the amateur cracksman-第21章

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The　man　looked　quaintly　wistful；　the　temptation　of　an　audience　hot　upon　him；　a　door　shut　upstairs；　and　he　fell。

〃It's　like　this；〃　he　whispered。　　〃This　afternoon　a　gen'leman　comes　arfter　rooms；　and　I　sent　him　to　the　orfice；　one　of　the　clurks；　'e　goes　round　with　'im　an'　shows　'im　the　empties；　an'　the　gen'leman's　partic'ly　struck　on　the　set　the　coppers　is　up　in　now。　So　he　sends　the　clurk　to　fetch　the　manager；　as　there　was　one　or　two　things　he　wished　to　speak　about；　an'　when　they　come　back；　blowed　if　the　gent　isn't　gone！　　Beg　yer　pardon；　sir；　but　he's　clean　disappeared　off　the　face　o'　the　premises！〃　　And　the　porter　looked　at　us　with　shining　eyes。

〃Well？〃　said　Raffles。

〃Well；　sir；　they　looked　about；　an'　looked　about；　an'　at　larst　they　give　him　up　for　a　bad　job；　thought　he'd　changed　his　mind　an'　didn't　want　to　tip　the　clurk；　so　they　shut　up　the　place　an'　come　away。　An'　that's　all　till　about　'alf　an　hour　ago；　when　I　takes　the　manager　his　extry…speshul　Star；　in　about　ten　minutes　he　comes　running　out　with　a　note；　an'　sends　me　with　it　to　Scotland　Yard　in　a　hansom。　An'　that's　all　I　know；　sirstraight。　　The　coppers　is　up　there　now；　and　the　tec；　and　the　manager；　and　they　think　their　gent　is　about　the　place　somewhere　still。　　Least；　I　reckon　that's　their　idea；　but　who　he　is；　or　what　they　want　him　for；　I　dunno。〃

〃Jolly　interesting！〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I'm　going　up　to　inquire。　　Come　on；　Bunny；　there　should　be　some　fun。〃

〃Beg　yer　pardon；　Mr。　Raffles；　but　you　won't　say　nothing　about　me？〃

〃Not　I；　you're　a　good　fellow。　　I　won't　forget　it　if　this　leads　to　sport。　　Sport！〃　he　whispered　as　we　reached　the　landing。　　〃It　looks　like　precious　poor　sport　for　you　and　me；　Bunny！〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　There's　no　time　to　think。　　This；　to　start　with。〃

And　he　thundered　on　the　shut　door；　a　policeman　opened　it。　　Raffles　strode　past　him　with　the　air　of　a　chief　commissioner；　and　I　followed　before　the　man　had　recovered　from　his　astonishment。　The　bare　boards　rang　under　us；　in　the　bedroom　we　found　a　knot　of　officers　stooping　over　the　window…ledge　with　a　constable's　lantern。　　Mackenzie　was　the　first　to　stand　upright；　and　he　greeted　us　with　a　glare。

〃May　I　ask　what　you　gentlemen　want？〃　said　he。

〃We　want　to　lend　a　hand；〃　said　Raffles　briskly。　〃We　lent　one　once　before；　and　it　was　my　friend　here　who　took　over　from　you　the　fellow　who　split　on　all　the　rest；　and　held　him　tightly。　　Surely　that　entitles　him；　at　all　events；　to　see　any　fun　that's　going？　　As　for　myself；　well；　it's　true　I　only　helped　to　carry　you　to　the　house；　but　for　old　acquaintance　I　do　hope；　my　dear　Mr。　Mackenzie；　that　you　will　permit　us　to　share　such　sport　as　there　may　be。　　I　myself　can　only　stop　a　few　minutes；　in　any　case。〃

〃Then　ye'll　not　see　much；〃　growled　the　detective；　〃for　he's　not　up　here。　　Constable；　go　you　and　stand　at　the　foot　o'　the　stairs；　and　let　no　other　body　come　up　on　any　conseederation；　these　gentlemen　may　be　able　to　help　us　after　all。〃

〃That's　kind　of　you；　Mackenzie！〃　cried　Raffles　warmly。　　〃But　what　is　it　all？　　I　questioned　a　porter　I　met　coming　down；　but　could　get　nothing　out　of　him；　except　that　somebody　had　been　to　see　these　rooms　and　not　since　been　seen　himself。〃

〃He's　a　man　we　want；〃　said　Mackenzie。　　〃He's　concealed　himself　somewhere　about　these　premises；　or　I'm　vera　much　mistaken。　　D'ye　reside　in　the　Albany；　Mr。　Raffles？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Will　your　rooms　be　near　these？〃

〃On　the　next　staircase　but　one。〃

〃Ye'll　just　have　left　them？〃

〃Just。〃

〃Been　in　all　the　afternoon；　likely？〃

〃Not　all。〃

〃Then　I　may　have　to　search　your　rooms；　sir。　　I　am　prepared　to　search　every　room　in　the　Albany！　　Our　man　seems　to　have　gone　for　the　leads；　but　unless　he's　left　more　marks　outside　than　in；　or　we　find　him　up　there；　I　shall　have　the　entire　building　to　ransack。〃

