the amateur cracksman-第15章

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〃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　might　try　the　effect？〃

〃I　probably　shall。　　Here's　a　drink　for　you；　Bunny。　　Wish　me　luck。〃

〃I'm　coming　too。〃

〃I　don't　want　you。〃

〃But　I　must　come！〃

An　ugly　gleam　shot　from　the　steel　blue　eyes。

〃To　interfere？〃　said　Raffles。

〃Not　I。〃

〃You　give　me　your　word？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Bunny；　if　you　break　it〃

〃You　may　shoot　me；　too！〃

〃I　most　certainly　should；〃　said　Raffles；　solemnly。　〃So　you　come　at　your　own　peril；　my　dear　man；　but；　if　you　are　comingwell；　the　sooner　the　better；　for　I　must　stop　at　my　rooms　on　the　way。〃

Five　minutes　later　I　was　waiting　for　him　at　the　Piccadilly　entrance　to　the　Albany。　　I　had　a　reason　for　remaining　outside。　　It　was　the　feelinghalf　hope；　half　fearthat　Angus　Baird　might　still　be　on　our　trailthat　some　more　immediate　and　less　cold…blooded　way　of　dealing　with　him　might　result　from　a　sudden　encounter　between　the　money…lender　and　myself。　　I　would　not　warn　him　of　his　danger；　but　I　would　avert　tragedy　at　all　costs。　　And　when　no　such　encounter　had　taken　place；　and　Raffles　and　I　were　fairly　on　our　way　to　Willesden；　that；　I　think；　was　still　my　honest　resolve。　　I　would　not　break　my　word　if　I　could　help　it；　but　it　was　a　comfort　to　feel　that　I　could　break　it　if　I　liked；　on　an　understood　penalty。　　Alas！　　I　fear　my　good　intentions　were　tainted　with　a　devouring　curiosity；　and　overlaid　by　the　fascination　which　goes　hand　in　hand　with　horror。

I　have　a　poignant　recollection　of　the　hour　it　took　us　to　reach　the　house。　　We　walked　across　St。　James's　Park　（I　can　see　the　lights　now；　bright　on　the　bridge　and　blurred　in　the　water）；　and　we　had　some　minutes　to　wait　for　the　last　train　to　Willesden。　　It　left　at　11。21；　I　remember；　and　Raffles　was　put　out　to　find　it　did　not　go　on　to　Kensal　Rise。　We　had　to　get　out　at　Willesden　Junction　and　walk　on　through　the　streets　into　fairly　open　country　that　happened　to　be　quite　new　to　me。　　I　could　never　find　the　house　again。　　I　remember；　however；　that　we　were　on　a　dark　footpath　between　woods　and　fields　when　the　clocks　began　striking　twelve。

〃Surely；〃　said　I；　〃we　shall　find　him　in　bed　and　asleep？〃

〃I　hope　we　do；〃　said　Raffles　grimly。

〃Then　you　mean　to　break　in？〃

〃What　else　did　you　think？〃

I　had　not　thought　about　it　at　all；　the　ultimate　crime　had　monopolized　my　mind。　　Beside　it　burglary　was　a　bagatelle；　but　one　to　deprecate　none　the　less。　　I　saw　obvious　objections：　the　man　was　au　fait　with　cracksmen　and　their　ways：　he　would　certainly　have　firearms；　and　might　be　the　first　to　use　them。

〃I　could　wish　nothing　better；〃　said　Raffles。　〃Then　it　will　be　man　to　man；　and　devil　take　the　worst　shot。　　You　don't　suppose　I　prefer　foul　play　to　fair；　do　you？　　But　die　he　must；　by　one　or　the　other；　or　it's　a　long　stretch　for　you　and　me。〃

〃Better　that　than　this！〃

〃Then　stay　where　you　are；　my　good　fellow。　　I　told　you　I　didn't　want　you；　and　this　is　the　house。　So　good…night。〃

I　could　see　no　house　at　all；　only　the　angle　of　a　high　wall　rising　solitary　in　the　night；　with　the　starlight　glittering　on　battlements　of　broken　glass；　and　in　the　wall　a　tall　green　gate；　bristling　with　spikes；　and　showing　a　front　for　battering…rams　in　the　feeble　rays　an　outlying　lamp…post　cast　across　the　new…made　road。　　It　seemed　to　me　a　road　of　building…sites；　with　but　this　one　house　built；　all　by　itself；　at　one　end；　but　the　night　was　too　dark　for　more　than　a　mere　impression。

Raffles；　however；　had　seen　the　place　by　daylight；　and　had　come　prepared　for　the　special　obstacles；　already　he　was　reaching　up　and　putting　champagne　corks　on　the　spikes；　and　in　another　moment　he　had　his　folded　covert…coat　across　the　corks。　　I　stepped　back　as　he　raised　himself；　and　saw　a　little　pyramid　of　slates　snip　the　sky　above　the　gate；　as　he　squirmed　over　I　ran　forward；　and　had　my　own　weight　on　the　spikes　and　corks　and　covert…coat　when　he　gave　the　latter　a　tug。

