the amateur cracksman-第12章

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sa　second　Kelly　gang！　　They'd　have　caught　a　Tartar　in　you；　eh？'

〃'They　would　in　you；'　I　retorted；　and　my　tu　quoque　shut　him　up　and　seemed　to　puzzle　him。　Yet　there　was　much　more　sense　in　it　than　in　his　compliment　to　me；　which　was　absolutely　pointless。

〃'I'm　afraid　you'll　find　things　pretty　rough；'　he　resumed；　when　he　had　unstrapped　my　valise；　and　handed　my　reins　to　his　man。　　'It's　lucky　you're　a　bachelor　like　myself。'

〃I　could　not　quite　see　the　point　of　this　remark　either；　since；　had　I　been　married；　I　should　hardly　have　sprung　my　wife　upon　him　in　this　free…and…easy　fashion。　　I　muttered　the　conventional　sort　of　thing；　and　then　he　said　I　should　find　it　all　right　when　I　settled；　as　though　I　had　come　to　graze　upon　him　for　weeks！　　'Well；'　thought　I；　'these　Colonials　do　take　the　cake　for　hospitality！'　　And；　still　marvelling；　I　let　him　lead　me　into　the　private　part　of　the　bank。

〃'Dinner　will　be　ready　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour；'　said　he　as　we　entered。　　'I　thought　you　might　like　a　tub　first；　and　you'll　find　all　ready　in　the　room　at　the　end　of　the　passage。　　Sing　out　if　there's　anything　you　want。　　Your　luggage　hasn't　turned　up　yet；　by　the　way；　but　here's　a　letter　that　came　this　morning。'

〃'Not　for　me？'

〃'Yes；　didn't　you　expect　one？'

〃'I　certainly　did　not！'

〃'Well；　here　it　is。'

〃And；　as　he　lit　me　to　my　room；　I　read　my　own　superscription　of　the　previous　dayto　W。　F。　Raffles！


〃Bunny；　you've　had　your　wind　bagged　at　footer；　I　daresay；　you　know　what　that's　like？　　All　I　can　say　is　that　my　moral　wind　was　bagged　by　that　letter　as　I　hope；　old　chap；　I　have　never　yet　bagged　yours。　I　couldn't　speak。　　I　could　only　stand　with　my　own　letter　in　my　hands　until　he　had　the　good　taste　to　leave　me　by　myself。

〃W。　F。　Raffles！　　We　had　mistaken　EACH　OTHER　for　W。　F。　Rafflesfor　the　new　manager　who　had　not　yet　arrived！　　Small　wonder　we　had　conversed　at　cross…purposes；　the　only　wonder　was　that　we　had　not　discovered　our　mutual　mistake。　　How　the　other　man　would　have　laughed！　　But　II　could　not　laugh。　　By　Jove；　no；　it　was　no　laughing　matter　for　me！　　I　saw　the　whole　thing　in　a　flash；　without　a　tremor；　but　with　the　direst　depression　from　my　own　single　point　of　view。　　Call　it　callous　if　you　like；　Bunny；　but　remember　that　I　was　in　much　the　same　hole　as　you've　since　been　in　yourself；　and　that　I　had　counted　on　this　W。　F。　Raffles　even　as　you　counted　on　A。　J。　　I　thought　of　the　man　with　the　W。　G。　beardthe　riderless　horse　and　the　bloody　saddlethe　deliberate　misdirection　that　had　put　me　off　the　track　and　out　of　the　wayand　now　the　missing　manager　and　the　report　of　bushrangers　at　this　end。　　But　I　simply　don't　pretend　to　have　felt　any　personal　pity　for　a　man　whom　I　had　never　seen；　that　kind　of　pity's　usually　cant；　and　besides；　all　mine　was　needed　for　myself。

〃I　was　in　as　big　a　hole　as　ever。　　What　the　devil　was　I　to　do？　　I　doubt　if　I　have　sufficiently　impressed　upon　you　the　absolute　necessity　of　my　returning　to　Melbourne　in　funds。　　As　a　matter　of　fact　it　was　less　the　necessity　than　my　own　determination　which　I　can　truthfully　ascribe　as　absolute。

〃Money　I　would　havebut　howbut　how？　　Would　this　stranger　be　open　to　persuasionif　I　told　him　the　truth？　　No；　that　would　set　us　all　scouring　the　country　for　the　rest　of　the　night。　　Why　should　I　tell　him？　　Suppose　I　left　him　to　find　out　his　mistake　。　。　。　would　anything　be　gained？　　Bunny；　I　give　you　my　word　that　I　went　in　to　dinner　without　a　definite　intention　in　my　head；　or　one　premeditated　lie　upon　my　lips。　　I　might　do　the　decent；　natural　thing；　and　explain　matters　without　loss　of　time；　on　the　other　hand；　there　was　no　hurry。　　I　had　not　opened　the　letter；　and　could　always　pretend　I　had　not　noticed　the　initials；　meanwhile　something　might　turn　up。　　I　could　wait　a　little　and　see。　　Tempted　I　already　was；　but　as　yet　the　temptation　was　vague；　and　its　very　vagueness　made　me　tremble。

