a thief in the night-第17章

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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　caustic　tongue　and　　fine　assortment　of　damaging　epithets；　most　of　which　were　levelled　at　my　devoted　skull　during　those　three　months。　　I　now　discovered　that　he　also　kept　a　particularly　mellow　Scotch　whiskey；　an　excellent　cigar；　and　a　fund　of　anecdote　of　which　a　mordant　wit　was　the　worthy　bursar。　Enough　to　add　that　he　kept　us　laughing　in　his　study　until　the　chapel　bells　rang　him　out。

As　for　Raffles；　he　appeared　to　me　to　feel　far　more　compunction　for　the　fable　which　he　had　been　compelled　to　foist　upon　one　of　the　old　masters　than　for　the　immeasurably　graver　offence　against　society　and　another　Old　Boy。　　This；　indeed；　did　not　worry　him　at　all。；　and　the　story　was　received　next　day　with　absolute　credulity　on　all。　sides。　　Nasmyth　himself　was　the　first　to　thank　us　both　for　our　spirited　effort　on　his　behalf；　and　the　incident　had　the　ironic　effect　of　establishing　an　immediate　entente　cordiale　between　Raffles　and　his　very　latest　victim。　　I　must　confess；　however；　that　for　my　own　part　I　was　thoroughly　uneasy　during　the　Old　Boys'　second　innings；　when　Raffles　made　a　selfish　score；　instead　of　standing　by　me　to　tell　his　own　story　in　his　own　way。　　There　was　never　any　knowing　with　what　new　detail　he　was　about　to　embellish　it：　and　I　have　still　to　receive　full　credit　for　the　tact　that　it　required　to　follow　his　erratic　lead　convincingly。　　Seldom　have　I　been　more　thankful　than　when　our　train　started　next　morning；　and　the　poor；　unsuspecting　Nasmyth　himself　waved　us　a　last　farewell　from　the　platform。

〃Lucky　we　weren't　staying　at　Nab's；〃　said　Raffles；　as　he　lit　a　Sullivan　and　opened　his　Daily　Mail　at　its　report　of　the　robbery。　〃There　was　one　thing　Nab　would　have　spotted　like　the　downy　old　bird　he　always　was　and　will　be。〃

〃What　was　that？〃

〃The　front　door　must　have　been　found　duly　barred　and　bolted　in　the　morning；　and　yet　we　let　them　assume　that　we　came　out　that　way。　　Nab　would　have　pounced　on　the　point；　and　by　this　time　we　might　have　been　nabbed　ourselves。〃

It　was　but　a　little　over　a　hundred　sovereigns　that　Raffles　had　taken；　and；　of　course；　he　had　resolutely　eschewed　any　and　every　form　of　paper　money。　　He　posted　his　own　first　contribution　of　twenty…five　pounds　to　the　Founder's　Fund　immediately　on　our　return　to　town；　before　rushing　off　to　more　first…class　cricket；　and　I　gathered　that　the　rest　would　follow　piecemeal　as　he　deemed　it　safe。　By　an　odd　coincidence；　however；　a　mysterious　but　magnificent　donation　of　a　hundred　guineas　was　almost　simultaneously　received　in　notes　by　the　treasurer　of　the　Founder's　Fund；　from　one　who　simply　signed　himself　〃Old　Boy。〃　　The　treasurer　happened　to　be　our　late　host；　the　new　man　at　our　old　house；　and　he　wrote　to　congratulate　Raffles　on　what　he　was　pleased　to　consider　a　direct　result　of　the　latter's　speech。　　I　did　not　see　the　letter　that　Raffles　wrote　in　reply；　but　in　due　course　I　heard　the　name　of　the　mysterious　contributor。　　He　was　said　to　be　no　other　than　Nipper　Nasmyth　himself。　I　asked　Raffles　if　it　was　true。　　He　replied　that　he　would　ask　old　Nipper　point…blank　if　he　came　up　as　usual　to　the　Varsity　match；　and　if　they　had　the　luck　to　meet。　　And　not　only　did　this　happen；　but　I　had　the　greater　luck　to　be　walking　round　the　ground　with　Raffles　when　we　encountered　our　shabby　friend　in　front　of　the　pavilion。

〃My　dear　fellow；〃　cried　Raffles；　〃I　hear　it　was　you　who　gave　that　hundred　guineas　by　stealth　to　the　very　movement　you　denounced。　Don't　deny　it；　and　don't　blush　to　find　it　fame。　　Listen　to　me。　There　was　a　great　lot　in　what　you　said；　but　it's　the　kind　of　thing　we　ought　all。　to　back；　whether　we　strictly　approve　of　it　in　our　hearts　or　not。〃

〃Exactly；　Raffles；　but　the　fact　is　…　〃

〃I　know　what　you're　going　to　say。　　Don't　say　it。　　There's　not　one　in　a　thousand　who　would　do　as　you've　done；　and　not　one　in　a　million　who　would　do　it　anonymously。〃

