a thief in the night-第22章

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〃Not　yet；〃　said　Maguire；　with　a　glance　at　the　pseudo…antique　cabinet　in　which　he　kept　them。　　〃Then　you　can　save　yourself　the　trouble；〃　rejoined　the　secretary；　as　he　dived　under　the　octagonal　table；　and　came　up　with　a　small　black　bag　that　I　knew　at　a　glance。　　It　was　the　one　that　Raffles　had　used　for　heavy　plunder　ever　since　I　had　known　　him。

The　bag　was　so　heavy　now　that　the　secretary　used　both　hands　to　get　it　on　the　table。　　In　another　moment　he　had　taken　out　the　jewelled　belt　presented　to　Maguire　by　the　State　of　Nevada；　the　solid　silver　statuette　of　himself；　and　the　gold　brick　from　the　citizens　of　Sacramento。

Either　the　sight　of　his　treasures；　so　nearly　lost；　or　the　feeling　that　the　thief　had　dared　to　tamper　with　them　after　all。；　suddenly　infuriated　Maguire　to　such　an　extent　that　he　had　bestowed　a　couple　of　brutal　kicks　upon　the　senseless　form　of　Raffles　before　the　secretary　and　I　could　interfere。

〃Play　light；　Mr。　Maguire！〃　cried　the　sallow　secretary。　　〃The　man's　drugged；　as　well　as　down。〃

〃He'll　be　lucky　if　he　ever　gets　up；　blight　and　blister　him！〃

〃I　should　judge　it　about　time　to　telephone　for　the　police。〃

〃Not　till　I've　done　with　him。　　Wait　till　he　comes　to！　　I　guess　I'll　punch　his　face　into　a　jam　pudding！　　He　shall　wash　down　his　teeth　with　his　blood　before　the　coppers　come　in　for　what's　left！〃

〃You　make　me　feel　quite　ill；〃　complained　the　grand　lady　in　the　chair。　　〃I　wish　you'd　give　me　a　little　something；　and　not　be　more　vulgar　than　you　can　'elp。〃

〃Help　yourself；〃　said　Maguire；　ungallantly；　〃and　don't　talk　through　your　hat。　　Say；　what's　the　matter　with　the　'phone？〃

The　secretary　had　picked　up　the　dangling　receiver。

〃It　looks　to　me；〃　said　he；　〃as　though　the　crook　had　rung　up　somebody　before　he　went　off。〃

I　turned　and　assisted　the　grand　lady　to　the　refreshment　that　she　craved。

〃Like　his　cheek！〃　Maguire　thundered。　　〃But　who　in　blazes　should　he　ring　up？〃

〃It'll　all。　come　out；〃　said　the　secretary。　　〃They'll　tell　us　at　the　central；　and　we　shall　find　out　fast　enough。〃

〃It　don't　matter　now；〃　said　Maguire。　　〃Let's　have　a　drink　and　then　rouse　the　devil　up。〃

But　now　I　was　shaking　in　my　shoes。　　I　saw　quite　clearly　what　this　meant。　　Even　if　I　rescued　Raffles　for　the　time　being；　the　police　would　promptly　ascertain　that　it　was　I　who　had　been　rung　up　by　the　burglar；　and　the　fact　of　my　not　having　said　a　word　about　it　would　be　directly　damning　to　me；　if　in　the　end　it　did　not　incriminate　us　both。　　It　made　me　quite　faint　to　feel　that　we　might　escape　the　Scylla　of　our　present　peril　and　yet　split　on　the　Charybdis　of　circumstantial　evidence。　　Yet　I　could　see　no　middle　course　of　conceivable　safety；　if　I　held　my　tongue　another　moment。　　So　I　spoke　up　desperately；　with　the　rash　resolution　which　was　the　novel　feature　of　my　whole　conduct　on　this　occasion。　　But　any　sheep　would　be　resolute　and　rash　after　dining　with　Swigger　Morrison　at　his　club。

〃I　wonder　if　he　rang　me　up？〃　I　exclaimed；　as　if　inspired。

〃You；　sonny？〃　echoed　Maguire；　decanter　in　hand。　　〃What　in　hell　could　he　know　about　you？〃

〃Or　what　could　you　know　about　him？〃　amended　the　secretary；　fixing　me　with　eyes　like　drills。

〃Nothing；〃　I　admitted；　regretting　my　temerity　with　all。　my　heart。　〃But　some　one　did　ring　me　up　about　an　hour　ago。　　I　thought　it　was　Raffles。　　I　told　you　I　expected　to　find　him　here；　if　you　remember。〃

〃But　I　don't　see　what　that's　got　to　do　with　the　crook；〃　pursued　the　secretary；　with　his　relentless　eyes　boring　deeper　and　deeper　into　mine。

〃No　more　do　I；〃　was　my　miserable　reply。　　But　there　was　a　certain　comfort　in　his　words；　and　some　simultaneous　promise　in　the　quantity　of　spirit　which　Maguire　splashed　into　his　glass。

〃Were　you　cut　off　sudden？〃　asked　the　secretary；　reaching　for　the　decanter；　as　the　three　of　us　sat　round　the　octagonal　table。