〃'Bad　news；　I'm　afraid？'　said　the　manager；　when　at　last　I　sat　down　at　his　table。

〃'A　mere　annoyance；'　I　answeredI　do　assure　youon　the　spur　of　the　moment　and　nothing　else。　But　my　lie　was　told；　my　position　was　taken；　from　that　moment　onward　there　was　no　retreat。　　By　implication；　without　realizing　what　I　was　doing；　I　had　already　declared　myself　W。　F。　Raffles。　　Therefore；　W。　F。　Raffles　I　would　be；　in　that　bank；　for　that　night。　　And　the　devil　teach　me　how　to　use　my　lie！

Again　he　raised　his　glass　to　his　lipsI　had　forgotten　mine。　　His　cigarette…case　caught　the　gas…light　as　he　handed　it　to　me。　　I　shook　my　head　without　taking　my　eyes　from　his。

〃The　devil　played　up；〃　continued　Raffles；　with　a　laugh。　　〃Before　I　tasted　my　soup　I　had　decided　what　to　do。　　I　had　determined　to　rob　that　bank　instead　of　going　to　bed；　and　to　be　back　in　Melbourne　for　breakfast　if　the　doctor's　mare　could　do　it。　　I　would　tell　the　old　fellow　that　I　had　missed　my　way　and　been　bushed　for　hours；　as　I　easily　might　have　been；　and　had　never　got　to　Yea　at　all。　At　Yea；　on　the　other　hand；　the　personation　and　robbery　would　ever　after　be　attributed　to　a　member　of　the　gang　that　had　waylaid　and　murdered　the　new　manager　with　that　very　object。　　You　are　acquiring　some　experience　in　such　matters；　Bunny。　I　ask　you；　was　there　ever　a　better　get…out？　　Last　night's　was　something　like　it；　only　never　such　a　certainty。　　And　I　saw　it　from　the　beginningsaw　to　the　end　before　I　had　finished　my　soup！

〃To　increase　my　chances；　the　cashier；　who　also　lived　in　the　bank；　was　away　over　the　holidays；　had　actually　gone　down　to　Melbourne　to　see　us　play；　and　the　man　who　had　taken　my　horse　also　waited　at　table；　for　he　and　his　wife　were　the　only　servants；　and　they　slept　in　a　separate　building。　　You　may　depend　I　ascertained　this　before　we　had　finished　dinner。　　Indeed　I　was　by　way　of　asking　too　many　questions　（the　most　oblique　and　delicate　was　that　which　elicited　my　host's　name；　Ewbank）；　nor　was　I　careful　enough　to　conceal　their　drift。

〃'Do　you　know；'　said　this　fellow　Ewbank；　who　was　one　of　the　downright　sort；　'if　it　wasn't　you；　I　should　say　you　were　in　a　funk　of　robbers？　　Have　you　lost　your　nerve？'

〃'I　hope　not；'　said　I；　turning　jolly　hot；　I　can　tell　you；　'butwell；　it　is　not　a　pleasant　thing　to　have　to　put　a　bullet　through　a　fellow！'

〃'No？'　said　he；　coolly。　　'I　should　enjoy　nothing　better；　myself；　besides；　yours　didn't　go　through。'

〃'I　wish　it　had！'　I　was　smart　enough　to　cry。

〃'Amen！'　said　he。

〃And　I　emptied　my　glass；　actually　I　did　not　know　whether　my　wounded　bank…robber　was　in　prison；　dead；　or　at　large！

〃But；　now　that　I　had　had　more　than　enough　of　it；　Ewbank　would　come　back　to　the　subject。　　He　admitted　that　the　staff　was　small；　but　as　for　himself；　he　had　a　loaded　revolver　under　his　pillow　all　night；　under　the　counter　all　day；　and　he　was　only　waiting　for　his　chance。

〃'Under　the　counter　eh？'　I　was　ass　enough　to　say。

〃'Yes；　so　had　you！'

〃He　was　looking　at　me　in　surprise；　and　something　told　me　that　to　say　'of　courseI　had　forgotten！'　would　have　been　quite　fatal；　considering　what　I　was　supposed　to　have　done。　　So　I　looked　down　my　nose　and　shook　my　head。

〃'But　the　papers　said　you　had！'　he　cried。

〃'Not　under　the　counter；〃　said　I。

〃'But　it's　the　regulation！'

〃For　the　moment；　Bunny；　I　felt　stumped；　though　I　trust　I　only　looked　more　superior　than　before；　and　I　think　I　justified　my　look。

〃'The　regulation！'　I　said　at　length；　in　the　most　offensive　tone　at　my　command。　　'Yes；　the　regulation　would　have　us　all　dead　men！　　My　dear　sir；　do　you　expect　your　bank　robber　to　let　you　reach　for　your　gun　in　the　place　where　he　knows　it's　kept？　　I　had　mine　in　my　pocket；　and　I　got　my　chance　by　retreating　from　the　counter　with　all　visible　reluctance。'

