a thief in the night-第16章

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d　of　him。　　And　neither　would　he　listen　to　the　little　I　meant　to　repeat　to　him；　he　would　but　reiterate　a　conviction　so　chimerical　to　my　mind　that　I　interrupted　in　my　turn　to　ask　him　what　ground　he　had　for　it。

〃I've　told　you　already；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　mean　to　make　him。〃

〃But　how？〃　I　asked。　　〃And　when；　and　where？〃

〃At　Philippi；　Bunny；　where　I　said　I'd　see　him。　　What　a　rabbit　you　are　at　a　quotation！

　　　　　　　　　〃'And　I　think　that　the　field　of　Philippi　　　　　　　　　　　　　Was　where　Caesar　came　to　an　end；　　　　　　　　　　　　But　who　gave　old　Brutus　the　tip；　I　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Can't　comprehend！'

〃You　may　have　forgotten　your　Shakespeare；　Bunny；　but　you　ought　to　remember　that。〃

And　I　did；　vaguely；　but　had　no　idea　what　it　or　Raffles　meant；　as　I　plainly　told　him。

〃The　theatre　of　war；〃　he　answered　…　〃and　here　we　are　at　the　stage　door！〃

Raffles　had　stopped　suddenly　in　his　walk。　　It　was　the　last　dark　hour　of　the　summer　night；　but　the　light　from　a　neighboring　lamppost　showed　me　the　look　on　his　face　as　he　turned。

〃I　think　you　also　inquired　when；〃　he　continued。　　〃Well；　then；　this　minute　…　if　you　will　give　me　a　leg　up！〃

And　behind　him；　scarcely　higher　than　his　head；　and　not　even　barred；　was　a　wide　window　with　a　wire　blind；　and　the　name　of　Nasmyth　among　others　lettered　in　gold　upon　the　wire。

〃You're　never　going　to　break　in？〃

〃This　instant；　if　you'll；　help　me；　in　five　or　ten　minutes；　if　you　won't。〃

〃Surely　you　didn't　bring　the　…　the　tools？〃

He　jingled　them　gently　in　his　pocket。

〃Not　the　whole　outfit；　Bunny。　　But　you　never　know　when　you　mayn't　want　one　or　two。　　I'm　only　thankful　I　didn't　leave　the　lot　behind　this　time。　　I　very　nearly　did。〃

〃I　must　say　I　thought　you　would；　coming　down　here；〃　I　said　reproachfully。

〃But　you　ought　to　be　glad　I　didn't；〃　he　rejoined　with　a　smile。　〃It's　going　to　mean　old　Nasmyth's　subscription　to　the　Founder's　Fund；　and　that's　to　be　a　big　one；　I　promise　you！　　The　lucky　thing　is　that　I　went　so　far　as　to　bring　my　bunch　of　safekeys。　　Now；　are　you　going　to　help　me　use　them；　or　are　you　not？　　If　so；　now's　your　minute；　if　not；　clear　out　and　be　…　〃

〃Not　so　fast；　Raffles；〃　said　I　testily。　　〃You　must　have　planned　this　before　you　came　down；　or　you　would　never　have　brought　all。　those　things　with　you。〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　they're　a　part　of　my　kit！　　I　take　them　wherever　I　take　my　evening…clothes。　　As　to　this　potty　bank；　I　never　even　thought　of　it；　much　less　that　it　would　become　a　public　duty　to　draw　a　hundred　or　so　without　signing　for　it。　　That's　all。　I　shall　touch；　Bunny　…　I'm　not　on　the　make　to…night。　　There's　no　risk　in　it　either。　　If　I　am　caught　I　shall　simply　sham　champagne　and　stand　the　racket；　it　would　be　an　obvious　frolic　after　what　happened　at　that　meeting。　　And　they　will　catch　me；　if　I　stand　talking　here：　you　run　away　back　to　bed　…　unless　you're　quite　determined　to　'give　old　Brutus　the　tip！'

Now　we　had　barely　been　a　minute　whispering　where　we　stood；　and　the　whole　street　was　still　as　silent　as　the　tomb。　　To　me　there　seemed　least　danger　in　discussing　the　matter　quietly　on　the　spot。　　But　even　as　he　gave　me　my　dismissal　Raffles　turned　and　caught　the　sill　above　him；　first　with　one　hand　and　then　with　the　other。　　His　legs　swung　like　a　pendulum　as　he　drew　himself　up　with　one　arm；　then　shifted　the　position　of　the　other　hand；　and　very　gradually　worked　himself　waist…high　with　the　sill。　　But　the　sill　was　too　narrow　for　him；　that　was　as　far　as　he　could　get　unaided；　and　it　was　as　much　as　I　could　bear　to　see　of　a　feat　which　in　itself　might　have　hardened　my　conscience　and　softened　my　heart。　　But　I　had　identified　his　doggerel　verse　at　last。　　I　am　ashamed　to　say　that　it　was　part　of　a　set　of　my　very　own　writing　in　the　school　magazine　of　my　time。　　So　Raffles　knew　the　stuff　better　than　I　did　myself；　and　yet　scorned　to　press　his　flattery　to　win　me　over！　　He　had　won　me：　in　a　second　my　rounded　shoulders　were　a　pedestal　for　those　dangling　feet。　　And　before　many　more　I　heard　the　old　metallic　snap；　followed　by　the　raising　of　a　sash　so　slowly　and　gently　as　to　be　almost　inaudible　to　me　listening　just　below。