〃Coming　after　all？〃

〃Rather！〃

〃Take　care；　then；　the　place　is　all　bell…wires　and　springs。　　It's　no　soft　thing；　this！　　Therestand　still　while　I　take　off　the　corks。〃

The　garden　was　very　small　and　new；　with　a　grass…plot　still　in　separate　sods；　but　a　quantity　of　full…grown　laurels　stuck　into　the　raw　clay　beds。　〃Bells　in　themselves；〃　as　Raffles　whispered；　〃there's　nothing　else　rustles　socunning　old　beast！〃　　And　we　gave　them　a　wide　berth　as　we　crept　across　the　grass。

〃He's　gone　to　bed！〃

〃I　don't　think　so；　Bunny。　　I　believe　he's　seen　us。〃

〃Why？〃

〃I　saw　a　light。〃

〃Where？〃

〃Downstairs；　for　an　instant；　when　I〃

His　whisper　died　away；　he　had　seen　the　light　again；　and　so　had　I。

It　lay　like　a　golden　rod　under　the　front…doorand　vanished。　　It　reappeared　like　a　gold　thread　under　the　linteland　vanished　for　good。　　We　heard　the　stairs　creak；　creak；　and　cease；　also　for　good。　　We　neither　saw　nor　heard　any　more；　though　we　stood　waiting　on　the　grass　till　our　feet　were　soaked　with　the　dew。

〃I'm　going　in；〃　said　Raffles　at　last。　　〃I　don't　believe　he　saw　us　at　all。　　I　wish　he　had。　　This　way。〃

We　trod　gingerly　on　the　path；　but　the　gravel　stuck　to　our　wet　soles；　and　grated　horribly　in　a　little　tiled　veranda　with　a　glass　door　leading　within。　It　was　through　this　glass　that　Raffles　had　first　seen　the　light；　and　he　now　proceeded　to　take　out　a　pane；　with　the　diamond；　the　pot　of　treacle；　and　the　sheet　of　brown　paper　which　were　seldom　omitted　from　his　impedimenta。　　Nor　did　he　dispense　with　my　own　assistance；　though　he　may　have　accepted　it　as　instinctively　as　it　was　proffered。　　In　any　case　it　was　these　fingers　that　helped　to　spread　the　treacle　on　the　brown　paper；　and　pressed　the　latter　to　the　glass　until　the　diamond　had　completed　its　circuit　and　the　pane　fell　gently　back　into　our　hands。

Raffles　now　inserted　his　hand；　turned　the　key　in　the　lock；　and；　by　making　a　long　arm；　succeeded　in　drawing　the　bolt　at　the　bottom　of　the　door；　it　proved　to　be　the　only　one；　and　the　door　opened；　though　not　very　wide。

〃What's　that？〃　said　Raffles；　as　something　crunched　beneath　his　feet　on　the　very　threshold。

〃A　pair　of　spectacles；〃　I　whispered；　picking　them　up。　　I　was　still　fingering　the　broken　lenses　and　the　bent　rims　when　Raffles　tripped　and　almost　fell；　with　a　gasping　cry　that　he　made　no　effort　to　restrain。

〃Hush；　man；　hush！〃　I　entreated　under　my　breath。　　〃He'll　hear　you！〃

For　answer　his　teeth　chatteredeven　hisand　I　heard　him　fumbling　with　his　matches。　　〃No；　Bunny；　he　won't　hear　us；〃　whispered　Raffles；　presently；　and　he　rose　from　his　knees　and　lit　a　gas　as　the　match　burnt　down。

Angus　Baird　was　lying　on　his　own　floor；　dead；　with　his　gray　hairs　glued　together　by　his　blood；　near　him　a　poker　with　the　black　end　glistening；　in　a　corner　his　desk；　ransacked；　littered。　A　clock　ticked　noisily　on　the　chimney…piece；　for　perhaps　a　hundred　seconds　there　was　no　other　sound。

Raffles　stood　very　still；　staring　down　at　the　dead；　as　a　man　might　stare　into　an　abyss　after　striding　blindly　to　its　brink。　　His　breath　came　audibly　through　wide　nostrils；　he　made　no　other　sign；　and　his　lips　seemed　sealed。

