a thief in the night-第14章

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nets　for　theirs。　　Such；　at　all。　events；　was　my　impression　of　Nipper　Nasmyth；　after　my　first　term；　which　was　also　his　last　I　had　never　spoken　to　him；　but　I　had　heard　him　speak　with　extraordinary　force　and　fervor　in　the　school　debates。　　I　carried　a　clear　picture　of　his　unkempt　hair；　his　unbrushed　coat；　his　dominant　spectacles；　his　dogmatic　jaw。　　And　it　was　I　who　knew　the　combination　at　a　glance；　after　years　and　years；　when　the　fateful　whim　seized　Raffles　to　play　once　more　in　the　Old　Boys'　Match；　and　his　will　took　me　down　with　him　to　participate　in　the　milder　festivities　of　Founder's　Day。

It　was；　however；　no　ordinary　occasion。　　The　bicentenary　loomed　but　a　year　ahead；　and　a　movement　was　on　foot　to　mark　the　epoch　with　an　adequate　statue　of　our　pious　founder。　　A　special　meeting　was　to　be　held　at　the　school…house；　and　Raffles　had　been　specially　invited　by　the　new　head　master；　a　man　of　his　own　standing；　who　had　been　in　the　eleven　with　him　up　at　Cambridge。　　Raffles　had　not　been　near　the　old　place　for　years；　but　I　had　never　gone　down　since　the　day　I　left；　and　I　will　not　dwell　on　the　emotions　which　the　once　familiar　journey　awakened　in　my　unworthy　bosom。　　Paddington　was　alive　with　Old　Boys　of　all。　ages　…　but　very　few　of　ours　…　if　not　as　lively　as　we　used　to　make　it　when　we　all。　landed　back　for　the　holidays。　　More　of　us　had　moustaches　and　cigarettes　and　〃loud〃　ties。　　That　was　all。　　Yet　of　the　throng；　though　two　or　three　looked　twice　and　thrice　at　Raffles；　neither　he　nor　I　knew　a　soul　until　we　had　to　change　at　the　junction　near　our　journey's　end；　when；　as　I　say；　it　was　I　who　recognized　Nipper　Nasmyth　at　sight。

The　man　was　own　son　of　the　boy　we　both　remembered。　　He　had　grown　a　ragged　beard　and　a　moustache　that　hung　about　his　face　like　a　neglected　creeper。　　He　was　stout　and　bent　and　older　than　his　years。　But　he　spurned　the　platform　with　a　stamping　stride　which　even　I　remembered　in　an　instant；　and　which　was　enough　for　Raffles　before　he　saw　the　man's　face。

〃The　Nipper　it　is！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　could　swear　to　that　walk　in　a　pantomime　procession！　　See　the　independence　in　every　step：　that's　his　heel　on　the　neck　of　the　oppressor：　it's　the　nonconformist　conscience　in　baggy　breeches。　　I　must　speak　to　him；　Bunny。　　There　was　a　lot　of　good　in　the　old　Nipper；　though　he　and　I　did　bar　each　other。〃

And　in　a　moment　he　had　accosted　the　man　by　the　boy's　nickname；　obviously　without　thinking　of　an　affront　which　few　would　have　read　in　that　hearty　open　face　and　hand。

〃My　name's　Nasmyth；〃　snapped　the　other；　standing　upright　to　glare。

〃Forgive　me；〃　said　Raffles　undeterred。　　〃One　remembers　a　nickname　and　forgets　all。　it　never　used　to　mean。　　Shake　hands；　my　dear　fellow！　I'm　Raffles。　　It　must　be　fifteen　years　since　we　met。〃

〃At　least；〃　replied　Nasmyth　coldly；　but　he　could　no　longer　refuse　Raffles　his　hand。　　〃So　you　are　going　down；〃　he　sneered；　〃to　this　great　gathering？〃　　And　I　stood　listening　at　my　distance；　as　though　still　in　the　middle　fourth。

〃Rather！〃　cried　Raffles。　　〃I'm　afraid　I　have　let　myself　lose　touch；　but　I　mean　to　turn　over　a　new　leaf。　　I　suppose　that　isn't　necessary　in　your　case；　Nasmyth？〃

He　spoke　with　an　enthusiasm　rare　indeed　in　him：　it　had　grown　upon　Raffles　in　the　train；　the　spirit　of　his　boyhood　had　come　rushing　back　at　fifty　miles　an　hour。　　He　might　have　been　following　some　honorable　calling　in　town；　he　might　have　snatched　this　brief　respite　from　a　distinguished　but　exacting　career。　　I　am　convinced　that　it　was　I　alone　who　remembered　at　that　moment　the　life　we　were　really　leading　at　that　time。　　With　me　there　walked　this　skeleton　through　every　waking　hour　that　was　to　follow。　　I　shall　endeavor　not　to　refer　to　it　again。　　Yet　it　should　not　be　forgotten　that　my　skeleton　was　always　there。

