a thief in the night-第7章

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roach　was　on　the　subject　of　the　phantom　Crawshay。

〃You　let　me　think　he　was　in　the　air　again；〃　I　said。　　〃But　it　wouldn't　surprise　me　to　find　that　you　had　never　heard　of　him　since　the　day　of　his　escape　through　your　window。〃

〃I　never　even　thought　of　him；　Bunny；　until　you　came　to　see　me　the　day　before　yesterday；　and　put　him　into　my　head　with　your　first　words。　The　whole　point　was　to　make　you　as　genuinely　anxious　about　the　plate　as　you　must　have　seemed　all。　along　the　line。〃

〃Of　course　I　see　your　point；〃　I　rejoined；　〃but　mine　is　that　you　labored　it。　　You　needn't　have　written　me　a　downright　lie　about　the　fellow。〃

〃Nor　did　I；　Bunny。〃

〃Not　about　the　'prince　of　professors'　being　'in　the　offing'　when　you　left？〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　but　so　he　was！〃　cried　Raffles。　　〃Time　was　when　I　was　none　too　pure　an　amateur。　　But　after　this　I　take　leave　to　consider　myself　a　professor　of　the　professors。　　And　I　should　like　to　see　one　more　capable　of　skippering　their　side！〃




The　Rest　Cure


I　had　not　seen　Raffles　for　a　month　or　more；　and　I　was　sadly　in　need　of　his　advice。　　My　life　was　being　made　a　burden　to　me　by　a　wretch　who　had　obtained　a　bill　of　sale　over　the　furniture　in　Mount　Street；　and　it　was　only　by　living　elsewhere　that　I　could　keep　the　vulpine　villain　from　my　door。　　This　cost　ready　money；　and　my　balance　at　the　bank　was　sorely　in　need　of　another　lift　from　Raffles。　　Yet；　had　he　been　in　my　shoes；　he　could　not　have　vanished　more　effectually　than　he　had　done；　both　from　the　face　of　the　town　and　from　the　ken　of　all。　who　knew　him。

It　was　late　in　August；　he　never　played　first…class　cricket　after　July；　when；　a　scholastic　understudy　took　his　place　in　the　Middlesex　eleven。　　And　in　vain　did　I　scour　my　Field　and　my　Sportsman　for　the　country…house　matches　with　which　he　wilfully　preferred　to　wind　up　the　season；　the　matches　were　there；　but　never　the　magic　name　of　A。　J。　Raffles。　　Nothing　was　known　of　him　at　the　Albany；　he　had　left　no　instructions　about　his　letters；　either　there　or　at　the　club。　　I　began　to　fear　that　some　evil　had　overtaken　him。　　I　scanned　the　features　of　captured　criminals　in　the　illustrated　Sunday　papers；　on　each　occasion　I　breathed　again；　nor　was　anything　worthy　of　Raffles　going　on。　　I　will　not　deny　that　I　was　less　anxious　on　his　account　than　on　my　own。　　But　it　was　a　double　relief　to　me　when　he　gave　a　first　characteristic　sign　of　life。

I　had　called　at　the　Albany　for　the　fiftieth　time；　and　returned　to　Piccadilly　in　my　usual　despair；　when　a　street　sloucher　sidled　up　to　me　in　furtive　fashion　and　inquired　if　my　name　was　what　it　is。

〃'Cause　this　'ere's　for　you；〃　he　rejoined　to　my　affirmative；　and　with　that　I　felt　a　crumpled　note　in　my　palm。

It　was　from　Raffles。　　I　smoothed　out　the　twisted　scrap　of　paper；　and　on　it　were　just　a　couple　of　lines　in　pencil：

〃Meet　me　in　Holland　Walk　at　dark　to…night。　　Walk　up　and　down　till　I　come。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A。　　J。　　R。〃

That　was　all。！　　Not　another　syllable　after　all。　these　weeks；　and　the　few　words　scribbled　in　a　wild　caricature　of　his　scholarly　and　dainty　hand！　　I　was　no　longer　to　be　alarmed　by　this　sort　of　thing；　it　was　all。　so　like　the　Raffles　I　loved　least；　and　to　add　to　my　indignation；　when　at　length　I　looked　up　from　the　mysterious　missive；　the　equally　mysterious　messenger　had　disappeared　in　a　manner　worthy　of　the　whole　affair。　　He　was；　however；　the　first　creature　I　espied　under　the　tattered　trees　of　Holland　Walk　that　evening。

〃Seen　'im　yet？〃　he　inquired　confidentially；　blowing　a　vile　cloud　from　his　horrid　pipe。

〃No；　I　haven't；　and　I　want　to　know　where　you've　seen　him；〃　I　replied　sternly。　　〃Why　did　you　run　away　like　that　the　moment　you　had　given　me　his　note？〃

〃Orders；　orders；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃I　ain't　such　a　juggins　as　to　go　agen　a　toff　as　makes　it　worf　while　to　do　as　I'm　bid　an'　'old　me　tongue。〃

