a thief in the night-第24章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　planning　the　raid　upon　my　own　old　home。

I　would　not　accuse　myself　the　more　vehemently　by　making　excuses　at　this　point。　　　Yet　I　feel　bound　to　state　that　it　was　already　many　years　since　the　place　had　passed　from　our　possession　into　that　of　an　utter　alien；　against　whom　I　harbored　a　prejudice　which　was　some　excuse　in　itself。　　He　had　enlarged　and　altered　the　dear　old　place　out　of　knowledge；　nothing　had　been　good　enough　for　him　as　it　stood　in　our　day。　　The　man　was　a　hunting　maniac；　and　where　my　dear　father　used　to　grow　prize　peaches　under　glass；　this　vandal　was　soon　stabling　his　hothouse　thoroughbreds；　which　took　prizes　in　their　turn　at　all。　the　country　shows。　　It　was　a　southern　county；　and　I　never　went　down　there　without　missing　another　greenhouse　and　noting　a　corresponding　extension　to　the　stables。　　Not　that　I　ever　set　foot　in　the　grounds　from　the　day　we　left；　but　for　some　years　I　used　to　visit　old　friends　in　the　neighborhood；　and　could　never　resist　the　temptation　to　reconnoiter　the　scenes　of　my　childhood。　　And　so　far　as　could　be　seen　from　the　road　…　which　it　stood　too　near　…　the　house　itself　appeared　to　be　the　one　thing　that　the　horsey　purchaser　had　left　much　as　he　found　it。

My　only　other　excuse　may　be　none　at　all。　in　any　eyes　but　mine。　　It　was　my　passionate　desire　at　this　period　to　〃keep　up　my　end〃　with　Raffles　in　every　department　of　the　game　felonious。　　He　would　insist　upon　an　equal　division　of　all。　proceeds；　it　was　for　me　to　earn　my　share。　　So　far　I　had　been　useful　only　at　a　pinch；　the　whole　credit　of　any　real　success　belonged　invariably　to　Raffles。　　It　had　always　been　his　idea。　　That　was　the　tradition　which　I　sought　to　end；　and　no　means　could　compare　with　that　of　my　unscrupulous　choice。　　There　was　the　one　house　in　England　of　which　I　knew　every　inch；　and　Raffles　only　what　I　told　him。　　For　once　I　must　lead；　and　Raffles　follow；　whether　he　liked　it　or　not。　　He　saw　that　himself；　and　I　think　he　liked　it　better　than　he　liked　me　for　the　desecration　in　view；　but　I　had　hardened　my　heart；　and　his　feelings　were　too　fine　for　actual　remonstrance　on　such　a　point。

I；　in　my　obduracy；　went　to　foul　extremes。　　I　drew　plans　of　all。　the　floors　from　memory。　　I　actually　descended　upon　my　friends　in　the　neighborhood；　with　the　sole　object　of　obtaining　snap…shots　over　our　own　old　garden　wall。　　Even　Raffles　could　not　keep　his　eyebrows　down　when　I　showed　him　the　prints　one　morning　in　the　Albany。　　But　he　confined　his　open　criticisms　to　the　house。

〃Built　in　the　late　'sixties；　I　see；〃　said　Raffles；　〃or　else　very　early　in　the　'seventies。〃

〃Exactly　when　it　was　built；〃　I　replied。　　〃But　that's　worthy　of　a　sixpenny　detective；　Raffles！　　How　on　earth　did　you　know？〃

〃That　slate　tower　bang　over　the　porch；　with　the　dormer　windows　and　the　iron　railing　and　flagstaff　atop　makes　us　a　present　of　the　period。　You　see　them　on　almost　every　house　of　a　certain　size　built　about　thirty　years　ago。　　They　are　quite　the　most　useless　excrescences　I　know。〃

〃Ours　wasn't；〃　I　answered；　with　some　warmth。　　〃It　was　my　sanctum　sanctorum　in　the　holidays。　　I　smoked　my　first　pipe　up　there；　and　wrote　my　first　verses。〃

Raffles　laid　a　kindly　hand　upon　my　shoulder　…　〃Bunny；　Bunny；　you　can　rob　the　old　place；　and　yet　you　can't　hear　a　word　against　it？〃

〃That's　different；〃　said　I　relentlessly。　　〃The　tower　was　there　in　my　time；　but　the　man　I　mean　to　rob　was　not。〃

〃You　really　do　mean　to　do　it；　Bunny？〃

〃By　myself；　if　necessary？　　I　averred。

〃Not　again；　Bunny；　not　again；〃　rejoined　Raffles；　laughing　as　he　shook　his　head。　　〃But　do　you　think　the　man　has　enough　to　make　it　worth　our　while　to　go　so　far　afield？〃

〃Far　afield！　　It's　not　forty　miles　on　the　London　and　Brighton。〃

〃Well；　that's　as　bad　as　a　hundred　on　most　lines。　　And　when　did　you　say　it　was　to　be？〃

