the amateur cracksman-第23章

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It　did　not　begin　pleasantly　between　Raffles　and　me。　　On　deck　he　had　overborne　my　stubborn　perplexity　by　dint　of　a　forced　though　forceful　joviality；　in　his　cabin　the　gloves　were　off。

〃You　idiot；〃　he　snarled；　〃you've　given　me　away　again！〃

〃How　have　I　given　you　away？〃

I　ignored　the　separate　insult　in　his　last　word。

〃How？　　I　should　have　thought　any　clod　could　see　that　I　meant　us　to　meet　by　chance！〃

〃After　taking　both　tickets　yourself？〃

〃They　knew　nothing　about　that　on　board；　besides；　I　hadn't　decided　when　I　took　the　tickets。〃

〃Then　you　should　have　let　me　know　when　you　did　decide。　　You　lay　your　plans；　and　never　say　a　word；　and　expect　me　to　tumble　to　them　by　light　of　nature。　　How　was　I　to　know　you　had　anything　on？〃

I　had　turned　the　tables　with　some　effect。　　Raffles　almost　hung　his　head。

〃The　fact　is；　Bunny；　I　didn't　mean　you　to　know。　Youyou've　grown　such　a　pious　rabbit　in　your　old　age！〃

My　nickname　and　his　tone　went　far　to　mollify　me；　other　things　went　farther；　but　I　had　much　to　forgive　him　still。

〃If　you　were　afraid　of　writing；〃　I　pursued；　〃it　was　your　business　to　give　me　the　tip　the　moment　I　set　foot　on　board。　　I　would　have　taken　it　all　right。　　I　am　not　so　virtuous　as　all　that。〃

Was　it　my　imagination；　or　did　Raffles　look　slightly　ashamed？　　If　so；　it　was　for　the　first　and　last　time　in　all　the　years　I　knew　him；　nor　can　I　swear　to　it　even　now。

〃That；〃　said　he；　〃was　the　very　thing　I　meant　to　doto　lie　in　wait　in　my　room　and　get　you　as　you　passed。　　But〃

〃You　were　better　engaged？〃

〃Say　otherwise。〃

〃The　charming　Miss　Werner？〃

〃She　is　quite　charming。〃

〃Most　Australian　girls　are；〃　said　I。

〃How　did　you　know　she　was　one？〃　he　cried。

〃I　heard　her　speak。〃

〃Brute！〃　said　Raffles；　laughing；　〃she　has　no　more　twang　than　you　have。　　Her　people　are　German；　she　has　been　to　school　in　Dresden；　and　is　on　her　way　out　alone。〃

〃Money？〃　I　inquired。

〃Confound　you！〃　he　said；　and；　though　he　was　laughing；　I　thought　it　was　a　point　at　which　the　subject　might　be　changed。

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃it　wasn't　for　Miss　Werner　you　wanted　us　to　play　strangers；　was　it？　　You　have　some　deeper　game　than　that；　eh？〃

〃I　suppose　I　have。〃

〃Then　hadn't　you　better　tell　me　what　it　is？〃

Raffles　treated　me　to　the　old　cautious　scrutiny　that　I　knew　so　well；　the　very　familiarity　of　it；　after　all　these　months；　set　me　smiling　in　a　way　that　might　have　reassured　him；　for　dimly　already　I　divined　his　enterprise。

〃It　won't　send　you　off　in　the　pilot's　boat；　Bunny？〃

〃Not　quite。〃

〃Thenyou　remember　the　pearl　you　wrote　the〃

I　did　not　wait　for　him　to　finish　his　sentence。

〃You've　got　it！〃　I　cried；　my　face　on　fire；　for　I　caught　sight　of　it　that　moment　in　the　stateroom　mirror。

Raffles　seemed　taken　aback。

〃Not　yet；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　mean　to　have　it　before　we　get　to　Naples。〃

〃Is　it　on　board？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃But　howwherewho's　got　it？〃

〃A　little　German　officer；　a　whipper…snapper　with　perpendicular　mustaches。〃

〃I　saw　him　in　the　smoke…room。〃

〃That's　the　chap；　he's　always　there。　　Herr　Captain　Wilhelm　von　Heumann；　if　you　look　in　the　list。　　Well；　he's　the　special　envoy　of　the　emperor；　and　he's　taking　the　pearl　out　with　him。〃

〃You　found　this　out　in　Bremen？〃

〃No；　in　Berlin；　from　a　newspaper　man　I　know　there。　　I'm　ashamed　to　tell　you；　Bunny；　that　I　went　there　on　purpose！〃

I　burst　out　laughing。

〃You　needn't　be　ashamed。　　You　are　doing　the　very　thing　I　was　rather　hoping　you　were　going　to　propose　the　other　day　on　the　river。〃

〃You　were　HOPING　it？〃　said　Raffles；　with　his　eyes　wide　open。　　Indeed；　it　was　his　turn　to　show　surprise；　and　mine　to　be　much　more　ashamed　than　I　felt。

〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　〃I　was　quite　keen　on　the　idea；　but　I　wasn't　going　to　propose　it。〃

