the amateur cracksman-第17章

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　me。

〃Then；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　the　privilege　of　knowing　one　of　the　most　complete　young　black…guards　about　town；　and　the　fons　et　origo　of　the　whole　trouble。　　As　you　know　the　son；　you　may　know　the　father　too；　at　all　events　by　reputation；　and　in　that　case　I　needn't　tell　you　that　he　is　a　very　peculiar　man。　　He　lives　alone　in　a　storehouse　of　treasures　which　no　eyes　but　his　ever　behold。　　He　is　said　to　have　the　finest　collection　of　pictures　in　the　south　of　England；　though　nobody　ever　sees　them　to　judge；　pictures；　fiddles　and　furniture　are　his　hobby；　and　he　is　undoubtedly　very　eccentric。　Nor　can　one　deny　that　there　has　been　considerable　eccentricity　in　his　treatment　of　his　son。　　For　years　Sir　Bernard　paid　his　debts；　and　the　other　day；　without　the　slightest　warning；　not　only　refused　to　do　so　any　more；　but　absolutely　stopped　the　lad's　allowance。　　Well；　I'll　tell　you　what　has　happened；　but　first　of　all　you　must　know；　or　you　may　remember；　that　I　appeared　for　young　Debenham　in　a　little　scrape　he　got　into　a　year　or　two　ago。　　I　got　him　off　all　right；　and　Sir　Bernard　paid　me　handsomely　on　the　nail。　　And　no　more　did　I　hear　or　see　of　either　of　them　until　one　day　last　week。〃

The　lawyer　drew　his　chair　nearer　ours；　and　leant　forward　with　a　hand　on　either　knee。

〃On　Tuesday　of　last　week　I　had　a　telegram　from　Sir　Bernard；　I　was　to　go　to　him　at　once。　　I　found　him　waiting　for　me　in　the　drive；　without　a　word　he　led　me　to　the　picture…gallery；　which　was　locked　and　darkened；　drew　up　a　blind；　and　stood　simply　pointing　to　an　empty　picture…frame。　　It　was　a　long　time　before　I　could　get　a　word　out　of　him。　　Then　at　last　he　told　me　that　that　frame　had　contained　one　of　the　rarest　and　most　valuable　pictures　in　Englandin　the　worldan　original　Velasquez。　　I　have　checked　this；〃　said　the　lawyer；　〃and　it　seems　literally　true；　the　picture　was　a　portrait　of　the　Infanta　Maria　Teresa；　said　to　be　one　of　the　artist's　greatest　works；　second　only　to　another　portrait　of　one　of　the　Popes　in　Romeso　they　told　me　at　the　National　Gallery；　where　they　had　its　history　by　heart。　　They　say　there　that　the　picture　is　practically　priceless。　　And　young　Debenham　has　sold　it　for　five　thousand　pounds！〃

〃The　deuce　he　has；〃　said　Raffles。

I　inquired　who　had　bought　it。

〃A　Queensland　legislator　of　the　name　of　Craggsthe　Hon。　John　Montagu　Craggs；　M。L。C。；　to　give　him　his　full　title。　　Not　that　we　knew　anything　about　him　on　Tuesday　last；　we　didn't　even　know　for　certain　that　young　Debenham　had　stolen　the　picture。　　But　he　had　gone　down　for　money　on　the　Monday　evening；　had　been　refused；　and　it　was　plain　enough　that　he　had　helped　himself　in　this　way；　he　had　threatened　revenge；　and　this　was　it。　Indeed；　when　I　hunted　him　up　in　town　on　the　Tuesday　night；　he　confessed　as　much　in　the　most　brazen　manner　imaginable。　　But　he　wouldn't　tell　me　who　was　the　purchaser；　and　finding　out　took　the　rest　of　the　week；　but　I　did　find　out；　and　a　nice　time　I've　had　of　it　ever　since！　　Backwards　and　forwards　between　Esher　and　the　Metropole；　where　the　Queenslander　is　staying；　sometimes　twice　a　day；　threats；　offers；　prayers；　entreaties；　not　one　of　them　a　bit　of　good！〃

〃But；〃　said　Raffles；　〃surely　it's　a　clear　case？　　The　sale　was　illegal；　you　can　pay　him　back　his　money　and　force　him　to　give　the　picture　up。〃

〃Exactly；　but　not　without　an　action　and　a　public　scandal；　and　that　my　client　declines　to　face。　　He　would　rather　lose　even　his　picture　than　have　the　whole　thing　get　into　the　papers；　he　has　disowned　his　son；　but　he　will　not　disgrace　him；　yet　his　picture　he　must　have　by　hook　or　crook；　and　there's　the　rub！　　I　am　to　get　it　back　by　fair　means　or　foul。　　He　gives　me　carte　blanche　in　the　matter；　and；　I　verily　believe；　would　throw　in　a　blank　check　if　asked。　　He　offered　one　to　the　Queenslander；　but　Craggs　simply　tore　it　in　two；　the　one　old　boy　is　as　much　a　character　as　the　other；　and　between　the　two　of　them　I'm　at　my　wits'　end。〃

