the amateur cracksman-第10章

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the　fool；　honor　bright；　I'm　not；　yet　by　Jove！to　get　to　windward　of　the　professors　and　Mackenzie　too！　　It　would　be　a　great　game；　Bunny；　it　would　be　a　great　game！〃

〃Well；　you　mustn't　play　it　this　week。〃

〃No；　no；　I　won't。　　But　I　wonder　how　the　professors　think　of　going　to　work？　　That's　what　one　wants　to　know。　　I　wonder　if　they've　really　got　an　accomplice　in　the　house？　　How　I　wish　I　knew　their　game！　　But　it's　all　right；　Bunny；　don't　you　be　jealous；　it　shall　be　as　you　wish。〃

And　with　that　assurance　I　went　off　to　my　own　room；　and　so　to　bed　with　an　incredibly　light　heart。　I　had　still　enough　of　the　honest　man　in　me　to　welcome　the　postponement　of　our　actual　felonies；　to　dread　their　performance；　to　deplore　their　necessity：　which　is　merely　another　way　of　stating　the　too　patent　fact　that　I　was　an　incomparably　weaker　man　than　Raffles；　while　every　whit　as　wicked。

I　had；　however；　one　rather　strong　point。　　I　possessed　the　gift　of　dismissing　unpleasant　considerations；　not　intimately　connected　with　the　passing　moment；　entirely　from　my　mind。　　Through　the　exercise　of　this　faculty　I　had　lately　been　living　my　frivolous　life　in　town　with　as　much　ignoble　enjoyment　as　I　had　derived　from　it　the　year　before；　and　similarly；　here　at　Milchester；　in　the　long…dreaded　cricket…week；　I　had　after　all　a　quite　excellent　time。

It　is　true　that　there　were　other　factors　in　this　pleasing　disappointment。　　In　the　first　place；　mirabile　dictu；　there　were　one　or　two　even　greater　duffers　than　I　on　the　Abbey　cricket…field。　　Indeed；　quite　early　in　the　week；　when　it　was　of　most　value　to　me；　I　gained　considerable　kudos　for　a　lucky　catch；　a　ball；　of　which　I　had　merely　heard　the　hum；　stuck　fast　in　my　hand；　which　Lord　Amersteth　himself　grasped　in　public　congratulation。　　This　happy　accident　was　not　to　be　undone　even　by　me；　and；　as　nothing　succeeds　like　success；　and　the　constant　encouragement　of　the　one　great　cricketer　on　the　field　was　in　itself　an　immense　stimulus；　I　actually　made　a　run　or　two　in　my　very　next　innings。　　Miss　Melhuish　said　pretty　things　to　me　that　night　at　the　great　ball　in　honor　of　Viscount　Crowley's　majority；　she　also　told　me　that　was　the　night　on　which　the　robbers　would　assuredly　make　their　raid；　and　was　full　of　arch　tremors　when　we　sat　out　in　the　garden；　though　the　entire　premises　were　illuminated　all　night　long。　　Meanwhile　the　quiet　Scotchman　took　countless　photographs　by　day；　which　he　developed　by　night　in　a　dark　room　admirably　situated　in　the　servants'　part　of　the　house；　and　it　is　my　firm　belief　that　only　two　of　his　fellow…guests　knew　Mr。　Clephane　of　Dundee　for　Inspector　Mackenzie　of　Scotland　Yard。

The　week　was　to　end　with　a　trumpery　match　on　the　Saturday；　which　two　or　three　of　us　intended　abandoning　early　in　order　to　return　to　town　that　night。　　The　match；　however；　was　never　played。　　In　the　small　hours　of　the　Saturday　morning　a　tragedy　took　place　at　Milchester　Abbey。

Let　me　tell　of　the　thing　as　I　saw　and　heard　it。　　My　room　opened　upon　the　central　gallery；　and　was　not　even　on　the　same　floor　as　that　on　which　Rafflesand　I　think　all　the　other　menwere　quartered。　　I　had　been　put；　in　fact；　into　the　dressing…room　of　one　of　the　grand　suites；　and　my　too　near　neighbors　were　old　Lady　Melrose　and　my　host　and　hostess。　　Now；　by　the　Friday　evening　the　actual　festivities　were　at　an　end；　and；　for　the　first　time　that　week；　I　must　have　been　sound　asleep　since　midnight；　when　all　at　once　I　found　myself　sitting　up　breathless。　　A　heavy　thud　had　come　against　my　door；　and　now　I　heard　hard　breathing　and　the　dull　stamp　of　muffled　feet。

〃I've　got　ye；〃　muttered　a　voice。　　〃It's　no　use　struggling。〃

It　was　the　Scotch　detective；　and　a　new　fear　turned　me　cold。　　There　was　no　reply；　but　the　hard　breathing　grew　harder　still；　and　the　muffled　feet　beat　the　floor　to　a　quicker　measure。　　In　sudden　panic　I　sprang　out　of　bed　and　flung　open　my　door。　A　light　burnt　low　on　the　landing；　and　by　it　I　could　see　Mackenzie　swaying　and　staggering　in　a　silent　tussle　with　some　powerful　adversary。

