a thief in the night-第11章

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　On　the　other　hand；　I　was　never　more　alive　to　the　purely　objective　impressions　of　any　hour　of　my　existence；　and　of　them　the　memory　is　startling　to　this　day。　　I　hear　my　mad　knock　at　the　double　doors；　they　fly　open　in　the　middle；　and　it　is　like　some　sumptuous　and　solemn　rite。　　A　long　slice　of　silken…legged　lackey　is　seen　on　either　hand；　a　very　prelate　of　a　butler　bows　a　benediction　from　the　sanctuary　steps。　　I　breathe　more　freely　when　I　reach　a　book…lined　library　where　a　mere　handful　of　men　do　not　overflow　the　Persian　rug　before　the　fire。　　One　of　them　is　Raffles；　who　is　talking　to　a　large　man　with　the　brow　of　a　demi…god　and　the　eyes　and　jowl　of　a　degenerate　bulldog。　　And　this　is　our　noble　host。

Lord　Thornaby　stared　at　me　with　inscrutable　stolidity　as　we　shook　hands；　and　at　once　handed　me　over　to　a　tall；　ungainly　man　whom　he　addressed　as　Ernest；　but　whose　surname　I　never　learned。　　Ernest　in　turn　introduced　me；　with　a　shy　and　clumsy　courtesy；　to　the　two　remaining　guests。　　They　were　the　pair　who　had　driven　up　in　the　hansom；　one　turned　out　to　be　Kingsmill；　Q。C。；　the　other　I　knew　at　a　glance　from　his　photographs　as　Parrington；　the　backwoods　novelist。　They　were　admirable　foils　to　each　other；　the　barrister　being　plump　and　dapper；　with　a　Napoleonic　cast　of　countenance；　and　the　author　one　of　the　shaggiest　dogs　I　have　ever　seen　in　evening…clothes。　Neither　took　much　stock　of　me；　but　both　had　an　eye　on　Raffles　as　I　exchanged　a　few　words　with　each　in　turn。　　Dinner；　however；　was　immediately　announced；　and　the　six　of　us　had　soon　taken　our　places　round　a　brilliant　little　table　stranded　in　a　great　dark　room。

I　had　not　been　prepared　for　so　small　a　party；　and　at　first　I　felt　relieved。　　If　the　worst　came　to　the　worst；　I　was　fool　enough　to　say　in　my　heart；　they　were　but　two　to　one。　　But　I　was　soon　sighing　for　that　safety　which　the　adage　associates　with　numbers。　　We　were　far　too　few　for　the　confidential　duologue　with　one's　neighbor　in　which　I；　at　least；　would　have　taken　refuge　from　the　perils　of　a　general　conversation。　　And　the　general　conversation　soon　resolved　itself　into　an　attack；　so　subtly　concerted　and　so　artistically　delivered　that　I　could　not　conceive　how　Raffles　should　ever　know　it　for　an　attack；　and　that　against　himself；　or　how　to　warn　him　of　his　peril。　But　to　this　day　I　am　not　convinced　that　I　also　was　honored　by　the　suspicions　of　the　club；　it　may　have　been　so；　and　they　may　have　ignored　me　for　the　bigger　game。

It　was　Lord　Thornaby　himself　who　fired　the　first　shot；　over　the　very　sherry。　　He　had　Raffles　on　his　right　hand；　and　the　backwoodsman　of　letters　on　his　left。　　Raffles　was　hemmed　in　by　the　law　on　his　right；　while　I　sat　between　Parrington　and　Ernest；　who　took　the　foot　of　the　table；　and　seemed　a　sort　of　feudatory　cadet　of　the　noble　house。　　But　it　was　the　motley　lot　of　us　that　my　lord　addressed；　as　he　sat　back　blinking　his　baggy　eyes。

〃Mr。　Raffles；〃　said　he；　〃has　been　telling　me　about　that　poor　fellow　who　suffered　the　extreme　penalty　last　March。　　A　great　end；　gentlemen；　a　great　end！　　It　is　true　that　he　had　been　unfortunate　enough　to　strike　a　jugular　vein；　but　his　own　end　should　take　its　place　among　the　most　glorious　traditions　of　the　gallows。　　You　tell　them　Mr。　Raffles：　it　will　be　as　new　to　my　friends　as　it　is　to　me。〃

〃I　tell　the　tale　as　I　heard　it　last　time　I　played　at　Trent　Bridge；　it　was　never　in　the　papers；　I　believe；〃　said　Raffles　gravely。　　〃You　may　remember　the　tremendous　excitement　over　the　Test　Matches　out　in　Australia　at　the　time：　it　seems　that　the　result　of　the　crucial　game　was　expected　on　the　condemned　man's　last　day　on　earth；　and　he　couldn't　rest　until　he　knew　it。　　We　pulled　it　off；　if　you　recollect；　and　he　said　it　would　make　him　swing　happy。〃