〃Friday　week。〃

〃I　don't　much　like　a　Friday；　Bunny。　　Why　make　it　one？〃

〃It's　the　night　of　their　Hunt　Point…to…Point。　　They　wind　up　the　season　with　it　every　year；　and　the　bloated　Guillemard　usually　sweeps　the　board　with　his　fancy　flyers。〃

〃You　mean　the　man　in　your　old　house？〃

〃Yes；　and　he　tops　up　with　no　end　of　dinner　there；〃　I　went　on；　〃to　his　hunting　pals　and　the　bloods　who　ride　for　him。　　If　the　festive　board　doesn't　groan　under　a　new　regiment　of　challenge　cups；　it　will　be　no　fault　of　theirs；　and　old　Guillemard　will　have　to　do　them　top…hole　all。　the　same。〃

〃So　it's　a　case　of　common　pot…hunting；〃　remarked　Raffles；　eyeing　me　shrewdly　through　the　cigarette　smoke。

〃Not　for　us；　my　dear　fellow；〃　I　made　answer　in　his　own　tone。　　〃I　wouldn't　ask　you　to　break　into　the　next　set　of　chambers　here　in　the　Albany　for　a　few　pieces　of　modern　silver；　Raffles。　　Not　that　we　need　scorn　the　cups　if　we　get　a　chance　of　lifting　them；　and　if　Guillemard　does　so　in　the　first　instance。　　It's　by　no　means　certain　that　he　will。　But　it　is　pretty　certain　to　be　a　lively　night　for　him　and　his　pals　　…　and　a　vulnerable　one　for　the　best　bedroom！〃　　　　〃Capital！〃　said　Raffles；　throwing　coils　of　smoke　between　his　smiles。　〃Still；　if　it's　a　dinner…party；　the　hostess　won't　leave　her　jewels　upstairs。　　She'll　wear　them；　my　boy。〃

〃Not　all。　of　them；　Raffles；　she　has　far　too　many　for　that。　　Besides；　it　isn't　an　ordinary　dinner…party；　they　say　Mrs。　　Guillemard　is　generally　the　only　lady　there；　and　that　she's　quite　charming　in　herself。　　Now；　no　charming　woman　would　clap　on　all。　sail　in　jewels　for　a　roomful　of　fox…hunters。〃

〃It　depends　what　jewels　she　has。〃

〃Well；　she　might　wear　her　rope　of　pearls。〃

〃I　should　have　said　so。〃

〃And；　of　course；　her　rings。〃

〃Exactly；　Bunny。〃

〃But　not　necessarily　her　diamond　tiara　…　〃

〃Has　she　got　one？〃

〃　…　and　certainly　not　her　emerald　and　diamond　necklace　on　top　of　all。！〃　　　　Raffles　snatched　the　Sullivan　from　his　lips；　and　his　eyes　burned　like　its　end。

〃Bunny；　do　you　mean　to　tell　me　there　are　all。　these　things？〃

〃Of　course　I　do；〃　said　I。　　〃They　are　rich　people；　and　he's　not　such　a　brute　as　to　spend　everything　on　his　stable。　　Her　jewels　are　as　much　the　talk　as　his　hunters。　　My　friends　told　me　all。　about　both　the　other　day　when　I　was　down　making　inquiries。　　They　thought　my　curiosity　as　natural　as　my　wish　for　a　few　snapshots　of　the　old　place。　　In　their　opinion　the　emerald　necklace　alone　must　be　worth　thousands　of　pounds。〃

Raffles　rubbed　his　hands　in　playful　pantomime。

〃I　only　hope　you　didn't　ask　too　many　questions；　Bunny！　　But　if　your　friends　are　such　old　friends；　you　will　never　enter　their　heads　when　they　hear　what　has　happened；　unless　you　are　seen　down　there　on　the　night；　which　might　be　fatal。　　Your　approach　will　require　some　thought：　if　you　like　I　can　work　out　the　shot　for　you。　　I　shall　go　down　independently；　and　the　best　thing　may　be　to　meet　outside　the　house　itself　on　the　night　of　nights。　　But　from　that　moment　I　am　in　your　hands。〃

And　on　these　refreshing　lines　our　plan　of　campaign　was　gradually　developed　and　elaborated　into　that　finished　study　on　which　Raffles　would　rely　like　any　artist　of　the　footlights。　　None　were　more　capable　than　he　of　coping　with　the　occasion　as　it　rose；　of　rising　himself　with　the　emergency　of　the　moment；　of　snatching　a　victory　from　the　very　dust　of　defeat。　　Yet；　for　choice；　every　detail　was　premeditated；　and　an　alternative　expedient　at　each　finger's　end　for　as　many　bare　and　awful　possibilities。　　In　this　case；　however；　the　finished　study　stopped　short　at　the　garden　gate　or　wall；　there　I　was　to　assume　command；　and　though　Raffles　carried　the　actual　tools　of　trade　of　which　he　alone　was　master；　it　was　on　the　understanding　that　for　once　I　should　control　and　direct　their　use。

