!’
ThiswasaninvitationforOlivertoenterthroughadoorwhichheunlockedashespoke,andwhichledintoastonecell.Herehewassearched;andnothingbeingfounduponhim,lockedup.
Thiscellwasinshapeandsizesomethinglikeanareacellar,onlynotsolight.
Itwasmostintolerablydirty;foritwasMondaymorning;andithadbeentenantedbysixdrunkenpeople,whohadbeenlockedup,elsewhere,sinceSaturdaynight.Butthisislittle.
Inourstation-houses,menandwomenareeverynightconfinedonthemosttrivialcharges—thewordisworthnoting—indungeons,comparedwithwhich,thoseinNewgate,occupiedbythemostatrociousfelons,tried,foundguilty,andundersentenceofdeath,arepalaces.
Letanyonewhodoubtsthis,comparethetwo.
TheoldgentlemanlookedalmostasruefulasOliverwhenthekeygratedinthelock.Heturnedwithasightothebook,whichhadbeentheinnocentcauseofallthisdisturbance.
‘Thereissomethinginthatboy’sface,’saidtheoldgentlemantohimselfashewalkedslowlyaway,tappinghischinwiththecoverofthebook,inathoughtfulmanner;‘somethingthattouchesandinterestsme.Canhebeinnocent?
Helookedlike—Byethebye,’exclaimedtheoldgentleman,haltingveryabruptly,andstaringupintothesky,‘Blessmysoul!
—wherehaveIseensomethinglikethatlookbefore?’
Aftermusingforsomeminutes,theoldgentlemanwalked,withthesamemeditativeface,intoabackanteroomopeningfromtheyard;andthere,retiringintoacorner,calledupbeforehismind’seyeavastamphitheatreoffacesoverwhichaduskycurtainhadhungformanyyears.
‘No,’saidtheoldgentleman,shakinghishead;‘itmustbeimagination.
Hewanderedoverthemagain.Hehadcalledthemintoview,anditwasnoteasytoreplacetheshroudthathadsolongconcealedthem.
Therewerethefacesoffriends,andfoes,andofmanythathadbeenalmoststrangerspeeringintrusivelyfromthecrowd;therewerethefacesofyoungandbloominggirlsthatwerenowoldwomen;therewerefacesthatthegravehadchangedandclosedupon,butwhichthemind,superiortoitspower,stilldressedintheiroldfreshnessandbeauty,callingbackthelustreoftheeyes,thebrightnessofthesmile,thebeamingofthesoulthroughitsmaskofclay,andwhisperingofbeautybeyondthetomb,changedbuttobeheightened,andtakenfromearthonlytobesetupasalight,toshedasoftandgentleglowuponthepathtoHeaven.
ButtheoldgentlemancouldrecallnoonecountenanceofwhichOliver’sfeaturesboreatrace.
So,heheavedasighovertherecollectionsheawakened;andbeing,happilyforhimself,anabsentoldgentleman,buriedthemagaininthepagesofthemustybook.
Hewasrousedbyatouchontheshoulder,andarequestfromthemanwiththekeystofollowhimintotheoffice.
Heclosedhisbookhastily;andwasatonceusheredintotheimposingpresenceoftherenownedMr.Fang.
Theofficewasafrontparlour,withapanelledwall.
Mr.Fangsatbehindabar,attheupperend;andononesidethedoorwasasortofwoodenpeninwhichpoorlittleOliverwasalreadydeposited;tremblingverymuchattheawfulnessofthescene.
Mr.Fangwasalean,long-backed,stiff-necked,middle-sizedman,withnogreatquantityofhair,andwhathehad,growingonthebackandsidesofhishead.Hisfacewasstern,andmuchflushed.
Ifhewerereallynotinthehabitofdrinkingrathermorethanwasexactlygoodforhim,hemighthavebroughtactionagainsthiscountenanceforlibel,andhaverecoveredheavydamages.
