a thief in the night-第15章

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e　voice　ceased　crying。　　But　we　sat　in　the　deeper　silence　when　Raffles　rose　to　reply。

I　leaned　forward　not　to　lose　a　word。　　I　knew　my　Raffles　so　well　that　I　felt　almost　capable　of　reporting　his　speech　before　I　heard　it。　　Never　was　I　more　mistaken；　even　in　him！　　So　far　from　a　gibe　for　a　gibe　and　a　taunt　for　a　taunt；　there　never　was　softer　answer　than　that　which　A。　J。　Raffles　returned　to　Nipper　Nasmyth　before　the　staring　eyes　and　startled　ears　of　all。　assembled。　　He　courteously　but　firmly　refused　to　believe　a　word　his　old　friend　Nasmyth　had　said　　…　about　himself。　　He　had　known　Nasmyth　for　twenty　years；　and　never　had　he　met　a　dog　who　barked　so　loud　and　bit　so　little。　　The　fact　was　that　he　had　far　too　kind　a　heart　to　bite　at　all。　　Nasmyth　might　get　up　and　protest　as　loud　as　he　liked：　the　speaker　declared　he　knew　him　better　than　Nasmyth　knew　himself。　　He　had　the　necessary　defects　of　his　great　qualities。　　He　was　only　too　good　a　sportsman。　　He　had　a　perfect　passion　for　the　weaker　side。　　That　alone　led　Nasmyth　into　such　excesses　of　language　as　we　had　all。　heard　from　his　lips　that　night。　　As　for　Raffles；　he　concluded　his　far　too　genial　remarks　by　predicting　that；　whatever　Nasmyth　might　say　or　think　of　the　new　fund；　he　would　subscribe　to　it　as　handsomely　as　any　of　us；　like　〃the　generous　good　chap〃　that　we　all。　knew　him　to　be。

Even　so　did　Raffles　disappoint　the　Old　Boys　in　the　evening　as　he　had　disappointed　the　school　by　day。　　We　had　looked　to　him　for　a　noble　raillery；　a　lofty　and　loyal　disdain；　and　he　had　fobbed　us　off　with　friendly　personalities　not　even　in　impeccable　taste。　Nevertheless；　this　light　treatment　of　a　grave　offence　went　far　to　restore　the　natural　amenities　of　the　occasion。　　It　was　impossible　even　for　Nasmyth　to　reply　to　it　as　he　might　to　a　more　earnest　onslaught。　　He　could　but　smile　sardonically；　and　audibly　undertake　to　prove　Raffles　a　false　prophet；　and　though　subsequent　speakers　were　less　merciful　the　note　was　struck；　and　there　was　no　more　bad　blood　in　the　debate。　　There　was　plenty；　however；　in　the　veins　of　Nasmyth；　as　I　was　to　discover　for　myself　before　the　night　was　out。

You　might　think　that　in　the　circumstances　he　would　not　have　attended　the　head　master's　ball　with　which　the　evening　ended；　but　that　would　be　sadly　to　misjudge　so　perverse　a　creature　as　the　notorious　Nipper。　He　was　probably　one　of　those　who　protest　that　there　is　〃nothing　personal〃　in　their　most　personal　attacks。　　Not　that　Nasmyth　took　this　tone　about　Raffles　when　he　and　I　found　ourselves　cheek　by　jowl　against　the　ballroom　wall；　he　could　forgive　his　franker　critics；　but　not　the　friendly　enemy　who　had　treated　him　so　much　more　gently　than　he　deserved。

〃I　seem　to　have　seen　you　with　this　great　man　Raffles；〃　began　Nasmyth；　as　he　overhauled　me　with　his　fighting　eye。　　〃Do　you　know　him　well？〃

〃Intimately。〃

〃I　remember　now。　　You　were　with　him　when　he　forced　himself　upon　me　on　the　way　down　yesterday。　　He　had　to　tell　me　who　he　was。　　Yet　he　talks　as　though　we　were　old　friends。〃

〃You　were　in　the　upper　sixth　together；〃　I　rejoined；　nettled　by　his　tone。

〃What　does　that　matter？　　I　am　glad　to　say　I　had　too　much　self…respect；　and　too　little　respect　for　Raffles；　ever　to　be　a　friend　of　his　then。　I　knew　too　many　of　the　things　he　did；〃　said　Nipper　Nasmyth。

His　fluent　insults　had　taken　my　breath。　　But　in　a　lucky　flash　I　saw　my　retort。

〃You　must　have　had　special　opportunities　of　observation；　living　in　the　town；〃　said　I；　and　drew　first　blood　between　the　long　hair　and　the　ragged　beard；　but　that　was　all。

〃So　he　really　did　get　out　at　nights？〃　remarked　my　adversary。　　〃You　certainly　give　your　friend　away。　　What's　he　doing　now？〃

