Magwitch, the Culprit

Chapter-9

As I waited for the strange, old man to join me at the breakfast next morning, the door flung open and he came out. He was looking quite miserable and vulnerable in the daytime.
“Sir, what’s your good name?” I asked him, “I have already told everyone around that you are an uncle of mine.”
“OK; all right,” he replied.
“Sir, what’s the name by which you are travelling here?” I asked.
“Provies,” he replied.
“And your real name, sir?” I asked back.
“I am Magwitch, Abel Magwitch,” he replied in his rough voice.
“Sir, did you come alone yesterday or was there someone with you?”
“No, I came alone,” he replied.
“But I have got to know that there was someone else also present here,” I said at once.
“Sorry boy, but I didn’t notice anyone,” he replied.
“Sir, were you well known in London,” I said.
“No son; I don’t think so. I mostly lived in the provinces,” he said.
Then, he began eating. He ate in a noisy, gluttonous manner. He had lost some of his teeth since I last saw him at the marshes.
The way he put the food in his mouth and jilted his head sideways, it seemed he had not had any food for days on end. He looked like an old starved dog.
“Hey boy! I eat a lot, don’t I,” he said.
He filled up a short black pipe and began smoking after he had his breakfast.

“I have made you such a gentleman. I am proud of you, my dear boy,” he said pompously.
To ensure the safety of the camouflaged drama, I had to make arrangements for his lodgings as soon as possible.
I soon found lodgings for him near my place and he was put up on the second floor of this place.
In order to change his appearance and dressing style, I hovered from one shop to another to make suitable purchases. I, then, went to see Mr Jaggers who was working in his study. He at once got up and stood near the fireplace.
I thought he knew beforehand that my benefactor had arrived.
“Sir, whatever has been told to me by Magwitch is whether true or not,” I asked.
I paused and then continued, “Sir Mr Abel Magwitch has disclosed that he is my benefactor. Is it true?”
“Yes, my son. He is the man, the one in New South Wales,” said Mr Jaggers.
Mr Jaggers didn’t admit that Magwitch was in London, but I knew he had a sense of it.
“Sir, anyone other than him,” I asked.
“No son, just him,” said Mr Jaggers.
I bade him farewell after we both had shaken hands.
I soon bought some clothes for Provies and dressed him but it seemed hopeless to change his appearance. The more I worked on his dressing style, the more obnoxious and ugly he looked.
Herbert returned soon after. I was dying to share my problem with him and was happy and contented that I had a friend with whom I could share my problems.
“Hey pip! How are you?” He cried.
“It’s more than a year since we met last.”
He suddenly saw Provies, who was fiddling with his jack-knife.
“Hey who is this fellow?” he asked.
I immediately shut the door.
“He is one of my uncles,” I replied.
After Magwitch had left, I told Herbert the entire story. Herbert was quite practical in his attitude.
“You would have to accompany him and get him out of London only if you wish to save him,” said Herbert.
“Of course, I do. He has done so much for me,” I said, “I also need a job, but I have no special trade or skill.”
“Hey, there’s a job of a clerk at Clarriter’s,” said Herbert.
Herbert was helpful and understanding.
“If we want to know more of his background, we should ask him directly,” I said
“All right, do ask him at breakfast tomorrow,” suggested Herbert.
That night, I dreamt that it would be soon found out that Magwitch had returned to England and he would be hanged for that. I suddenly woke up and his thought troubled me for the entire day.
Magwitch sat down to have his breakfast. He had his jack-knife with him. He told me about his lavish plans and wished to move with me to more fashionable lodgings. He even asked me to look out for something near the Hyde Park.
After he had had his breakfast, I asked him, “Last night I told my friend about what happened when the soldiers caught you on the marshes. Do you remember it?”
“Yes, I think so,” he replied.
“Sir, we want to know more about you and the other man with you. I believe it is high time that you should tell us about yourself,” said Herbert.
“Do you swear not to tell anyone about this interaction?” he asked Herbert.
“Yes sir, I do,” Herbert replied.
Magwitch took out his black pipe and thought of filling it. Suddenly, it occurred to him that he wont be able to tell his story if he continued to smoke. So, he put the pipe back in his coat and started telling his tale. During the entire period, he kept his hands on his knees.
I started to feel a change in myself. There was a sense of pity towards Magwitch or Provies. I believed he wasn’t fully responsible for his state. The circumstances had a role to play in it.
His was a pitiful story. He didn’t know who his parents were. A wandering tinker of household utensils had taken care of him in his childhood but he soon found out that the tinker was a drunkard. He had to often beg for his clothes; he wasn’t able to find a suitable job when he grew up. He had to spend a reasonable part of his life in jail.
Being poor and hungry and starved at the same time, it was the worst of all circumstances for him. In the prison, he met a man named Compeyson, who was the one with whom he had fought in the marshes.

“I would definitely kill him, the next time I meet him,” Provies said.
On one hand, Magwitch was a coarse man and had a rugged appearance. On the other hand, Compeyson was a well-bred man. Magwitch had fallen under Compeyson’s influence and was entangled in the world of crime.
When they were caught by the police, Compeyson had blamed Magwitch for misguiding him into the mesh of crime.
Compeyson was later sentenced for 7 years in jail whereas Magwitch was sentenced to a bitter and rigorous imprisonment of 14 years.
His story increased my sympathy towards him.
Magwitch continued, “Compeyson had been to a public school and was a learned man. He was even a good looking person.
He had a watch, a chain, a ring, a breast-pin and a handsome suit of clothes.”
“While in the prison, I noticed that Compeyson looked a fine gentleman whereas I was more of a wretched soul.”
“His defence made up a strong case against me that he had been misled and misguided by me. Although he was well brought up yet he had unknowingly fallen in my bad company. I was quite sure that the verdict would be against me. The court of law let Compeyson scot-free whereas I was pronounced guilty.”
Magwitch seemed to be in a fit of rage. In order to please, he cooled down and said, “Don’t worry, my boy; I won’t be low.”
While telling his tale, Provies had referred to a man, called Arthur, from time to time who had died of tuberculosis while the trial was on.
“Is Compeyson alive?” I asked.
“I don’t know, boy. But I would definitely kill him if he is,” he replied.
I wasn’t able to change his mind.
While we both were chatting, Herbert had been writing something all this while. Now, he pushed the paper towards me.
It read : It was Compeyson who had promised to marry Miss Havisham. Arthur was the lady’s brother.”
Magwitch stood there looking at the fire. We both stared at him with more pity and indignation.

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