a thief in the night-第29章

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〃Inspector　Druce；〃　the　clerk　informed　us　in　impressive　whispers；　〃who　had　the　Chalk　Farm　case　in　hand。　　He'd　be　the　man　for　Raffles；　if　Raffles　was　alive　to…day！〃　　　　〃I'm　sure　he　would；〃　was　the　grave　reply。　　〃I　should　be　very　sorry　to　have　a　man　like　that　after　me。　　But　what　a　run　there　seems　to　be　upon　your　Black　Museum！〃

〃There　isn't　reelly；　sir；〃　whispered　the　clerk。　　〃We　sometimes　go　weeks　on　end　without　having　regular　visitors　like　you　two　gentlemen。　I　think　those　are　friends　of　the　Inspector's；　come　to　see　the　Chalk　Farm　photographs；　that　helped　to　hang　his　man。　　We've　a　lot　of　interesting　photographs；　sir；　if　you　like　to　have　a　look　at　them。〃

〃If　it　won't　take　long；〃　said　Raffles；　taking　out　his　watch；　and　as　the　clerk　left　our　side　for　an　instant　he　gripped　my　arm。　　〃This　is　a　bit　too　hot；〃　he　whispered；　〃but　we　mustn't　cut　and　run　like　rabbits。　　That　might　be　fatal。　　Hide　your　face　in　the　photographs；　and　leave　everything　to　me。　　I'll　have　a　train　to　catch　as　soon　as　ever　I　dare。〃

I　obeyed　without　a　word；　and　with　the　less　uneasiness　as　I　had　time　to　consider　the　situation。　　It　even　struck　me　that　Raffles　was　for　once　inclined　to　exaggerate　the　undeniable　risk　that　we　ran　by　remaining　in　the　same　room　with　an　officer　whom　both　he　and　I　knew　only　too　well　by　name　and　repute。　　Raffles；　after　all。；　had　aged　and　altered　out　of　knowledge；　but　he　had　not　lost　the　nerve　that　was　equal　to　a　far　more　direct　encounter　than　was　at　all。　likely　to　be　forced　upon　us。　　On　the　other　hand；　it　was　most　improbable　that　a　distinguished　detective　would　know　by　sight　an　obscure　delinquent　like　myself；　besides；　this　one　had　come　to　the　front　since　my　day。　Yet　a　risk　it　was；　and　I　certainly　did　not　smile　as　I　bent　over　the　album　of　horrors　produced　by　our　guide。　　I　could　still　take　an　interest　in　the　dreadful　photographs　of　murderous　and　murdered　men；　they　appealed　to　the　morbid　element　in　my　nature；　and　it　was　doubtless　with　degenerate　unction　that　I　called　Raffles's　attention　to　a　certain　scene　of　notorious　slaughter。　　There　was　no　response。　I　looked　round。　　There　was　no　Raffles　to　respond。　　We　had　all。　three　been　examining　the　photographs　at　one　of　the　windows；　at　another　three　newcomers　were　similarly　engrossed；　and　without　one　word；　or　a　single　sound；　Raffles　had　decamped　behind　all。　our　backs。

Fortunately　the　clerk　was　himself　very　busy　gloating　over　the　horrors　of　the　album；　before　he　looked　round　I　had　hidden　my　astonishment；　but　not　my　wrath；　of　which　I　had　the　instinctive　sense　to　make　no　secret。

〃My　friend's　the　most　impatient　man　on　earth！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃He　said　he　was　going　to　catch　a　train；　and　now　he's　gone　without　a　word！〃

〃I　never　heard　him；〃　said　the　clerk；　looking　puzzled。

〃No　more　did　I；　but　he　did　touch　me　on　the　shoulder；〃　I　lied；　〃and　say　something　or　other。　　I　was　too　deep　in　this　beastly　book　to　pay　much　attention。　　He　must　have　meant　that　he　was　off。　　Well；　let　him　be　off！　　I　mean　to　see　all。　that's　to　be　seen。〃

And　in　my　nervous　anxiety　to　allay　any　suspicions　aroused　by　my　companion's　extraordinary　behavior；　I　outstayed　even　the　eminent　detective　and　his　friends；　saw　them　examine　the　Raffles　Relics；　heard　them　discuss　me　under　my　own　nose；　and　at　last　was　alone　with　the　anemic　clerk。　　I　put　my　hand　in　my　pocket；　and　measured　him　with　a　sidelong　eye。　　The　tipping　system　is　nothing　less　than　a　minor　bane　of　my　existence。　　Not　that　one　is　a　grudging　giver；　but　simply　because　in　so　many　cases　it　is　so　hard　to　know　whom　to　tip　and　what　to　tip　him。　　I　know　what　it　is　to　be　the　parting　guest　who　has　not　parted　freely　enough；　and　that　not　from　stinginess　but　the　want　of　a　fine　instinct　on　the　point。　　I　made　no　mistake；　however；　in　the　case　of　the　clerk；　who　accepted　my　pieces　of　silver　without　demur；　and　expressed　a　hope　of　seeing　the　article　which　I　had　assured　him　I　was　about　to　write。　　He　has　had　some　years　to　wait　for　it；　but　I　flatter　myself　that　these　belated　pages　will　occasion　more　interest　than　offense　if　they　ever　do　meet　those　watery　eyes。