〃So　suddenly；〃　I　replied；　〃that　I　never　knew　who　it　was　who　rang　me　up。　　No；　thank　you　…　not　any　for　me。〃

〃What！〃　cried　Maguire；　raising　a　depressed　head　suddenly。　　〃You　won't　have　a　drink　in　my　house？　　Take　care；　young　man。　　That's　not　being　a　good　boy！〃

〃But　I've　been　dining　out；〃　I　expostulated；　〃and　had　my　whack。　　I　really　have。〃

Barney　Maguire　smote　the　table　with　terrific

〃Say；　sonny；　I　like　you　a　lot；〃　said　he。　　〃But　I　shan't　like　you　any　if　you're　not　a　good　boy！〃

〃Very　well；　very　well；〃　I　said　hurriedly。　　〃One　finger；　if　I　must。〃

And　the　secretary　helped　me　to　not　more　than　two。

〃Why　should　it　have　been　your　friend　Raffles？〃　he　inquired；　returning　remorselessly　to　the　charge；　while　Maguire　roared　〃Drink　up！〃　and　then　drooped　once　more。

〃I　was　half　asleep；〃　I　answered；　〃and　he　was　the　first　person　who　occurred　to　me。　　We　are　both　on　the　telephone；　you　see。　　And　we　had　made　a　bet　…　〃

The　glass　was　at　my　lips；　but　I　was　able　to　set　it　down　untouched。　Maguire's　huge　jaw　had　dropped　upon　his　spreading　shirt…front；　and　beyond　him　I　saw　the　person　in　sequins　fast　asleep　in　the　artistic　armchair。

〃What　bet？〃　asked　a　voice　with　a　sudden　start　in　it。　　The　secretary　was　blinking　as　he　drained　his　glass。

〃About　the　very　thing　we've　just　had　explained　to　us；〃　said　I；　watching　my　man　intently　as　I　spoke。　　〃I　made　sure　it　was　a　man…trap。　Raffles　thought　it　must　be　something　else。　　We　had　a　tremendous　argument　about　it。　　Raffles　said　it　wasn't　a　man…trap。　　I　said　it　was。　　We　had　a　bet　about　it　in　the　end。　　I　put　my　money　on　the　man…trap。　　Raffles　put　his　upon　the　other　thing。　　And　Raffles　was　right　…　it　wasn't　a　man…trap。　　But　it's　every　bit　as　good　…　every　little　bit　…　and　the　whole　boiling　of　you　are　caught　in　it　except　me！〃

I　sank　my　voice　with　the　last　sentence；　but　I　might　just　as　well　have　raised　it　instead。　　I　had　said　the　same　thing　over　and　over　again　to　see　whether　the　wilful　tautology　would　cause　the　secretary　to　open　his　eyes。　　It　seemed　to　have　had　the　very　opposite　effect。　His　head　fell　forward　on　the　table；　with　never　a　quiver　at　the　blow；　never　a　twitch　when　I　pillowed　it　upon　one　of　his　own　sprawling　arms。　　And　there　sat　Maguire　bolt　upright；　but　for　the　jowl　upon　his　shirt…front；　while　the　sequins　twinkled　in　a　regular　rise　and　fall　upon　the　reclining　form　of　the　lady　in　the　fanciful　chair。　　All。　three　were　sound　asleep；　by　what　accident　or　by　whose　design　I　did　not　pause　to　inquire；　it　was　enough　to　ascertain　the　fact　beyond　all。　chance　of　error。

I　turned　my　attention　to　Raffles　last　of　all。　　There　was　the　other　side　of　the　medal。　　Raffles　was　still　sleeping　as　sound　as　the　enemy　…　or　so　I　feared　at　first　I　shook　him　gently：　he　made　no　sign。　　I　introduced　vigor　into　the　process：　he　muttered　incoherently。　I　caught　and　twisted　an　unresisting　wrist　…　and　at　that　he　yelped　profanely。　　But　it　was　many　and　many　an　anxious　moment　before　his　blinking　eyes　knew　mine。

〃Bunny！〃　he　yawned；　and　nothing　more　until　his　position　came　back　to　him。　　〃So　you　came　to　me；〃　he　went　on；　in　a　tone　that　thrilled　me　with　its　affectionate　appreciation；　〃as　I　knew　you　would！　　Have　they　turned　up　yet？　　They　will　any　minute；　you　know；　there's　not　one　to　lose。〃

〃No；　they　won't；　old　man！〃　I　whispered。　　And　he　sat　up　and　saw　the　comatose　trio　for　himself。

Raffles　seemed　less　amazed　at　the　result　than　I　had　been　as　a　puzzled　witness　of　the　process；　on　the　other　hand；　I　had　never　seen　anything　quite　so　exultant　as　the　smile　that　broke　through　his　blackened　countenance　like　a　light。　　It　was　all。　obviously　no　great　surprise；　and　no　puzzle　at　all。；　to　Raffles。