Theoldgentlemanbowedrespectfully;andadvancingtothemagistrate’sdesk,said,suitingtheactiontotheword,‘Thatismynameandaddress,sir.’
Hethenwithdrewapaceortwo;and,withanotherpoliteandgentlemanlyinclinationofthehead,waitedtobequestioned.
Now,itsohappenedthatMr.Fangwasatthatmomentperusingaleadingarticleinanewspaperofthemorning,advertingtosomerecentdecisionofhis,andcommendinghim,forthethreehundredandfiftiethtime,tothespecialandparticularnoticeoftheSecretaryofStatefortheHomeDepartment.
Hewasoutoftemper;andhelookedupwithanangryscowl.
‘Whoareyou?’saidMr.Fang.
Theoldgentlemanpointed,withsomesurprise,tohiscard.
‘Officer!’saidMr.Fang,tossingthecardcontemptuouslyawaywiththenewspaper.‘Whoisthisfellow?’
‘Myname,sir,’saidtheoldgentleman,speakinglikeagentleman,‘myname,sir,isBrownlow.
Permitmetoinquirethenameofthemagistratewhooffersagratuitousandunprovokedinsulttoarespectableperson,undertheprotectionofthebench.’
Sayingthis,Mr.Brownlowlookedaroundtheofficeasifinsearchofsomepersonwhowouldaffordhimtherequiredinformation.
‘Officer!’saidMr.Fang,throwingthepaperononeside,‘what’sthisfellowchargedwith?’
‘He’snotchargedatall,yourworship,’repliedtheofficer.‘Heappearsagainstthisboy,yourworship.’
Hisworshipknewthisperfectlywell;butitwasagoodannoyance,andasafeone.
‘Appearsagainsttheboy,doeshe?’saidMr.Fang,surveyingMr.Brownlowcontemptuouslyfromheadtofoot.‘Swearhim!’
‘BeforeIamsworn,Imustbegtosayoneword,’saidMr.Brownlow;‘andthatis,thatIreallynever,withoutactualexperience,couldhavebelieved—’
‘Holdyourtongue,sir!’saidMr.Fang,peremptorily.
‘Iwillnot,sir!’repliedtheoldgentleman.
‘Holdyourtonguethisinstant,orI’llhaveyouturnedoutoftheoffice!’saidMr.Fang.‘You’reaninsolentimpertinentfellow.Howdareyoubullyamagistrate!’
‘What!’exclaimedtheoldgentleman,reddening.
‘Swearthisperson!’saidFangtotheclerk.‘I’llnothearanotherword.Swearhim.’
Mr.Brownlow’sindignationwasgreatlyroused;butreflectingperhaps,thathemightonlyinjuretheboybygivingventtoit,hesuppressedhisfeelingsandsubmittedtobeswornatonce.
‘Now,’saidFang,‘what’sthechargeagainstthisboy?Whathaveyougottosay,sir?’
‘Iwasstandingatabookstall—’Mr.Brownlowbegan.
‘Holdyourtongue,sir,’saidMr.Fang.‘Policeman!Where’sthepoliceman?Here,swearthispoliceman.Now,policeman,whatisthis?’
Thepoliceman,withbecominghumility,relatedhowhehadtakenthecharge;howhehadsearchedOliver,andfoundnothingonhisperson;andhowthatwasallheknewaboutit.
‘Arethereanywitnesses?’inquiredMr.Fang.
‘None,yourworship,’repliedthepoliceman.
Mr.Fangsatsilentforsomeminutes,andthen,turningroundtotheprosecutor,saidinatoweringpassion.
‘Doyoumeantostatewhatyourcomplaintagainstthisboyis,man,ordoyounot?Youhavebeensworn.
Now,ifyoustandthere,refusingtogiveevidence,I’llpunishyoufordisrespecttothebench;Iwill,by—’
Bywhat,orbywhom,nobodyknows,fortheclerkandjailorcoughedveryloud,justattherightmoment;andtheformerdroppedaheavybookuponthefloor,thuspreventingthewordfrombeingheard—accidently,ofcourse.