〃But　what　makes　you　think　I　did　it；　Raffles？〃

〃Everybody　is　saying　so。　　You　will　find　it　all。　over　the　place　when　you　get　back。　　You　will　find　yourself　the　most　popular　man　down　there；　Nasmyth！〃

I　never　saw　a　nobler　embarrassment　than　that　of　this　awkward；　ungainly；　cantankerous　man：　all。　his　angles　seemed　to　have　been　smoothed　away：　there　was　something　quite　human　in　the　flushed；　undecided；　wistful　face。　　　　〃I　never　was　popular　in　my　life；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　want　to　buy　my　popularity　now。　　To　be　perfectly　candid　with　you；　Raffles　…　〃

〃Don't！　　I　can't　stop　to　hear。　　They're　ringing　the　bell。　　But　you　shouldn't　have　been　angry　with　me　for　saying　you　were　a　generous　good　chap；　Nasmyth；　when　you　were　one　all。　the　time。　　Good…by；　old　fellow！〃

But　Nasmyth　detained　us　a　second　more。　　His　hesitation　was　at　an　end。　　There　was　a　sudden　new　light　in　his　face。

〃Was　I？〃　he　cried。　　〃Then　I'll　make　it　two　hundred；　and　damn　the　odds！〃

Raffles　was　a　thoughtful　man　as　we　went　to　our　seats。　　He　saw　nobody；　would　acknowledge　no　remark。　　Neither　did　he　attend　to　the　cricket　for　the　first　half…hour　after　lunch；　instead；　he　eventually　invited　me　to　come　for　a　stroll　on　the　practice　ground；　where；　however；　we　found　two　chairs　aloof　from　the　fascinating　throng。

〃I　am　not　often　sorry；　Bunny；　as　you　know；〃　he　began。　　〃But　I　have　been　sorry　since　the　interval。　　I've　been　sorry　for　poor　old　Nipper　Nasmyth。　　Did　you　see　the　idea　of　being　popular　dawn　upon　him　for　the　first　time　in　his　life？〃

〃I　did；　but　you　had　nothing　to　do　with　that；　my　dear　man。〃

Raffles　shook　his　head　over　me　as　our　eyes　met。　　〃I　had　everything　to　do　with　it。　　I　tried　to　make　him　tell　the　meanest　lie。　　I　made　sure　he　would；　and　for　that　matter　he　nearly　did。　　Then；　at　the　last　moment；　he　saw　how　to　hedge　things　with　his　conscience。　　And　his　second　hundred　will　be　a　real　gift。〃

〃You　mean　under　his　own　name　…　〃

〃And　with　his　own　free…will。　　My　good　Bunny；　is　it　possible　you　don't　know　what　I　did　with　the　hundred　we　drew　from　that　bank！〃

〃I　knew　what　you　were　going　to　do　with　it；〃　said　I。　　〃I　didn't　know　you　had　actually　got　further　than　the　twenty…five　you　told　me　you　were　sending　as　your　own　contribution。〃

Raffles　rose　abruptly　from　his　chair。

〃And　you　actually　thought　that　came　out　of　his　money？〃

〃Naturally。〃

〃In　my　name？〃

〃I　thought　so。〃

Raffles　stared　at　me　inscrutably　for　some　moments；　and　for　some　more　at　the　great　white　numbers　over　the　grand…stand。

〃We　may　as　well　have　another　look　at　the　cricket；〃　said　he。　　〃It's　difficult　to　see　the　board　from　here；　but　I　believe　there's　another　man　out。〃




A　Bad　Night


There　was　to　be　a　certain　little　wedding　in　which　Raffles　and　I　took　a　surreptitious　interest。　　The　bride…elect　was　living　in　some　retirement；　with　a　recently　widowed　mother　and　an　asthmatical　brother；　in　a　mellow　hermitage　on　the　banks　of　the　Mole。　　The　bridegroom　was　a　prosperous　son　of　the　same　suburban　soil　which　had　nourished　both　families　for　generations。　　The　wedding　presents　were　so　numerous　as　to　fill　several　rooms　at　the　pretty　retreat　upon　the　Mole；　and　of　an　intrinsic　value　calling　for　a　special　transaction　with　the　Burglary　Insurance　Company　in　Cheapside。　　I　cannot　say　how　Raffles　obtained　all。　this　information。　　I　only　know　that　it　proved　correct　in　each　particular。　　I　was　not　indeed　deeply　interested　before　the　event；　since　Raffles　assured　me　that　it　was　〃a　one…man　job；〃　and　naturally　intended　to　be　the　one　man　himself。　It　was　only　at　the　eleventh　hour　that　our　positions　were　inverted　by　the　wholly　unexpected　selection　of　Raffles　for　the　English　team　in　the　Second　Test　Match。

