the amateur cracksman-第19章

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Some　men　were　returning　from　the　theatre。　　I　can　recall　their　conversation　even　now。　　They　were　disappointed　with　the　piece　they　had　seen。　It　was　one　of　the　later　Savoy　operas；　and　they　spoke　wistfully　of　the　days　of　〃Pinafore〃　and　〃Patience。〃　　One　of　them　hummed　a　stave；　and　there　was　an　argument　as　to　whether　the　air　was　out　of　〃Patience〃　or　the　〃Mikado。〃　　They　all　got　out　at　Surbiton；　and　I　was　alone　with　my　triumph　for　a　few　intoxicating　minutes。　　To　think　that　I　had　succeeded　where　Raffles　had　failed！

Of　all　our　adventures　this　was　the　first　in　which　I　had　played　a　commanding　part；　and；　of　them　all；　this　was　infinitely　the　least　discreditable。　　It　left　me　without　a　conscientious　qualm；　I　had　but　robbed　a　robber；　when　all　was　said。　　And　I　had　done　it　myself；　single…handedipse　egomet！

I　pictured　Raffles；　his　surprise；　his　delight。　　He　would　think　a　little　more　of　me　in　future。　　And　that　future；　it　should　be　different。　　We　had　two　thousand　pounds　apiecesurely　enough　to　start　afresh　as　honest　menand　all　through　me！

In　a　glow　I　sprang　out　at　Esher；　and　took　the　one　belated　cab　that　was　waiting　under　the　bridge。　In　a　perfect　fever　I　beheld　Broom　Hall；　with　the　lower　story　still　lit　up；　and　saw　the　front　door　open　as　I　climbed　the　steps。

〃Thought　it　was　you；〃　said　Raffles　cheerily。　〃It's　all　right。　　There's　a　bed　for　you。　　Sir　Bernard's　sitting　up　to　shake　your　hand。〃

His　good　spirits　disappointed　me。　　But　I　knew　the　man：　he　was　one　of　those　who　wear　their　brightest　smile　in　the　blackest　hour。　　I　knew　him　too　well　by　this　time　to　be　deceived。

〃I've　got　it！〃　I　cried　in　his　ear。　　〃I've　got　it！〃

〃Got　what？〃　he　asked　me；　stepping　back。

〃The　picture！〃

〃WHAT？〃

〃The　picture。　　He　showed　it　me。　　You　had　to　go　without　it；　I　saw　that。　　So　I　determined　to　have　it。　　And　here　it　is。〃

〃Let's　see；〃　said　Raffles　grimly。

I　threw　off　my　cape　and　unwound　the　canvas　from　about　my　body。　　While　I　was　doing　so　an　untidy　old　gentleman　made　his　appearance　in　the　hall；　and　stood　looking　on　with　raised　eyebrows。

〃Looks　pretty　fresh　for　an　Old　Master；　doesn't　she？〃　said　Raffles。

His　tone　was　strange。　　I　could　only　suppose　that　he　was　jealous　of　my　success。

〃So　Craggs　said。　　I　hardly　looked　at　it　myself。〃

〃Well；　look　nowlook　closely。　　By　Jove；　I　must　have　faked　her　better　than　I　thought！〃

〃It's　a　copy！〃　I　cried。

〃It's　THE　copy；〃　he　answered。　　〃It's　the　copy　I've　been　tearing　all　over　the　country　to　procure。　　It's　the　copy　I　faked　back　and　front；　so　that；　on　your　own　showing；　it　imposed　upon　Craggs；　and　might　have　made　him　happy　for　life。　　And　you　go　and　rob　him　of　that！〃

I　could　not　speak。

〃How　did　you　manage　it？〃　inquired　Sir　Bernard　Debenham。

〃Have　you　killed　him？〃　asked　Raffles　sardonically。

I　did　not　look　at　him；　I　turned　to　Sir　Bernard　Debenham；　and　to　him　I　told　my　story；　hoarsely；　excitedly；　for　it　was　all　that　I　could　do　to　keep　from　breaking　down。　　But　as　I　spoke　I　became　calmer；　and　I　finished　in　mere　bitterness；　with　the　remark　that　another　time　Raffles　might　tell　me　what　he　meant　to　do。

〃Another　time！〃　he　cried　instantly。　　〃My　dear　Bunny；　you　speak　as　though　we　were　going　to　turn　burglars　for　a　living！〃

〃I　trust　you　won't；〃　said　Sir　Bernard；　smiling；　〃for　you　are　certainly　two　very　daring　young　men。　Let　us　hope　our　friend　from　Queensland　will　do　as　he　said；　and　not　open　his　map…case　till　he　gets　back　there。　　He　will　find　my　check　awaiting　him；　and　I　shall　be　very　much　surprised　if　he　troubles　any　of　us　again。〃

Raffles　and　I　did　not　speak　till　I　was　in　the　room　which　had　been　prepared　for　me。　　Nor　was　I　anxious　to　do　so　then。　　But　he　followed　me　and　took　my　hand。