Raffles　went　through　hands　first；　disappeared　for　an　instant；　then　leaned　out；　lowering　his　hands　for　me。

〃Come　on；　Bunny！　　You're　safer　in　than　out。　　Hang　on　to　the　sill　and　let　me　get　you　under　the　arms。　　Now　all。　together　…　quietly　does　it　…　and　over　you　come！〃

No　need　to　dwell　on　our　proceedings　in　the　bank。　　I　myself　had　small　part　in　the　scene；　being　posted　rather　in　the　wings；　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　leading　to　the　private　premises　in　which　the　manager　had　his　domestic　being。　　But　I　made　my　mind　easy　about　him；　for　in　the　silence　of　my　watch　I　soon　detected　a　nasal　note　overhead；　and　it　was　resonant　and　aggressive　as　the　man　himself。　　Of　Raffles；　on　the　contrary；　I　heard　nothing；　for　he　had　shut　the　door　between　us；　and　I　was　to　warn　him　if　a　single　sound　came　through。　　I　need　scarcely　add　that　no　warning　was　necessary　during　the　twenty　minutes　we　remained　in　the　bank。　　Raffles　afterward　assured　me　that　nineteen　of　them　had　been　spent　in　filing　one　key；　but　one　of　his　latest　inventions　was　a　little　thick　velvet　bag　in　which　he　carried　the　keys；　and　this　bag　had　two　elastic　mouths；　which　closed　so　tightly　about　either　wrist　that　he　could　file　away；　inside；　and　scarcely　hear　it　himself。　　As　for　these　keys；　they　were　clever　counterfeits　of　typical　patterns　by　two　great　safe…making　firms。　　And　Raffles　had　come　by　them　in　a　manner　all。　his　own；　which　the　criminal　world　may　discover　for　itself。

When　he　opened　the　door　and　beckoned　to　me；　I　knew　by　his　face　that　he　had　succeeded　to　his　satisfaction；　and　by　experience　better　than　to　question　him　on　the　point。　　Indeed；　the　first　thing　was　to　get　out　of　the　bank；　for　the　stars　were　drowning　in　a　sky　of　ink　and　water；　and　it　was　a　comfort　to　feel　that　we　could　fly　straight　to　our　beds。　　I　said　so　in　whispers　as　Raffles　cautiously　opened　our　window　and　peeped　out。　　In　an　instant　his　head　was　in；　and　for　another　I　feared　the　worst。

〃What　was　that；　Bunny？　　No；　you　don't；　my　son！　　There's　not　a　soul　in　sight　that　I　can　see；　but　you　never　know；　and　we　may　as　well　lay　a　scent　while　we're　about　it。　　Ready？　　Then　follow　me；　and　never　mind　the　window。〃

With　that　he　dropped　softly　into　the　street；　and　I　after　him；　turning　to　the　right　instead　of　the　left；　and　that　at　a　brisk　trot　instead　of　the　innocent　walk　which　had　brought　us　to　the　bank。　Like　mice　we　scampered　past　the　great　schoolroom；　with　its　gable　snipping　a　paler　sky　than　ever；　and　the　shadows　melting　even　in　the　colonnade　underneath。　　Masters'　houses　flitted　by　on　the　left；　lesser　landmarks　on　either　side；　and　presently　we　were　running　our　heads　into　the　dawn；　one　under　either　hedge　of　the　Stockley　road。

〃Did　you　see　that　light　in　Nab's　just　now？〃　cried　Raffles　as　he　led。

〃No；　why？〃　I　panted；　nearly　spent。

〃It　was　in　Nab's　dressing　…　room。

〃Yes？〃

〃I've　seen　it　there　before；〃　continued　Raffles。　　〃He　never　was　a　good　sleeper；　and　his　ears　reach　to　the　street。　　I　wouldn't　like　to　say　how　often　I　was　chased　by　him　in　the　small　hours！　　I　believe　he　knew　who　it　was　toward　the　end；　but　Nab　was　not　the　man　to　accuse　you　of　what　he　couldn't　prove。〃

I　had　no　breath　for　comment。　　And　on　sped　Raffles　like　a　yacht　before　the　wind；　and　on　I　blundered　like　a　wherry　at　sea；　making　heavy　weather　all。　the　way；　and　nearer　foundering　at　every　stride。　Suddenly；　to　my　deep　relief；　Raffles　halted；　but　only　to　tell　me　to　stop　my　pipes　while　he　listened。

〃It's　all。　right；　Bunny；〃　he　resumed；　showing　me　a　glowing　face　in　the　dawn。　　〃History's　on　its　own　tracks　once　more；　and　I'll　bet　you　it's　dear　old　Nab　on　ours！　　Come　on；　Bunny；　run　to　the　last　gasp；　and　leave　the　rest　to　me。〃

