the amateur cracksman-第16章

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use　I　came　to　see　him　one　night　last　week；　and　he　interviewed　me　himself　through　the　gate；　but　wouldn't　open　it。　Well；　when　I　had　done　yelling；　and　not　a　soul　had　come　near　us；　he　was　as　white　as　that　ceiling。　Then　I　told　him　we　could　have　our　chat　at　last；　and　I　picked　the　poker　out　of　the　fender；　and　told　him　how　he'd　robbed　me；　but；　by　God；　he　shouldn't　rob　me　any　more。　　I　gave　him　three　minutes　to　write　and　sign　a　settlement　of　all　his　iniquitous　claims　against　me；　or　have　his　brains　beaten　out　over　his　own　carpet。　　He　thought　a　minute；　and　then　went　to　his　desk　for　pen　and　paper。　　In　two　seconds　he　was　round　like　lightning　with　a　revolver；　and　I　went　for　him　bald…headed。　　He　fired　two　or　three　times　and　missed；　you　can　find　the　holes　if　you　like；　but　I　hit　him　every　timemy　God！　　I　was　like　a　savage　till　the　thing　was　done。　And　then　I　didn't　care。　　I　went　through　his　desk　looking　for　my　own　bills；　and　was　coming　away　when　you　turned　up。　　I　said　I　didn't　care；　nor　do　I；　but　I　was　going　to　give　myself　up　to…night；　and　shall　still；　so　you　see　I　sha'n't　give　you　fellows　much　trouble！〃

He　was　done；　and　there　we　stood　on　the　landing　of　the　lonely　house；　the　low；　thick；　eager　voice　still　racing　and　ringing　through　our　ears；　the　dead　man　below；　and　in　front　of　us　his　impenitent　slayer。　　I　knew　to　whom　the　impenitence　would　appeal　when　he　had　heard　the　story；　and　I　was　not　mistaken。

〃That's　all　rot；〃　said　Raffles；　speaking　after　a　pause；　〃we　sha'n't　let　you　give　yourself　up。〃

〃You　sha'n't　stop　me！　　What　would　be　the　good？　　The　woman　saw　me；　it　would　only　be　a　question　of　time；　and　I　can't　face　waiting　to　be　taken。　　Think　of　it：　waiting　for　them　to　touch　you　on　the　shoulder！　　No；　no；　no；　I'll　give　myself　up　and　get　it　over。〃

His　speech　was　changed；　he　faltered；　floundered。　It　was　as　though　a　clearer　perception　of　his　position　had　come　with　the　bare　idea　of　escape　from　it。

〃But　listen　to　me；〃　urged　Raffles；　〃We're　here　at　our　peril　ourselves。　　We　broke　in　like　thieves　to　enforce　redress　for　a　grievance　very　like　your　own。　　But　don't　you　see？　　We　took　out　a　panedid　the　thing　like　regular　burglars。　　Regular　burglars　will　get　the　credit　of　all　the　rest！〃

〃You　mean　that　I　sha'n't　be　suspected？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃But　I　don't　want　to　get　off　scotfree；〃　cried　Rutter　hysterically。　　〃I've　killed　him。　　I　know　that。　　But　it　was　in　self…defence；　it　wasn't　murder。　　I　must　own　up　and　take　the　consequences。　I　shall　go　mad　if　I　don't！〃

His　hands　twitched；　his　lips　quivered；　the　tears　were　in　his　eyes。　　Raffles　took　him　roughly　by　the　shoulder。

〃Look　here；　you　fool！　　If　the　three　of　us　were　caught　here　now；　do　you　know　what　those　consequences　would　be？　　We　should　swing　in　a　row　at　Newgate　in　six　weeks'　time！　　You　talk　as　though　we　were　sitting　in　a　club；　don't　you　know　it's　one　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　the　lights　on；　and　a　dead　man　down　below？　　For　God's　sake　pull　yourself　together；　and　do　what　I　tell　you；　or　you're　a　dead　man　yourself。〃

〃I　wish　I　was　one！〃　Rutter　sobbed。　　〃I　wish　I　had　his　revolver　to　blow　my　own　brains　out。　It's　lying　under　him。　　O　my　God；　my　God！〃

His　knees　knocked　together：　the　frenzy　of　reaction　was　at　its　height。　　We　had　to　take　him　downstairs　between　us；　and　so　through　the　front　door　out　into　the　open　air。

All　was　still　outsideall　but　the　smothered　weeping　of　the　unstrung　wretch　upon　our　hands。　　Raffles　returned　for　a　moment　to　the　house；　then　all　was　dark　as　well。　　The　gate　opened　from　within；　we　closed　it　carefully　behind　us；　and　so　left　the　starlight　shining　on　broken　glass　and　polished　spikes；　one　and　all　as　we　had　found　them。

