a thief in the night-第13章

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〃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　flatly　refused　to　believe　he　had　done　so　before　that　evening。　　Why　had　he　never　mentioned　his　idea　to　me？　　It　had　been　quite　the　other　way；　as　I　indignantly　reminded　Raffles。　　Did　he　mean　me　to　believe　he　was　the　man　to　thrust　his　head　into　the　lion's　mouth　for　fun？　And　what　point　would　there　be　in　dragging　me　there　to　see　the　fun？

〃I　might　have　wanted　you；　Bunny。　　I　very　nearly　did。〃

〃For　my　face？〃

〃It　has　been　my　fortune　before　to…night；　Bunny。　　It　has　also　given　me　more　confidence　than　you　are　likely　to　believe　at　this　time　of　day。　　You　stimulate　me　more　than　you　think。〃

〃Your　gallery　and　your　prompter's　box　in　one？〃

〃Capital；　Bunny！　　But　it　was　no　joking　matter　with　me　either；　my　dear　fellow；　it　was　touch…and…go　at　the　time。　　I　might　have　called　on　you　at　any　moment；　and　it　was　something　to　know　I　should　not　have　called　in　vain。〃

〃But　what　to　do；　Raffles？〃

〃Fight　our　way　out　and　bolt！〃　he　answered；　with　a　mouth　that　meant　it；　and　a　fine　gay　glitter　of　the　eyes。

I　shot　out　of　my　chair。

〃You　don't　mean　to　tell　me　you　had　a　hand　in　the　job？〃

〃I　had　the　only　hand　in　it；　my　dear　Bunny。〃

〃Nonsense！　　You　were　sitting　at　table　at　the　time。　　No；　but　you　may　have　taken　some　other　fellow　into　the　show。　　I　always　thought　you　would！〃

〃One's　quite　enough；　Bunny；〃　said　Raffles　dryly；　he　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　took　out　another　cigarette。　　And　I　accepted　of　yet　another　from　his　case；　for　it　was　no　use　losing　one's　temper　with　Raffles；　and　his　incredible　statement　was　not；　after　all。；　to　be　ignored。

〃Of　course；〃　I　went　on；　〃if　you　really　had　brought　off　this　thing　on　your　own；　I　should　be　the　last　to　criticise　your　means　of　reaching　such　an　end。　　You　have　not　only　scored　off　a　far　superior　force；　which　had　laid　itself　out　to　score　off　you；　but　you　have　put　them　in　the　wrong　about　you；　and　they'll　eat　out　of　your　hand　for　the　rest　of　their　days。　　But　don't　ask　me　to　believe　that　you've　done　all。　this　alone！　　By　George；〃　I　cried；　in　a　sudden　wave　of　enthusiasm；　〃I　don't　care　how　you've　done　it　or　who　has　helped　you。　It's　the　biggest　thing　you　ever　did　in　your　life！〃

And　certainly　I　had　never　seen　Raffles　look　more　radiant；　or　better　pleased　with　the　world　and　himself；　or　nearer　that　elation　which　he　usually　left　to　me。

〃Then　you　shall　hear　all。　about　it；　Bunny；　if　you'll　do　what　I　ask　you。〃

〃Ask　away；　old　chap；　and　the　thing's　done。〃

〃Switch　off　the　electric　lights。〃

〃All。　of　them？〃

〃I　think　so。〃

〃There；　then。〃

〃Now　go　to　the　back　window　and　up　with　the　blind。〃

〃Well？〃？〃

〃I'm　coming　to　you。　　Splendid！　　I　never　had　a　look　so　late　as　this。　It's　the　only　window　left　alight　in　the　house！〃

His　cheek　against　the　pane；　he　was　pointing　slightly　downward　and　very　much　aslant　through　a　long　lane　of　mews　to　a　little　square　light　like　a　yellow　tile　at　the　end。　　But　I　had　opened　the　window　and　leaned　out　before　I　saw　it　for　myself。

〃You　don't　mean　to　say　that's　Thornaby　House？〃

I　was　not　familiar　with　the　view　from　my　back　windows。

〃Of　course　I　do；　you　rabbit！　　Have　a　look　through　your　own　race…glass。　　It　has　been　the　most　useful　thing　of　all。〃

But　before　I　had　the　glass　in　focus　more　scales　had　fallen　from　my　eyes；　and　now　I　knew　why　I　had　seen　so　much　of　Raffles　these　last　few　weeks；　and　why　he　had　always　come　between　seven　and　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening；　and　waited　at　this　very　window；　with　these　very　glasses　at　his　eyes。　　I　saw　through　them　sharply　now。　　The　one　lighted　window　pointed　out　by　Raffles　came　tumbling　into　the　dark　circle　of　my　vision。　　I　could　not　see　into　the　actual　room；　but　the　shadows　of　those　within　were　quite　distinct　on　the　lowered　blind。　　I　even　thought　a　black　thread　still　dangled　against　the　square　of　light。　　It　was；　it　must　be；　the　window　to　which　the　intrepid　Parrington　had　descended　from　the　one　above。