〃Tell　'em　what　else　he　said！〃　cried　Lord　Thornaby；　rubbing　his　podgy　hands。

〃The　chaplain　remonstrated　with　him　on　his　excitement　over　a　game　at　such　a　time；　and　the　convict　is　said　to　have　replied：　'Why；　it's　the　first　thing　they'll　ask　me　at　the　other　end　of　the　drop！'〃

The　story　was　new　even　to　me；　but　I　had　no　time　to　appreciate　its　points。　　My　concern　was　to　watch　its　effect　upon　the　other　members　of　the　party。　　Ernest；　on　my　left；　doubled　up　with　laughter；　and　tittered　and　shook　for　several　minutes。　　My　other　neighbor；　more　impressionable　by　temperament；　winced　first；　and　then　worked　himself　into　a　state　of　enthusiasm　which　culminated　in　an　assault　upon　his　shirt…cuff　with　a　joiner's　pencil。　　Kingsmill；　Q。C。；　beaming　tranquilly　on　Raffles；　seemed　the　one　least　impressed；　until　he　spoke。

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　that；〃　he　remarked　in　a　high　bland　voice。　　〃I　thought　that　man　would　die　game。〃

〃Did　you　know　anything　about　him；　then？〃　inquired　Lord　Thornaby。

〃I　led　for　the　Crown；〃　replied　the　barrister；　with　a　twinkle。　　〃You　might　almost　say　that　I　measured　the　poor　man's　neck。〃

The　point　must　have　been　quite　unpremeditated；　it　was　not　the　less　effective　for　that。　　Lord　Thornaby　looked　askance　at　the　callous　silk。　It　was　some　moments　before　Ernest　tittered　and　Parrington　felt　for　his　pencil；　and　in　the　interim　I　had　made　short　work　of　my　hock；　though　it　was　Johannisberger。　　As　for　Raffles；　one　had　but　to　see　his　horror　to　feel　how　completely　he　was　off　his　guard。

〃In　itself；　I　have　heard；　it　was　not　a　sympathetic　case？〃　was　the　remark　with　which　he　broke　the　general　silence。

〃Not　a　bit。〃

〃That　must　have　been　a　comfort　to　you；〃　said　Raffles　dryly。

〃It　would　have　been　to　me；〃　vowed　our　author；　while　the　barrister　merely　smiled。　　〃I　should　have　been　very　sorry　to　have　had　a　hand　in　hanging　Peckham　and　Solomons　the　other　day。〃

〃Why　Peckham　and　Solomons？〃　inquired　my　lord。

〃They　never　meant　to　kill　that　old　lady。〃

〃But　they　strangled　her　in　her　bed　with　her　own　pillow…case！〃

〃I　don't　care；〃　said　the　uncouth　scribe。　　〃They　didn't　break　in　for　that。　　They　never　thought　of　scragging　her。　　The　foolish　old　person　would　make　a　noise；　and　one　of　them　tied　too　tight。　　I　call　it　jolly　bad　luck　on　them。〃

〃On　quiet；　harmless；　well…behaved　thieves；〃　added　Lord　Thornaby；　〃in　the　unobtrusive　exercise　of　their　humble　avocation。〃

And；　as　he　turned　to　Raffles　with　his　puffy　smile；　I　knew　that　we　had　reached　that　part　of　the　programme　which　had　undergone　rehearsal：　it　had　been　perfectly　timed　to　arrive　with　the　champagne；　and　I　was　not　afraid　to　signify　my　appreciation　of　that　small　mercy。　　But　Raffles　laughed　so　quickly　at　his　lordship's　humor；　and　yet　with　such　a　natural　restraint；　as　to　leave　no　doubt　that　he　had　taken　kindly　to　my　own　old　part；　and　was　playing　the　innocent　inimitably　in　his　turn；　by　reason　of　his　very　innocence。　　It　was　a　poetic　judgment　on　old　Raffles；　and　in　my　momentary　enjoyment　of　the　novel　situation　I　was　able　to　enjoy　some　of　the　good　things　of　this　rich　man's　table。　The　saddle　of　mutton　more　than　justified　its　place　in　the　menu；　but　it　had　not　spoiled　me　for　my　wing　of　pheasant；　and　I　was　even　looking　forward　to　a　sweet；　when　a　further　remark　from　the　literary　light　recalled　me　from　the　table　to　its　talk。

〃But；　I　suppose；〃　said　he　to　Kingsmill；　〃it's　many　a　burglar　you've　restored　to　his　friends　and　his　relations'？〃

〃Let　us　say　many　a　poor　fellow　who　has　been　charged　with　burglary；〃　replied　the　cheery　Q。C。　　〃It's　not　quite　the　same　thing；　you　know；　nor　is　'many'　the　most　accurate　word。　　I　never　touch　criminal　work　in　town。〃

〃It's　the　only　kind　I　should　care　about；〃　said　the　novelist；　eating　jelly　with　a　spoon。

〃I　quite　agree　with　you；〃　our　host　chimed　in。　　〃And　of　all。　the　criminals　one　might　be　called　upon　to　defend；　give　me　the　enterprising　burglar。〃