〃That　light！〃　said　I；　hoarsely；　〃the　light　we　saw　under　the　door！〃

With　a　start　he　turned　to　me。

〃It's　true！　　I　had　forgotten　it。　　It　was　in　here　I　saw　it　first！〃

〃He　must　be　upstairs　still！〃

〃If　he　is　we'll　soon　rout　him　out。　　Come　on！〃

Instead　I　laid　a　hand　upon　his　arm；　imploring　him　to　reflectthat　his　enemy　was　dead　nowthat　we　should　certainly　be　involvedthat　now　or　never　was　our　own　time　to　escape。　　He　shook　me　off　in　a　sudden　fury　of　impatience；　a　reckless　contempt　in　his　eyes；　and；　bidding　me　save　my　own　skin　if　I　liked；　he　once　more　turned　his　back　upon　me；　and　this　time　left　me　half　resolved　to　take　him　at　his　word。　　Had　he　forgotten　on　what　errand　he　himself　was　here？　　Was　he　determined　that　this　night　should　end　in　black　disaster？　　As　I　asked　myself　these　questions　his　match　flared　in　the　hall；　in　another　moment　the　stairs　were　creaking　under　his　feet；　even　as　they　had　creaked　under　those　of　the　murderer；　and　the　humane　instinct　that　inspired　him　in　defiance　of　his　risk　was　borne　in　also　upon　my　slower　sensibilities。　　Could　we　let　the　murderer　go？　　My　answer　was　to　bound　up　the　creaking　stairs　and　to　overhaul　Raffles　on　the　landing。

But　three　doors　presented　themselves；　the　first　opened　into　a　bedroom　with　the　bed　turned　down　but　undisturbed；　the　second　room　was　empty　in　every　sense；　the　third　door　was　locked。

Raffles　lit　the　landing　gas。

〃He's　in　there；〃　said　he；　cocking　his　revolver。　〃Do　you　remember　how　we　used　to　break　into　the　studies　at　school？　　Here　goes！〃

His　flat　foot　crashed　over　the　keyhole；　the　lock　gave；　the　door　flew　open；　and　in　the　sudden　draught　the　landing　gas　heeled　over　like　a　cobble　in　a　squall；　as　the　flame　righted　itself　I　saw　a　fixed　bath；　two　bath…towels　knotted　togetheran　open　windowa　cowering　figureand　Raffles　struck　aghast　on　the　threshold。

〃JACKRUTTER？〃

The　words　came　thick　and　slow　with　horror；　and　in　horror　I　heard　myself　repeating　them；　while　the　cowering　figure　by　the　bathroom　window　rose　gradually　erect。

〃It's　you！〃　he　whispered；　in　amazement　no　less　than　our　own；　〃it's　you　two！　　What's　it　mean；　Raffles？　　I　saw　you　get　over　the　gate；　a　bell　rang；　the　place　is　full　of　them。　　Then　you　broke　in。　What's　it　all　mean？〃

〃We　may　tell　you　that；　when　you　tell　us　what　in　God's　name　you've　done；　Rutter！〃

〃Done？　　What　have　I　done？〃　　The　unhappy　wretch　came　out　into　the　light　with　bloodshot；　blinking　eyes；　and　a　bloody　shirt…front。　　〃You　knowyou've　seenbut　I'll　tell　you　if　you　like。　　I've　killed　a　robber；　that's　all。　　I've　killed　a　robber；　a　usurer；　a　jackal；　a　blackmailer；　the　cleverest　and　the　cruellest　villain　unhung。　　I'm　ready　to　hang　for　him。　　I'd　kill　him　again！〃

And　he　looked　us　fiercely　in　the　face；　a　fine　defiance　in　his　dissipated　eyes；　his　breast　heaving；　his　jaw　like　a　rock。

〃Shall　I　tell　you　how　it　happened？〃　he　went　passionately　on。　　〃He's　made　my　life　a　hell　these　weeks　and　months　past。　　You　may　know　that。　　A　perfect　hell！　　Well；　to…night　I　met　him　in　Bond　Street。　　Do　you　remember　when　I　met　you　fellows？　　He　wasn't　twenty　yards　behind　you；　he　was　on　your　tracks；　Raffles；　he　saw　me　nod　to　you；　and　stopped　me　and　asked　me　who　you　were。　　He　seemed　as　keen　as　knives　to　know；　I　couldn't　think　why；　and　didn't　care　either；　for　I　saw　my　chance。　　I　said　I'd　tell　him　all　about　you　if　he'd　give　me　a　private　interview。　　He　said　he　wouldn't。　　I　said　he　should；　and　held　him　by　the　coat；　by　the　time　I　let　him　go　you　were　out　of　sight；　and　I　waited　where　I　was　till　he　came　back　in　despair。　　I　had　the　whip…hand　of　him　then。　　I　could　dictate　where　the　interview　should　be；　and　I　made　him　take　me　home　with　him；　still　swearing　to　tell　him　all　about　you　when　we'd　had　our　talk。　　Well；　when　we　got　here　I　made　him　give　me　something　to　eat；　putting　him　off　and　off；　and　about　ten　o'clock　I　heard　the　gate　shut。　　I　waited　a　bit；　and　then　asked　him　if　he　lived　alone。

〃'Not　at　all；'　says　he；　'did　you　not　see　the　servant？'

〃I　said　I'd　seen　her；　but　I　thought　I'd　heard　her　go；　if　I　was　mistaken　no　doubt　she　would　come　when　she　was　called；　and　I　yelled　three　times　at　the　top　of　my　voice。　　Of　course　there　was　no　servant　to　come。　　I　knew　that；　because　I　came　to　see　him　one　night　last　wee