a thief in the night-第26章

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

〃How　thick；〃　asked　Raffles；　as　I　drew　in　and　rejoined　him。

〃Rather　thicker　than　a　lead…pencil。〃

〃They　sometimes　bear　you；〃　said　Raffles；　slipping　on　a　pair　of　white　kid　gloves；　and　stuffing　his　handkerchief　into　the　palm　of　one。　〃The　difficulty　is　to　keep　a　grip；　but　I've　been　up　and　down　them　before　to…night。　　And　it's　our　only　chance。　　I'll　go　first；　Bunny：　you　watch　me；　and　do　exactly　as　I　do　if　I　get　down　all。　right。〃

〃But　if　you　don't？〃

〃If　I　don't；〃　whispered　Raffles；　as　he　wormed　through　the　window　feet　foremost；　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　face　the　music　where　you　are；　and　I　shall　have　the　best　of　it　down　in　Acheron！〃

And　he　slid　out　of　reach　without　another　word；　leaving　me　to　shudder　alike　at　his　levity　and　his　peril；　nor　could　I　follow　him　very　far　by　the　wan　light　of　the　April　stars；　but　I　saw　his　forearms　resting　a　moment　in　the　spout　that　ran　around　the　tower；　between　bricks　and　slates；　on　the　level　of　the　floor；　and　I　had　another　dim　glimpse　of　him　lower　still；　on　the　eaves　over　the　very　room　that　we　had　ransacked。　　Thence　the　conductor　ran　straight　to　earth　in　an　angle　of　the　facade。　　And　since　it　had　borne　him　thus　far　without　mishap；　I　felt　that　Raffles　was　as　good　as　down。　　But　I　had　neither　his　muscles　nor　his　nerves；　and　my　head　swam　as　I　mounted　to　the　window　and　prepared　to　creep　out　backward　in　my　turn。

So　it　was　that　at　the　last　moment　I　had　my　first　unobstructed　view　of　the　little　old　tower　of　other　days。　　Raffles　was　out　of　the　way；　the　bit　of　candle　was　still　burning　on　the　floor；　and　in　its　dim　light　the　familiar　haunt　was　cruelly　like　itself　of　innocent　memory。　A　lesser　ladder　still　ascended　to　a　tinier　trap…door　in　the　apex　of　the　tower；　the　fixed　seats　looked　to　me　to　be　wearing　their　old；　old　coat　of　grained　varnish；　nay　the　varnish　had　its　ancient　smell；　and　the　very　vanes　outside　creaked　their　message　to　my　ears。　　I　remembered　whole　days　that　I　had　spent；　whole　books　that　I　had　read；　here　in　this　favorite　fastness　of　my　boyhood。　　The　dirty　little　place；　with　the　dormer　window　in　each　of　its　four　sloping　sides；　became　a　gallery　hung　with　poignant　pictures　of　the　past。　　And　here　was　I　leaving　it　with　my　life　in　my　hands　and　my　pockets　full　of　stolen　jewels！　　A　superstition　seized　me。　　Suppose　the　conductor　came　down　with　me　。　。　。　　suppose　I　slipped　。　。　　。　and　was　picked　up　dead；　with　the　proceeds　of　my　shameful　crime　upon　me；　under　the　very　windows

　　　　　　。　。　。　where　the　sun　　　　　　　Came　peeping　in　at　dawn　。　。　。

I　hardly　remember　what　I　did　or　left　undone。　　I　only　know　that　nothing　broke；　that　somehow　I　kept　my　hold；　and　that　in　the　end　the　wire　ran　red…hot　through　my　palms　so　that　both　were　torn　and　bleeding　when　I　stood　panting　beside　Raffles　in　the　flower…beds。　There　was　no　time　for　thinking　then。　　Already　there　was　a　fresh　commotion　in…doors；　the　tidal　wave　of　excitement　which　had　swept　all。　before　it　to　the　upper　regions　was　subsiding　in　as　swift　a　rush　downstairs；　and　I　raced　after　Raffles　along　the　edge　of　the　drive　without　daring　to　look　behind。

We　came　out　by　the　opposite　gate　to　that　by　which　we　had　stolen　in。　Sharp　to　the　right　ran　the　private　lane　behind　the　stables　and　sharp　to　the　right　dashed　Raffles；　instead　of　straight　along　the　open　road。　　It　was　not　the　course　I　should　have　chosen；　but　I　followed　Raffles　without　a　murmur；　only　too　thankful　that　he　had　assumed　the　lead　at　last。　　Already　the　stables　were　lit　up　like　a　chandelier；　there　was　a　staccato　rattle　of　horseshoes　in　the　stable　yard；　and　the　great　gates　were　opening　as　we　skimmed　past　in　the　nick　of　time。　　In　another　minute　we　were　skulking　in　the　shadow　of　the　kitchen…garden　wall　while　the　high…road　rang　with　the　dying　tattoo　of　galloping　hoofs。

