a thief in the night-第4章

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for　one；　was　never　quite　able　to　do　so　in　this　case。

I　could　not　be　accused　of　neglecting　my　newspaper　during　the　next　few　wretched　days。　　I　read　every　word　that　I　could　find　about　the　attempted　jewel…robbery　in　Palace　Gardens；　and　the　reports　afforded　me　my　sole　comfort。　　In　the　first　place；　it　was　only　an　attempted　robbery；　nothing　had　been　taken；　after　all。　　And　then　…　　and　then　…　the　one　member　of　the　household　who　had　come　nearest　to　a　personal　encounter　with　either　of　us　was　unable　to　furnish　any　description　of　the　man　…　had　even　expressed　a　doubt　as　to　the　likelihood　of　identification　in　the　event　of　an　arrest！

I　will　not　say　with　what　mingled　feelings　I　read　and　dwelt　on　that　announcement　It　kept　a　certain　faint　glow　alive　within　me　until　the　morning　brought　me　back　the　only　presents　I　had　ever　made　her。　　They　were　books；　jewellery　had　been　tabooed　by　the　authorities。　　And　the　books　came　back　without　a　word；　though　the　parcel　was　directed　in　her　hand。

I　had　made　up　my　mind　not　to　go　near　Raffles　again；　but　in　my　heart　I　already　regretted　my　resolve。　　I　had　forfeited　love；　I　had　sacrificed　honor；　and　now　I　must　deliberately　alienate　myself　from　the　one　being　whose　society　might　yet　be　some　recompense　for　all　that　I　had　lost。　　The　situation　was　aggravated　by　the　state　of　my　exchequer。　　I　expected　an　ultimatum　from　my　banker　by　every　post。　Yet　this　influence　was　nothing　to　the　other。　　It　was　Raffles　I　loved。　It　was　not　the　dark　life　we　led　together；　still　less　its　base　rewards；　it　was　the　man　himself；　his　gayety；　his　humor；　his　dazzling　audacity；　his　incomparable　courage　and　resource。　　And　a　very　horror　of　turning　to　him　again　in　mere　need　of　greed　set　the　seal　on　my　first　angry　resolution。　　But　the　anger　was　soon　gone　out　of　me；　and　when　at　length　Raffles　bridged　the　gap　by　coming　to　me；　I　rose　to　greet　him　almost　with　a　shout。

He　came　as　though　nothing　had　happened；　and；　indeed；　not　very　many　days　had　passed；　though　they　might　have　been　months　to　me。　　Yet　I　fancied　the　gaze　that　watched　me　through　our　smoke　a　trifle　less　sunny　than　it　had　been　before。　　And　it　was　a　relief　to　me　when　he　came　with　few　preliminaries　to　the　inevitable　point。

〃Did　you　ever　hear　from　her；　Bunny？〃　he　asked。

〃In　a　way；〃　I　answered。　　〃We　won't　talk　about　it；　if　you　don't　mind；　Raffles。〃

〃That　sort　of　way！〃　he　exclaimed。　　He　seemed　both　surprised　and　disappointed。

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃that　sort　of　way。　　It's　finished。　　What　did　you　expect？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　only　thought　that　the　girl　who　went　so　far　to　get　a　fellow　out　of　a　tight　place　might　go　a　little　farther　to　keep　him　from　getting　into　another。〃

〃I　don't　see　why　she　should；〃　said　I；　honestly　enough；　yet　with　the　irritation　of　a　less　just　feeling　deep　down　in　my　inmost　consciousness。

〃Yet　you　did　hear　from　her？〃　he　persisted。

〃She　sent　me　back　my　poor　presents；　without　a　word；〃　I　said；　〃if　you　call　that　hearing。〃

I　could　not　bring　myself　to　own　to　Raffles　that　I　had　given　her　only　books。　　He　asked　if　I　was　sure　that　she　had　sent　them　back　herself；　and　that　was　his　last　question。　　My　answer　was　enough　for　him。　　And　to　this　day　I　cannot　say　whether　it　was　more　in　relief　than　in　regret　that　he　laid　a　hand　upon　my　shoulder。

〃So　you　are　out　of　Paradise　after　all！〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　was　not　sure；　or　I　should　have　come　round　before。　　Well；　Bunny；　if　they　don't　want　you　there；　there's　a　little　Inferno　in　the　Albany　where　you　will　be　as　welcome　as　ever

And　still；　with　all　the　magic　mischief　of　his　smile；　there　was　that　touch　of　sadness　which　I　was　yet　to　read　aright。