〃Hold　this　man！〃　he　cried；　as　I　appeared。　〃Hold　the　rascal！〃

But　I　stood　like　a　fool　until　the　pair　of　them　backed　into　me；　when；　with　a　deep　breath　I　flung　myself　on　the　fellow；　whose　face　I　had　seen　at　last。　He　was　one　of　the　footmen　who　waited　at　table；　and　no　sooner　had　I　pinned　him　than　the　detective　loosed　his　hold。

〃Hang　on　to　him；〃　he　cried。　　〃There's　more　of　'em　below。〃

And　he　went　leaping　down　the　stairs；　as　other　doors　opened　and　Lord　Amersteth　and　his　son　appeared　simultaneously　in　their　pyjamas。　　At　that　my　man　ceased　struggling；　but　I　was　still　holding　him　when　Crowley　turned　up　the　gas。

〃What　the　devil's　all　this？〃　asked　Lord　Amersteth；　blinking。　　〃Who　was　that　ran　downstairs？〃

〃MacClephane！〃　said　I　hastily。

〃Aha！〃　said　he；　turning　to　the　footman。　　〃So　you're　the　scoundrel；　are　you？　　Well　done！　　Well　done！　　Where　was　he　caught？〃

I　had　no　idea。

〃Here's　Lady　Melrose's　door　open；〃　said　Crowley。　　〃Lady　Melrose！　　Lady　Melrose！〃

〃You　forget　she's　deaf；〃　said　Lord　Amersteth。　〃Ah！　that'll　be　her　maid。〃

An　inner　door　had　opened；　next　instant　there　was　a　little　shriek；　and　a　white　figure　gesticulated　on　the　threshold。

〃Ou　donc　est　l'ecrin　de　Madame　la　Marquise？　　La　fenetre　est　ouverte。　　Il　a　disparu！〃

〃Window　open　and　jewel…case　gone；　by　Jove！〃　exclaimed　Lord　Amersteth。　　〃Mais　comment　est　Madame　la　Marquise？　　Est　elle　bien？〃

〃Oui；　milor。　　Elle　dort。〃

〃Sleeps　through　it　all；〃　said　my　lord。　　〃She's　the　only　one；　then！〃

〃What　made　MackenzieClephanebolt？〃　young　Crowley　asked　me。

〃Said　there　were　more　of　them　below。〃

〃Why　the　devil　couldn't　you　tell　us　so　before？〃　he　cried；　and　went　leaping　downstairs　in　his　turn。

He　was　followed　by　nearly　all　the　cricketers；　who　now　burst　upon　the　scene　in　a　body；　only　to　desert　it　for　the　chase。　　Raffles　was　one　of　them；　and　I　would　gladly　have　been　another；　had　not　the　footman　chosen　this　moment　to　hurl　me　from　him；　and　to　make　a　dash　in　the　direction　from　which　they　had　come。　　Lord　Amersteth　had　him　in　an　instant；　but　the　fellow　fought　desperately；　and　it　took　the　two　of　us　to　drag　him　downstairs；　amid　a　terrified　chorus　from　half…open　doors。　　Eventually　we　handed　him　over　to　two　other　footmen　who　appeared　with　their　nightshirts　tucked　into　their　trousers；　and　my　host　was　good　enough　to　compliment　me　as　he　led　the　way　outside。

〃I　thought　I　heard　a　shot；〃　he　added。　　〃Didn't　you？〃

〃I　thought　I　heard　three。〃

And　out　we　dashed　into　the　darkness。

I　remember　how　the　gravel　pricked　my　feet；　how　the　wet　grass　numbed　them　as　we　made　for　the　sound　of　voices　on　an　outlying　lawn。　　So　dark　was　the　night　that　we　were　in　the　cricketers'　midst　before　we　saw　the　shimmer　of　their　pyjamas；　and　then　Lord　Amersteth　almost　trod　on　Mackenzie　as　he　lay　prostrate　in　the　dew。

〃Who's　this　？〃　he　cried。　　〃What　on　earth's　happened？〃

〃It's　Clephane；〃　said　a　man　who　knelt　over　him。　　〃He's　got　a　bullet　in　him　somewhere。〃

〃Is　he　alive？〃

〃Barely。〃

〃Good　God！　　Where's　Crowley？〃

〃Here　I　am；〃　called　a　breathless　voice。　　〃It's　no　good；　you　fellows。　　There's　nothing　to　show　which　way　they've　gone。　　Here's　Raffles；　he's　chucked　it；　too。〃　　And　they　ran　up　panting。

〃Well；　we've　got　one　of　them；　at　all　events；〃　muttered　Lord　Amersteth。　　〃The　next　thing　is　to　get　this　poor　fellow　indoors。　　Take　his　shoulders；　somebody。　　Now　his　middle。　　Join　hands　under　him。　　All　together；　now；　that's　the　way。　　Poor　fellow！　　Poor　fellow！　　His　name　isn't　Clephane　at　all。　　He's　a　Scotland　Yard　detective；　down　here　for　these　very　villains！〃