〃Ewbank　stared　at　me　with　open　eyes　and　a　five…barred　forehead；　then　down　came　his　fist　on　the　table。

〃'By　God！　　That　was　smart！　　Still；'　he　added；　like　a　man　who　would　not　be　in　the　wrong；　'the　papers　said　the　other　thing；　you　know！'

〃'Of　course；'　I　rejoined；　'because　they　said　what　I　told　them。　　You　wouldn't　have　had　me　advertise　the　fact　that　I　improved　upon　the　bank's　regulations；　would　you？'

〃So　that　cloud　rolled　over；　and　by　Jove　it　was　a　cloud　with　a　golden　lining。　　Not　silverreal　good　Australian　gold！　　For　old　Ewbank　hadn't　quite　appreciated　me　till　then；　he　was　a　hard　nut；　a　much　older　man　than　myself；　and　I　felt　pretty　sure　he　thought　me　young　for　the　place；　and　my　supposed　feat　a　fluke。　　But　I　never　saw　a　man　change　his　mind　more　openly。　　He　got　out　his　best　brandy；　he　made　me　throw　away　the　cigar　I　was　smoking；　and　opened　a　fresh　box。　　He　was　a　convivial…looking　party；　with　a　red　moustache；　and　a　very　humorous　face　（not　unlike　Tom　Emmett's）；　and　from　that　moment　I　laid　myself　out　to　attack　him　on　his　convivial　flank。　　But　he　wasn't　a　Rosenthall；　Bunny；　he　had　a　treble…seamed；　hand…sewn　head；　and　could　have　drunk　me　under　the　table　ten　times　over。

〃'All　right；'　I　thought；　'you　may　go　to　bed　sober；　but　you'll　sleep　like　a　timber…yard！'　　And　I　threw　half　he　gave　me　through　the　open　window；　when　he　wasn't　looking。

〃But　he　was　a　good　chap；　Ewbank；　and　don't　you　imagine　he　was　at　all　intemperate。　　Convivial　I　called　him；　and　I　only　wish　he　had　been　something　more。　　He　did；　however；　become　more　and　more　genial　as　the　evening　advanced；　and　I　had　not　much　difficulty　in　getting　him　to　show　me　round　the　bank　at　what　was　really　an　unearthly　hour　for　such　a　proceeding。　　It　was　when　he　went　to　fetch　the　revolver　before　turning　in。　　I　kept　him　out　of　his　bed　another　twenty　minutes；　and　I　knew　every　inch　of　the　business　premises　before　I　shook　hands　with　Ewbank　in　my　room。

〃You　won't　guess　what　I　did　with　myself　for　the　next　hour。　　I　undressed　and　went　to　bed。　　The　incessant　strain　involved　in　even　the　most　deliberate　impersonation　is　the　most　wearing　thing　I　know；　then　how　much　more　so　when　the　impersonation　is　impromptu！　　There's　no　getting　your　eye　in；　the　next　word　may　bowl　you　out；　it's　batting　in　a　bad　light　all　through。　　I　haven't　told　you　of　half　the　tight　places　I　was　in　during　a　conversation　that　ran　into　hours　and　became　dangerously　intimate　towards　the　end。　　You　can　imagine　them　for　yourself；　and　then　picture　me　spread　out　on　my　bed；　getting　my　second　wind　for　the　big　deed　of　the　night。

〃Once　more　I　was　in　luck；　for　I　had　not　been　lying　there　long　before　I　heard　my　dear　Ewbank　snoring　like　a　harmonium；　and　the　music　never　ceased　for　a　moment；　it　was　as　loud　as　ever　when　I　crept　out　and　closed　my　door　behind　me；　as　regular　as　ever　when　I　stopped　to　listen　at　his。　　And　I　have　still　to　hear　the　concert　that　I　shall　enjoy　much　more。　　The　good　fellow　snored　me　out　of　the　bank；　and　was　still　snoring　when　I　again　stood　and　listened　under　his　open　window。

〃Why　did　I　leave　the　bank　first？　　To　catch　and　saddle　the　mare　and　tether　her　in　a　clump　of　trees　close　by：　to　have　the　means　of　escape　nice　and　handy　before　I　went　to　work。　　I　have　often　wondered　at　the　instinctive　wisdom　of　the　precaution；　unconsciously　I　was　acting　on　what　has　been　one　of　my　guiding　principles　ever　since。　　Pains　and　patience　were　required：　I　had　to　get　my　saddle　without　waking　the　man；　and　I　was　not　used　to　catching　horses　in　a　horse…paddock。　　Then　I　distrusted　the　poor　mare；　and　I　went　back　to　the　stables　for　a　hatful　of　oats；　which　I　left　with　her　in　the　clump；　hat　and　all。　　There　was　a　dog；　too；　to　reckon　with　（our　very　worst　enemy；　Bunny）；　but　I　had　been　'cute　enough