the amateur cracksman-第14章

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ogether。

It　was　the　evening　after　our　return　from　Ireland；　and　I　was　waiting　at　my　rooms　for　Raffles；　who　had　gone　off　as　usual　to　dispose　of　the　plunder。　　Raffles　had　his　own　method　of　conducting　this　very　vital　branch　of　our　business；　which　I　was　well　content　to　leave　entirely　in　his　hands。　　He　drove　the　bargains；　I　believe；　in　a　thin　but　subtle　disguise　of　the　flashy…seedy　order；　and　always　in　the　Cockney　dialect；　of　which　he　had　made　himself　a　master。　　Moreover；　he　invariably　employed　the　same　〃fence；〃　who　was　ostensibly　a　money…lender　in　a　small　（but　yet　notorious）　way；　and　in　reality　a　rascal　as　remarkable　as　Raffles　himself。　Only　lately　I　also　had　been　to　the　man；　but　in　my　proper　person。　　We　had　needed　capital　for　the　getting　of　these　very　emeralds；　and　I　had　raised　a　hundred　pounds；　on　the　terms　you　would　expect；　from　a　soft…spoken　graybeard　with　an　ingratiating　smile；　an　incessant　bow；　and　the　shiftiest　old　eyes　that　ever　flew　from　rim　to　rim　of　a　pair　of　spectacles。　　So　the　original　sinews　and　the　final　spoils　of　war　came　in　this　case　from　the　self…same　sourcea　circumstance　which　appealed　to　us　both。

But　these　same　final　spoils　I　was　still　to　see；　and　I　waited　and　waited　with　an　impatience　that　grew　upon　me　with　the　growing　dusk。　　At　my　open　window　I　had　played　Sister　Ann　until　the　faces　in　the　street　below　were　no　longer　distinguishable。　And　now　I　was　tearing　to　and　fro　in　the　grip　of　horrible　hypothesesa　grip　that　tightened　when　at　last　the　lift…gates　opened　with　a　clatter　outsidethat　held　me　breathless　until　a　well…known　tattoo　followed　on　my　door。

〃In　the　dark！〃　said　Raffles；　as　I　dragged　him　in。　　〃Why；　Bunny；　what's　wrong？〃

〃Nothingnow　you've　come；〃　said　I；　shutting　the　door　behind　him　in　a　fever　of　relief　and　anxiety。　　〃Well？　　Well？　　What　did　they　fetch？〃

〃Five　hundred。〃

〃Down？〃

〃Got　it　in　my　pocket。〃

〃Good　man！〃　I　cried。　　〃You　don't　know　what　a　stew　I've　been　in。　　I'll　switch　on　the　light。　　I've　been　thinking　of　you　and　nothing　else　for　the　last　hour。　　II　was　ass　enough　to　think　something　had　gone　wrong！〃

Raffles　was　smiling　when　the　white　light　filled　the　room；　but　for　the　moment　I　did　not　perceive　the　peculiarity　of　his　smile。　　I　was　fatuously　full　of　my　own　late　tremors　and　present　relief；　and　my　first　idiotic　act　was　to　spill　some　whiskey　and　squirt　the　soda…water　all　over　in　my　anxiety　to　do　instant　justice　to　the　occasion。

〃So　you　thought　something　had　happened？〃　said　Raffles；　leaning　back　in　my　chair　as　he　lit　a　cigarette；　and　looking　much　amused。　　〃What　would　you　say　if　something　had？　　Sit　tight；　my　dear　chap！　　It　was　nothing　of　the　slightest　consequence；　and　it's　all　over　now。　　A　stern　chase　and　a　long　one；　Bunny；　but　I　think　I'm　well　to　windward　this　time。〃

And　suddenly　I　saw　that　his　collar　was　limp；　his　hair　matted；　his　boots　thick　with　dust。

〃The　police？〃　I　whispered　aghast。

〃Oh；　dear；　no；　only　old　Baird。〃

〃Baird！　　But　wasn't　it　Baird　who　took　the　emeralds？〃

〃It　was。〃

〃Then　how　came　he　to　chase　you？〃

〃My　dear　fellow；　I'll　tell　you　if　you　give　me　a　chance；　it's　really　nothing　to　get　in　the　least　excited　about。　　Old　Baird　has　at　last　spotted　that　I'm　not　quite　the　common　cracksman　I　would　have　him　think　me。　　So　he's　been　doing　his　best　to　run　me　to　my　burrow。〃