Twilight　was　falling　when　I　reached　the　street；　the　sky　behind　St。　Stephen's　had　flushed　and　blackened　like　an　angry　face；　the　lamps　were　lit；　and　under　every　one　I　was　unreasonable　enough　to　look　for　Raffles。　　Then　I　made　foolishly　sure　that　I　should　find　him　hanging　about　the　station；　and　hung　thereabouts　myself　until　one　Richmond　train　had　gone　without　me。　　In　the　end　I　walked　over　the　bridge　to　Waterloo；　and　took　the　first　train　to　Teddington　instead。　　That　made　a　shorter　walk　of　it；　but　I　had　to　grope　my　way　through　a　white　fog　from　the　river　to　Ham　Common；　and　it　was　the　hour　of　our　cosy　dinner　when　I　reached　our　place　of　retirement。　There　was　only　a　flicker　of　firelight　on　the　blinds：　I　was　the　first　to　return　after　all。　　It　was　nearly　four　hours　since　Raffles　had　stolen　away　from　my　side　in　the　ominous　precincts　of　Scotland　Yard。　　Where　could　he　be？　　Our　landlady　wrung　her　hands　over　him；　she　had　cooked　a　dinner　after　her　favorite's　heart；　and　I　let　it　spoil　before　making　one　of　the　most　melancholy　meals　of　my　life。

Up　to　midnight　there　was　no　sign　of　him；　but　long　before　this　time　I　had　reassured　our　landlady　with　a　voice　and　face　that　must　have　given　my　words　the　lie。　　I　told　her　that　Mr。　Ralph　（as　she　used　to　call　him）　had　said　something　about　going　to　the　theatre；　that　I　thought　he　had　given　up　the　idea；　but　I　must　have　been　mistaken；　and　should　certainly　sit　up　for　him。　　The　attentive　soul　brought　in　a　plate　of　sandwiches　before　she　retired；　and　I　prepared　to　make　a　night　of　it　in　a　chair　by　the　sitting…room　fire。　　Darkness　and　bed　I　could　not　face　in　my　anxiety。　　In　a　way　I　felt　as　though　duty　and　loyalty　called　me　out　into　the　winter　s　night；　and　yet　whither　should　I　turn　to　look　for　Raffles？　　I　could　think　of　but　one　place；　and　to　seek　him　there　would　be　to　destroy　myself　without　aiding　him。　　It　was　my　growing　conviction　that　he　had　been　recognized　when　leaving　Scotland　Yard；　and　either　taken　then　and　there；　or　else　hunted　into　some　new　place　of　hiding。　　It　would　all。　be　in　the　morning　papers；　and　it　was　all。　his　own　fault。　　He　had　thrust　his　head　into　the　lion's　mouth；　and　the　lion's　jaws　had　snapped。　　Had　he　managed　to　withdraw　his　head　in　time？

There　was　a　bottle　at　my　elbow；　and　that　night　I　say　deliberately　that　it　was　not　my　enemy　but　my　friend。　　It　procured　me　at　last　some　surcease　from　my　suspense。　　I　fell　fast　asleep　in　my　chair　before　the　fire。　　The　lamp　was　still　burning；　and　the　fire　red；　when　I　awoke；　but　I　sat　very　stiff　in　the　iron　clutch　of　a　wintry　morning。　　Suddenly　I　slued　round　in　my　chair。　　And　there　was　Raffles　in　a　chair　behind　me；　with　the　door　open　behind　him；　quietly　taking　off　his　boots。

〃Sorry　to　wake　you；　Bunny；〃　said　he。　　〃I　thought　I　was　behaving　like　a　mouse；　but　after　a　three　hours'　tramp　one's　feet　are　all。　heels。〃

I　did　not　get　up　and　fall　upon　his　neck。　　I　sat　back　in　my　chair　and　blinked　with　bitterness　upon　his　selfish　insensibility。　　He　should　not　know　what　I　had　been　through　on　his　account。

〃Walk　out　from　town？〃　I　inquired；　as　indifferently　as　though　he　were　in　the　habit　of　doing　so。

〃From　Scotland　Yard；〃　he　answered；　stretching　himself　before　the　fire　in　his　stocking　soles。

〃Scotland　Yard？〃　I　echoed。　　〃Then　I　was　right；　that's　where　you　were　all。　the　time；　and　yet　you　managed　to　escape！〃　　　　I　had　risen　excitedly　in　my　turn。

