a thief in the night-第12章

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was　not　to　be　amused　by　the　elaboration　of　his　own　idea；　and　it　was　with　some　asperity　that　he　called　upon　the　butler；　now　solemnly　superintending　the　removal　of　the　cloth。

〃Leggett！　　Just　send　up…stairs　to　see　if　all。　the　doors　are　open　and　the　rooms　in　proper　order。　　That's　an　awful　idea　of　yours；　Kingsmill；　or　of　mine！〃　added　my　lord；　recovering　the　courtesy　of　his　order　by　an　effort　that　I　could　follow。　　〃We　should　look　fools。　　I　don't　know　which　of　us　it　was；　by　the　way；　who　seduced　the　rest　from　the　main　stream　of　blood　into　this　burglarious　backwater。　　Are　you　familiar　with　De　Quincey's　masterpiece　on　'Murder　as　a　Fine　Art；'　Mr。　Raffles？〃

〃I　believe　I　once　read　it；〃　replied　Raffles　doubtfully。

〃You　must　read　it　again；〃　pursued　the　earl。　　〃It　is　the　last　word　on　a　great　subject；　all。　we　can　hope　to　add　is　some　baleful　illustration　or　bloodstained　footnote；　not　unworthy　of　De　Quincey's　text。　　〃Well；　Leggett？〃

The　venerable　butler　stood　wheezing　at　his　elbow。　　I　had　not　hitherto　observed　that　the　man　was　an　asthmatic。

〃I　beg　your　lordship's　pardon；　but　I　think　your　lordship　must　have　forgotten。〃

The　voice　came　in　rude　gasps；　but　words　of　reproach　could　scarcely　have　achieved　a　finer　delicacy。

〃Forgotten；　Leggett！　　Forgotten　what；　may　I　ask？〃

〃Locking　your　lordship's　dressing…room　door　behind　your　lordship；　my　lord；〃　stuttered　the　unfortunate　Leggett；　in　the　short　spurts　of　a　winded　man；　a　few　stertorous　syllables　at　a　time。　　〃Been　up　myself；　my　lord。　　Bedroom　door　…　dressing…room　door　…　both　locked　inside！〃

But　by　this　time　the　noble　master　was　in　worse　case　than　the　man。　His　fine　forehead　was　a　tangle　of　livid　cords；　his　baggy　jowl　filled　out　like　a　balloon。　　In　another　second　he　had　abandoned　his　place　as　our　host　and　fled　the　room；　and　in　yet　another　we　had　forgotten　ours　as　his　guests　and　rushed　headlong　at　his　heels。

Raffles　was　as　excited　as　any　of　us　now：　he　outstripped　us　all。　　The　cherubic　little　lawyer　and　I　had　a　fine　race　for　the　last　place　but　one；　which　I　secured；　while　the　panting　butler　and　his　satellites　brought　up　a　respectful　rear。　　It　was　our　unconventional　author；　however；　who　was　the　first　to　volunteer　his　assistance　and　advice。

〃No　use　pushing；　Thornaby！〃　cried　he。　　〃If　it's　been　done　with　a　wedge　and　gimlet；　you　may　smash　the　door；　but　you'll　never　force　it。　Is　there　a　ladder　in　the　place？〃

〃There's　a　rope…ladder　somewhere；　in　case　of　fire；　I　believe；〃　said　my　lord　vaguely；　as　he　rolled　a　critical　eye　over　our　faces。　　〃Where　is　it　kept；　Leggett？〃

〃'William　will　fetch　it；　my　lord。〃

And　a　pair　of　noble　calves　went　flashing　to　the　upper　regions。

〃What's　the　good　of　bringing　it　down；〃　cried　Parrington；　who　had　thrown　back　to　the　wilds　in　his　excitement。　　〃Let　him　hang　it　out　of　the　window　above　your　own；　and　let　me　climb　down　and　do　the　rest！　　I'll　undertake　to　have　one　or　other　of　these　doors　open　in　two　twos！〃

The　fastened　doors　were　at　right　angles　on　the　landing　which　we　filled　between　us。　　Lord　Thornaby　smiled　grimly　on　the　rest　of　us；　when　he　had　nodded　and　dismissed　the　author　like　a　hound　from　the　leash。

〃It's　a　good　thing　we　know　something　about　our　friend　Parrington；〃　said　my　lord。　　〃He　takes　more　kindly　to　all。　this　than　I　do；　I　can　tell　you。〃

