a thief in the night-第25章

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ed　our　fruitful　vineries　with　his　stinking　stables；　but　I　am　bound　to　own　he　looked　a　genial　clod；　as　he　sat　in　his　fat　and　listened　to　the　young　bloods　boasting　of　their　prowess；　or　elaborately　explaining　their　mishaps。　　And　for　a　minute　we　listened　also；　before　I　remembered　my　responsibilities；　and　led　Raffles　round　to　the　back　of　the　house。

There　never　was　an　easier　house　to　enter。　　I　used　to　feel　that　keenly　as　a　boy；　when；　by　a　prophetic　irony；　burglars　were　my　bugbear；　and　I　looked　under　my　bed　every　night　in　life。　　The　bow…windows　on　the　ground　floor　finished　in　inane　balconies　to　the　first…floor　windows。　　These　balconies　had　ornamental　iron　railings；　to　which　a　less　ingenious　rope…ladder　than　ours　could　have　been　hitched　with　equal　ease。　　Raffles　had　brought　it　with　him；　round　his　waist；　and　he　carried　the　telescopic　stick　for　fixing　it　in　place。　　The　one　was　unwound；　and　the　other　put　together；　in　a　secluded　corner　of　the　red…brick　walls；　where　of　old　I　had　played　my　own　game　of　squash…rackets　in　the　holidays。　　I　made　further　investigations　in　the　starlight；　and　even　found　a　trace　of　my　original　white　line　along　the　red　wall。

But　it　was　not　until　we　had　effected　our　entry　through　the　room　which　had　been　my　very　own；　and　made　our　parlous　way　across　the　lighted　landing；　to　the　best　bedroom　of　those　days　and　these；　that　I　really　felt　myself　a　worm。　　Twin　brass　bedsteads　occupied　the　site　of　the　old　four…poster　from　which　I　had　first　beheld　the　light。　　The　doors　were　the　same；　my　childish　hands　had　grasped　these　very　handles。　　And　there　was　Raffles　securing　the　landing　door　with　wedge　and　gimlet；　the　very　second　after　softly　closing　it　behind　us。

〃The　other　leads　into　the　dressing…room；　of　course？　　Then　you　might　be　fixing　the　outer　dressing…room　door；〃　he　whispered　at　his　work；　〃but　not　the　middle　one　Bunny；　unless　you　want　to。　　The　stuff　will　be　in　there；　you　see；　if　it　isn't　in　here。〃

My　door　was　done　in　a　moment；　being　fitted　with　a　powerful　bolt；　but　now　an　aching　conscience　made　me　busier　than　I　need　have　been。　I　had　raised　the　rope…ladder　after　us　into　my　own　old　room；　and　while　Raffles　wedged　his　door　I　lowered　the　ladder　from　one　of　the　best　bedroom　windows；　in　order　to　prepare　that　way　of　escape　which　was　a　fundamental　feature　of　his　own　strategy。　　I　meant　to　show　Raffles　that　I　had　not　followed　in　his　train　for　nothing。　　But　I　left　it　to　him　to　unearth　the　jewels。　　I　had　begun　by　turning　up　the　gas；　there　appeared　to　be　no　possible　risk　in　that；　and　Raffles　went　to　work　with　a　will　in　the　excellent　light。　　There　were　some　good　pieces　in　the　room；　including　an　ancient　tallboy　in　fruity　mahogany；　every　drawer　of　which　was　turned　out　on　the　bed　without　avail。　　A　few　of　the　drawers　had　locks　to　pick；　yet　not　one　triffle　to　our　taste　within。　　The　situation　became　serious　as　the　minutes　flew。　　We　had　left　the　party　at　its　sweets；　the　solitary　lady　might　be　free　to　roam　her　house　at　any　minute。　　In　the　end　we　turned　our　attention　to　the　dressing…room。　　And　no　sooner　did　Raffles　behold　the　bolted　door　than　up　went　his　hands。

〃A　bathroom　bolt；〃　he　cried　below　his　breath；　〃and　no　bath　in　the　room！　　Why　didn't　you　tell　me；　Bunny？　　A　bolt　like　that　speaks　volumes；　there's　none　on　the　bedroom　door；　remember；　and　this　one's　worthy　of　a　strong　room！　　What　if　it　is　their　strong　room；　Bunny！　Oh；　Bunny；　what　if　this　is　their　safe？〃　　　　Raffles　had　dropped　upon　his　knees　before　a　carved　oak　chest　of　indisputable　antiquity。　　Its　panels　were　delightfully　irregular；　its　angles　faultlessly　faulty；　its　one　modern　defilement　a　strong　lock　to　the　lid。　　Raffles　was　smiling　as　he　produced　his　jimmy。　R　…　r　…　r　…　rip　went　lock　or　lid　in　another　ten　seconds　…　I　was　not　there　to　see　which。　　I　had　wandered　back　into　the　bedroom　in　a　paroxysm　of　excitement　and　suspense。　　I　must　keep　busy　as　well。　as　Raffles；　and　it　was　not　too　soon　to　see　whether　the　rope…ladder　was　all。　right。　　In　another　minute　。　。　。