〃Exactly！〃　said　Raffles　in　answer　to　my　exclamation。　　〃And　that's　the　window　I　have　been　watching　these　last　few　weeks。　　By　daylight　you　can　see　the　whole　lot　above　the　ground　floor　on　this　side　of　the　house；　and　by　good　luck　one　of　them　is　the　room　in　which　the　master　of　the　house　arrays　himself　in　all。　his　nightly　glory。　　It　was　easily　spotted　by　watching　at　the　right　time。　　I　saw　him　shaved　one　morning　before　you　were　up！　　In　the　evening　his　valet　stays　behind　to　put　things　straight；　and　that　has　been　the　very　mischief。　In　the　end　I　had　to　find　out　something　about　the　man；　and　wire　to　him　from　his　girl　to　meet　her　outside　at　eight　o'clock。　　Of　course　he　pretends　he　was　at　his　post　at　the　time：　that　I　foresaw；　and　did　the　poor　fellow's　work　before　my　own。　　I　folded　and　put　away　every　garment　before　I　permitted　myself　to　rag　the　room。〃

〃I　wonder　you　had　time！〃

〃It　took　me　one　more　minute；　and　it　put　the　clock　on　exactly　fifteen。　　By　the　way；　I　did　that　literally；　of　course；　in　the　case　of　the　clock　they　found。　　It's　an　old　dodge；　to　stop　a　clock　and　alter　the　time；　but　you　must　admit　that　it　looked　as　though　one　had　wrapped　it　up　all。　ready　to　cart　away。　　There　was　thus　any　amount　of　prima…fade　evidence　of　the　robbery　having　taken　place　when　we　were　all。　at　table。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　Lord　Thornaby　left　his　dressing…room　one　minute；　his　valet　followed　him　the　minute　after；　and　I　entered　the　minute　after　that。〃

〃Through　the　window？〃

〃To　be　sure。　　I　was　waiting　below　in　the　garden。　　You　have　to　pay　for　your　garden　in　town；　in　more　ways　than　one。　　You　know　the　wall；　of　course；　and　that　jolly　old　postern？　　The　lock　was　beneath　contempt。〃

〃But　what　about　the　window？　　It's　on　the　first　floor；　isn't　it？〃

Raffles　took　up　the　cane　which　he　had　laid　down　with　his　overcoat。　It　was　a　stout　bamboo　with　a　polished　ferule。　　He　unscrewed　the　ferule；　and　shook　out　of　the　cane　a　diminishing　series　of　smaller　canes；　exactly　like　a　child's　fishing…rod；　which　I　afterward　found　to　have　been　their　former　state。　　A　double　hook　of　steel　was　now　produced　and　quickly　attached　to　the　tip　of　the　top　joint；　then　Raffles　undid　three　buttons　of　his　waistcoat；　and　lapped　round　and　round　his　waist　was　the　finest　of　Manila　ropes；　with　the　neatest　of　foot…loops　at　regular　intervals。

〃Is　it　necessary　to　go　any　further？〃　asked　Raffles　when　he　had　unwound　the　rope。　　〃This　end　is　made　fast　to　that　end　of　the　hook；　the　other　half　of　the　hook　fits　over　anything　that　comes　its　way；　and　you　leave　your　rod　dangling　while　you　swarm　up　your　line。　　Of　course；　you　must　know　what　you've　got　to　hook　on　to；　but　a　man　who　has　had　a　porcelain　bath　fixed　in　his　dressing…room　is　the　man　for　me。　　The　pipes　were　all。　outside；　and　fixed　to　the　wall　in　just　the　right　place。　　You　see　I　had　made　a　reconnaissance　by　day　in　addition　to　many　by　night；　it　would　hardly　have　been　worth　while　constructing　my　ladder　on　chance。〃

〃So　you　made　it　on　purpose！〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；〃　said　Raffles；　as　he　wound　the　hemp　girdle　round　his　waist　once　more；　〃I　never　did　care　for　ladder　work；　but　I　always　said　that　if　I　ever　used　a　ladder　it　should　be　the　best　of　its　kind　yet　invented。　　This　one　may　come　in　useful　again。〃

〃But　how　long　did　the　whole　thing　take　you？〃

〃From　mother　earth；　to　mother　earth？　　About　five　minutes；　to…night；　and　one　of　those　was　spent　in　doing　another　man's　work。〃

〃What！〃　I　cried。　　〃You　mean　to　tell　me　you　climbed　up　and　down；　in　and　out；　and　broke　into　that　cupboard　and　that　big　tin　box；　and　wedged　up　the　doors　and　cleared　out　with　a　peer's　robes　and　all。　the　rest　of　it　in　five　minutes？〃