Raffles　was　the　first　to　express　surprise；　but　he　had　also　been　the　first　to　raise　the　wounded　man。　　Nor　had　any　of　them　a　stronger　or　more　tender　hand　in　the　slow　procession　to　the　house。

In　a　little　we　had　the　senseless　man　stretched　on　a　sofa　in　the　library。　　And　there；　with　ice　on　his　wound　and　brandy　in　his　throat；　his　eyes　opened　and　his　lips　moved。

Lord　Amersteth　bent　down　to　catch　the　words。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　he；　〃we've　got　one　of　them　safe　and　sound。　　The　brute　you　collared　upstairs。〃　Lord　Amersteth　bent　lower。　　〃By　Jove！　　Lowered　the　jewel…case　out　of　the　window；　did　he？　　And　they've　got　clean　away　with　it！　　Well；　well！　　I　only　hope　we'll　be　able　to　pull　this　good　fellow　through。　　He's　off　again。〃

An　hour　passed：　the　sun　was　rising。

It　found　a　dozen　young　fellows　on　the　settees　in　the　billiard…room；　drinking　whiskey　and　soda…water　in　their　overcoats　and　pyjamas；　and　still　talking　excitedly　in　one　breath。　　A　time…table　was　being　passed　from　hand　to　hand：　the　doctor　was　still　in　the　library。　　At　last　the　door　opened；　and　Lord　Amersteth　put　in　his　head。

〃It　isn't　hopeless；〃　said　he；　〃but　it's　bad　enough。　There'll　be　no　cricket　to…day。〃

Another　hour；　and　most　of　us　were　on　our　way　to　catch　the　early　train；　between　us　we　filled　a　compartment　almost　to　suffocation。　　And　still　we　talked　all　together　of　the　night's　event；　and　still　I　was　a　little　hero　in　my　way；　for　having　kept　my　hold　of　the　one　ruffian　who　had　been　taken；　and　my　gratification　was　subtle　and　intense。　　Raffles　watched　me　under　lowered　lids。　　Not　a　word　had　we　had　together；　not　a　word　did　we　have　until　we　had　left　the　others　at　Paddington；　and　were　skimming　through　the　streets　in　a　hansom　with　noiseless　tires　and　a　tinkling　bell。

〃Well；　Bunny；〃　said　Raffles；　〃so　the　professors　have　it；　eh？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　I。　　〃And　I'm　jolly　glad！〃

〃That　poor　Mackenzie　has　a　ball　in　his　chest？〃

〃That　you　and　I　have　been　on　the　decent　side　for　once。〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃You're　hopeless；　Bunny；　quite　hopeless！　　I　take　it　you　wouldn't　have　refused　your　share　if　the　boodle　had　fallen　to　us？　　Yet　you　positively　enjoy　coming　off　second　bestfor　the　second　time　running！　　I　confess；　however；　that　the　professors'　methods　were　full　of　interest　to　me。　　I；　for　one；　have　probably　gained　as　much　in　experience　as　I　have　lost　in　other　things。　　That　lowering　the　jewel…case　out　of　the　window　was　a　very　simple　and　effective　expedient；　two　of　them　had　been　waiting　below　for　it　for　hours。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　I　asked。

〃I　saw　them　from　my　own　window；　which　was　just　above　the　dear　old　lady's。　　I　was　fretting　for　that　necklace　in　particular；　when　I　went　up　to　turn　in　for　our　last　nightand　I　happened　to　look　out　of　my　window。　　In　point　of　fact；　I　wanted　to　see　whether　the　one　below　was　open；　and　whether　there　was　the　slightest　chance　of　working　the　oracle　with　my　sheet　for　a　rope。　　Of　course　I　took　the　precaution　of　turning　my　light　off　first；　and　it　was　a　lucky　thing　I　did。　　I　saw　the　pros。　right　down　below；　and　they　never　saw　me。　　I　saw　a　little　tiny　luminous　disk　just　for　an　instant；　and　then　again　for　an　instant　a　few　minutes　later。　　Of　course　I　knew　what　it　was；　for　I　have　my　own　watch…dial　daubed　with　luminous　paint；　it　makes　a　lantern　of　sorts　when　you　can　get　no　better。　　But　these　fellows　were　not　using　theirs　as　a　lantern。　　They　were　under　the　old　lady's　window。　　They　were　watching　the　time。　　The　whole　thing　was　arranged　with　their　accomplice　inside。　　Set　a　thief　to　catch　a　thief：　in　a　minute　I　had　guessed　what　the　whole　thing　proved　to　be。〃

〃And　you　did　nothing！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃On　the　contrary；　I　went　downstairs　and　straight　into　Lady　Melrose's　room〃

〃You　did？〃

〃Without　a　moment's　hesitation。　　To　save　her　jewels。　　And　I　was　p