What Bill Sikes thought of the Artful Dodger

Yesterday I published Fagin’s thoughts concerning his principal pick-pocket, the Artful Dodger.  Today I publish the second document which is written by Fagin’s old boy, Bill Sikes, a man who in later life set up his own criminal concern.  It seems from the document that he was being interviewed by some fool-hardy soul.

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Bill Sikes by Fred Barnard (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dodger?  Scheming little villain.  I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could kick him.  Just as soon as feed him to Bulls-Eye than have to put up with his ugly little mug, his little sharp eyes taking it all in, watching what’s going on, storing it away in that nasty little head of his.

No idea where he came from, don’t care in the slightest.  Some gutter down Billinsgate way, I reckon.  He’s fishy enough for it, and slippery as an eel.  He told me once he was some rich geezer’s kid.  Airs and graces, airs and graces.

Is he good at his job?

That’s a puzzler.  Much though it grieves me to admit it, I reckon he is.  He’s sneaky you see, he sneaks about so as you don’t know he’s there.  Then, bang, he’s got his little fingers inside your pocket and he’s orf away from the scene.

Has he stolen from me?  You looking for a wallop?  Would I let a little villain like that steal from me?

The watch?  I gave him that.  As a present.  He never took it from me and if he says he did I’ll crack his head open.  Nobody gets one over on Bill Sikes.  Not even the Artful Dodger.

You can buy my book ‘Artful’ on Amazon Kindle.

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Artful eBook: Martin Lake: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store (martinlakewriting.wordpress.com)
Bill Sikes: My favourite Charles Dickens character (telegraph.co.uk)
What Fagin thought of the Artful Dodger (martinlakewriting.wordpress.com)