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Suddenly； the whole mystery of the handkerchieves； and the watches； and the jewels； and Fagin； became clear。 O liver stood for a moment in terror； blood rushing through him until he felt he was on fire。 The n； confused and frightened； he started to run。 At the same time； the old gentleman； putting his hand to his pocket and realizing his hand kerchief was missing； turned round。 He saw O liver running away； so he naturally thought O liver was the thief。 With loud cries of 'Stop thief！ '； he ran after O liver with the book still in his hand 。
The old gentleman was not the only one who started shouting。 The Dodger and Charley Bates； not wanting to attract attention to the mselves by running down the street； had stopped round the first corner。 When They realized what was happening； They also shouted' Stop thief！ 'and joined in the chase like good citizens。
The cry of 'Stop thief！ 'always causes great excitement。 Everybody in the street stopped what They were doing and began to shout the mselves。 Many joined in the chase with enthusiasm and soon the re was a big crowd running after O liver。
Finally； They caught the exhausted boy。 He fell down on the pavement and the crowd gathered round him。
'Is this the boy？ 'They asked the old gentleman。
'Yes； 'he answered； leaning over O liver。 'But I'm afraid he's hurt himself。 '
'I did that； 'said a huge young man proudly。 'And I hurt my hand doing it。 'The old gentleman looked at him with an expression of dislike。
O liver lay on the ground； covered with mud and dust and bleeding from the mouth； and looked wildly at all the faces surrounding him。 At that moment a policeman arrived and took O liver by the collar。 'Come on； get up； 'he said roughly。
'It wasn't me； sir； 'said O liver； looking round。 'It was two other boys。 They're here somewhere。 '
'Oh no； They aren't； 'replied the policeman。 In fact； he was right； as the Dodger and Charley had quietly disappeared as soon as the crowd had caught O liver。 'Come on； get up！ '
'Don't hurt him； 'said the old gentleman。
'I won't； said the policeman； tearing O liver's jacket half off his back as he lifted him up。
The three of the m started walking； followed by the excited crowd。
5 O liver's life changes
O liver was taken to the nearest police station。 The officer at the gate looked at the boy。 'Another young thief； eh？ 'He turned to the old gentleman； 'Are you the person who was robbed； sir？ '
'Yes； I am； 'replied the old gentleman； 'but I'm not sure that this boy actually took the hand kerchief。 I don't really want to take him to court。 '
'Too late。 He must go before the magistrate now。 '
O liver was locked in a small stone cell； which was disgustingly dirty and smelly As the key turned in the lock； the old gentleman said to himself thoughtfully； 'The re's something in that boy's face… He could be innocent。 Where have I seen someone like him before？ 'After thinking about this for a few minutes； he said； 'No； it must be imagination。 'He sighed unhappily； and began reading the book again。
Some time later； the officer touched his shoulder and told him that the court was ready。 A magistrate was a judge who dealt with small crimes in local courts； and the magistrate for this district was well known。 His name was Mr Fang and he was a disagreeable； bad…tempered man。 Today he was in a particularly bad mood。 He frowned angrily at the old gentleman； and asked sharply；
'Who are you？ '
'My name； sir； is Brown low 。 '
'Officer！ What is this man charged with？ '
'He's not charged； sir； 'answered the officer。 'He's accusing the boy。 '
The magistrate looked at Mr Brown low from head to foot。 'And what have you got to say？ '
Mr Brown low began to explain。 'I was standing outside a book shop—'
'Be quiet； sir！ 'shouted Mr Fang。 'Policeman！ Now－you arrested the boy。 What happened？ '
The policeman told the magistrate what he had heard； and how he had searched O liver afterwards and found nothing。
'Are the re any witnesses？ 'asked the magistrate。
'None； 'answered the policeman。
Mr Fang the n turned to Mr Brown low and angrily told him to describe what had happened。 Mr Brown low explained that he had run after the boy only because he saw him running away。 He did not think that the boy was the actual thief and he hoped that the boy would not be punished。 'He's been hurt already； 'he added； 'and now I'm afraid he's very ill。 '
'I don't believe that for a moment； 'said Mr Fang unpleasantly。 He turned to O liver。 'Come now； don't try any clever tricks with me！ What's your name？ 'he demanded。
O liver tried to reply； but he was too weak to speak。 He was deadly pale； and he felt the room spinning round him。 At last he managed to whisper a request for water； but the magistrate refused angrily。 Suddenly； O liver fainted and fell to the floor。
Mr Fang stared at him angrily。 'Guilty。 Three months 'prison； 'he said immediately。 'Let him lie the re。 He'll soon be tired of that。 'Mr Fang stood up。 'This court is now closed。 '
At that moment a man in an old black coat rushed in。 'Stop！ 'he shouted。 'Don't take the boy away。 I saw it all。 I'm the book shop owner。 '
Mr Fang's face was black with anger at this unexpected interruption； but the book shop owner demanded to be heard。 He described exactly what had really happened。 He had seen two boys steal the hand kerchief and the n run away； leaving O liver to be arrested。
In a final burst of bad temper； Mr Fang said that his time had been wasted。 He announced that O liver was innocent； and ordered everybody out of the court。
The order was obeyed； and as Mr Brown low turned to go down the street； he saw O liver lying on the pavement； shaking； his face as white as death。
'Poor boy！ Poor boy！ 'said Mr Brown low ； bending over him。 He called a coach quickly； laid O liver on the seat； and drove away。
The coach stopped at a neat house in a quiet； shady street in north London。 O liver was gently carried in to a bed； and received more care and kindness than he had ever had in his life。 But he had a fever； and for many days he lay the re unconscious。 When he eventually awoke； weak； thin and pale； he looked anxiously around the room。
'What room is this？ Where am I？ 'he said。 'This is not the place I fell asleep in。 '
Mrs Bed win； the motherly old housekeeper； heard his words； and instantly came to him。 'Hush—be quiet； my dear； or you'll be ill again。 Lie down。 '
He lay down； and woke up again much later。 After a while； he was able to sit up in a chair； although he was still too weak to walk。 In this new position he could see a picture of a woman hanging on the wall opposite。 'Who is that； madam？ 'he asked the old housekeeper。
'I don't know； my dear。 Do you like it？ '
'The eyes look so sad； and They seem to be staring at me。 As if the person was alive； and wanted to speak to me but couldn't。 '
'You're weak and nervous after your illness； 'Mrs Bed win said kindly。 'Don't worry about things like that。 '
Later that day Mr Brown low came in； having heard that the boy was a little better at last。 He was delighted to see that O liver could sit up。 But when he saw O liver'