We　escaped；　no　need　to　dwell　on　our　escape。　　Our　murderer　seemed　set　upon　the　scaffolddrunk　with　his　deed；　he　was　more　trouble　than　six　men　drunk　with　wine。　　Again　and　again　we　threatened　to　leave　him　to　his　fate；　to　wash　our　hands　of　him。　　But　incredible　and　unmerited　luck　was　with　the　three　of　us。　　Not　a　soul　did　we　meet　between　that　and　Willesden；　and　of　those　who　saw　us　later；　did　one　think　of　the　two　young　men　with　crooked　white　ties；　supporting　a　third　in　a　seemingly　unmistakable　condition；　when　the　evening　papers　apprised　the　town　of　a　terrible　tragedy　at　Kensal　Rise？

We　walked　to　Maida　Vale；　and　thence　drove　openly　to　my　rooms。　　But　I　alone　went　upstairs；　the　other　two　proceeded　to　the　Albany；　and　I　saw　no　more　of　Raffles　for　forty…eight　hours。　　He　was　not　at　his　rooms　when　I　called　in　the　morning；　he　had　left　no　word。　　When　he　reappeared　the　papers　were　full　of　the　murder；　and　the　man　who　had　committed　it　was　on　the　wide　Atlantic；　a　steerage　passenger　from　Liverpool　to　New　York。

〃There　was　no　arguing　with　him；〃　so　Raffles　told　me；　〃either　he　must　make　a　clean　breast　of　it　or　flee　the　country。　　So　I　rigged　him　up　at　the　studio；　and　we　took　the　first　train　to　Liverpool。　Nothing　would　induce　him　to　sit　tight　and　enjoy　the　situation　as　I　should　have　endeavored　to　do　in　his　place；　and　it's　just　as　well！　　I　went　to　his　diggings　to　destroy　some　papers；　and　what　do　you　think　I　found。　　The　police　in　possession；　there's　a　warrant　out　against　him　already！　　The　idiots　think　that　window　wasn't　genuine；　and　the　warrant's　out。　　It　won't　be　my　fault　if　it's　ever　served！〃

Nor；　after　all　these　years；　can　I　think　it　will　be　mine。

　　NINE　POINTS　OF　THE　LAW

Well；〃　said　Raffles；　〃what　do　you　make　of　it？〃

I　read　the　advertisement　once　more　before　replying。　　It　was　in　the　last　column　of　the　Daily　Telegraph；　and　it　ran：

TWO　THOUSAND　POUNDS　REWARDThe　above　sum　may　be　earned　by　any　one　qualified　to　undertake　delicate　mission　and　prepared　to　run　certain　risk。Apply　by　telegram；　Security；　London。


〃I　think；〃　said　I；　〃it's　the　most　extraordinary　advertisement　that　ever　got　into　print！〃

Raffles　smiled。

〃Not　quite　all　that；　Bunny；　still；　extraordinary　enough；　I　grant　you。〃

〃Look　at　the　figure！〃

〃It　is　certainly　large。〃

〃And　the　missionand　the　risk！〃

〃Yes；　the　combination　is　frank；　to　say　the　least　of　it。　　But　the　really　original　point　is　requiring　applications　by　telegram　to　a　telegraphic　address！　　There's　something　in　the　fellow　who　thought　of　that；　and　something　in　his　game；　with　one　word　he　chokes　off　the　million　who　answer　an　advertisement　every　daywhen　they　can　raise　the　stamp。　My　answer　cost　me　five　bob；　but　then　I　prepaid　another。〃

〃You　don't　mean　to　say　that　you've　applied？〃

〃Rather；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　want　two　thousand　pounds　as　much　as　any　man。〃

〃Put　your　own　name？〃

〃Wellno；　Bunny；　I　didn't。　　In　point　of　fact　I　smell　something　interesting　and　illegal；　and　you　know　what　a　cautious　chap　I　am。　　I　signed　myself　Glasspool；　care　of　Hickey；　38；　Conduit　Street；　that's　my　tailor；　and　after　sending　the　wire　I　went　round　and　told　him　what　to　expect。　　He　promised　to　send　the　reply　along　the　moment　it　came。　　I　shouldn't　be　surprised　if　that's　it！〃

And　he　was　gone　before　a　double…knock　on　the　outer　door　had　done　ringing　through　the　rooms；　to　return　next　minute　with　an　open　telegram　and　a　face　full　of　news。

〃What　do　you　think？〃　said　he。　　〃Security's　that　fellow　Addenbrooke；　the　police…court　lawyer；　and　he　wants　to　see　me　INSTANTER！〃

〃Do　you　know　him；　then？〃

〃Merely　by　repute。　　I　only　hope　he　doesn't　know　me。　　He's　the　chap　who　got　six　weeks　for　sailing　too　close　to　the　wind　in　the　Sutton…Wilmer　case；　everybody　wondered　why　he　wasn't　struck　off　the　rolls。　　Instead　of　that　he's　got　a　first…rate　practice　on　the　seamy　side；　and　every　blackguard　with　half　a　case　takes　it　straight　to　Bennett　Addenbrooke。　　He's　probably　the　one　man　who　would　have　the　cheek　to　put　in　an　advertisement　like　that；　and　the　one　man　who　could　do　it　without　exciting　suspicion。　　It's　simply　in　his　line；　but　you　may　be　sure　there's　something　shady　at　the　bottom　of　it。　　The　odd　thing　is　that　I　have　long　made　up　my　mind　to　go　to　Addenbrooke　myself　if　accidents　should　happen。〃