〃It's　grist　to　his　mill；〃　said　Raffles　charitably。

〃Exactly！　　We　shall　have　the　whole　thing　in　his　next　book。〃

〃I　hope　to　have　it　at　the　Old　Bailey　first；〃　remarked　Kingsmill；　Q。C。

〃Refreshing　to　find　a　man　of　letters　such　a　man　of　action　too！〃

It　was　Raffles　who　said　this；　and　the　remark　seemed　rather　trite　for　him；　but　in　the　tone　there　was　a　something　that　just　caught　my　private　ear。　　And　for　once　I　understood：　the　officious　attitude　of　Parrington；　without　being　seriously　suspicious　in　itself；　was　admirably　calculated　to　put　a　previously　suspected　person　in　a　grateful　shade。　　This　literary　adventurer　had　elbowed　Raffles　out　of　the　limelight；　and　gratitude　for　the　service　was　what　I　had　detected　in　Raffles's　voice。　　No　need　to　say　how　grateful　I　felt　myself。　　But　my　gratitude　was　shot　with　flashes　of　unwonted　insight。　Parrington　was　one　of　those　who　suspected　Raffles；　or；　at　all。　　events；　one　who　was　in　the　secret　of　those　suspicions。　　What　if　he　had　traded　on　the　suspect's　presence　in　the　house？　　What　if　he　were　a　deep　villain　himself；　and　the　villain　of　this　particular　piece？　I　had　made　up　my　mind　about　him；　and　that　in　a　tithe　of　the　time　I　take　to　make　it　up　as　a　rule；　when　we　heard　my　man　in　the　dressing…room。　　He　greeted　us　with　an　impudent　shout；　in　a　few　moments　the　door　was　open；　and　there　stood　Parrington；　flushed　and　dishevelled；　with　a　gimlet　in　one　hand　and　a　wedge　in　the　other。

Within　was　a　scene　of　eloquent　disorder。　　Drawers　had　been　pulled　out；　and　now　stood　on　end；　their　contents　heaped　upon　the　carpet。　Wardrobe　doors　stood　open；　empty　stud…cases　strewed　the　floor；　a　clock；　tied　up　in　a　towel；　had　been　tossed　into　a　chair　at　the　last　moment。　　But　a　long　tin　lid　protruded　from　an　open　cupboard　in　one　corner。　　And　one　had　only　to　see　Lord　Thornaby's　wry　face　behind　the　lid　to　guess　that　it　was　bent　over　a　somewhat　empty　tin　trunk。

〃What　a　rum　lot　to　steal！〃　said　he；　with　a　twitch　of　humor　at　the　corners　of　his　canine　mouth。　　〃My　peer's　robes；　with　coronet　complete！〃

We　rallied　round　him　in　a　seemly　silence。　　I　thought　our　scribe　would　put　in　his　word。　　But　even　he　either　feigned　or　felt　a　proper　awe。

〃You　may　say　it　was　a　rum　place　to　keep　'em；〃　continued　Lord　Thornaby。　　〃But　where　would　you　gentlemen　stable　your　white　elephants？　　And　these　were　elephants　as　white　as　snow；　by　Jove；　I'll　job　them　for　the　future！〃

And　he　made　merrier　over　his　loss　than　any　of　us　could　have　imagined　the　minute　before；　but　the　reason　dawned　on　me　a　little　later；　when　we　all。　trooped　down…stairs；　leaving　the　police　in　possession　of　the　theatre　of　crime。　　Lord　Thornaby　linked　arms　with　Raffles　as　he　led　the　way。　　His　step　was　lighter；　his　gayety　no　longer　sardonic；　his　very　looks　had　improved。　　And　I　divined　the　load　that　had　been　lifted　from　the　hospitable　heart　of　our　host。

〃I　only　wish；〃　said　he；　〃that　this　brought　us　any　nearer　to　the　identity　of　the　gentleman　we　were　discussing　at　dinner；　for；　of　course；　we　owe　it　to　all。　our　instincts　to　assume　that　it　was　he。〃

〃I　wonder！〃　said　old　Raffles；　with　a　foolhardy　glance　at　me。

〃But　I'm　sure　of　it；　my　dear　sir；〃　cried　my　lord。　　〃The　audacity　is　his　and　his　alone。　　I　look　no　further　than　the　fact　of　his　honoring　me　on　the　one　night　of　the　year　when　I　endeavor　to　entertain　my　brother　Criminologists。　　That's　no　coincidence；　sir；　but　a　deliberate　irony；　which　would　have　occurred　to　no　other　criminal　mind　in　England。〃

〃You　may　be　right；〃　Raffles　had　the　sense　to　say　this　time；　though　I　flattered　myself　it　was　my　face　that　made　him。

〃What　is　still　more　certain；〃　resumed　our　host；　〃is　that　no　other　criminal　in　the　world　would　have　crowned　so　delicious　a　conception　with　so　perfect　an　achievement。　　I　feel　sure　the　inspector　will　agree　with　us。〃

The　policeman　in　command　had　knocked　and　been　admitted　to　the　library　as　Lord　Thornaby　spoke。

〃I　didn't　hear　what　you　said；　my　lord。〃

〃Merely　that　the　perpetrator　of　this　amusing　outrage　can　be　no　other　than　the　swell　mobsman　who　relieved　Lady　Melrose　of　her　necklace　and　poor　Danby　of　half　his　stock　a　year　or　two　ago。〃