Withmanyinterruptions,andrepeatedinsults,Mr.Brownlowcontrivedtostatehiscase;observingthat,inthesurpriseofthemoment,hehadrunaftertheboybecausehehadsawhimrunningaway;andexpressinghishopethat,ifthemagistrateshouldbelievehim,althoughnotactuallythethief,tobeconnectedwiththethieves,hewoulddealaslenientlywithhimasjusticewouldallow.
‘Hehasbeenhurtalready,’saidtheoldgentlemaninconclusion.‘AndIfear,’headded,withgreatenergy,lookingtowardsthebar,‘Ireallyfearthatheisill.’
‘Oh!yes,Idaresay!’saidMr.Fang,withasneer.‘Come,noneofyourtrickshere,youyoungvagabond;theywon’tdo.What’syourname?’
Olivertriedtoreplybuthistonguefailedhim.Hewasdeadlypale;andthewholeplaceseemedturningroundandround.
‘What’syourname,youhardenedscoundrel?’demandedMr.Fang.‘Officer,what’shisname?’
Thiswasaddressedtoabluffoldfellow,inastripedwaistcoat,whowasstandingbythebar.
HebentoverOliver,andrepeatedtheinquiry;butfindinghimreallyincapableofunderstandingthequestion;andknowingthathisnotreplyingwouldonlyinfuriatethemagistratethemore,andaddtotheseverityofhissentence;hehazardedaguess.
‘Hesayshisname’sTomWhite,yourworship,’saidthekind-heartedthief-taker.
‘Oh,hewon’tspeakout,won’the?’saidFang.‘Verywell,verywell.Wheredoeshelive?’
‘Wherehecan,yourworship,’repliedtheofficer;againpretendingtoreceiveOliver’sanswer.
‘Hasheanyparents?’inquiredMr.Fang.
‘Hesaystheydiedinhisinfancy,yourworship,’repliedtheofficer:hazardingtheusualreply.
Atthispointoftheinquiry,Oliverraisedhishead;and,lookingroundwithimploringeyes,murmuredafeebleprayerforadraughtofwater.
‘Stuffandnonsense!’saidMr.Fang:‘don’ttrytomakeafoolofme.’
‘Ithinkhereallyisill,yourworship,’remonstratedtheofficer.
‘Iknowbetter,’saidMr.Fang.
‘Takecareofhim,officer,’saidtheoldgentleman,raisinghishandsinstinctively;‘he’llfalldown.’
‘Standaway,officer,’criedFang;‘lethim,ifhelikes.’
Oliveravailedhimselfofthekindpermission,andfelltothefloorinafaintingfit.Themenintheofficelookedateachother,butnoonedaredtostir.
‘Iknewhewasshamming,’saidFang,asifthiswereincontestableproofofthefact.‘Lethimliethere;he’llsoonbetiredofthat.’
‘Howdoyouproposetodealwiththecase,sir?’inquiredtheclerkinalowvoice.
‘Summarily,’repliedMr.Fang.‘Hestandscommittedforthreemonths—hardlabourofcourse.Cleartheoffice.’
Thedoorwasopenedforthispurpose,andacoupleofmenwerepreparingtocarrytheinsensibleboytohiscell;whenanelderlymanofdecentbutpoorappearance,cladinanoldsuitofblack,rushedhastilyintotheoffice,andadvancedtowardsthebench.
‘Stop,stop!don’ttakehimaway!ForHeaven’ssakestopamoment!’criedthenewcomer,breathlesswithhaste.
AlthoughthepresidingGeniiinsuchanofficeasthis,exerciseasummaryandarbitrarypowerovertheliberties,thegoodname,thecharacter,almostthelives,ofHerMajesty’ssubjects,expeciallyofthepoorerclass;andalthough,withinsuchwalls,enoughfantastictricksaredailyplayedtomaketheangelsblindwithweeping;theyareclosedtothepublic,savethroughthemediumofthedailypress.