〃Bunny；〃　said　he；　〃don't　you　be　hard　on　a　fellow！　　I　was　in　the　deuce　of　a　hurry；　and　didn't　know　that　I　should　ever　get　what　I　wanted　in　time；　and　that's　a　fact。　　But　it　serves　me　right　that　you　should　have　gone　and　undone　one　of　the　best　things　I　ever　did。　　As　for　YOUR　handiwork；　old　chap；　you　won't　mind　my　saying　that　I　didn't　think　you　had　it　in　you。　　In　future〃

〃Don't　talk　to　me　about　the　future！〃　I　cried。　〃I　hate　the　whole　thing！　　I'm　going　to　chuck　it　up！〃

〃So　am　I；〃　said　Raffles；　〃when　I've　made　my　pile。〃

　　THE　RETURN　MATCH

I　had　turned　into　Piccadilly；　one　thick　evening　in　the　following　November；　when　my　guilty　heart　stood　still　at　the　sudden　grip　of　a　hand　upon　my　arm。　　I　thoughtI　was　always　thinkingthat　my　inevitable　hour　was　come　at　last。　　It　was　only　Raffles；　however；　who　stood　smiling　at　me　through　the　fog。

〃Well　met！〃　said　he。　　〃I've　been　looking　for　you　at　the　club。〃

〃I　was　just　on　my　way　there；〃　I　returned；　with　an　attempt　to　hide　my　tremors。　　It　was　an　ineffectual　attempt；　as　I　saw　from　his　broader　smile；　and　by　the　indulgent　shake　of　his　head。

〃Come　up　to　my　place　instead；〃　said　he。　　〃I've　something　amusing　to　tell　you。〃

I　made　excuses；　for　his　tone　foretold　the　kind　of　amusement；　and　it　was　a　kind　against　which　I　had　successfully　set　my　face　for　months。　　I　have　stated　before；　however；　and　I　can　but　reiterate；　that　to　me；　at　all　events；　there　was　never　anybody　in　the　world　so　irresistible　as　Raffles　when　his　mind　was　made　up。　　That　we　had　both　been　independent　of　crime　since　our　little　service　to　Sir　Bernard　Debenhamthat　there　had　been　no　occasion　for　that　masterful　mind　to　be　made　up　in　any　such　direction　for　many　a　daywas　the　undeniable　basis　of　a　longer　spell　of　honesty　than　I　had　hitherto　enjoyed　during　the　term　of　our　mutual　intimacy。　　Be　sure　I　would　deny　it　if　I　could；　the　very　thing　I　am　to　tell　you　would　discredit　such　a　boast。　　I　made　my　excuses；　as　I　have　said。

But　his　arm　slid　through　mine；　with　his　little　laugh　of　light…hearted　mastery。　　And　even　while　I　argued　we　were　on　his　staircase　in　the　Albany。

His　fire　had　fallen　low。　　He　poked　and　replenished　it　after　lighting　the　gas。　　As　for　me；　I　stood　by　sullenly　in　my　overcoat　until　he　dragged　it　off　my　back。

〃What　a　chap　you　are！〃　said　Raffles；　playfully。　〃One　would　really　think　I　had　proposed　to　crack　another　crib　this　blessed　night！　　Well；　it　isn't　that；　Bunny；　so　get　into　that　chair；　and　take　one　of　these　Sullivans　and　sit　tight。〃

He　held　the　match　to　my　cigarette；　he　brought　me　a　whiskey　and　soda。　　Then　he　went　out　into　the　lobby；　and；　just　as　I　was　beginning　to　feel　happy；　I　heard　a　bolt　shot　home。　　It　cost　me　an　effort　to　remain　in　that　chair；　next　moment　he　was　straddling　another　and　gloating　over　my　discomfiture　across　his　folded　arms。

〃You　remember　Milchester；　Bunny；　old　boy？〃

His　tone　was　as　bland　as　mine　was　grim　when　I　answered　that　I　did。

〃We　had　a　little　match　there　that　wasn't　down　on　the　card。　　Gentlemen　and　Players；　if　you　recollect？〃

〃I　don't　forget　it。〃

〃Seeing　that　you　never　got　an　innings；　so　to　speak；　I　thought　you　might。　　Well；　the　Gentlemen　scored　pretty　freely；　but　the　Players　were　all　caught。〃

〃Poor　devils！〃

〃Don't　be　too　sure。　　You　remember　the　fellow　we　saw　in　the　inn？　　The　florid；　over…dressed　chap　who　I　told　you　was　one　of　the　cleverest　thieves　in　town？〃

〃I　remember　him。　　Crawshay　his　name　turned　out　to　be。〃

〃Well；　it　was　certainly　the　name　he　was　convicted　under；　so　Crawshay　let　it　be。　　You　needn't　waste　any　pity　on　HIM；　old　chap；　he　escaped　from　Dartmoor　yesterday　afternoon。〃

