'Hah!' cried the informer, triumphantly perceiving that the remark was generally in his favour, though apparently not closely understanding it.
'Let me be took down then!' cried the informer, eagerly and anxiously.
And now cheat and play the
informer if you can; I ask no quarter at your hands.
The mob hitherto had been passive spectators of the scene, but as the intelligence of the Pickwickians being
informers was spread among them, they began to canvass with considerable vivacity the propriety of enforcing the heated pastry-vendor's proposition: and there is no saying what acts of personal aggression they might have committed, had not the affray been unexpectedly terminated by the interposition of a new-comer.
He was said to have been innumerable times in and out of Russia, the Necator of bureaucrats, of provincial governors, of obscure
informers. He lived between whiles, Razumov had heard, on the shores of the Lake of Como, with a charming wife, devoted to the cause, and two young children.
Thomas Mugridge is a sneak, a spy, an
informer. He has been attempting to curry favour and reinstate himself in the good graces of the captain by carrying tales of the men forward.
Beginning it with that statement of universal application, which fitted every occurrence of her life, namely, that she was a mother herself, she went on to inform me that she had once seen very different days, but that at all periods of her existence she had had a constitutional objection to spies, intruders, and
informers. She named no names, she said; let them the cap fitted, wear it; but spies, intruders, and
informers, especially in widders' weeds (this clause was underlined), she had ever accustomed herself to look down upon.
The first I shall mention, relates to informers. All crimes against the state, are punished here with the utmost severity; but, if the person accused makes his innocence plainly to appear upon his trial, the accuser is immediately put to an ignominious death; and out of his goods or lands the innocent person is quadruply recompensed for the loss of his time, for the danger he underwent, for the hardship of his imprisonment, and for all the charges he has been at in making his defence; or, if that fund be deficient, it is largely supplied by the crown.
But I defy the treasurer, or his two informers (I will name them, and let them make the best of it) Clustril and Drunlo, to prove that any person ever came to me INCOGNITO, except the secretary Reldresal, who was sent by express command of his imperial majesty, as I have before related.
Now with respect to these honours which he proposes to bestow on those who can give any information useful to the community, this, though very pleasing in speculation, is what the legislator should not settle, for it would encourage
informers, and probably occasion commotions in the state.
CRITO: Well, I will not dispute with you; but please to tell me, Socrates, whether you are not acting out of regard to me and your other friends: are you not afraid that if you escape from prison we may get into trouble with the informers for having stolen you away, and lose either the whole or a great part of our property; or that even a worse evil may happen to us?
CRITO: Fear not--there are persons who are willing to get you out of prison at no great cost; and as for the informers they are far from being exorbitant in their demands--a little money will satisfy them.