〃I　believe　your　lordship　has　hit　the　nail　on　the　head。〃

〃The　man　who　took　the　Thimblely　diamonds　and　returned　them　to　Lord　Thimblely；　you　know。〃

〃Perhaps　he'll　treat　your　lordship　the　same。〃

〃Not　he！　　I　don't　mean　to　cry　over　my　spilt　milk。　　I　only　wish　the　fellow　joy　of　all。　he　had　time　to　take。　　Anything　fresh　up…stain　by　the　way？〃

〃Yes；　my　lord：　the　robbery　took　place　between　a　quarter　past　eight　and　the　half…hour。〃

〃How　on　earth　do　you　know？〃

〃The　clock　that　was　tied　up　in　the　towel　had　stopped　at　twenty　past。〃

〃Have　you　interviewed　my　man？〃

〃I　have；　my　lord。　　He　was　in　your　lordship's　room　until　close　on　the　quarter；　and　all。　was　as　it　should　be　when　he　left　it。〃

〃Then　do　you　suppose　the　burglar　was　in　hiding　in　the　house？〃

〃It's　impossible　to　say；　my　lord。　　He's　not　in　the　house　now；　for　he　could　only　be　in　your　lordship's　bedroom　or　dressing…room；　and　we　have　searched　every　inch　of　both。〃

Lord　Thornaby　turned　to　us　when　the　inspector　had　retreated；　caressing　his　peaked　cap。

〃I　told　him　to　clear　up　these　points　first；〃　he　explained；　jerking　his　head　toward　the　door。　　〃I　had　reason　to　think　my　man　had　been　neglecting　his　duties　up　there。　　I　am　glad　to　find　myself　mistaken。〃

I　ought　to　have　been　no　less　glad　to　see　my　own　mistake。　　My　suspicions　of　our　officious　author　were　thus　proved　to　have　been　as　wild　as　himself。　　I　owed　the　man　no　grudge；　and　yet　in　my　human　heart　I　felt　vaguely　disappointed。　　My　theory　had　gained　color　from　his　behavior　ever　since　he　had　admitted　us　to　the　dressing…room；　it　had　changed　all。　at　once　from　the　familiar　to　the　morose；　and　only　now　was　I　just　enough　to　remember　that　Lord　Thornaby；　having　tolerated　those　familiarities　as　long　as　they　were　connected　with　useful　service；　had　administered　a　relentless　snub　the　moment　that　service　had　been　well　and　truly　performed。

But　if　Parrington　was　exonerated　in　my　mind；　so　also　was　Raffles　reinstated　in　the　regard　of　those　who　had　entertained　a　far　graver　and　more　dangerous　hypothesis。　　It　was　a　miracle　of　good　luck；　a　coincidence　among　coincidences；　which　had　white…washed　him　in　their　sight　at　the　very　moment　when　they　were　straining　the　expert　eye　to　sift　him　through　and　through。　　But　the　miracle　had　been　performed；　and　its　effect　was　visible　in　every　face　and　audible　in　every　voice。　I　except　Ernest；　who　could　never　have　been　in　the　secret；　moreover；　that　gay　Criminologist　had　been　palpably　shaken　by　his　first　little　experience　of　crime。　　But　the　other　three　vied　among　themselves　to　do　honor　where　they　had　done　injustice。　　I　heard　Kingsmill；　Q。C。；　telling　Raffles　the　best　time　to　catch　him　at　chambers；　and　promising　a　seat　in　court　for　any　trial　he　might　ever　like　to　hear。　Parrington　spoke　of　a　presentation　set　of　his　books；　and　in　doing　homage　to　Raffles　made　his　peace　with　our　host。　　As　for　Lord　Thornaby；　I　did　overhear　the　name　of　the　Athenaeum　Club；　a　reference　to　his　friends　on　the　committee；　and　a　whisper　（as　I　thought）　of　Rule　II。

The　police　were　still　in　possession　when　we　went　our　several　ways；　and　it　was　all。　that　I　could　do　to　drag　Raffles　up　to　my　rooms；　though；　as　I　have　said；　they　were　just　round　the　corner。　　He　consented　at　last　as　a　lesser　evil　than　talking　of　the　burglary　in　the　street；　and　in　my　rooms　I　told　him　of　his　late　danger　and　my　own　dilemma；　of　the　few　words　I　had　overheard　in　the　beginning；　of　the　thin　ice　on　which　he　had　cut　fancy　figures　without　a　crack。　　It　was　all。　very　well　for　him。　　He　had　never　realized　his　peril。　　But　let　him　think　of　me　…　listening；　watching；　yet　unable　to　lift　a　finger　…　unable　to　say　one　warning　word。

Raffles　suffered　me　to　finish；　but　a　weary　sigh　followed　the　last　symmetrical　whiff　of　a　Sullivan　which　he　flung　into　my　fire　before　he　spoke。

〃No；　I　won't　have　another；　thank　you。　　I'm　going　to　talk　to　you；　Bunny。　　Do　you　really　suppose　I　didn't　see　through　these　wiseacres　from　the　first？〃

I　fla