The　Chest　of　Silver


Like　all　the　tribe　of　which　I　held　him　head；　Raffles　professed　the　liveliest　disdain　for　unwieldy　plunder　of　any　description；　it　might　be　old　Sheffield；　or　it　might　be　solid　silver　or　gold；　but　if　the　thing　was　not　to　be　concealed　about　the　person；　he　would　none　whatever　of　it。　　Unlike　the　rest　of　us；　however；　in　this　as　in　all　else；　Raffles　would　not　infrequently　allow　the　acquisitive　spirit　of　the　mere　collector　to　silence　the　dictates　of　professional　prudence。　　The　old　oak　chests；　and　even　the　mahogany　wine…cooler；　for　which　he　had　doubtless　paid　like　an　honest　citizen；　were　thus　immovable　with　pieces　of　crested　plate；　which　he　had　neither　the　temerity　to　use　nor　the　hardihood　to　melt　or　sell。　　He　could　but　gloat　over　them　behind　locked　doors；　as　I　used　to　tell　him；　and　at　last　one　afternoon　I　caught　him　at　it。　　It　was　in　the　year　after　that　of　my　novitiate；　a　halcyon　period　at　the　Albany；　when　Raffles　left　no　crib　uncracked；　and　I　played　second…murderer　every　time。　I　had　called　in　response　to　a　telegram　in　which　he　stated　that　he　was　going　out　of　town；　and　must　say　good…by　to　me　before　he　went。　And　I　could　only　think　that　he　was　inspired　by　the　same　impulse　toward　the　bronzed　salvers　and　the　tarnished　teapots　with　which　I　found　him　surrounded；　until　my　eyes　lit　upon　the　enormous　silver…chest　into　which　he　was　fitting　them　one　by　one。

〃Allow　me；　Bunny！　　I　shall　take　the　liberty　of　locking　both　doors　behind　you　and　putting　the　key　in　my　pocket；〃　said　Raffles；　when　he　had　let　me　in。　　〃Not　that　I　mean　to　take　you　prisoner；　my　dear　fellow；　but　there　are　those　of　us　who　can　turn　keys　from　the　outside；　though　it　was　never　an　accomplishment　of　mine。〃

〃Not　Crawshay　again？〃　I　cried；　standing　still　in　my　hat。

Raffles　regarded　me　with　that　tantalizing　smile　of　his　which　might　mean　nothing；　yet　which　often　meant　so　much；　and　in　a　flash　I　was　convinced　that　our　most　jealous　enemy　and　dangerous　rival；　the　doyen　of　an　older　school；　had　paid　him　yet　another　visit。

〃That　remains　to　be　seen；〃　was　the　measured　reply；　〃and　I　for　one　have　not　set　naked　eye　on　the　fellow　since　I　saw　him　off　through　that　window　and　left　myself　for　dead　on　this　very　spot。　　In　fact；　I　imagined　him　comfortably　back　in　jail。〃

〃Not　old　Crawshay！〃　said　I。　　〃He's　far　too　good　a　man　to　be　taken　twice。　　I　should　call　him　the　very　prince　of　professional　cracksmen。〃

〃Should　you？〃　said　Raffles　coldly；　with　as　cold　an　eye　looking　into　mine。　　〃Then　you　had　better　prepare　to　repel　princes　when　I'm　gone。〃

〃But　gone　where？〃　I　asked；　finding　a　corner　for　my　hat　and　coat；　and　helping　myself　to　the　comforts　of　the　venerable　dresser　which　was　one　of　our　friend's　greatest　treasures。　　〃Where　is　it　you　are　off　to；　and　why　are　you　taking　this　herd　of　white　elephants　with　you？〃

Raffles　bestowed　the　cachet　of　his　smile　on　my　description　of　his　motley　plate。　　He　joined　me　in　one　of　his　favorite　cigarettes；　only　shaking　a　superior　head　at　his　own　decanter。

〃One　question　at　a　time；　Bunny；〃　said　he。　　〃In　the　first　place；　I　am　going　to　have　these　rooms　freshened　up　with　a　potful　of　paint；　the　electric　light；　and　the　telephone　you've　been　at　me　about　so　long。〃

〃Good！〃　I　cried。　　〃Then　we　shall　be　able　to　talk　to　each　other　day　and　night！〃

〃And　get　overheard　and　run　in　for　our　pains？　　I　shall　wait　till　you　are　run　in；　I　think；〃　said　Raffles　cruelly。　　〃But　the　rest's　a　necessity：　not　that　I　love　new　paint　or　am　pining　for　electric　light；　but　for　reasons　which　I　will　just　breathe　in　your　private　ear；　Bunny。　You　must　not　try　to　take　them　too　seriously；　but　the　fact　is；　there　is　just　the　least　bit　of　a　twitter　against　me　in　this　rookery　of　an　Albany。　　It　must　have　been　started　by　that　tame　old　bird；　Policeman　Mackenzie；　it　isn't　very　bad　as　yet；　but　it　needn't　be　that　to　reach　my　ears。　　Well；　it　was　open　to　me　either　to　clear　out　altogether；　and　so　confirm　whatever　happened　to　be　in　the　air；　or　to　go　off　for　a　time；　under　some　arrangement　which　would　give　the　authorities　ample　excuse　for　overhauling　every　inch　of　my　rooms。　　Which　would　you　have　done；　Bunny？〃