〃And　who　may　you　be？〃　I　asked　jealously。　　〃And　what　are　you　to　Mr。　Raffles？〃

〃You　silly　ass；　Bunny；　don't　tell　all。　Kensington　that　I'm　in　town！〃　replied　my　tatterdemalion；　shooting　up　and　smoothing　out　into　a　merely　shabby　Raffles。　　〃Here；　take　my　arm　…　I'm　not　so　beastly　as　I　look。　　But　neither　am　I　in　town；　nor　in　England；　nor　yet　on　the　face　of　the　earth；　for　all。　that's　known　of　me　to　a　single　soul　but　you。〃

〃Then　where　are　you；〃　I　asked；　〃between　ourselves？〃

〃I've　taken　a　house　near　here　for　the　holidays；　where　I'm　going　in　for　a　Rest　Cure　of　my　own　description。　　Why？　　Oh；　for　lots　of　reasons；　my　dear　Bunny；　among　others；　I　have　long　had　a　wish　to　grow　my　own　beard；　under　the　next　lamppost　you　will　agree　that　it's　training　on　very　nicely。　　Then；　you　mayn't　know　it；　but　there's　a　canny　man　at　Scotland　Yard　who　has　had　a　quiet　eye　on　me　longer　than　I　like。　　I　thought　it　about　time　to　have　an　eye　on　him；　and　I　stared　him　in　the　face　outside　the　Albany　this　very　morning。　　That　was　when　I　saw　you　go　in；　and　scribbled　a　line　to　give　you　when　you　came　out。　　If　he　had　caught　us　talking　he　would　have　spotted　me　at　once。〃

〃So　you　are　lying　low　out　here！〃

〃I　prefer　to　call　it　my　Rest　Cure；〃　returned　Raffles；　〃and　it's　really　nothing　else。　　I've　got　a　furnished　house　at　a　time　when　no　one　else　would　have　dreamed　of　taking　one　in　town；　and　my　very　neighbors　don't　know　I'm　there；　though　I'm　bound　to　say　there　are　hardly　any　of　them　at　home。　　I　don't　keep　a　servant；　and　do　everything　for　myself。　　It's　the　next　best　fun　to　a　desert　island。　Not　that　I　make　much　work；　for　I'm　really　resting；　but　I　haven't　done　so　much　solid　reading　for　years。　　Rather　a　joke；　Bunny：　the　man　whose　house　I've　taken　is　one　of　her　Majesty's　inspectors　of　prisons；　and　his　study's　a　storehouse　of　criminology。　　It　has　been　quite　amusing　to　lie　on　one's　back　and　have　a　good　look　at　one's　self　as　others　fondly　imagine　they　see　one。〃

〃But　surely　you　get　some　exercise？〃　I　asked；　for　he　was　leading　me　at　a　good　rate　through　the　leafy　byways　of　Camp　den　Hill；　and　his　step　was　as　springy　and　as　light　as　ever。

〃The　best　exercise　I　ever　had　in　my　life；〃　said　Raffles；　〃and　you　would　never　live　to　guess　what　it　is。　　It's　one　of　the　reasons　why　I　went　in　for　this　seedy　kit。　　I　follow　cabs。　　Yes；　Bunny；　I　turn　out　about　dusk　and　meet　the　expresses　at　Euston　or　King's　Cross；　that　is；　of　course；　I　loaf　outside　and　pick　my　cab；　and　often　run　my　three　or　four　miles　for　a　bob　or　less。　　And　it　not　only　keeps　you　in　the　very　pink：　if　you're　good　they　let　you　carry　the　trunks　up…stairs；　and　I've　taken　notes　from　the　inside　of　more　than　one　commodious　residence　which　will　come　in　useful　in　the　autumn。　　In　fact；　Bunny；　what　with　these　new　Rowton　houses；　my　beard；　and　my　otherwise　well…spent　holiday；　I　hope　to　have　quite　a　good　autumn　season　before　the　erratic　Raffles　turns　up　in　town。〃

I　felt　it　high　time　to　wedge　in　a　word　about　my　own　far　less　satisfactory　affairs。　　But　it　was　not　necessary　for　me　to　recount　half　my　troubles。　　Raffles　could　be　as　full　of　himself　as　many　a　worse　man；　and　I　did　not　like　his　society　the　less　for　these　human　outpourings。　　They　had　rather　the　effect　of　putting　me　on　better　terms　with　myself；　through　bringing　him　down　to　my　level　for　the　time　being。　　But　his　egoism　was　not　even　skin…deep；　it　was　rather　a　cloak；　which　Raffles　could　cast　off　quicker　than　any　man　I　ever　knew；　as　he　did　not　fail　to　show　me　now。

〃Why；　Bunny；　this　is　the　very　thing！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　must　come　and　stay　with　me；　and　we'll　lie　low　side　by　side。　　Only　remember　it　really　is　a　Rest　Cure。　　I　want　to　keep　literally　as　quiet　as　I　was　without　you。　　What　do　you　say　to　forming　ourselves　at　once　into　a　practically　Silent　Order？　　You　agree？　　Very　well；　then；　here's　the　street　and　that's　the　house。〃