I　was　past　arguing；　and　away　he　went。　　There　was　no　help　for　it　but　to　follow　as　best　I　could。　　Yet　I　had　vastly　preferred　to　collapse　on　the　spot；　and　trust　to　Raffles's　resource；　as　before　very　long　I　must。　　I　had　never　enjoyed　long　wind　and　the　hours　that　we　kept　in　town　may　well　have　aggravated　the　deficiency。　　Raffles；　however；　was　in　first…class　training　from　first…class　cricket；　and　he　had　no　mercy　on　Nab　or　me。　　But　the　master　himself　was　an　old　Oxford　miler；　who　could　still　bear　it　better　than　I；　nay；　as　I　flagged　and　stumbled；　I　heard　him　pounding　steadily　behind。

〃Come　on；　come　on；　or　he'll　do　us！〃　cried　Raffles　shrilly　over　his　shoulder；　and　a　gruff　sardonic　laugh　came　back　over　mine。　　It　was　pearly　morning　now；　but　we　had　run　into　a　shallow　mist　that　took　me　by　the　throat　and　stabbed　me　to　the　lungs。　　I　coughed　and　coughed；　and　stumbled　in　my　stride；　until　down　I　went；　less　by　accident　than　to　get　it　over；　and　so　lay　headlong　in　my　tracks。　　And　old　Nab　dealt　me　a　verbal　kick　as　he　passed。

〃You　beast！〃　he　growled；　as　I　have　known　him　growl　it　in　form。

But　Raffles　himself　had　abandoned　the　flight　on　hearing　my　downfall；　and　I　was　on　hands　and　knees　just　in　time　to　see　the　meeting　between　him　and　old　Nab。　　And　there　stood　Raffles　in　the　silvery　mist；　laughing　with　his　whole　light　heart；　leaning　back　to　get　the　full　flavor　of　his　mirth；　and；　nearer　me；　sturdy　old　Nab；　dour　and　grim；　with　beads　of　dew　on　the　hoary　beard　that　had　been　lamp…black　in　our　time。

〃So　I've　caught　you　at　last！〃　said　he。　　〃After　more　years　than　I　mean　to　count！〃

〃Then　you're　luckier　than　we　are；　sir；〃　answered　Raffles；　〃for　I　fear　our　man　has　given　us　the　slip。〃

〃Your　man！〃　echoed　Nab。　　His　bushy　eyebrows　had　shot　up：　it　was　as　much　as　I　could　do　to　keep　my　own　in　their　place。

〃We　were　indulging　in　the　chase　ourselves；〃　explained　Raffles；　〃and　one　of　us　has　suffered　for　his　zeal；　as　you　can　see。　　It　is　even　possible　that　we；　too；　have　been　chasing　a　perfectly　innocent　man。〃

〃Not　to　say　a　reformed　character；〃　said　our　pursuer　dryly。　　〃　　suppose　you　don't　mean　a　member　of　the　school？〃　he　added；　pinking　his　man　suddenly　as　of　yore；　with　all。　the　old　barbed　acumen。　　But　Raffles　was　now　his　match。

〃That　would　be　carrying　reformation　rather　far；　sir。　　No；　as　I　say；　I　may　have　been　mistaken　in　the　first　instance；　but　I　had　put　out　my　light　and　was　looking　out　of　the　window　when　I　saw　a　fellow　behaving　quite　suspiciously。　　He　was　carrying　his　boots　and　creeping　along　in　his　socks　…　which　must　be　why　you　never　heard　him；　sir。　They　make　less　noise　than　rubber　soles　even　…　that　is；　they　must；　you　know！　　Well；　Bunny　had　just　left　me；　so　I　hauled　him　out　and　we　both　crept　down　to　play　detective。　　No　sign　of　the　fellow！　　We　had　a　look　in　the　colonnade　…　I　thought　I　heard　him　…　and　that　gave　us　no　end　of　a　hunt　for　nothing。　　But　just　as　we　were　leaving　he　came　padding　past　under　our　noses；　and　that's　where　we　took　up　the　chase。　　Where　he'd　been　in　the　meantime　I　have　no　idea；　very　likely　he'd　done　no　harm；　but　it　seemed　worth　while　finding　out。　　He　had　too　good　a　start；　though；　and　poor　Bunny　had　too　bad　a　wind。〃

〃You　should　have　gone　on　and　let　me　rip；〃　said　I；　climbing　to　my　feet　at　last。

〃As　it　is；　however；　we　will　all。　let　the　other　fellow　do　so；〃　said　old　Nab　in　a　genial　growl。　　〃And　you　two　had　better　turn　into　my　house　and　have　something　to　keep　the　morning　cold　out。〃

You　may　imagine　with　what　alacrity　we　complied；　and　yet　I　am　bound　to　confess　that　I　had　never　liked　Nab　at　school。　　I　still　remember　my　term　in　his　form。　　He　had　a　causti