〃Of　course　I　did；〃　replied　Raffles。　　〃I　never　thought　there　would　be　much　difficulty　about　that；　but　there　was　even　less　than　I　anticipated。　　I　did　once　find　myself　on　one　side　of　a　sort　of　counter；　and　an　officer　dozing　at　his　desk　at　the　other　side。　　I　thought　it　safest　to　wake　him　up　and　make　inquiries　about　a　mythical　purse　left　in　a　phantom　hansom　outside　the　Carlton。　　And　the　way　the　fellow　fired　me　out　of　that　was　another　credit　to　the　Metropolitan　Police：　it's　only　in　the　savage　countries　that　they　would　have　troubled　to　ask　how　one　had　got　in。〃

〃And　how　did　you？〃　I　asked。　　〃And　in　the　Lord's　name；　Raffles；　when　and　why？〃

Raffles　looked　down　on　me　under　raised　eyebrows；　as　he　stood　with　his　coat　tails　to　the　dying　fire。

〃How　and　when；　Bunny；　you　know　as　well　as　I　do；〃　said　he；　cryptically。　　〃And　at　last　you　shall　hear　the　honest　why　and　wherefore。　　I　had　more　reasons　for　going　to　Scotland　Yard；　my　dear　fellow；　than　I　had　the　face　to　tell　you　at　the　time。〃

〃I　don't　care　why　you　went　there！〃　I　cried。　　〃I　want　to　know　why　you　stayed；　or　went　back；　or　whatever　it　was　you　may　have　done。　　I　thought　they　had　got　you；　and　you　had　given　them　the　slip！〃

Raffles　smiled　as　he　shook　his　head。

〃No；　no；　Bunny；　I　prolonged　the　visit；　as　I　paid　it；　of　my　own　accord。　　As　for　my　reasons；　they　are　far　too　many　for　me　to　tell　you　them　all。；　they　rather　weighed　upon　me　as　I　walked　out；　but　you'll　see　them　for　yourself　if　you　turn　round。〃

I　was　standing　with　my　back　to　the　chair　in　which　I　had　been　asleep；　behind　the　chair　was　the　round　lodging…house　table；　and　there；　reposing　on　the　cloth　with　the　whiskey　and　sandwiches；　was　the　whole　collection　of　Raffles　Relics　which　had　occupied　the　lid　of　the　silver…chest　in　the　Black　Museum　at　Scotland　Yard！　　The　chest　alone　was　missing。　　There　was　the　revolver　that　I　had　only　once　heard　fired；　and　there　the　blood…stained　life…preserver；　brace…and…bit；　bottle　of　rock…oil；　velvet　bag；　rope…ladder；　walking…stick；　gimlets；　wedges；　and　even　the　empty　cartridge…case　which　had　once　concealed　the　gift　of　a　civilized　monarch　to　a　potentate　of　color。

〃I　was　a　real　Father　Christmas；〃　said　Raffles；　〃when　I　arrived。　It's　a　pity　you　weren't　awake　to　appreciate　the　scene。　　It　was　more　edifying　than　the　one　I　found。　　You　never　caught　me　asleep　in　my　chair；　Bunny！〃　　　　He　thought　I　had　merely　fallen　asleep　in　my　chair！　　He　could　not　see　that　I　had　been　sitting　up　for　him　all。　night　long！　　The　hint　of　a　temperance　homily；　on　top　of　all。　I　had　borne；　and　from　Raffles　of　all。　mortal　men；　tried　my　temper　to　its　last　limit　…　but　a　flash　of　late　enlightenment　enabled　me　just　to　keep　it。

〃Where　did　you　hide？〃　I　asked　grimly。

〃At　the　Yard　itself。〃

〃So　I　gather；　but　whereabouts　at　the　Yard？〃

〃Can　you　ask；　Bunny？〃

〃I　am　asking。〃

〃It's　where　I　once　hid　before。〃

〃You　don't　mean　in　the　chest？〃

〃I　do。〃

Our　eyes　met　for　a　minute。

〃You　may　have　ended　up　there；〃　I　conceded。　　〃But　where　did　you　go　first　when　you　slipped　out　behind　my　back；　and　how　the　devil　did　you　know　where　to　go？〃

〃I　never　did　slip　out；〃　said　Raffles；　〃behind　your　back。　　I　slipped　in。〃

〃Into　the　chest？〃

〃Exactly。〃

I　burst　out　laughing　in　his　face。

〃My　dear　fellow；　I　saw　all。　these　things　on　the　lid　just　afterward。　Not　one　of　them　was　moved。　　I　watched　that　detective　show　them　to　his　friends。〃

〃And　I　heard　him。〃

〃But　not　from　the　inside　of　the　chest？〃

〃From　the　inside　of　the　chest；　Bunny。　　Don't　look　like　that　…　it's　foolish。　　Try　to　recall　a　few　words　that　went　before；　between　the　idiot　in　the　collar　and　me。　　Don't　you　remember　my　asking　him　if　there　was　anything　in　the　chest？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃One　had　to　be　sure　it　was　empty；　you　see。　　Then　I　asked　if　there　was　a　backdoor　to　the　chest　as　well　as　a　skylight。〃

〃I　remember。〃

〃I　suppose　you　thought　all。　that　meant　nothing？〃

〃I　didn't　look　for　a　meaning。〃

〃You　wouldn't；　it　w