I　stood　frozen　to　the　floor。　　I　had　hooked　the　ladder　beautifully　to　the　inner　sill　of　wood；　and　had　also　let　down　the　extended　rod　for　the　more　expeditious　removal　of　both　on　our　return　to　terra　firma。　　Conceive　my　cold　horror　on　arriving　at　the　open　window　just　in　time　to　see　the　last　of　hooks　and　bending　rod；　as　they　floated　out　of　sight　and　reach　into　the　outer　darkness　of　the　night；　removed　by　some　silent　and　invisible　hand　below！

〃Raffles…Raffles　…　they've　spotted　us　and　moved　the　ladder　this　very　instant！〃

So　I　panted　as　I　rushed　on　tiptoe　to　the　dressing…room。　　Raffles　had　the　working　end　of　his　jimmy　under　the　lid　of　a　leathern　jewel　case。　It　flew　open　at　the　vicious　twist　of　his　wrist　that　preceded　his　reply。

〃Did　you　let　them　see　that　you'd　spotted　that？〃

〃No。〃

〃Good！　　Pocket　some　of　these　cases　…　no　time　to　open　them。　　Which　door's　nearest　the　backstairs？〃

〃The　other。〃

〃Come　on　then？〃

〃No；　no；　I'll　lead　the　way。　　I　know　every　inch　of　it。〃

And；　as　I　leaned　against　the　bedroom　door；　handle　in　hand；　while　Raffles　stooped　to　unscrew　the　gimlet　and　withdraw　the　wedge；　I　hit　upon　the　ideal　port　in　the　storm　that　was　evidently　about　to　burst　on　our　devoted　heads。　　It　was　the　last　place　in　which　they　would　look　for　a　couple　of　expert　cracksmen　with　no　previous　knowledge　of　the　house。　　If　only　we　could　gain　my　haven　unobserved；　there　we　might　lie　in　unsuspected　hiding；　and　by　the　hour；　if　not　for　days　and　nights。

Alas　for　that　sanguine　dream！　　The　wedge　was　out；　and　Raffles　on　his　feet　behind　me。　　I　opened　the　door；　and　for　a　second　the　pair　of　us　stood　upon　the　threshold。

Creeping　up　the　stairs　before　us；　each　on　the　tip　of　his　silken　toes；　was　a　serried　file　of　pink　barbarians；　redder　in　the　face　than　anywhere　else；　and　armed　with　crops　carried　by　the　wrong　end。　The　monumental　person　with　the　short　moustache　led　the　advance。　　The　fool　stood　still　upon　the　top　step　to　let　out　the　loudest　and　cheeriest　view…holloa　that　ever　smote　my　ears。

It　cost　him　more　than　he　may　know　until　I　tell　him。　　There　was　the　wide　part　of　the　landing　between　us；　we　had　just　that　much　start　along　the　narrow　part；　with　the　walls　and　doors　upon　our　left；　the　banisters　on　our　right；　and　the　baize　door　at　the　end。　　But　if　the　great　Guillemard　had　not　stopped　to　live　up　to　his　sporting　reputation；　he　would　assuredly　have　laid　one　or　other　of　us　by　the　heels；　and　either　would　have　been　tantamount　to　both。　　As　I　gave　Raffles　a　headlong　lead　to　the　baize　door；　I　glanced　down　the　great　well　of　stairs；　and　up　came　the　daft　yells　of　these　sporting　oafs：

〃Gone　away　…　gone　away！〃

〃Yoick　…　yoick　…　yoick？〃

〃Yon…der　they　go？〃

And　gone　I　had；　through　the　baize　door　to　the　back　landing；　with　Raffles　at　my　heels。　　I　held　the　swing　door　for　him；　and　heard　him　bang　it　in　the　face　of　the　spluttering　and　blustering　master　of　the　house。　　Other　feet　were　already　in　the　lower　flight　of　the　backstairs；　but　the　upper　flight　was　the　one　for　me；　and　in　an　instant　we　were　racing　along　the　upper　corridor　with　the　chuckle…headed　pack　at　our　heels。　　Here　it　was　all。　but　dark　…　they　were　the　servants'　bedrooms　that　we　were　passing　now　…　but　I　knew　what　I　was　doing。　　Round　the　last　corner　to　the　right；　through　the　first　door　to　the　left　and　we　were　in　the　room　underneath　the　tower。　In　our　time　a　long　stepladder　had　led　to　the　tower　itself。　　I　rushed　in　the　dark　to　the　old　corner。　　Thank　God；　the　ladder　was　there　still！　　It　leaped　under　us　as　we　rushed　aloft　like　one　quadruped。　　The　breakneck　trap…door　was　still　protected　by　a　curved　brass　stanchion；　this　I　grasped　with　one　hand；　and　then　Raffles　with　the　other　as　I　felt　my　feet　firm　upon　the　tower　floor。　　In　he　sprawled　after　me；　and　down　went　the　trap…door　with　a　bang　upon　the　leading　hound。