〃And　you　call　that　nothing！〃

〃It　would　be　something　if　he　had　succeeded；　but　he　has　still　to　do　that。　　I　admit；　however；　that　he　made　me　sit　up　for　the　time　being。　　It　all　comes　of　going　on　the　job　so　far　from　home。　　There　was　the　old　brute　with　the　whole　thing　in　his　morning　paper。　　He　KNEW　it　must　have　been　done　by　some　fellow　who　could　pass　himself　off　for　a　gentleman；　and　I　saw　his　eyebrows　go　up　the　moment　I　told　him　I　was　the　man；　with　the　same　old　twang　that　you　could　cut　with　a　paper…knife。　　I　did　my　best　to　get　out　of　itswore　I　had　a　pal　who　was　a　real　swellbut　I　saw　very　plainly　that　I　had　given　myself　away。　　He　gave　up　haggling。　　He　paid　my　price　as　though　he　enjoyed　doing　it。　　But　I　FELT　him　following　me　when　I　made　tracks；　though；　of　course；　I　didn't　turn　round　to　see。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　it's　the　very　worst　thing　you　can　do。　　As　long　as　you　look　unsuspecting　they'll　keep　their　distance；　and　so　long　as　they　keep　their　distance　you　stand　a　chance。　　Once　show　that　you　know　you're　being　followed；　and　it's　flight　or　fight　for　all　you're　worth。　　I　never　even　looked　round；　and　mind　you　never　do　in　the　same　hole。　　I　just　hurried　up　to　Blackfriars　and　booked　for　High　Street；　Kensington；　at　the　top　of　my　voice；　and　as　the　train　was　leaving　Sloane　Square　out　I　hopped；　and　up　all　those　stairs　like　a　lamplighter；　and　round　to　the　studio　by　the　back　streets。　　Well；　to　be　on　the　safe　side；　I　lay　low　there　all　the　afternoon；　hearing　nothing　in　the　least　suspicious；　and　only　wishing　I　had　a　window　to　look　through　instead　of　that　beastly　skylight。　　However；　the　coast　seemed　clear　enough；　and　thus　far　it　was　my　mere　idea　that　he　would　follow　me；　there　was　nothing　to　show　he　had。　　So　at　last　I　marched　out　in　my　proper　rigalmost　straight　into　old　Baird's　arms！〃

〃What　on　earth　did　you　do？〃

〃Walked　past　him　as　though　I　had　never　set　eyes　on　him　in　my　life；　and　didn't　then；　took　a　hansom　in　the　King's　Road；　and　drove　like　the　deuce　to　Clapham　Junction；　rushed　on　to　the　nearest　platform；　without　a　ticket；　jumped　into　the　first　train　I　saw；　got　out　at　Twickenham；　walked　full　tilt　back　to　Richmond；　took　the　District　to　Charing　Cross；　and　here　I　am！　　Ready　for　a　tub　and　a　change；　and　the　best　dinner　the　club　can　give　us。　I　came　to　you　first；　because　I　thought　you　might　be　getting　anxious。　　Come　round　with　me；　and　I　won't　keep　you　long。〃

〃You're　certain　you've　given　him　the　slip？〃　I　said；　as　we　put　on　our　hats。

〃Certain　enough；　but　we　can　make　assurance　doubly　sure；〃　said　Raffles；　and　went　to　my　window；　where　he　stood　for　a　moment　or　two　looking　down　into　the　street。

〃All　right？〃　I　asked　him。

〃All　right；〃　said　he；　and　we　went　downstairs　forthwith；　and　so　to　the　Albany　arm…in…arm。

But　we　were　both　rather　silent　on　our　way。　　I；　for　my　part；　was　wondering　what　Raffles　would　do　about　the　studio　in　Chelsea；　whither；　at　all　events；　he　had　been　successfully　dogged。　　To　me　the　point　seemed　one　of　immediate　importance；　but　when　I　mentioned　it　he　said　there　was　time　enough　to　think　about　that。　　His　one　other　remark　was　made　after　we　had　nodded　（in　Bond　Street）　to　a　young　blood　of　our　acquaintance　who　happened　to　be　getting　himself　a　bad　name。

〃Poor　Jack　Rutter！〃　said　Raffles；　with　a　sigh。　〃Nothing's　sadder　than　to　see　a　fellow　going　to　the　bad　like　that。　　He's　about　mad　with　drink　and　debt；　poor　devil！　　Did　you　see　his　eye？　　Odd　that　we　should　have　met　him　to…night；　by　the　way；　it's　old　Baird　who's　said　to　have　skinned　him。　　By　God；　but　I'd　like　to　skin　old　Baird！〃

And　his　tone　took　a　sudden　low　fury；　made　the　more　noticeable　by　another　long　silence；　which　lasted；　indeed；　throughout　an　admirable　dinner　at　the　club；　and　for　some　time　after　we　had　settled　down　in　a　quiet　corner　of　the　smoking…room　with　our　coffee　and　cigars。　　Then　at　last　I　saw　Raffles　looking　at　me　with　his　lazy　smile；　and　I　knew　that　the　morose　fit　was　at　an　end。

〃I　daresay　you　wonder　what　I've　been　thinking　about　all　this　time？〃　said　he。　　〃I've　been　thinking　what　rot　it　is　to　go　doing　things　by　halves！〃