〃That's　for　the　police；〃　said　Raffles；　waiting　for　me。　　〃But　the　fun's　only　beginning　in　the　stables。　　Hear　the　uproar；　and　see　the　lights！　　In　another　minute　they'll　be　turning　out　the　hunters　for　the　last　run　of　the　season

〃We　mustn't　give　them　one；　Raffles？〃　　　　〃Of　course　we　mustn't；　but　that　means　stopping　where　we　are。〃

〃We　can't　do　that？〃　　　　〃If　they're　wise　they'll　send　a　man　to　every　railway　station　within　ten　miles　and　draw　every　cover　inside　the　radius。　　I　can　only　think　of　one　that's　not　likely　to　occur　to　them。〃

〃What's　that？〃

〃The　other　side　of　this　wall。　　How　big　is　the　garden；　Bunny？〃

〃Six　or　seven　acres。〃

〃Well；　you　must　take　me　to　another　of　your　old　haunts；　where　we　can　lie　low　till　morning。〃

〃And　then？〃

〃Sufficient　for　the　night；　Bunny！　　The　first　thing　is　to　find　a　burrow。　　What　are　those　trees　at　the　end　of　this　lane？〃

〃St。　Leonard's　Forest。〃

〃Magnificent！　　They'll　scour　every　inch　of　that　before　they　come　back　to　their　own　garden。　　Come；　Bunny；　give　me　a　leg　up；　and　I'll　pull　you　after　me　in　two　ticks？　　　　There　was　indeed　nothing　better　to　be　done；　and；　much　as　I　loathed　and　dreaded　entering　the　place　again；　I　had　already　thought　of　a　second　sanctuary　of　old　days；　which　might　as　well　be　put　to　the　base　uses　of　this　disgraceful　night。　　In　a　far　corner　of　the　garden；　over　a　hundred　yards　from　the　house；　a　little　ornamental　lake　had　been　dug　within　my　own　memory；　its　shores　were　shelving　lawn　and　steep　banks　of　rhododendrons；　and　among　the　rhododendrons　nestled　a　tiny　boathouse　which　had　been　my　childish　joy。　　It　was　half　a　dock　for　the　dingy　in　which　one　plowed　these　miniature　waters　and　half　a　bathing…box　for　those　who　preferred　their　morning　tub　among　the　goldfish。　　I　could　not　think　of　a　safer　asylum　than　this；　if　we　must　spend　the　night　upon　the　premises；　and　Raffles　agreed　with　me　when　I　had　led　him　by　sheltering　shrubbery　and　perilous　lawn　to　the　diminutive　chalet　between　the　rhododendrons　and　the　water。

But　what　a　night　it　was！　　The　little　bathing…box　had　two　doors；　one　to　the　water；　the　other　to　the　path。　　To　hear　all。　that　could　be　heard；　it　was　necessary　to　keep　both　doors　open；　and　quite　imperative　not　to　talk。　　The　damp　night　air　of　April　filled　the　place；　and　crept　through　our　evening　clothes　and　light　overcoats　into　the　very　marrow；　the　mental　torture　of　the　situation　was　renewed　and　multiplied　in　my　brain；　and　all。　the　time　one's　ears　were　pricked　for　footsteps　on　the　path　between　the　rhododendrons。　The　only　sounds　we　could　at　first　identify　came　one　and　all。　from　the　stables。　　Yet　there　the　excitement　subsided　sooner　than　we　had　expected；　and　it　was　Raffles　himself　who　breathed　a　doubt　as　to　whether　they　were　turning　out　the　hunters　after　all。　　On　the　other　hand；　we　heard　wheels　in　the　drive　not　long　after　midnight；　and　Raffles；　who　was　beginning　to　scout　among　the　shrubberies；　stole　back　to　tell　me　that　the　guests　were　departing；　and　being　sped；　with　an　unimpaired　conviviality　which　he　failed　to　understand。　I　said　I　could　not　understand　it　either；　but　suggested　the　general　influence　of　liquor；　and　expressed　my　envy　of　their　state。　　I　had　drawn　my　knees　up　to　my　chin；　on　the　bench　where　one　used　to　dry　one's　self　after　bathing；　and　there　I　sat　in　a　seeming　stolidity　at　utter　variance　with　my　inward　temper。　　I　heard　Raffles　creep　forth　again　and　I　let　him　go　without　a　word。　　I　never　doubted　that　he　would　be　back　again　in　a　minute；　and　so　let　many　minutes　elapse　before　I　realized　his　continued　absence；　and　finally　crept　out　myself　to　look　for　him。