〃I　will　leave　you　my　key；〃　said　Raffles　at　once。　〃I　am　dining　out；　but　I'll　leave　it　with　the　officer　down　below。〃

I　caught　my　breath　in　mute　amazement。　　What　was　the　meaning　of　this　insane　promise？　　It　was　wilful；　gratuitous；　suicidal；　it　made　me　catch　at　his　sleeve　in　open　horror　and　disgust；　but；　with　a　word　of　thanks；　Mackenzie　had　returned　to　his　window…sill；　and　we　sauntered　unwatched　through　the　folding…doors　into　the　adjoining　room。　　Here　the　window　looked　down　into　the　courtyard；　it　was　still　open；　and　as　we　gazed　out　in　apparent　idleness；　Raffles　reassured　me。

〃It's　all　right；　Bunny；　you　do　what　I　tell　you　and　leave　the　rest　to　me。　　It's　a　tight　corner；　but　I　don't　despair。　　What　you've　got　to　do　is　to　stick　to　these　chaps；　especially　if　they　search　my　rooms；　they　mustn't　poke　about　more　than　necessary；　and　they　won't　if　you're　there。〃

〃But　where　will　you　be？　　You're　never　going　to　leave　me　to　be　landed　alone？〃

〃If　I　do；　it　will　be　to　turn　up　trumps　at　the　right　moment。　　Besides；　there　are　such　things　as　windows；　and　Crawshay's　the　man　to　take　his　risks。　　You　must　trust　me；　Bunny；　you've　known　me　long　enough。〃

〃Are　you　going　now？〃

〃There's　no　time　to　lose。　　Stick　to　them；　old　chap；　don't　let　them　suspect　YOU；　whatever　else　you　do。〃　　His　hand　lay　an　instant　on　my　shoulder；　then　he　left　me　at　the　window；　and　recrossed　the　room。

〃I've　got　to　go　now；〃　I　heard　him　say；　〃but　my　friend　will　stay　and　see　this　through；　and　I'll　leave　the　gas　on　in　my　rooms；　and　my　key　with　the　constable　downstairs。　　Good　luck；　Mackenzie；　only　wish　I　could　stay。〃

〃Good…by；　sir；〃　came　in　a　preoccupied　voice；　〃and　many　thanks。〃

Mackenzie　was　still　busy　at　his　window；　and　I　remained　at　mine；　a　prey　to　mingled　fear　and　wrath；　for　all　my　knowledge　of　Raffles　and　of　his　infinite　resource。　　By　this　time　I　felt　that　I　knew　more　or　less　what　he　would　do　in　any　given　emergency；　at　least　I　could　conjecture　a　characteristic　course　of　equal　cunning　and　audacity。　　He　would　return　to　his　rooms；　put　Crawshay　on　his　guard；　andstow　him　away？　　Nothere　were　such　things　as　windows。　　Then　why　was　Raffles　going　to　desert　us　all？　　I　thought　of　many　thingslastly　of　a　cab。　　These　bedroom　windows　looked　into　a　narrow　side…street；　they　were　not　very　high；　from　them　a　man　might　drop　on　to　the　roof　of　a　cabeven　as　it　passedand　be　driven　away　even　under　the　noses　of　the　police！　　I　pictured　Raffles　driving　that　cab；　unrecognizable　in　the　foggy　night；　the　vision　came　to　me　as　he　passed　under　the　window；　tucking　up　the　collar　of　his　great　driving…coat　on　the　way　to　his　rooms；　it　was　still　with　me　when　he　passed　again　on　his　way　back；　and　stopped　to　hand　the　constable　his　key。

〃We're　on　his　track；〃　said　a　voice　behind　me。　〃He's　got　up　on　the　leads；　sure　enough；　though　how　he　managed　it　from　yon　window　is　a　myst'ry　to　me。　　We're　going　to　lock　up　here　and　try　what　like　it　is　from　the　attics。　　So　you'd　better　come　with　us　if　you've　a　mind。〃

The　top　floor　at　the　Albany；　as　elsewhere；　is　devoted　to　the　servantsa　congeries　of　little　kitchens　and　cubicles；　used　by　many　as　lumber…roomsby　Raffles　among　the　many。　　The　annex　in　this　case　was；　of　course；　empty　as　the　rooms　below；　and　that　was　lucky；　for　we　filled　it；　what　with　the　manager；　who　now　joined　us；　and　another　tenant　whom　he　brought　with　him　to　Mackenzie's　undisguised　annoyance。

〃Better　let　in　all　Piccadilly　at　a　crown　a　head；〃　said　he。　　〃Here；　my　man；　out　you　go　on　the　roof　to　make　one　less；　and　have　your　truncheon　handy。〃

We　crowded　to　the　little　window；　which　Mackenzie　took　care　to　fill；　and　a　minute　yielded　no　sound　but　the　crunch　and　slither　of　constabulary　boots　upon　sooty　slates。　　Then　came　a　shout。