I　hoped　to　feel　his　dead…weight　shake　the　house；　as　he　crashed　upon　the　floor　below；　but　the　fellow　must　have　ducked；　and　no　crash　came。　Meanwhile　not　a　word　passed　between　Raffles　and　me；　he　had　followed　me；　as　I　had　led　him；　without　waste　of　breath　upon　a　single　syllable。　But　the　merry　lot　below　were　still　yelling　and　bellowing　in　full　cry。

〃Gone　to　ground？　　screamed　one。

〃Where's　the　terrier？〃　screeched　another。

But　their　host　of　the　mighty　girth　…　a　man　like　a　soda…water　bottle；　from　my　one　glimpse　of　him　on　his　feet　…　seemed　sobered　rather　than　stunned　by　the　crack　on　that　head　of　his。　　We　heard　his　fine　voice　no　more；　but　we　could　feel　him　straining　every　thew　against　the　trap…door　upon　which　Raffles　and　I　stood　side　by　side。　　At　least　I　thought　Raffles　was　standing；　until　he　asked　me　to　strike　a　light；　when　I　found　him　on　his　knees　instead　of　on　his　feet；　busy　screwing　down　the　trap…door　with　his　gimlet。　　He　carried　three　or　four　gimlets　for　wedging　doors；　and　he　drove　them　all。　in　to　the　handle；　while　I　pulled　at　the　stanchion　and　pushed　with　my　feet。

But　the　upward　pressure　ceased　before　our　efforts。　　We　heard　the　ladder　creak　again　under　a　ponderous　and　slow　descent；　and　we　stood　upright　in　the　dim　flicker　of　a　candle…end　that　I　had　lit　and　left　burning　on　the　floor。　　Raffles　glanced　at　the　four　small　windows　in　turn　and　then　at　me。　　〃Is　there　any　way　out　at　all。？〃　he　whispered；　as　no　other　being　would　or　could　have　whispered　to　the　man　who　had　led　him　into　such　a　trap。　　〃We've　no　rope…ladder；　you　know。〃

〃Thanks　to　me；〃　I　groaned。　　〃The　whole　thing's　my　fault？　　　　〃Nonsense；　Bunny；　there　was　no　other　way　to　run。　　But　what　about　these　windows？〃

His　magnanimity　took　me　by　the　throat；　without　a　word　I　led　him　to　the　one　window　looking　inward　upon　sloping　slates　and　level　leads。　Often　as　a　boy　I　had　clambered　over　them；　for　the　fearful　fun　of　risking　life　and　limb；　or　the　fascination　of　peering　through　the　great　square　skylight；　down　the　well　of　the　house　into　the　hall　below。　　There　were；　however；　several　smaller　skylights；　for　the　benefit　of　the　top　floor；　through　any　one　of　which　I　thought　we　might　have　made　a　dash。　　But　at　a　glance　I　saw　we　were　too　late：　one　of　these　skylights　became　a　brilliant　square　before　our　eyes；　opened；　and　admitted　a　flushed　face　on　flaming　shoulders。

〃I'll　give　them　a　fright！〃　　said　Raffles　through　his　teeth。　　In　an　instant　he　had　plucked　out　his　revolver；　smashed　the　window　with　its　butt；　and　the　slates　with　a　bullet　not　a　yard　from　the　protruding　head。　　And　that；　I　believe；　was　the　only　shot　that　Raffles　ever　fired　in　his　whole　career　as　a　midnight　marauder。

〃You　didn't　hit　him？〃　I　gasped；　as　the　head　disappeared；　and　we　heard　a　crash　in　the　corridor。

〃Of　course　I　didn't；　Bunny；〃　he　replied；　backing　into　the　tower；　〃but　no　one　will　believe　I　didn't　mean　to；　and　it'll　stick　on　ten　years　if　we're　caught。　　That's　nothing；　if　it　gives　us　an　extra　five　minutes　now；　while　they　hold　a　council　of　war。　　Is　that　a　working　flag…staff　overhead？〃

〃It　used　to　be。〃

〃Then　there'll　be　halliards。〃

〃They　were　as　thin　as　clothes…lines。〃。

〃And　they're　sure　to　be　rotten；　and　we　should　be　seen　cutting　them　down。　　No；　Bunny；　that　won't　do。　　Wait　a　bit。　　Is　there　a　lightning　conductor？〃

〃There　was。〃

I　opened　one　of　the　side　windows　and　reached　out　as　far　as　I　could。　xyz　〃You'll　be　seen　from　that　skylight？　　cried　Raffles　in　a　warning　undertone。

〃No；　I　won't。　　I　can't　see　it　myself。　　But　here's　the　lightning…conductor；　where　it　always　was。〃

〃How　thick；〃　as