Even　then　I　only　supposed　that　he　had　posted　himself　outside　in　some　more　commanding　position。　　I　took　a　catlike　stride　and　breathed　his　name。　　There　was　no　answer。　　I　ventured　further；　till　I　could　overlook　the　lawns：　they　lay　like　clean　slates　in　the　starlight：　there　was　no　sign　of　living　thing　nearer　than　the　house；　which　was　still　lit　up；　but　quiet　enough　now。　　Was　it　a　cunning　and　deliberate　quiet　assumed　as　a　snare？　　Had　they　caught　Raffles；　and　were　they　waiting　for　me？　　I　returned　to　the　boat…house　in　an　agony　of　fear　and　indignation。　　It　was　fear　for　the　long　hours　that　I　sat　there　waiting　for　him；　it　was　indignation　when　at　last　I　heard　his　stealthy　step　upon　the　gravel。　　I　would　not　go　out　to　meet　him。　　I　sat　where　I　was　while　the　stealthy　step　came　nearer；　nearer；　and　there　I　was　sitting　when　the　door　opened；　and　a　huge　man　in　riding…clothes　stood　before　me　in　the　steely　dawn。

I　leaped　to　my　feet；　and　the　huge　man　clapped　me　playfully　on　the　shoulder。

〃Sorry　I've　been　so　long；　Bunny；　but　we　should　never　have　got　away　as　we　were；　this　riding…suit　makes　a　new　man　of　me；　on　top　of　my　own；　and　here's　a　youth's　kit　that　should　do　you　down　to　the　ground。〃

〃So　you　broke　into　the　house　again？　　　　〃I　was　obliged　to；　Bunny；　but　I　had　to　watch　the　lights　out　one　by　one；　and　give　them　a　good　hour　after　that　I　went　through　that　dressing　room　at　my　leisure　this　time；　the　only　difficulty　was　to　spot　the　son's　quarters　at　the　back　of　the　house；　but　I　overcame　it；　as　you　see；　in　the　end。　　I　only　hope　they'll　fit；　Bunny。　　Give　me　your　patent　leathers；　and　I'll　fill　them　with　stones　and　sink　them　in　the　pond。　　I'm　doing　the　same　with　mine。　　Here's　a　brown　pair　apiece；　and　we　mustn't　let　the　grass　grow　under　them　if　we're　to　get　to　the　station　in　time　for　the　early　train　while　the　coast's　still　clear。〃

The　early　train　leaves　the　station　in　question　at　6。20　A。M。；　and　that　fine　spring　morning　there　was　a　police　officer　in　a　peaked　cap　to　see　it　off；　but　he　was　too　busy　peering　into　the　compartments　for　a　pair　of　very　swell　mobsmen　that　he　took　no　notice　of　the　huge　man　in　riding…clothes；　who　was　obviously　intoxicated；　or　the　more　insignificant　but　not　less　horsy　character　who　had　him　in　hand。　　The　early　train　is　due　at　Victoria　at　8。28；　but　these　worthies　left　it　at　Clapham　Junction；　and　changed　cabs　more　than　once　between　Battersea　and　Piccadilly；　and　a　few　of　their　garments　in　each　four…wheeler。　　It　was　barely　nine　o'clock　when　they　sat　together　in　the　Albany；　and　might　have　been　recognized　once　more　as　Raffles　and　myself。

〃And　now；〃　said　Raffles；　〃before　we　do　anything　else；　let　us　turn　out　those　little　cases　that　we　hadn't　time　to　open　when　we　took　them。　　I　mean　the　ones　I　handed　to　you；　Bunny。　　I　had　a　look　into　mine　in　the　garden；　and　I'm　sorry　to　say　there　was　nothing　in　them。　The　lady　must　have　been　wearing　their　proper　contents。〃

Raffles　held　out　his　hand　for　the　substantial　leather　cases　which　I　had　produced　at　his　request。　　But　that　was　the　extent　of　my　compliance；　instead　of　handing　them　over；　I　looked　boldly　into　the　eyes　that　seemed　to　have　discerned　my　wretched　secret　at　one　glance。

〃It　is　no　use　my　giving　them　to　you；〃　I　said。　　〃They　are　empty　also。〃

〃When　did　you　look　into　them？〃

〃In　the　tower。〃

〃Well；　let　me　see　for　myself。〃

〃As　you　like。〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　this　one　must　have　contained　the　necklace　you　boasted　about。〃

〃Very　likely。〃

〃And　this　one　the　tiara。〃

〃I　dare　say。〃

〃Yet　she　was　wearing　neither；　as　you　prophesied；　and　as　we　both　saw　for　ourselves？　　　　I　had　not　taken　my　eyes　from　his。

〃Raffles；〃　I　said；　〃I'll　be　frank　with　you　after　all。　　I　meant　you　never　to　know；　but　it's　easier　than　telling　you　a　lie。　　I　left　both　things　behind　me　in　the　tower。　　I　won't　attempt　to　explain　or　defend　myself；　it　was　probably　the　influence　of　the　tower；　and　nothing　else；　but　the　whole　thing　came　over　me　at　the　last　mom