〃What　now？〃　cried　Mackenzie。

〃A　rope；〃　we　heard；　〃hanging　from　the　spout　by　a　hook！〃

〃Sirs；〃　purred　Mackenzie；　〃yon's　how　he　got　up　from　below！　　He　would　do　it　with　one　o'　they　telescope　sticks；　an'　I　never　thocht　o't！　　How　long　a　rope；　my　lad？〃

〃Quite　short。　　I've　got　it。〃

〃Did　it　hang　over　a　window？　　Ask　him　that！〃　cried　the　manager。　　〃He　can　see　by　leaning　over　the　parapet。〃

The　question　was　repeated　by　Mackenzie；　a　pause；　then　〃Yes；　it　did。〃

〃Ask　him　how　many　windows　along！〃　shouted　the　manager　in　high　excitement。

〃Six；　he　says；〃　said　Mackenzie　next　minute；　and　he　drew　in　his　head　and　shoulders。　　〃I　should　just　like　to　see　those　rooms；　six　windows　along。〃

〃Mr。　Raffles；〃　announced　the　manager　after　a　mental　calculation。

〃Is　that　a　fact？〃　cried　Mackenzie。　　〃Then　we　shall　have　no　difficulty　at　all。　　He's　left　me　his　key　down　below。〃

The　words　had　a　dry；　speculative　intonation；　which　even　then　I　found　time　to　dislike；　it　was　as　though　the　coincidence　had　already　struck　the　Scotchman　as　something　more。

〃Where　is　Mr。　Raffles？〃　asked　the　manager；　as　we　all　filed　downstairs。

〃He's　gone　out　to　his　dinner；〃　said　Mackenzie。

〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃I　saw　him　go；〃　said　I。　　My　heart　was　beating　horribly。　　I　would　not　trust　myself　to　speak　again。　But　I　wormed　my　way　to　a　front　place　in　the　little　procession；　and　was；　in　fact；　the　second　man　to　cross　the　threshold　that　had　been　the　Rubicon　of　my　life。　　As　I　did　so　I　uttered　a　cry　of　pain；　for　Mackenzie　had　trod　back　heavily　on　my　toes；　in　another　second　I　saw　the　reason；　and　saw　it　with　another　and　a　louder　cry。

A　man　was　lying　at　full　length　before　the　fire　on　his　back；　with　a　little　wound　in　the　white　forehead；　and　the　blood　draining　into　his　eyes。　　And　the　man　was　Raffles　himself！

〃Suicide；〃　said　Mackenzie　calmly。　　〃Nohere's　the　pokerlooks　more　like　murder。〃　　He　went　on　his　knees　and　shook　his　head　quite　cheerfully。　　〃An'　it's　not　even　murder；〃　said　he；　with　a　shade　of　disgust　in　his　matter…of…fact　voice；　〃yon's　no　more　than　a　flesh…wound；　and　I　have　my　doubts　whether　it　felled　him；　but；　sirs；　he　just　stinks　o'　chloryform！〃

He　got　up　and　fixed　his　keen　gray　eyes　upon　me；　my　own　were　full　of　tears；　but　they　faced　him　unashamed。

〃I　understood　ye　to　say　ye　saw　him　go　out？〃　said　he　sternly。

〃I　saw　that　long　driving…coat；　of　course；　I　thought　he　was　inside　it。〃

〃And　I　could　ha'　sworn　it　was　the　same　gent　when　he　give　me　the　key！〃

It　was　the　disconsolate　voice　of　the　constable　in　the　background；　on　him　turned　Mackenzie；　white　to　the　lips。

〃You'd　think　anything；　some　of　you　damned　policemen；〃　said　he。　　〃What's　your　number；　you　rotter？　　P　34？　　You'll　be　hearing　more　of　this；　Mr。　P　34！　　If　that　gentleman　was　deadinstead　of　coming　to　himself　while　I'm　talkingdo　you　know　what　you'd　be？　　Guilty　of　his　manslaughter；　you　stuck　pig　in　buttons！　　Do　you　know　who　you've　let　slip；　butter…fingers？　　Crawshayno　lesshim　that　broke　Dartmoor　yesterday。　　By　the　God　that　made　ye；　P　34；　if　I　lose　him　I'll　hound　ye　from　the　forrce！〃

Working　faceshaking　fista　calm　man　on　fire。　　It　was　a　new　side　of　Mackenzie；　and　one　to　mark　and　to　digest。　　Next　moment　he　had　flounced　from　our　midst。



〃Difficult　thing　to　break　your　own　head；〃　said　Raffles　later；　〃infinitely　easier　to　cut　your　own　throat。　　Chloroform's　another　matter；　when　you've　used　it　on　others；　you　know　the　dose　to　a　nicety。　　So　you　thought　I　was　really　gone？　　Poor　old　Bunny！　　But　I　hope　Mackenzie　saw　your　face？〃

〃He　did；〃　said　I。　　I　would　not　tell　him　all　Mackenzie　must　have　seen；　however。

〃That's　all　right。　　I　wouldn't　have　had　him　miss　it　for　worlds；　and　you　mustn't　think　me　a　brute；　old　boy；　for　I　fear　that　man；　and；　know；　we　sink　or　swim　together。〃

〃And　now　we　sink　or　swim　with　Crawshay；　too；〃　said　I　doleful