It　was　ever　such　a　quiet　little　street；　turning　out　of　one　of　those　which　climb　right　over　the　pleasant　hill。　　One　side　was　monopolized　by　the　garden　wall　of　an　ugly　but　enviable　mansion　standing　in　its　own　ground；　opposite　were　a　solid　file　of　smaller　but　taller　houses；　on　neither　side　were　there　many　windows　alight；　nor　a　solitary　soul　on　the　pavement　or　in　the　road。　　Raffles　led　the　way　to　one　of　the　small　tall　houses。　　It　stood　immediately　behind　a　lamppost；　and　I　could　not　but　notice　that　a　love…lock　of　Virginia　creeper　was　trailing　almost　to　the　step；　and　that　the　bow…window　on　the　ground　floor　was　closely　shuttered。　　Raffles　admitted　himself　with　his　latch…key；　and　I　squeezed　past　him　into　a　very　narrow　hall。　　I　did　not　hear　him　shut　the　door；　but　we　were　no　longer　in　the　lamplight；　and　he　pushed　softly　past　me　in　his　turn。

〃I'll　get　a　light；〃　he　muttered　as　he　went；　but　to　let　him　pass　I　had　leaned　against　some　electric　switches；　and　while　'his　back　was　turned　I　tried　one　of　these　without　thinking。　　In　an　instant　hall　and　staircase　were　flooded　with　light；　in　another　Raffles　was　upon　me　in　a　fury；　and；　all。　was　dark　once　more。　　He　had　not　said　a　word；　but　I　heard　him　breathing　through　his　teeth。

Nor　was　there　anything　to　tell　me　now。　　The　mere　flash　of　electric　light　upon　a　hail　of　chaos　and　uncarpeted　stairs；　and　on　the　face　of　Raffles　as　he　sprang　to　switch　it　off；　had　been　enough　even　for　me。

〃So　this　is　how　you　have　taken　the　house；〃　said　I　in　his　own　undertone。　　〃'Taken'　is　good；　'taken'　is　beautiful！〃

〃Did　you　think　I'd　done　it　through　an　agent？〃　he　snarled。　　〃Upon　my　word；　Bunny；　I　did　you　the　credit　of　supposing　you　saw　the　joke　all。　the　time！〃

〃Why　shouldn't　you　take　a　house；〃　I　asked；　〃and　pay　for　it？〃

〃Why　should　I；〃　he　retorted；　〃within　three　miles　of　the　Albany？　Besides；　I　should　have　had　no　peace；　and　I　meant　every　word　I　said　about　my　Rest　Cure。〃

〃You　are　actually　staying　in　a　house　where　you've　broken　in　to　steal？〃

〃Not　to　steal；　Bunny！　　I　haven't　stolen　a　thing。　　But　staying　here　I　certainly　am；　and　having　the　most　complete　rest　a　busy　man　could　wish。〃

〃There'll　be　no　rest　for　me！〃

Raffles　laughed　as　he　struck　a　match。　　I　had　followed　him　into　what　would　have　been　the　back　drawing…room　in　the　ordinary　little　London　house；　the　inspector　of　prisons　had　converted　it　into　a　separate　study　by　filling　the　folding　doors　with　book…shelves；　which　I　scanned　at　once　for　the　congenial　works　of　which　Raffles　had　spoken。　　I　was　not　able　to　carry　my　examination　very　far。　　Raffles　had　lighted　a　candle；　stuck　（by　its　own　grease）　in　the　crown　of　an　opera　hat；　which　he　opened　the　moment　the　wick　caught。　　The　light　thus　struck　the　ceiling　in　an　oval　shaft；　which　left　the　rest　of　the　room　almost　as　dark　as　it　had　been　before。

〃Sorry；　Bunny！〃　said　Raffles；　sitting　on　one　pedestal　of　a　desk　from　which　the　top　had　been　removed；　and　setting　his　makeshift　lantern　on　the　other。　　〃In　broad　daylight；　when　it　can't　be　spotted　from　the　outside；　you　shall　have　as　much　artificial　light　as　you　like。　　If　you　want　to　do　some　writing；　that's　the　top　of　the　desk　on　end　against　the　mantlepiece。　　You'll　never　have　a　better　chance　so　far　as　interruption　goes。　　But　no　midnight　oil　or　electricity！　　You　observe　that　their　last　care　was　to　fix　up　these　shutters；　they　appear　to　have　taken　the　top　off　the　desk　to　get　at　'em　without　standing　on　it；　but　the　beastly　things　wouldn't　go　all。　the　way　up；　and　the　strip　they　leave　would　give　us　away　to　the　backs　of　the　other　houses　if　we　lit　up　after　dark。　　Mind　that　telephone！　　If　you　touch　the　receiver　they　will　know　at　the　exchange　that　the　house　is　n