〃Of　course　I　don't；　and　of　course　I　didn't。〃

〃Then　what　do　you　mean；　and　what　did　you　do？〃

〃Made　two　bites　at　the　cherry；　Bunny！　　I　had　a　dress　rehearsal　in　the　dead　of　last　night；　and　it　was　then　I　took　the　swag。　　Our　noble　friend　was　snoring　next　door　all。　the　time；　but　the　effort　may　still　stand　high　among　my　small　exploits；　for　I　not　only　took　all。　I　wanted；　but　left　the　whole　place　exactly　as　I　found　it；　and　shut　things　after　me　like　a　good　little　boy。　　All。　that　took　a　good　deal　longer；　to…night　I　had　simply　to　rag　the　room　a　bit；　sweep　up　some　studs　and　links；　and　leave　ample　evidence　of　having　boned　those　rotten　robes　to…night。　　That；　if　you　come　to　think　of　it；　was　what　you　writing　chaps　would　call　the　quintessential　Q。E。F。　　I　have　not　only　shown　these　dear　Criminologists　that　I　couldn't　possibly　have　done　this　trick；　but　that　there's　some　other　fellow　who　could　and　did；　and　whom　they've　been　perfect　asses　to　confuse　with　me。〃

You　may　figure　me　as　gazing　on　Raffles　all。　this　time　in　mute　and　rapt　amazement。　　But　I　had　long　been　past　that　pitch。　　If　he　had　told　me　now　that　he　had　broken　into　the　Bank　of　England；　or　the　Tower；　I　should　not　have　disbelieved　him　for　a　moment。　　I　was　prepared　to　go　home　with　him　to　the　Albany　and　find　the　regalia　under　his　bed。　　And　I　took　down　my　overcoat　as　he　put　on　his。　　But　Raffles　would　not　hear　of　my　accompanying　him　that　night。

〃No；　my　dear　Bunny；　I　am　short　of　sleep　and　fed　up　with　excitement。　You　mayn't　believe　it　…　you　may　look　upon　me　as　a　plaster　devil　…　　but　those　five　minutes　you　wot　of　were　rather　too　crowded　even　for　my　taste。　　The　dinner　was　nominally　at　a　quarter　to　eight；　and　I　don't　mind　telling　you　now　that　I　counted　on　twice　as　long　as　I　had。　But　no　one　came　until　twelve　minutes　to；　and　so　our　host　took　his　time。　　I　didn't　want　to　be　the　last　to　arrive；　and　I　was　in　the　drawing…room　five　minutes　before　the　hour。　　But　it　was　a　quicker　thing　than　I　care　about；　when　all。　is　said。〃

And　his　last　word　on　the　matter；　as　he　nodded　and　went　his　way；　may　well　be　mine；　for　one　need　be　no　criminologist；　much　less　a　member　of　the　Criminologists'　Club；　to　remember　what　Raffles　did　with　the　robes　and　coronet　of　the　Right　Hon。　the　Earl　of　Thornaby；　K。G。　　He　did　with　them　exactly　what　he　might　have　been　expected　to　do　by　the　gentlemen　with　whom　he　had　foregathered；　and　he　did　it　in　a　manner　so　characteristic　of　himself　as　surely　to　remove　from　their　minds　the　last　aura　of　the　idea　that　he　and　himself　were　the　same　person。　Carter　Paterson　was　out　of　the　question；　and　any　labelling　or　addressing　to　be　avoided　on　obvious　grounds。　　But　Raffles　stabled　the　white　elephants　in　the　cloak…room　at　Charing　Cross　…　　and　sent　Lord　Thornaby　the　ticket。




The　Field　of　Phillipi


Nipper　Nasmyth　had　been　head　of　our　school　when　Raffles　was　captain　of　cricket。　I　believe　he　owed　his　nickname　entirely　to　the　popular　prejudice　against　a　day…boy；　and　in　view　of　the　special　reproach　which　the　term　carried　in　my　time；　as　also　of　the　fact　that　his　father　was　one　of　the　school　trustees；　partner　in　a　banking　firm　of　four　resounding　surnames；　and　manager　of　the　local　branch；　there　can　be　little　doubt　that　the　stigma　was　undeserved。　　But　we　did　not　think　so　then；　for　Nasmyth　was　unpopular　with　high　and　low；　and　appeared　to　glory　in　the　fact。　　A　swollen　conscience　caused　him　to　see　and　hear　even　more　than　was　warranted　by　his　position；　and　his　uncompromising　nature　compelled　him　to　act　on　whatsoever　he　heard　or　saw：　a　savage　custodian　of　public　morals；　he　had　in　addition　a　perverse　enthusiasm　for　lost　causes；　loved　a　minority　for　its　own　sake；　and　untenable　tenets　for　theirs。　　Such；　at　all。　events；　w