〃It　certainly　is　not　necessary　in　my　case；〃　replied　Nasmyth；　still　as　stiff　as　any　poker。　　〃I　happen　to　be　a　trustee。〃

〃Of　the　school？〃

〃Like　my　father　before　me。〃

〃I　congratulate　you；　my　dear　fellow！〃　cried　the　hearty　Raffles　…　a　younger　Raffles　than　I　had　ever　known　in　town。

〃I　don't　know　that　you　need；〃　said　Nasmyth　sourly。

〃But　it　must　be　a　tremendous　interest。　　And　the　proof　is　that　you're　going　down　to　this　show；　like　all。　the　rest　of　us。〃

〃No；　I'm　not。　　I　live　there；　you　see。〃

And　I　think　the　Nipper　recalled　that　name　as　he　ground　his　heel　upon　an　unresponsive　flagstone。

〃But　you're　going　to　this　meeting　at　the　school…house；　surely？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　If　I　do　there　may　be　squalls。　　I　don't　know　what　you　think　about　this　precious　scheme　Raffles；　but　I　。　。　。〃

The　ragged　beard　stuck　out；　set　teeth　showed　through　the　wild　moustache；　and　in　a　sudden　outpouring　we　had　his　views。　　They　were　narrow　and　intemperate　and　perverse　as　any　I　had　heard　him　advocate　as　the　firebrand　of　the　Debating　Society　in　my　first　term。　　But　they　were　stated　with　all。　the　old　vim　and　venom。　　The　mind　of　Nasmyth　had　not　broadened　with　the　years；　but　neither　had　its　natural　force　abated；　nor　that　of　his　character　either。　　He　spoke　with　great　vigor　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　soon　we　had　a　little　crowd　about　us；　but　the　tall　collars　and　the　broad　smiles　of　the　younger　Old　Boys　did　not　deter　our　dowdy　demagogue。　　Why　spend　money　on　a　man　who　had　been　dead　two　hundred　years？　　What　good　could　it　do　him　or　the　school？　　Besides；　he　was　only　technically　our　founder。　　He　had　not　founded　a　great　public　school。　　He　had　founded　a　little　country　grammar　school　which　had　pottered　along　for　a　century　and　a　half。　　The　great　public　school　was　the　growth　of　the　last　fifty　years；　and　no　credit　to　the　pillar　of　piety。　Besides；　he　was　only　nominally　pious。　　Nasmyth　had　made　researches；　and　he　knew。　　And　why　throw　good　money　after　a　bad　man？

〃Are　there　many　of　your　opinion？〃　inquired　Raffles；　when　the　agitator　paused　for　breath。　　And　Nasmyth　beamed　on　us　with　flashing　eyes。

〃Not　one　to　my　knowledge　as　yet；〃　said　he。　　〃But　we　shall　see　after　to…morrow　night。　　I　hear　it's　to　be　quite　an　exceptional　gathering　this　year；　let　us　hope　it　may　contain　a　few　sane　men。　　There　are　none　on　the　present　staff；　and　I　only　know　of　one　among　the　trustees！〃

Raffles　refrained　from　smiling　as　his　dancing　eye　met　mine。

〃I　can　understand　your　view；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　not　sure　that　I　don't　share　it　to　some　extent。　　But　it　seems　to　me　a　duty　to　support　a　general　movement　like　this　even　if　it　doesn't　take　the　direction　or　the　shape　of　our　own　dreams。　　I　suppose　you　yourself　will　give　something；　Nasmyth？〃

〃Give　something？　　I？　　Not　a　brass　farthing！〃　cried　the　implacable　banker。　　〃To　do　so　would　be　to　stultify　my　whole　position。　　I　cordially　and　conscientiously　disapprove　of　the　whole　thing；　and　shall　use　all。　my　influence　against　it。　　No；　my　good　sir；　I　not　only　don't　subscribe　myself；　but　I　hope　to　be　the　means　of　nipping　a　good　many　subscriptions　in　the　bud。〃

I　was　probably　the　only　one　who　saw　the　sudden　and　yet　subtle　change　in　Raffles　…　the　hard　mouth；　the　harder　eye。　　I；　at　least；　might　have　foreseen　the　sequel　then　and　there。　　But　his　quiet　voice　betrayed　nothing；　as　he　inquired　whether　Nasmyth　was　going　to　speak　at　next　night's　meeting。　　Nasmyth　said　he　might；　and　certainly　warned　us　what　to　expect。　　He　was　still　fulminating　when　our　train　came　in。

〃Then　we　meet　again　at　Philippi；〃　cried　Raffles　in　gay　adieu。　　〃For　you　have　been　very　frank　with　us　all。；　Nasmyth；　and　I'll　be　frank　enough　in　my　turn　to　tell　you　that　I've　every　intention　of　speaking　on　the　other　side！〃