〃So　you　put　that　advertisement　in　the　paper？〃　said　Raffles；　in　the　dry　tones　he　had　adopted　throughout　the　interview。

〃As　a　last　resort。　　I　did。〃

〃And　you　wish　us　to　STEAL　this　picture？〃

It　was　magnificently　said；　the　lawyer　flushed　from　his　hair　to　his　collar。

〃I　knew　you　were　not　the　men！〃　he　groaned。　〃I　never　thought　of　men　of　your　stamp！　　But　it's　not　stealing；〃　he　exclaimed　heatedly；　〃it's　recovering　stolen　property。　　Besides；　Sir　Bernard　will　pay　him　his　five　thousand　as　soon　as　he　has　the　picture；　and；　you'll　see；　old　Craggs　will　be　just　as　loath　to　let　it　come　out　as　Sir　Bernard　himself。　　No；　noit's　an　enterprise；　an　adventure；　if　you　likebut　not　stealing。〃

〃You　yourself　mentioned　the　law；〃　murmured　Raffles。

〃And　the　risk；〃　I　added。

〃We　pay　for　that；〃　he　said　once　more。

〃But　not　enough；〃　said　Raffles；　shaking　his　head。　　〃My　good　sir；　consider　what　it　means　to　us。　　You　spoke　of　those　clubs；　we　should　not　only　get　kicked　out　of　them；　but　put　in　prison　like　common　burglars！　　It's　true　we're　hard　up；　but　it　simply　isn't　worth　it　at　the　price。　　Double　your　stakes；　and　I　for　one　am　your　man。〃

Addenbrooke　wavered。

〃Do　you　think　you　could　bring　it　off？〃

〃We　could　try。〃

〃But　you　have　no〃

〃Experience？　　Well；　hardly！〃

〃And　you　would　really　run　the　risk　for　four　thousand　pounds？〃

Raffles　looked　at　me。　　I　nodded。

〃We　would；〃　said　he；　〃and　blow　the　odds！〃

〃It's　more　than　I　can　ask　my　client　to　pay；〃　said　Addenbrooke；　growing　firm。

〃Then　it's　more　than　you　can　expect　us　to　risk。〃

〃You　are　in　earnest？〃

〃God　wot！〃

〃Say　three　thousand　if　you　succeed！〃

〃Four　is　our　figure；　Mr。　Addenbrooke。〃

〃Then　I　think　it　should　be　nothing　if　you　fail。〃

〃Doubles　or　quits？〃　cried　Raffles。　　〃Well；　that's　sporting。　　Done！〃

Addenbrooke　opened　his　lips；　half　rose；　then　sat　back　in　his　chair；　and　looked　long　and　shrewdly　at　Rafflesnever　once　at　me。

〃I　know　your　bowling；〃　said　he　reflectively。　　〃I　go　up　to　Lord's　whenever　I　want　an　hour's　real　rest；　and　I've　seen　you　bowl　again　and　againyes；　and　take　the　best　wickets　in　England　on　a　plumb　pitch。　　I　don't　forget　the　last　Gentleman　and　Players；　I　was　there。　　You're　up　to　every　trickevery　one　。　。　。　　I'm　inclined　to　think　that　if　anybody　could　bowl　out　this　old　Australian　。　。　。　Damme；　I　believe　you're　my　very　man！〃

The　bargain　was　clinched　at　the　Cafe　Royal；　where　Bennett　Addenbrooke　insisted　on　playing　host　at　an　extravagant　luncheon。　　I　remember　that　he　took　his　whack　of　champagne　with　the　nervous　freedom　of　a　man　at　high　pressure；　and　have　no　doubt　I　kept　him　in　countenance　by　an　equal　indulgence；　but　Raffles；　ever　an　exemplar　in　such　matters；　was　more　abstemious　even　than　his　wont；　and　very　poor　company　to　boot。　　I　can　see　him　now；　his　eyes　in　his　platethinkingthinking。　　I　can　see　the　solicitor　glancing　from　him　to　me　in　an　apprehension　of　which　I　did　my　best　to　disabuse　him　by　reassuring　looks。　　At　the　close　Raffles　apologized　for　his　preoccupation；　called　for　an　A。B。C。　time…table；　and　announced　his　intention　of　catching　the　3。2　to　Esher。

〃You　must　excuse　me；　Mr。　Addenbrooke；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　have　my　own　idea；　and　for　the　moment　I　should　much　prefer　to　keep　it　to　myself。　　It　may　end　in　fizzle；　so　I　would　rather　not　speak　about　it　to　either　of　you　just　yet。　　But　speak　to　Sir　Bernard　I　must；　so　will　you　write　me　one　line　to　him　on　your　card？　　Of　course；　if　you　wish；　you　must　come　down　with　me　and　hear　what　I　say；　but　I　really　don't　see　much　point　in　it。〃