〃And　you're　going　to　him　now？〃

〃This　minute；〃　said　Raffles；　brushing　his　hat；　〃and　so　are　you。〃

〃But　I　came　in　to　drag　you　out　to　lunch。〃

〃You　shall　lunch　with　me　when　we've　seen　this　fellow。　　Come　on；　Bunny；　and　we'll　choose　your　name　on　the　way。　　Mine's　Glasspool；　and　don't　you　forget　it。〃

Mr。　Bennett　Addenbrooke　occupied　substantial　offices　in　Wellington　Street；　Strand；　and　was　out　when　we　arrived；　but　he　had　only　just　gone　〃over　the　way　to　the　court〃；　and　five　minutes　sufficed　to　produce　a　brisk；　fresh…colored；　resolute…looking　man；　with　a　very　confident；　rather　festive　air；　and　black　eyes　that　opened　wide　at　the　sight　of　Raffles。

〃Mr。Glasspool？〃　exclaimed　the　lawyer。

〃My　name；〃　said　Raffles；　with　dry　effrontery。

〃Not　up　at　Lord's；　however！〃　said　the　other；　slyly。　　〃My　dear　sir；　I　have　seen　you　take　far　too　many　wickets　to　make　any　mistake！〃

For　a　single　moment　Raffles　looked　venomous；　then　he　shrugged　and　smiled；　and　the　smile　grew　into　a　little　cynical　chuckle。

〃So　you　have　bowled　me　out　in　my　turn？〃　said　he。　　〃Well；　I　don't　think　there's　anything　to　explain。　　I　am　harder　up　than　I　wished　to　admit　under　my　own　name；　that's　all；　and　I　want　that　thousand　pounds　reward。〃

〃Two　thousand；〃　said　the　solicitor。　　〃And　the　man　who　is　not　above　an　alias　happens　to　be　just　the　sort　of　man　I　want；　so　don't　let　that　worry　you；　my　dear　sir。　　The　matter；　however；　is　of　a　strictly　private　and　confidential　character。〃　　And　he　looked　very　hard　at　me。

〃Quite　so；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃But　there　was　something　about　a　risk？〃

〃A　certain　risk　is　involved。〃

〃Then　surely　three　heads　will　be　better　than　two。　　I　said　I　wanted　that　thousand　pounds；　my　friend　here　wants　the　other。　　We　are　both　cursedly　hard　up；　and　we　go　into　this　thing　together　or　not　at　all。　　Must　you　have　his　name　too？　　I　should　give　him　my　real　one；　Bunny。〃

Mr。　Addenbrooke　raised　his　eyebrows　over　the　card　I　found　for　him；　then　he　drummed　upon　it　with　his　finger…nail；　and　his　embarrassment　expressed　itself　in　a　puzzled　smile。

〃The　fact　is；　I　find　myself　in　a　difficulty；〃　he　confessed　at　last。　　〃Yours　is　the　first　reply　I　have　received；　people　who　can　afford　to　send　long　telegrams　don't　rush　to　the　advertisements　in　the　Daily　Telegraph；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　I　was　not　quite　prepared　to　hear　from　men　like　yourselves。　　Candidly；　and　on　consideration；　I　am　not　sure　that　you　ARE　the　stamp　of　men　for　memen　who　belong　to　good　clubs！　　I　rather　intended　to　appeal　to　theeradventurous　classes。〃

〃We　are　adventurers；〃　said　Raffles　gravely。

〃But　you　respect　the　law？〃

The　black　eyes　gleamed　shrewdly。

〃We　are　not　professional　rogues；　if　that's　what　you　mean；〃　said　Raffles；　smiling。　　〃But　on　our　beam…ends　we　are；　we　would　do　a　good　deal　for　a　thousand　pounds　apiece；　eh；　Bunny？〃

〃Anything；〃　I　murmured。

The　solicitor　rapped　his　desk。

〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　want　you　to　do。　　You　can　but　refuse。　　It's　illegal；　but　it's　illegality　in　a　good　cause；　that's　the　risk；　and　my　client　is　prepared　to　pay　for　it。　　He　will　pay　for　the　attempt；　in　case　of　failure；　the　money　is　as　good　as　yours　once　you　consent　to　run　the　risk。　　My　client　is　Sir　Bernard　Debenham；　of　Broom　Hall；　Esher。〃

〃I　know　his　son；〃　I　remarked。

Raffles　knew　him　too；　but　said　nothing；　and　his　eye　drooped　disapproval　in　my　direction。　　Bennett　Addenbrooke　turned　to　me。

〃Then；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　the　privilege　of　knowing　one　of　the　most　complete　young　black…gua