Chapter 117.docx
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Chapter 117.docx
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Chapter117
Chapter11
TREATSOFMR.FANGTHEPOLICEMAGISTRATE;ANDFURNISHESASLIGHTSPECIMENOFHISMODEOFADMINISTERINGJUSTICE
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._Can_hebeinnocent?
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,speaking_like_agentleman,'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,lookingroundwith
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