[Footnote:Orwerevirtually,then.]
Mr.Fangwasconsequentlynotalittleindignanttoseeanunbiddenguestenterinsuchirreverentdisorder.
‘Whatisthis?Whoisthis?Turnthismanout.Cleartheoffice!’criedMr.Fang.
‘Iwillspeak,’criedtheman;‘Iwillnotbeturnedout.Isawitall.Ikeepthebook-stall.Idemandtobesworn.Iwillnotbeputdown.Mr.Fang,youmusthearme.Youmustnotrefuse,sir.’
Themanwasright.Hismannerwasdetermined;andthematterwasgrowingrathertooserioustobehushedup.
‘Sweartheman,’growledMr.Fang,withaveryillgrace.‘Now,man,whathaveyougottosay?’
‘This,’saidtheman:‘Isawthreeboys:twoothersandtheprisonerhere:loiteringontheoppositesideoftheway,whenthisgentlemanwasreading.
Therobberywascommittedbyanotherboy.
Isawitdone;andIsawthatthisboywasperfectlyamazedandstupifiedbyit.’
Havingbythistimerecoveredalittlebreath,theworthybook-stallkeeperproceededtorelate,inamorecoherentmannertheexactcircumstancesoftherobbery.
‘Whydidn’tyoucomeherebefore?’saidFang,afterapause.
‘Ihadn’tasoultomindtheshop,’repliedtheman.‘Everybodywhocouldhavehelpedme,hadjoinedinthepursuit.Icouldgetnobodytillfiveminutesago;andI’verunherealltheway.’
‘Theprosecutorwasreading,washe?’inquiredFang,afteranotherpause.
‘Yes,’repliedtheman.‘Theverybookhehasinhishand.’
‘Oh,thatbook,eh?’saidFang.‘Isitpaidfor?’
‘No,itisnot,’repliedtheman,withasmile.
‘Dearme,Iforgotallaboutit!’exclaimedtheabsentoldgentleman,innocently.
‘Anicepersontopreferachargeagainstapoorboy!’
saidFang,withacomicalefforttolookhumane.
‘Iconsider,sir,thatyouhaveobtainedpossessionofthatbook,underverysuspiciousanddisreputablecircumstances;andyoumaythinkyourselfveryfortunatethattheownerofthepropertydeclinestoprosecute.
Letthisbealessontoyou,myman,orthelawwillovertakeyouyet.Theboyisdischarged.Cleartheoffice!’
‘D—nme!’criedtheoldgentleman,burstingoutwiththeragehehadkeptdownsolong,‘d—nme!I’ll—’
‘Cleartheoffice!’saidthemagistrate.‘Officers,doyouhear?Cleartheoffice!’
Themandatewasobeyed;andtheindignantMr.Brownlowwasconveyedout,withthebookinonehand,andthebamboocaneintheother:inaperfectphrenzyofrageanddefiance.
Hereachedtheyard;andhispassionvanishedinamoment.
LittleOliverTwistlayonhisbackonthepavement,withhisshirtunbuttoned,andhistemplesbathedwithwater;hisfaceadeadlywhite;andacoldtrembleconvulsinghiswholeframe.
‘Poorboy,poorboy!’saidMr.Brownlow,bendingoverhim.‘Callacoach,somebody,pray.Directly!’
Acoachwasobtained,andOliverhavingbeencarefullylaidontheseat,theoldgentlemangotinandsathimselfontheother.
‘MayIaccompanyyou?’saidthebook-stallkeeper,lookingin.
‘Blessme,yes,mydearsir,’saidMr.Brownlowquickly.‘Iforgotyou.Dear,dear!Ihavethisunhappybookstill!Jumpin.Poorfellow!There’snotimetolose.’
Thebook-stallkeepergotintothecoach;andawaytheydrove.
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