It　happened　that　Raffles　had　been　asked　to　speak　by　his　old　college　friend；　the　new　head　master。　　Yet　it　was　not　at　the　school…house　that　he　and　I　were　to　stay；　but　at　the　house　that　we　had　both　been　in　as　boys。　　It　also　had　changed　hands：　a　wing　had　been　added；　and　the　double　tier　of　tiny　studies　made　brilliant　with　electric　light。　But　the　quad　and　the　fives…courts　did　not　look　a　day　older；　the　ivy　was　no　thicker　round　the　study　windows；　and　in　one　boy's　castle　we　found　the　traditional　print　of　Charing　Cross　Bridge　which　had　knocked　about　our　studies　ever　since　a　son　of　the　contractor　first　sold　it　when　he　left。　　Nay；　more；　there　was　the　bald　remnant　of　a　stuffed　bird　which　had　been　my　own　daily　care　when　it　and　I　belonged　to　Raffles。　　And　when　we　all。　filed　in　to　prayers；　through　the　green　baize　door　which　still　separated　the　master's　part　of　the　house　from　that　of　the　boys；　there　was　a　small　boy　posted　in　the　passage　to　give　the　sign　of　silence　to　the　rest　assembled　in　the　hall；　quite　identically　as　in　the　dim　old　days；　the　picture　was　absolutely　unchanged；　it　was　only　we　who　were　out　of　it　in　body　and　soul。

On　our　side　of　the　baize　door　a　fine　hospitality　and　a　finer　flow　of　spirits　were　the　order　of　the　night。　　There　was　a　sound　representative　assortment　of　quite　young　Old　Boys；　to　whom　ours　was　a　prehistoric　time；　and　in　the　trough　of　their　modem　chaff　and　chat　we　old　stagers　might　well　have　been　left　far　astern　of　the　fun。　　Yet　it　was　Raffles　who　was　the　life　and　soul　of　the　party；　and　that　not　by　meretricious　virtue　of　his　cricket。　　There　happened　not　to　be　another　cricketer　among　us；　and　it　was　on　their　own　subjects　that　Raffles　laughed　with　the　lot　in　turn　and　in　the　lump。　　I　never　knew　him　in　quite　such　form。　　I　will　not　say　he　was　a　boy　among　them；　but　he　was　that　rarer　being；　the　man　of　the　world　who　can　enter　absolutely　into　the　fun　and　fervor　of　the　salad　age。　　My　cares　and　my　regrets　had　never　been　more　acute；　but　Raffles　seemed　a　man　without　either　in　his　life。

He　was　not；　however；　the　hero　of　the　Old　Boys'　Match；　and　that　was　expected　of　him　by　all。　the　school。　　There　was　a　hush　when　he　went　in；　a　groan　when　he　came　out。　　I　had　no　reason　to　suppose　he　was　not　trying；　these　things　happen　to　the　cricketer　who　plays　out　of　his　class；　but　when　the　great　Raffles　went　on　to　bowl；　and　was　hit　all。　over　the　field；　I　was　not　so　sure。　　It　certainly　failed　to　affect　his　spirits；　he　was　more　brilliant　than　ever　at　our　hospitable　board；　and　after　dinner　came　the　meeting　at　which　he　and　Nasmyth　were　to　speak。

It　was　a　somewhat　frigid　gathering　until　Nasmyth　rose。　　We　had　all。　dined　with　our　respective　hosts；　and　then　repaired　to　this　business　in　cold　blood。　　Many　were　lukewarm　about　it　in　their　hearts；　there　was　a　certain　amount　of　mild　prejudice；　and　a　greater　amount　of　animal　indifference；　to　be　overcome　in　the　opening　speech。　　It　is　not　for　me　to　say　whether　this　was　successfully　accomplished。　　I　only　know　how　the　temperature　of　that　meeting　rose　with　Nipper　Nasmyth。

And　I　dare　say；　in　all。　the　circumstances　of　the　case；　his　really　was　a　rather　vulgar　speech。　　But　it　was　certainly　impassioned；　and　probably　as　purely　instinctive　as　his　denunciation　of　all。　the　causes　which　appeal　to　the　gullible　many　without　imposing　upon　the　cantankerous　few。　　His　arguments；　it　is　true；　were　merely　an　elaboration　of　those　with　which　he　had　favored　some　of　us　already；　but　they　were　pointed　by　a　concise　exposition　of　the　several　definite　principles　they　represented；　and　barbed　with　a　caustic　rhetoric　quite　admirable　in　itself。　　In　a　word；　the　manner　was　worthy　of　the　very　foundation　it　sought　to　shake；　or　we　had　never　swallowed　such　matter　without　a　murmur。　　As　it　was；　there　was　a　demonstration　in　the　wilderness　when　the　voice　ceased　crying。　　But　we　sat　in　the　deeper　silence　when　Raffles　rose　to　reply。

I　leaned　for