In　a　flash　I　saw　the　chance　of　my　criminal　career。　　It　was　some　years　since　Raffles　had　served　his　country　in　these　encounters；　he　had　never　thought　to　be　called　upon　again；　and　his　gratification　was　only　less　than　his　embarrassment。　　The　match　was　at　Old　Trafford；　on　the　third　Thursday；　Friday；　and　Saturday　in　July；　the　other　affair　had　been　all。　arranged　for　the　Thursday　night；　the　night　of　the　wedding　at　East　Molesey。　　It　was　for　Raffles　to　choose　between　the　two　excitements；　and　for　once　I　helped　him　to　make　up　his　mind。　　I　duly　pointed　out　to　him　that　in　Surrey；　at　all。　events；　I　was　quite　capable　of　taking　his　place。　　Nay；　more；　I　insisted　at　once　on　my　prescriptive　right　and　on　his　patriotic　obligation　in　the　matter。　　In　the　country's　name　and　in　my　own；　I　implored　him　to　give　it　and　me　a　chance；　and　for　once；　as　I　say；　my　arguments　prevailed。　　Raffles　sent　his　telegram　…　it　was　the　day　before　the　match。　　We　then　rushed　down　to　Esher；　and　over　every　inch　of　the　ground　by　that　characteristically　circuitous　route　which　he　enjoined　on　me　for　the　next　night。　　And　at　six　in　the　evening　I　was　receiving　the　last　of　my　many　instructions　through　a　window　of　the　restaurant　car。

〃Only　promise　me　not　to　take　a　revolver；〃　said　Raffles　in　a　whisper。　〃Here　are　my　keys；　there's　an　old　life…preserver　somewhere　in　the　bureau；　take　that；　if　you　like　…　though　what　you　take　I　rather　fear　you　are　the　chap　to　use！〃

〃Then　the　rope　be　round　my　own　neck！〃　I　whispered　back。　　〃Whatever　else　I　may　do；　Raffles；　I　shan't　give　you　away；　and　you'll　find　I　do　better　than　you　think；　and　am　worth　trusting　with　a　little　more　to　do；　or　I'll　know　the　reason　why！〃

And　I　meant　to　know　it；　as　he　was　borne　out　of　Euston　with　raised　eyebrows；　and　I　turned　grimly　on　my　heel。　　I　saw　his　fears　for　me；　and　nothing　could　have　made　me　more　fearless　for　myself。　　Raffles　had　been　wrong　about　me　all。　these　years；　now　was　my　chance　to　set　him　right。　　It　was　galling　to　feel　that　he　had　no　confidence　in　my　coolness　or　my　nerve；　when　neither　had　ever　failed　him　at　a　pinch。　I　had　been　loyal　to　him　through　rough　and　smooth。　　In　many　an　ugly　corner　I　had　stood　as　firm　as　Raffles　himself。　　I　was　his　right　hand；　and　yet　he　never　hesitated　to　make　me　his　catspaw。　　This　time；　at　all。　events；　I　should　be　neither　one　nor　the　other；　this　time　I　was　the　understudy　playing　lead　at　last；　and　I　wish　I　could　think　that　Raffles　ever　realized　with　what　gusto　I　threw　myself　into　his　part。

Thus　I　was　first　out　of　a　crowded　theatre　train　at　Esher　next　night；　and　first　down　the　stairs　into　the　open　air。　　The　night　was　close　and　cloudy；　and　the　road　to　Hampton　Court；　even　now　that　the　suburban　builder　has　marked　much　of　it　for　his　own；　is　one　of　the　darkest　I　know。　　The　first　mile　is　still　a　narrow　avenue；　a　mere　tunnel　of　leaves　at　midsummer；　but　at　that　time　there　was　not　a　lighted　pane　or　cranny　by　the　way。　　Naturally；　it　was　in　this　blind　reach　that　I　fancied　I　was　being　followed。　　I　stopped　in　my　stride；　so　did　the　steps　I　made　sure　I　had　heard　not　far　behind；　and　when　I　went　on；　they　followed　suit。　　I　dried　my　forehead　as　I　walked；　but　soon　brought　myself　to　repeat　the　experiment　when　an　exact　repetition　of　the　result　went　to　convince　me　that　it　had　been　my　own　echo　all。　the　time。　　And　since　I　lost　it　on　getting　quit　of　the　avenue；　and　coming　out　upon　the　straight　and　open　road；　I　was　not　long　in　recovering　from　my　scare。　　But　now　I　could　see　my　way；　and　found　the　rest　of　it　without　mishap；　though　not　without　another　semblance　of　adventure。　Over　the　bridge　across　the　Mole；　when　about　to　turn　to　the　left；　I　marched　straight　upon　a　policeman　in　rubber　soles。　　I　had　to　cal