I　let　my　eyes　follow　Raffles　round　the　room　before　replying。　　He　was　waltzing　with　a　master's　wife　…　waltzing　as　he　did　everything　else。　　Other　couples　seemed　to　melt　before　them。　　And　the　woman　on　his　arm　looked　a　radiant　girl。


〃I　meant　in　town；　or　wherever　he　lives　his　mysterious　life；〃　explained　Nasmyth；　when　I　told　him　that　he　could　see　for　himself。　But　his　clever　tone　did　not　trouble　me；　it　was　his　epithet　that　caused　me　to　prick　my　ears。　　And　I　found　some　difficulty　in　following　Raffles　right　round　the　room。

〃I　thought　everybody　knew　what　he　was　doing；　he's　playing　cricket　most　of　his　time；〃　was　my　measured　reply；　and　if　it　bore　an　extra　touch　of　insolence；　I　can　honestly　ascribe　that　to　my　nerves。

〃And　is　that　all。　he　does　for　a　living？〃　pursued　my　inquisitor　keenly。

〃You　had　better　ask　Raffles　himself；〃　said　I　to　that。　　〃It's　a　pity　you　didn't　ask　him　in　public；　at　the　meeting！〃

But　I　was　beginning　to　show　temper　in　my　embarrassment；　and　of　course　that　made　Nasmyth　the　more　imperturbable。

〃Really；　he　might　be　following　some　disgraceful　calling；　by　the　mystery　you　make　of　it！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃And　for　that　matter　I　call　first…class　cricket　a　disgraceful　calling；　when　it's　followed　by　men　who　ought　to　be　gentlemen；　but　are　really　professionals　in　gentlemanly　clothing。　　The　present　craze　for　gladiatorial　athleticism　I　regard　as　one　of　the　great　evils　of　the　age；　but　the　thinly　veiled　professionalism　of　the　so…called　amateur　is　the　greatest　evil　of　that　craze。　　Men　play　for　the　gentlemen　and　are　paid　more　than　the　players　who　walk　out　of　another　gate。　　In　my　time　there　was　none　of　that。　　Amateurs　were　amateurs　and　sport　was　sport；　there　were　no　Raffleses　in　first…class　cricket　then。　　I　had　forgotten　Raffles　was　a　modern　first…class　cricketer：　that　explains　him。　　Rather　than　see　my　son　such　another；　do　you　know　what　I'd　prefer　to　see　him？〃

I　neither　knew　nor　cared：　yet　a　wretched　premonitory　fascination　held　me　breathless　till　I　was　told！。

〃I'd　prefer　to　see　him　a　thief！〃　said　Nasmyth　savagely；　and　when　his　eyes　were　done　with　me；　he　turned　upon　his　heel。　　So　that　ended　that　stage　of　my　discomfiture。

It　was　only　to　give　place　to　a　worse。　　Was　all。　this　accident　or　fell　design？　　Conscience　had　made　a　coward　of　me；　and　yet　what　reason　had　I　to　disbelieve　the　worst？　　We　were　pirouetting　on　the　edge　of　an　abyss；　sooner　or　later　the　false　step　must　come　and　the　pit　swallow　us。　　I　began　to　wish　myself　back　in　London；　and　I　did　get　back　to　my　room　in　our　old　house。　　My　dancing　days　were　already　over；　there　I　had　taken　the　one　resolution　to　which　I　remained　as　true　as　better　men　to　better　vows；　there　the　painful　association　was　no　mere　sense　of　personal　unworthiness。　　I　fell　to　thinking　in　my　room　of　other　dances　。。。　and　was　still　smoking　the　cigarette　which　Raffles　had　taught　me　to　appreciate　when　I　looked　up　to　find　him　regarding　me　from　the　door。　　He　had　opened　it　as　noiselessly　as　only　Raffles　could　open　doors；　and　now　he　closed　it　in　the　same　professional　fashion。

〃I　missed　Achilles　hours　ago；〃　said　he。　　〃And　still　he's　sulking　in　his　tent！〃

〃I　have　been；〃　I　answered；　laughing　as　he　could　always　make　me；　〃but　I'll　chuck　it　if　you'll　stop　and　smoke。　　Our　host　doesn't　mind；　there's　an　ash…tray　provided　for　the　purpose。　　I　ought　to　be　sulking　between　the　sheets；　but　I'm　ready　to　sit　up　with　you　till　morning。〃

〃We　might　do　worse；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　we　might　do　still　better；〃　rejoined　Raffles；　and　for　once　he　resisted　the　seductive　Sullivan。　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　it's　morning　now；　in　another　hour　it　will　be　dawn；　and　where　could　day　dawn　better　than　in　Warfield　Woods；　or　along　the　Stockley　road；　or　even　on　the　Upper　or　the　Middle？　　I　don't　want　to　turn　in；　any　more　than　you　do。　　I　may　as　well　confess　that　the　whole　show　down　here　has　exalted　me　more　than　anything　for　years。　　But　if　we　can't　sleep；　Bunny；　let's　have　some　fresh　air　instead。〃