〃It　must　be　the　breeziest　branch　of　the　business；〃　remarked　Raffles；　while　I　held　my　breath。

But　his　touch　was　as　light　as　gossamer；　and　his　artless　manner　a　triumph　of　even　his　incomparable　art。　　Raffles　was　alive　to　the　danger　at　last。　　I　saw　him　refuse　more　champagne；　even　as　I　drained　my　glass　again。　　But　it　was　not　the　same　danger　to　us　both。　　Raffles　had　no　reason　to　feel　surprise　or　alarm　at　such　a　turn　in　a　conversation　frankly　devoted　to　criminology；　it　must　have　been　as　inevitable　to　him　as　it　was　sinister　to　me；　with　my　fortuitous　knowledge　of　the　suspicions　that　were　entertained。　　And　there　was　little　to　put　him　on　his　guard　in　the　touch　of　his　adversaries；　which　was　only　less　light　than　his　own。

〃I　am　not　very　fond　of　Mr。　Sikes；〃　announced　the　barrister；　like　a　man　who　had　got　his　cue。

〃But　he　was　prehistoric；〃　rejoined　my　lord。　　〃A　lot　of　blood　has　flowed　under　the　razor　since　the　days　of　Sweet　William。〃

〃True；　we　have　had　Peace；〃　said　Parrington；　and　launched　out　into　such　glowing　details　of　that　criminal's　last　moments　that　I　began　to　hope　the　diversion　might　prove　permanent。　　But　Lord　Thornaby　was　not　to　be　denied。

〃William　and　Charles　are　both　dead　monarchs；〃　said　he。　　〃The　reigning　king　in　their　department　is　the　fellow　who　gutted　poor　Danby's　place　in　Bond　Street。〃

There　was　a　guilty　silence　on　the　part　of　the　three　conspirators　…　for　I　had　long　since　persuaded　myself　that　Ernest　was　not　in　their　secret　…　and　then　my　blood　froze。

〃I　know　him　well；〃　said　Raffles；　looking　up。

Lord　Thornaby　stared　at　him　in　consternation。　　The　smile　on　the　Napoleonic　countenance　of　the　barrister　looked　forced　and　frozen　for　the　first　time　during　the　evening。　　Our　author；　who　was　nibbling　cheese　from　a　knife；　left　a　bead　of　blood　upon　his　beard。　　The　futile　Ernest　alone　met　the　occasion　with　a　hearty　titter。

〃What！〃　cried　my　lord。　　〃You　know　the　thief？〃

〃I　wish　I　did；〃　rejoined　Raffles；　chuckling。　　〃No；　Lord　Thornaby；　I　only　meant　the　jeweller；　Danby。　　I　go　to　him　when　I　want　a　wedding　present。〃

I　heard　three　deep　breaths　drawn　as　one　before　I　drew　my　own。

〃Rather　a　coincidence；〃　observed　our　host　dryly；　〃for　I　believe　you　also　know　the　Milchester　people；　where　Lady　Melrose　had　her　necklace　stolen　a　few　months　afterward。〃

〃I　was　staying　there　at　the　time；〃　said　Raffles　eagerly。　　No　snob　was　ever　quicker　to　boast　of　basking　in　the　smile　of　the　great。

〃We　believe　it　to　be　the　same　man；〃　said　Lord　Thornaby；　speaking　apparently　for　the　Criminologists'　Club；　and　with　much　less　severity　of　voice。

〃I　only　wish　I　could　come　across　him；〃　continued　Raffles　heartily。　〃He's　a　criminal　much　more　to　my　mind　than　your　murderers　who　swear　on　the　drop　or　talk　cricket　in　the　condemned　cell！〃

〃He　might　be　in　the　house　now；〃　said　Lord　Thornaby；　looking　Raffles　in　the　face。　　But　his　manner　was　that　of　an　actor　in　an　unconvincing　part　and　a　mood　to　play　it　gamely　to　the　bitter　end；　and　he　seemed　embittered；　as　even　a　rich　man　may　be　in　the　moment　of　losing　a　bet。

〃What　a　joke　if　he　were！〃　cried　the　Wild　West　writer。

〃Absit　omen！〃　murmured　Raffles；　in　better　taste。

〃Still；　I　think　you'll　find　it's　a　favorite　time；〃　argued　Kingsmill；　Q。C。　　〃And　it　would　be　quite　in　keeping　with　the　character　of　this　man；　so　far　as　it　is　known；　to　pay　a　little　visit　to　the　president　of　the　Criminologists'　Club；　and　to　choose　the　evening　on　which　he　happens　to　be　entertaining　the　other　members。〃

There　was　more　conviction　in　this　sally　than　in　that　of　our　noble　host；　but　this　I　attributed　to　the　trained　and　skilled　dissimulation　of　the　bar。　　Lord　Thornaby；　however；　was　not　to　be　amused　by　the　elaboration　of　his　own　idea；　and　it　was　with　some　asperity　that　he　calle