〃Well　done！〃

Raffles　smiled；　but　his　eyebrows　had　gone　up；　and　his　shoulders　followed　suit。

〃You　are　perfectly　right；　it　was　very　well　done　indeed。　　I　wonder　you　didn't　see　it　in　the　paper。　In　a　dense　fog　on　the　moor　yesterday　good　old　Crawshay　made　a　bolt　for　it；　and　got　away　without　a　scratch　under　heavy　fire。　　All　honor　to　him；　I　agree；　a　fellow　with　that　much　grit　deserves　his　liberty。　　But　Crawshay　has　a　good　deal　more。　They　hunted　him　all　night　long；　couldn't　find　him　for　nuts；　and　that　was　all　you　missed　in　the　morning　papers。〃

He　unfolded　a　Pall　Mall；　which　he　had　brought　in　with　him。

〃But　listen　to　this；　here's　an　account　of　the　escape；　with　just　the　addition　which　puts　the　thing　on　a　higher　level。　　'The　fugitive　has　been　traced　to　Totnes；　where　he　appears　to　have　committed　a　peculiarly　daring　outrage　in　the　early　hours　of　this　morning。　　He　is　reported　to　have　entered　the　lodgings　of　the　Rev。　A。　H。　Ellingworth；　curate　of　the　parish；　who　missed　his　clothes　on　rising　at　the　usual　hour；　later　in　the　morning　those　of　the　convict　were　discovered　neatly　folded　at　the　bottom　of　a　drawer。　　Meanwhile　Crawshay　had　made　good　his　second　escape；　though　it　is　believed　that　so　distinctive　a　guise　will　lead　to　his　recapture　during　the　day。'　　What　do　you　think　of　that；　Bunny？〃

〃He　is　certainly　a　sportsman；〃　said　I；　reaching　for　the　paper。

〃He's　more；〃　said　Raffles；　〃he's　an　artist；　and　I　envy　him。　　The　curate；　of　all　men！　　Beautifulbeautiful！　　But　that's　not　all。　　I　saw　just　now　on　the　board　at　the　club　that　there's　been　an　outrage　on　the　line　near　Dawlish。　　Parson　found　insensible　in　the　six…foot　way。　　Our　friend　again！　　The　telegram　doesn't　say　so；　but　it's　obvious；　he's　simply　knocked　some　other　fellow　out；　changed　clothes　again；　and　come　on　gayly　to　town。　　Isn't　it　great？　I　do　believe　it's　the　best　thing　of　the　kind　that's　ever　been　done！〃

〃But　why　should　he　come　to　town？〃

In　an　instant　the　enthusiasm　faded　from　Raffles's　face；　clearly　I　had　reminded　him　of　some　prime　anxiety；　forgotten　in　his　impersonal　joy　over　the　exploit　of　a　fellow…criminal。　　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　towards　the　lobby　before　replying。

〃I　believe；〃　said　he；　〃that　the　beggar's　on　MY　tracks！〃

And　as　he　spoke　he　was　himself　againquietly　amusedcynically　unperturbedcharacteristically　enjoying　the　situation　and　my　surprise。

〃But　look　here；　what　do　you　mean？〃　said　I。　〃What　does　Crawshay　know　about　you？〃

〃Not　much；　but　he　suspects。〃

〃Why　should　he？〃

〃Because；　in　his　way　he's　very　nearly　as　good　a　man　as　I　am；　because；　my　dear　Bunny；　with　eyes　in　his　head　and　brains　behind　them；　he　couldn't　help　suspecting。　　He　saw　me　once　in　town　with　old　Baird。　　He　must　have　seen　me　that　day　in　the　pub　on　the　way　to　Milchester；　as　well　as　afterwards　on　the　cricket…field。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　know　he　did；　for　he　wrote　and　told　me　so　before　his　trial。〃

〃He　wrote　to　you！　　And　you　never　told　me！〃

The　old　shrug　answered　the　old　grievance。

〃What　was　the　good；　my　dear　fellow？　　It　would　only　have　worried　you。〃

〃Well；　what　did　he　say？〃

〃That　he　was　sorry　he　had　been　run　in　before　getting　back　to　town；　as　he　had　proposed　doing　himself　the　honor　of　paying　me　a　call；　however；　he　trusted　it　was　only　a　pleasure　deferred；　and　he　begged　me　not　to　go　and　get　lagged　myself　before　he　came　out。　　Of　course　he　knew　the　Melrose　necklace　was　gone；　though　he　hadn't　got　it；　and　he　said　that　the　man　who　could　take　that　and　leave　the　rest　was　a　man　after　his　own　heart。　　And　so　on；　with　certain　little　proposals　for　the　far　future；　which　I　fear　may　be　the　very　near　future　indeed！　I'm　only　surprised　he　hasn't　turned　up　yet。〃

He　looked　again　towards　the　lobby；　which　he　had　left　in　darkness；　with　the　inner　door　shut　as　carefully　as　the　outer　one。　　I　asked　him　what　he　meant　to　do。

〃Let　him　knockif　he　gets　so　far。　　The　porter　is　to　say　I'm　out　of　town；　it　will　be　true；　too；　in　another　hour　or　so。〃

〃You're　going　off　to…night？〃

〃By　the　7。15　from　Liverpool　Street。　　I　don't　say　much　about　my　people；　Bunny