And　as　usual　Raffles　had　his　way；　though　Bennett　Addenbrooke　showed　some　temper　when　he　was　gone；　and　I　myself　shared　his　annoyance　to　no　small　extent。　　I　could　only　tell　him　that　it　was　in　the　nature　of　Raffles　to　be　self…willed　and　secretive；　but　that　no　man　of　my　acquaintance　had　half　his　audacity　and　determination；　that　I　for　my　part　would　trust　him　through　and　through；　and　let　him　gang　his　own　gait　every　time。　　More　I　dared　not　say；　even　to　remove　those　chill　misgivings　with　which　I　knew　that　the　lawyer　went　his　way。

That　day　I　saw　no　more　of　Raffles；　but　a　telegram　reached　me　when　I　was　dressing　for　dinner：

〃Be　in　your　rooms　to…morrow　from　noon　and　keep　rest　of　day　clear；　Raffles。〃

　It　had　been　sent　off　from　Waterloo　at　6。42。

So　Raffles　was　back　in　town；　at　an　earlier　stage　of　our　relations　I　should　have　hunted　him　up　then　and　there；　but　now　I　knew　better。　　His　telegram　meant　that　he　had　no　desire　for　my　society　that　night　or　the　following　forenoon；　that　when　he　wanted　me　I　should　see　him　soon　enough。

And　see　him　I　did；　towards　one　o'clock　next　day。　I　was　watching　for　him　from　my　window　in　Mount　Street；　when　he　drove　up　furiously　in　a　hansom；　and　jumped　out　without　a　word　to　the　man。　　I　met　him　next　minute　at　the　lift　gates；　and　he　fairly　pushed　me　back　into　my　rooms。

〃Five　minutes；　Bunny！〃　he　cried。　　〃Not　a　moment　more。〃

And　he　tore　off　his　coat　before　flinging　himself　into　the　nearest　chair。

〃I'm　fairly　on　the　rush；〃　he　panted；　〃having　the　very　devil　of　a　time！　　Not　a　word　till　I　tell　you　all　I've　done。　　I　settled　my　plan　of　campaign　yesterday　at　lunch。　　The　first　thing　was　to　get　in　with　this　man　Craggs；　you　can't　break　into　a　place　like　the　Metropole；　it's　got　to　be　done　from　the　inside。　　Problem　one；　how　to　get　at　the　fellow。　Only　one　sort　of　pretext　would　doit　must　be　something　to　do　with　this　blessed　picture；　so　that　I　might　see　where　he'd　got　it　and　all　that。　　Well；　I　couldn't　go　and　ask　to　see　it　out　of　curiosity；　and　I　couldn't　go　as　a　second　representative　of　the　other　old　chap；　and　it　was　thinking　how　I　could　go　that　made　me　such　a　bear　at　lunch。　　But　I　saw　my　way　before　we　got　up。　　If　I　could　only　lay　hold　of　a　copy　of　the　picture　I　might　ask　leave　to　go　and　compare　it　with　the　original。　　So　down　I　went　to　Esher　to　find　out　if　there　was　a　copy　in　existence；　and　was　at　Broom　Hall　for　one　hour　and　a　half　yesterday　afternoon。　　There　was　no　copy　there；　but　they　must　exist；　for　Sir　Bernard　himself　（there's　'copy'　THERE！）　has　allowed　a　couple　to　be　made　since　the　picture　has　been　in　his　possession。　He　hunted　up　the　painters'　addresses；　and　the　rest　of　the　evening　I　spent　in　hunting　up　the　painters　themselves；　but　their　work　had　been　done　on　commission；　one　copy　had　gone　out　of　the　country；　and　I'm　still　on　the　track　of　the　other。〃

〃Then　you　haven't　seen　Craggs　yet？〃

〃Seen　him　and　made　friends　with　him；　and　if　possible　he's　the　funnier　old　cuss　of　the　two；　but　you　should　study　'em　both。　　I　took　the　bull　by　the　horns　this　morning；　went　in　and　lied　like　Ananias；　and　it　was　just　as　well　I　didthe　old　ruffian　sails　for　Australia　by　to…morrow's　boat。　　I　told　him　a　man　wanted　to　sell　me　a　copy　of　the　celebrated　Infanta　Maria　Teresa　of　Velasquez；　that　I'd　been　down　to　the　supposed　owner　of　the　picture；　only　to　find　that　he　had　just　sold　it　to　him。　　You　should　have　seen　his　face　when　I　told　him　that！　　He　grinned　all　round　his　wicked　old　head。　　'Did　OLD　Debenham　admit　the　sale？'　says　he；　and　when　I　said　he　had　he　chuckled　to　himself　for　about　five　minutes。　　He　was　so　pleased　that　he　did　just　what　I　hoped　he　would　do；　he　showed　me　the　great　pictureluckily　it　isn't　by　any　means　a　large　onealso　the　case　he's　got　it　in。　　It's　an　iron　map…case　in　which　he　brought　over　the　plans　of　his　land　in　Brisbane；　he　wants　to　know　who　would　suspect　it　of　containing　an　Old　Master；　too？　　But　he's　had　it　fitted　with　a　new　Chubb's　lock；　and　I　managed