〃Well；〃　said　I；　returning　his　smile；　〃that's　not　a　charge　that　you　can　bring　against　yourself；　is　it？〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure；〃　said　Raffles；　blowing　a　meditative　puff；　〃as　a　matter　of　fact；　I　was　thinking　less　of　myself　than　of　that　poor　devil　of　a　Jack　Rutter。　　There's　a　fellow　who　does　things　by　halves；　he's　only　half　gone　to　the　bad；　and　look　at　the　difference　between　him　and　us！　　He's　under　the　thumb　of　a　villainous　money…lender；　we　are　solvent　citizens。　　He's　taken　to　drink；　we're　as　sober　as　we　are　solvent。　　His　pals　are　beginning　to　cut　him；　our　difficulty　is　to　keep　the　pal　from　the　door。　　Enfin；　he　begs　or　borrows；　which　is　stealing　by　halves；　and　we　steal　outright　and　are　done　with　it。　　Obviously　ours　is　the　more　honest　course。　　Yet　I'm　not　sure；　Bunny；　but　we're　doing　the　thing　by　halves　ourselves！〃

〃Why？　　What　more　could　we　do？〃　I　exclaimed　in　soft　derision；　looking　round；　however；　to　make　sure　that　we　were　not　overheard。

〃What　more；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃Well；　murderfor　one　thing。〃

〃Rot！〃

〃A　matter　of　opinion；　my　dear　Bunny；　I　don't　mean　it　for　rot。　　I've　told　you　before　that　the　biggest　man　alive　is　the　man　who's　committed　a　murder；　and　not　yet　been　found　out；　at　least　he　ought　to　be；　but　he　so　very　seldom　has　the　soul　to　appreciate　himself。　　Just　think　of　it！　　Think　of　coming　in　here　and　talking　to　the　men；　very　likely　about　the　murder　itself；　and　knowing　you've　done　it；　and　wondering　how　they'd　look　if　THEY　knew！　Oh；　it　would　be　great；　simply　great！　　But；　besides　all　that；　when　you　were　caught　there'd　be　a　merciful　and　dramatic　end　of　you。　　You'd　fill　the　bill　for　a　few　weeks；　and　then　snuff　out　with　a　flourish　of　extra…specials；　you　wouldn't　rust　with　a　vile　repose　for　seven　or　fourteen　years。〃

〃Good　old　Raffles！〃　I　chuckled。　　〃I　begin　to　forgive　you　for　being　in　bad　form　at　dinner。〃

〃But　I　was　never　more　earnest　in　my　life。〃

〃Go　on！〃

〃I　mean　it。〃

〃You　know　very　well　that　you　wouldn't　commit　a　murder；　whatever　else　you　might　do。〃

〃I　know　very　well　I'm　going　to　commit　one　to…night！〃

He　had　been　leaning　back　in　the　saddle…bag　chair；　watching　me　with　keen　eyes　sheathed　by　languid　lids；　now　he　started　forward；　and　his　eyes　leapt　to　mine　like　cold　steel　from　the　scabbard。　They　struck　home　to　my　slow　wits；　their　meaning　was　no　longer　in　doubt。　　I；　who　knew　the　man；　read　murder　in　his　clenched　hands；　and　murder　in　his　locked　lips；　but　a　hundred　murders　in　those　hard　blue　eyes。

〃Baird？〃　I　faltered；　moistening　my　lips　with　my　tongue。

〃Of　course。〃

〃But　you　said　it　didn't　matter　about　the　room　in　Chelsea？〃

〃I　told　a　lie。〃

〃Anyway　you　gave　him　the　slip　afterwards！〃

〃That　was　another。　　I　didn't。　　I　thought　I　had　when　I　came　up　to　you　this　evening；　but　when　I　looked　out　of　your　windowyou　remember？　　to　make　assurance　doubly　surethere　he　was　on　the　opposite　pavement　down　below。〃

〃And　you　never　said　a　word　about　it！〃

〃I　wasn't　going　to　spoil　your　dinner；　Bunny；　and　I　wasn't　going　to　let　you　spoil　mine。　　But　there　he　was　as　large　as　life；　and；　of　course；　he　followed　us　to　the　Albany。　　A　fine　game　for　him　to　play；　a　game　after　his　mean　old　heart：　blackmail　from　me；　bribes　from　the　police；　the　one　bidding　against　the　other；　but　he　sha'n't　play　it　with　me；　he　sha'n't　live　to；　and　the　world　will　have　an　extortioner　the　less。　　Waiter！　　Two　Scotch　whiskeys　and　sodas。　　I'm　off　at　eleven；　Bunny；　it's　the　only　thing　to　be　done。〃

〃You　know　where　he　lives；　then？〃

〃Yes；　out　Willesden　way；　and　alone；　the　fellow's　a　miser　among　other　things。　　I　long　ago　found　out　all　about　him。〃

Again　I　looked　round　the　room；　it　was　a　young　man's　club；　and　young　men　were　laughing；　chatting；　smoking；　drinking；　on　every　hand。　　One　nodded　to　me　through　the　smoke。　　Like　a　machine　I　nodded　to　him；　and　turned　back　to　Raffles　with　a　groan。

〃Surely　you　will　give　him　a　chance！〃　I　urged。　〃The　very　sight　of　your　pistol　should　bring　him　to　terms。〃

〃It　wouldn't　make　him　keep　them。〃

〃But　you　migh