〃How　much　did　they　have；　Bunny？〃　were　his　first　whispered　words。

〃Maguire　a　good　three　fingers；　and　the　others　at　least　two。〃

〃Then　we　needn't　lower　our　voices；　and　we　needn't　walk　on　our　toes。　Eheu！　　I　dreamed　somebody　was　kicking　me　in　the　ribs；　and　I　believe　it　must　have　been　true。〃

He　had　risen　with　a　hand　to　his　side　and　a　wry　look　on　his　sweep's　face。

〃You　can　guess　which　of　them　it　was；〃　said　I。　　〃The　beast　is　jolly　well　served！〃

And　I　shook　my　fist　in　the　paralytic　face　of　the　most　brutal　bruiser　of　his　time。

〃He　is　safe　till　the　forenoon；　unless　they　bring　a　doctor　to　him；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　don't　suppose　we　could　rouse　him　now　if　we　tried。　How　much　of　the　fearsome　stuff　do　you　suppose　I　took？　　About　a　tablespoonful！　　I　guessed　what　it　was；　and　couldn't　resist　making　sure；　the　minute　I　was　satisfied；　I　changed　the　label　and　the　position　of　the　two　decanters；　little　thinking　I　should　stay　to　see　the　fun；　but　in　another　minute　I　could　hardly　keep　my　eyes　open。　I　realized　then　that　I　was　fairly　poisoned　with　some　subtle　drug。　If　I　left　the　house　at　all。　in　that　state；　I　must　leave　the　spoil　behind；　or　be　found　drunk　in　the　gutter　with　my　head　on　the　swag　itself。　　In　any　case　I　should　have　been　picked　up　and　run　in；　and　that　might　have　led　to　anything。〃

〃So　you　rang　me　up！〃

〃It　was　my　last　brilliant　inspiration　…　a　sort　of　flash　in　the　brain…pan　before　the　end　…　and　I　remember　very　little　about　it。　　I　was　more　asleep　than　awake　at　the　time。〃

〃You　sounded　like　it；　Raffles；　now　that　one　has　the　clue。〃

〃I　can't　remember　a　word　I　said；　or　what　was　the　end　of　it；　Bunny。〃

〃You　fell　in　a　heap　before　you　came　to　the　end。〃

〃You　didn't　hear　that　through　the　telephone？〃

〃As　though　we　had　been　in　the　same　room：　only　I　thought　it　was　Maguire　who　had　stolen　a　march　on　you　and　knocked　you　out。〃

I　had　never　seen　Raffles　more　interested　and　impressed；　but　at　this　point　his　smile　altered；　his　eyes　softened；　and　I　found　my　hand　in　his。

〃You　thought　that；　and　yet　you　came　like　a　shot　to　do　battle　for　my　body　with　Barney　Maguire！　　Jack…the…Giant…killer　wasn't　in　it　with　you；　Bunny！〃

〃It　was　no　credit　to　me　…　it　was　rather　the　other　thing；〃　said　I；　remembering　my　rashness　and　my　luck；　and　confessing　both　in　a　breath。　〃You　know　old　Swigger　Morrison？〃　I　added　in　final　explanation。　　〃I　had　been　dining　with　him　at　his　club！〃

Raffles　shook　his　long　old　head。　　And　the　kindly　light　in　his　eyes　was　still　my　infinite　reward。

〃I　don't　care；〃　said　he；　〃how　deeply　you　had　been　dining：　in　vino　veritas；　Bunny；　and　your　pluck　would　always　out！　　I　have　never　doubted　it；　and　I　never　shall。　　In　fact；　I　rely　on　nothing　else　to　get　us　out　of　this　mess。〃

My　face　must　have　fallen；　as　my　heart　sank　at　these　words。　　I　had　said　to　myself　that　we　were　out　of　the　mess　already　…　that　we　had　merely　to　make　a　clean　escape　from　the　house　…　now　the　easiest　thing　in　the　world。　　But　as　I　looked　at　Raffles；　and　as　Raffles　looked　at　me；　on　the　threshold　of　the　room　where　the　three　sleepers　slept　on　without　sound　or　movement；　I　grasped　the　real　problem　that　lay　before　us。　　It　was　twofold；　and　the　funny　thing　was　that　I　had　seen　both　horns　of　the　dilemma　for　myself；　before　Raffles　came　to　his　senses。　　But　with　Raffles　in　his　right　mind；　I　had　ceased　to　apply　my　own；　or　to　carry　my　share　of　our　common　burden　another　inch。　　It　had　been　an　unconscious　withdrawal　on　my　part；　an　instinctive　tribute　to　my　leader；　but；　I　was　sufficiently　ashamed　of　it　as　we　stood　and　faced　the　problem　in　each　other's　eyes。

〃If　we　simply　cleared　out；〃　continued　Raffles；　〃you　would　be　incriminated　in　the　first　place　as　my　accomplice；　and　once　they　had　you　they　would　have　a　compass　with　the　needle　pointing　straight　to　me。　　They　mustn't　have　either　of　us；　Bunny；　or　they　will　get　us　both。　　And　for　my　part　they　may　as　well！〃

I　echoed　a