〃Cleared　out；　while　I　could！〃　said　I　devoutly。

〃So　I　should　have　thought；〃　rejoined　Raffles。　　〃Yet　you　see　the　merit　of　my　plan。　　I　shall　leave　every　mortal　thing　unlocked。〃

〃Except　that；〃　said　I；　kicking　the　huge　oak　case　with　the　iron　bands　and　clamps；　and　the　baize　lining　fast　disappearing　under　heavy　packages　bearing　the　shapes　of　urns　and　candelabra。

〃That；〃　replied　Raffles；　〃is　neither　to　go　with　me　nor　to　remain　here。〃

〃Then　what　do　you　propose　to　do　with　it？〃

〃You　have　your　banking　account；　and　your　banker；〃　he　went　on。　　This　was　perfectly　true；　though　it　was　Raffles　alone　who　had　kept　the　one　open；　and　enabled　me　to　propitiate　the　other　in　moments　of　emergency。

〃Well？〃

〃Well；　pay　in　this　bundle　of　notes　this　afternoon；　and　say　you　have　had　a　great　week　at　Liverpool　and　Lincoln；　then　ask　them　if　they　can　do　with　your　silver　while　you　run　over　to　Paris　for　a　merry　Easter。　　I　should　tell　them　it's　rather　heavy　…　a　lot　of　old　family　stuff　that　you've　a　good　mind　to　leave　with　them　till　you　marry　and　settle　down。〃

I　winced　at　this；　but　consented　to　the　rest　after　a　moment's　consideration。　　After　all；　and　for　more　reasons　that　I　need　enumerate；　it　was　a　plausible　tale　enough。　　And　Raffles　had　no　banker；　it　was　quite　impossible　for　him　to　explain；　across　any　single　counter；　the　large　sums　of　hard　cash　which　did　sometimes　fall　into　his　hands；　and　it　might　well　be　that　he　had　nursed　my　small　account　in　view　of　the　very　quandary　which　had　now　arisen。　　On　all　grounds；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　refuse　him；　and　I　am　still　glad　to　remember　that　my　assent　was　given；　on　the　whole；　ungrudgingly。

〃But　when　will　the　chest　be　ready　for　me　I　merely　asked；　as　I　stuffed　the　notes　into　my　cigarette　case。　　〃And　how　are　we　to　get　it　out　of　this；　in　banking　hours；　without　attracting　any　amount　of　attention　at　this　end？〃

Raffles　gave　me　an　approving　nod。

〃I'm　glad　to　see　you　spot　the　crux　so　quickly；　Bunny。　　I　have　thought　of　your　taking　it　round　to　your　place　first；　under　cloud　of　night；　but　we　are　bound　to　be　seen　even　so；　and　on　the　whole　it　would　look　far　less　suspicious　in　broad　daylight。　　It　will　take　you　some　twelve　or　fifteen　minutes　to　drive　to　your　bank　in　a　growler；　so　if　you　are　here　with　one　at　a　quarter　to　ten　to…morrow　morning；　that　will　exactly　meet　the　case。　　But　you　must　have　a　hansom　this　minute　if　you　mean　to　prepare　the　way　with　those　notes　this　afternoon！〃

It　was　only　too　like　the　Raffles　of　those　days　to　dismiss　a　subject　and　myself　in　the　same　breath；　with　a　sudden　nod；　and　a　brief　grasp　of　the　hand　he　was　already　holding　out　for　mine。　　I　had　a　great　mind　to　take　another　of　his　cigarettes　instead；　for　there　were　one　or　two　points　on　which　he　had　carefully　omitted　to　enlighten　me。　　Thus；　I　had　still　to　learn　the　bare　direction　of　his　journey；　and　it　was　all　that　I　could　do　to　drag　it　from　him　as　I　stood　buttoning　my　coat　and　gloves。

〃Scotland；〃　he　vouchsafed　at　last。

〃At　Easter；〃　I　remarked。

〃To　learn　the　language；〃　he　explained。　　〃I　have　no　tongue　but　my　own；　you　see；　but　I　try　to　make　up　for　it　by　cultivating　every　shade　of　that。　　Some　of　them　have　come　in　useful　even　to　your　knowledge；　Bunny：　what　price　my　Cockney　that　night　in　St。　　John's　Wood？　　I　can　keep　up　my　end　in　stage　Irish；　real　Devonshire；　very　fair　Norfolk；　and　three　distinct　Yorkshire　dialects。　　But　my　good　Galloway　Scots　might　be　better；　and　I　mean　to　make　it　so。〃

〃You　still　haven't　told　me　where　to　write　to　you。〃

〃I'll　write　to　you　first；　Bunny。〃

〃At　least　let　me　see　you　off；〃　I　urged　at　the　door。　　〃I　promise　not　to　look　at　your