〃Has　everybody　gone　to　bed？〃　I　asked。

〃Long　ago。　　I　was　the　last　in。　　Why？〃

〃Only　it　might　sound　a　little　odd；　our　turning　out　again；　if　they　were　to　hear　us。〃

Raffles　stood　over　me　with　a　smile　made　of　mischief　and　cunning；　but　it　was　the　purest　mischief　imaginable；　the　most　innocent　and　comic　cunning。

〃They　shan't　hear　us　at　all。；　Bunny；〃　said　he。　　〃I　mean　to　get　out　as　I　did　in　the　good　old　nights。　　I've　been　spoiling　for　the　chance　ever　since　I　came　down。　　There's　not　the　smallest　harm　in　it　now；　and　if　you'll　come　with　me　I'll　show　you　how　it　used　to　be　done。〃

〃But　I　know；〃　said　I。　　〃Who　used　to　haul　up　the　rope　after　you；　and　let　it　down　again　to　the　minute？〃

Raffles　looked　down　on　me　from　lowered　lids；　over　a　smile　too　humorous　to　offend。

〃My　dear　good　Bunny！　　And　do　you　suppose　that　even　then　I　had　only　one　way　of　doing　a　thing？　　I've　had　a　spare　loophole　all。　my　life；　and　when　you're　ready　I'll　show　you　what　it　was　when　I　was　here。　Take　off　those　boots；　and　carry　your　tennis…shoes；　slip　on　another　coat；　put　out　your　light；　and　I'll　meet　you　on　the　landing　in　two　minutes。〃

He　met　me　with　uplifted　finger；　and　not　a　syllable；　and　down…stairs　he　led　me；　stocking　soles　close　against　the　skirting；　two　feet　to　each　particular　step。　　It　must　have　seemed　child's　play　to　Raffles；　the　old　precautions　were　obviously　assumed　for　my　entertainment；　but　I　confess　that　to　me　it　was　all。　refreshingly　exciting　…　for　once　without　a　risk　of　durance　if　we　came　to　grief！　　With　scarcely　a　creak　we　reached　the　hall；　and　could　have　walked　out　of　the　street　door　without　danger　or　difficulty。　　But　that　would　not　do　for　Raffles。　　He　must　needs　lead　me　into　the　boys'　part；　through　the　green　baize　door。　　It　took　a　deal　of　opening　and　shutting；　but　Raffles　seemed　to　enjoy　nothing　better　than　these　mock　obstacles；　and　in　a　few　minutes　we　were　resting　with　sharp　ears　in　the　boys'　hall。

〃Through　these　windows？〃　I　whispered；　when　the　clock　over　the　piano　had　had　matters　its　own　way　long　enough　to　make　our　minds　quite　easy。

〃How　else？〃　whispered　Raffles；　as　he　opened　the　one　on　whose　ledge　our　letters　used　to　await　us　of　a　morning。

〃And　then　through　the　quad　…　〃

〃And　over　the　gates　at　the　end。　　No　talking；　Bunny；　there's　a　dormitory　just　overhead；　but　ours　was　in　front；　you　remember；　and　if　they　had　ever　seen　me　I　should　have　nipped　back　this　way　while　they　were　watching　the　other。〃

His　finger　was　on　his　lips　as　we　got　out　softly　into　the　starlight。　I　remember　how　the　gravel　hurt　as　we　left　the　smooth　flagged　margin　of　the　house　for　the　open　quad；　but　the　nearer　of　two　long　green　seats　（whereon　you　prepared　your　construe　for　the　second…school　in　the　summer　term）　was　mercifully　handy；　and　once　in　our　rubber　soles　we　had　no　difficulty　in　scaling　the　gates　beyond　the　fives…courts。　Moreover；　we　dropped　into　a　very　desert　of　a　country　road；　nor　saw　a　soul　when　we　doubled　back　beneath　the　outer　study　windows；　nor　heard　a　footfall　in　the　main　street　of　the　slumbering　town。　　Our　own　fell　like　the　night…dews　and　the　petals　of　the　poet；　but　Raffles　ran　his　arm　through　mine；　and　would　chatter　in　whispers　as　we　went。

〃So　you　and　Nipper　had　a　word　…　or　was　it　words？　　I　saw　you　out　of　the　tail　of　my　eye　when　I　was　dancing；　and　I　heard　you　out　of　the　tail　of　my　ear。　　It　sounded　like　words；　Bunny；　and　I　thought　I　caught　my　name。　　He's　the　most　consistent　man　I　know；　and　the　least　altered　from　a　boy。　　But　he'll　subscribe　all。　right；　you'll　see；　and　be　very　glad　I　made　him。〃

I　whispered　back　that　I　did　not　believe　it　for　a　moment。　　Raffles　had　not　heard　all。　Nasmyth　had　said　of　him。　　And　neither　would　he　listen　to　the　little　I　meant　to　repeat　to　him；　he　would　but　reiterat