I　had　gone　down　in　evening…clothes　by　an　evening　train；　but　had　carefully　overshot　old　landmarks；　and　alighted　at　a　small　station　some　miles　south　of　the　one　where　I　was　still　remembered。　　This　committed　me　to　a　solitary　and　somewhat　lengthy　tramp；　but　the　night　was　mild　and　starry；　and　I　marched　into　it　with　a　high　stomach；　for　this　was　to　be　no　costume　crime；　and　yet　I　should　have　Raffles　at　my　elbow　all。　the　night。　　Long　before　I　reached　my　destination；　indeed；　he　stood　in　wait　for　me　on　the　white　highway；　and　we　finished　with　linked　arms。

〃I　came　down　early；〃　said　Raffles；　〃and　had　a　look　at　the　races。　　I　always　prefer　to　measure　my　man；　Bunny；　and　you　needn't　sit　in　the　front　row　of　the　stalls　to　take　stock　of　your　friend　Guillemard。　No　wonder　he　doesn't　ride　his　own　horses！　　The　steeple…chaser　isn't　foaled　that　would　carry　him　round　that　course。　　But　he's　a　fine　monument　of　a　man；　and　he　takes　his　troubles　in　a　way　that　makes　me　blush　to　add　to　them。〃

〃Did　he　lose　a　horse？〃　I　inquired　cheerfully。

〃No；　Bunny；　but　he　didn't　win　a　race！　　His　horses　were　by　chalks　the　best　there；　and　his　pals　rode　them　like　the　foul　fiend；　but　with　the　worst　of　luck　every　time。　　Not　that　you'd　think　it；　from　the　row　they're　making。　　I've　been　listening　to　them　from　the　road　…　you　always　did　say　the　house　stood　too　near　it。〃

〃Then　you　didn't　go　in？〃

〃When　it's　your　show？　　You　should　know　me　better。　　Not　a　foot　would　I　set　on　the　premises　behind　your　back。　　But　here　they　are；　so　perhaps　you'll　lead　the　way。〃

And　I　led　it　without　a　moment's　hesitation；　through　the　unpretentious　six…barred　gate　into　the　long　but　shallow　crescent　of　the　drive。　There　were　two　such　gates；　one　at　each　end　of　the　drive；　but　no　lodge　at　either；　and　not　a　light　nearer　than　those　of　the　house。　　The　shape　and　altitude　of　the　lighted　windows；　the　whisper　of　the　laurels　on　either　hand；　the　very　feel　of　the　gravel　underfoot；　were　at　once　familiar　to　my　senses　as　the　sweet；　relaxing；　immemorial　air　that　one　drank　deeper　at　every　breath。　　Our　stealthy　advance　was　to　me　like　stealing　back　into　one's　childhood；　and　yet　I　could　conduct　it　without　compunction。　　I　was　too　excited　to　feel　immediate　remorse；　albeit　not　too　lost　in　excitement　to　know　that　remorse　for　every　step　that　I　was　taking　would　be　my　portion　soon　enough。　　I　mean　every　word　that　I　have　written　of　my　peculiar　shame　for　this　night's　work。　　And　it　was　all。　to　come　over　me　before　the　night　was　out。　　But　in　the　garden　I　never　felt　it　once。

The　dining…room　windows　blazed　in　the　side　of　the　house　facing　the　road。　　That　was　an　objection　to　peeping　through　the　venetian　blinds；　as　we　nevertheless　did；　at　our　peril　of　observation　from　the　road。　Raffles　would　never　have　led　me　into　danger　so　gratuitous　and　unnecessary；　but　he　followed　me　into　it　without　a　word。　　I　can　only　plead　that　we　both　had　our　reward。　　There　was　a　sufficient　chink　in　the　obsolete　venetians；　and　through　it　we　saw　every　inch　of　the　picturesque　board。　　Mrs。　Guillemard　was　still　in　her　place；　but　she　really　was　the　only　lady；　and　dressed　as　quietly　as　I　had　prophesied；　round　her　neck　was　her　rope　of　pearls；　but　not　the　glimmer　of　an　emerald　nor　the　glint　of　a　diamond；　nor　yet　the　flashing　constellation　of　a　tiara　in　her　hair。　　I　gripped　Raffles　in　token　of　my　triumph；　and　he　nodded　as　he　scanned　the　overwhelming　majority　of　flushed　fox…hunters。　　With　the　exception　of　one　stripling；　evidently　the　son　of　the　house；　they　were　in　evening　pink　to　a　man；　and　as　I　say；　their　faces　matched　their　coats。　　An　enormous　fellow；　with　a　great　red　face　and　cropped　moustache；　occupied　my　poor　father's　place；　he　it　was　who　had　replaced　our　fruitful　vineries　with　his　stinking　stables；　but　I　am　bound　to　own　he　looked　a　genial　clod；　a