A Dickensian Character (The_Real_Allan)

Ernest Bassletuck is one of the people waiting around outside of Mr. Jaggers’s office wanting to speak with him, but is always turned away. He decides to rob Mr. Jaggers’s house and creates a story in which he encounters the “real thieves” and defeats them. He then decides to return the cheap cutlery to Mr. Jaggers as an act of kindness, but is found out by him. Pip meets him when he tries to return Mr. Jaggers’s stolen cutlery to him, to which Mr. Jaggers reacts very mad. Pip feels pity towards him, and respect for his boldness to rob the house. Mr. Basstletuck, after being found out, has the reputation of being a thief with no conscience. People are saying he is ruthless, and his greed for material wealth is so strong it caused him to rob even Mr. Jaggers. He also has the reputation of not being clever, because he returned the goods and didn’t leave London to go into hiding. In reality, Mr. Basstletuck is a desperate man for Mr. Jaggers’s pity, because he is afraid Mr. Jaggers is going to charge him with a crime he did not commit. Although he also not an intelligent person, he is usually honest, but desperate means caused him to try desperate measures to get the attention of Mr. Jaggers. Mr. Bassletuck wears a suit and a tophat on most occasions. He is usually not badly kept, is not dirty. But recently he has been stressed and too busy, evident by the dirt on his suit and his unshaven chin. He is not old, and in his late 30s. But he has a shaved head. He himself is a strong man of average height, but is very large and muscular. He has rough features and looks somewhat like a gorilla, and his clothes are a little too small for his mass. Mr. Bassletuck has an odd thing he does with his left ear. It twitches whenever he blinks, and this often attracts the attention of people he is speaking to.

Dialogue with Pip:

Mr. Bassletuck sees Pip leaving from Mr. Jagger's office.

"You young sir. What is your name?"

"Halloa to you! I am Mr. Pip," he replied, somewhat surprised.

"Please Pip, you must help me!" Mr. Bassletuck pleaded.

"And why would I help a thief? You stole from my guardian, sir!" Pip said.

"Ah but it was only so he would talk to me! You see he is pressing charges to me for assault."

"But did I not hear him say he would press charges of burglary against you?" Pip said.

"He is also doing that now! Oh Pip, I am very desperate right now. I will los everything?" Mr. Bassletuck cried.

"Ah! Mr. Jaggers is a respectable man. And I have no reason to believe you and your gorilla-like frame, Mr. Bassletuck. Good day to you." Pip turned and began heading for Mr. Pocket's house.

"What has the world come to these days," Mr. Bassletuck said to himself.