〃Yet　you　would　have　listened　to　me　the　other　day？〃

Certainly　I　would；　and　I　told　him　so　without　reserve；　not　brazenly；　you　understand；　not　even　now　with　the　gusto　of　a　man　who　savors　such　an　adventure　for　its　own　sake；　but　doggedly；　defiantly；　through　my　teeth；　as　one　who　had　tried　to　live　honestly　and　failed。　　And；　while　I　was　about　it；　I　told　him　much　more。　　Eloquently　enough；　I　daresay；　I　gave　him　chapter　and　verse　of　my　hopeless　struggle；　my　inevitable　defeat；　for　hopeless　and　inevitable　they　were　to　a　man　with　my　record；　even　though　that　record　was　written　only　in　one's　own　soul。　　It　was　the　old　story　of　the　thief　trying　to　turn　honest　man；　the　thing　was　against　nature；　and　there　was　an　end　of　it。

Raffles　entirely　disagreed　with　me。　　He　shook　his　head　over　my　conventional　view。　　Human　nature　was　a　board　of　checkers；　why　not　reconcile　one's　self　to　alternate　black　and　white？　　Why　desire　to　be　all　one　thing　or　all　the　other；　like　our　forefathers　on　the　stage　or　in　the　old…fashioned　fiction？　　For　his　part；　he　enjoyed　himself　on　all　squares　of　the　board；　and　liked　the　light　the　better　for　the　shade。　　My　conclusion　he　considered　absurd。

〃But　you　err　in　good　company；　Bunny；　for　all　the　cheap　moralists　who　preach　the　same　twaddle：　old　Virgil　was　the　first　and　worst　offender　of　you　all。　　I　back　myself　to　climb　out　of　Avernus　any　day　I　like；　and　sooner　or　later　I　shall　climb　out　for　good。　　I　suppose　I　can't　very　well　turn　myself　into　a　Limited　Liability　Company。　　But　I　could　retire　and　settle　down　and　live　blamelessly　ever　after。　I'm　not　sure　that　it　couldn't　be　done　on　this　pearl　alone！〃

〃Then　you　don't　still　think　it　too　remarkable　to　sell？〃

〃We　might　take　a　fishery　and　haul　it　up　with　smaller　fry。　　It　would　come　after　months　of　ill　luck；　just　as　we　were　going　to　sell　the　schooner；　by　Jove；　it　would　be　the　talk　of　the　Pacific！〃

〃Well；　we've　got　to　get　it　first。　　Is　this　von　What's…his…name　a　formidable　cuss？〃

〃More　so　than　he　looks；　and　he　has　the　cheek　of　the　devil！〃

As　he　spoke　a　white　drill　skirt　fluttered　past　the　open　state…room　door；　and　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　an　upturned　moustache

beyond。

〃But　is　he　the　chap　we　have　to　deal　with？　　Won't　the　pearl　be　in　the　purser's　keeping？〃

Raffles　stood　at　the　door；　frowning　out　upon　the　Solent；　but　for　an　instant　he　turned　to　me　with　a　sniff。

〃My　good　fellow；　do　you　suppose　the　whole　ship's　company　knows　there's　a　gem　like　that　aboard？　　You　said　that　it　was　worth　a　hundred　thousand　pounds；　in　Berlin　they　say　it's　priceless。　I　doubt　if　the　skipper　himself　knows　that　von　Heumann　has　it　on　him。〃

〃And　he　has？〃

〃Must　have。〃

〃Then　we　have　only　him　to　deal　with？〃

He　answered　me　without　a　word。　　Something　white　was　fluttering　past　once　more；　and　Raffles；　stepping　forth；　made　the　promenaders　three。

　　　II

I　do　not　ask　to　set　foot　aboard　a　finer　steamship　than　the　Uhlan　of　the　Norddeutscher　Lloyd；　to　meet　a　kindlier　gentleman　than　her　commander；　or　better　fellows　than　his　officers。　　This　much　at　least　let　me　have　the　grace　to　admit。　　I　hated　the　voyage。　　It　was　no　fault　of　anybody　connected　with　the　ship；　it　was　no　fault　of　the　weather；　which　was　monotonously　ideal。　　Not　even　in　my　own　heart　did　the　reason　reside；　conscience　and　I　were　divorced　at　last；　and　the　decree　made　absolute。　With　my　scruples　had　fled　all　fear；　and　I　was　ready　to　revel　between　bright　skies　and　sparkling　sea　with　the　light…hearted　detachment　of　Raffles　himself。　　It　was　Raffles　himself　who　prevented　me；　but　not　Raffles　alone。　　It　was　Raffles　and　that　Colonial　minx　on　her　way　home　from　school。

What　he　could　see　in　herbut　that　begs　the　question。　　Of　course　he　saw　no　more　than　I　did；　but　to　annoy　me；　or　perhaps　to　punish　me　for　my　long　defection；　he　must　turn　his　back　on　me　and　devote　himself　to　this　chit　from　Southampton　to　the　Mediterranean。　　They　were　always　together。　It　was　too　absurd。　　After　breakfast　they　would　begin；　and　go　on　until　eleven　or　twelve　at　night；　there　was　no　intervening　hour　at　which　you　might　not　hear　her　nasal　laugh；　or　his　quiet　voice　talking　soft　nonsense　into　her　ear。　　Of　course　it　was　nonsense！　　Is　it　conceivable　that　a　man　like　Raffles；　with　his　knowledge　of　the　world；　and　his　experience　of　women　（a　side　of　his　character　upon　which　I　have　purposely　never　touched；　for　it　deserves　another　volume）；　is　it　credible；　I　ask；　that　such　a　man　could　find　anything　but　nonsense　to　talk　by　the　day　together　to　a　giddy　young　schoolgirl？　I　would　not　be　unfair　for　the　world。

I　think　I　have　admitted　that　the　young　person　had　points。　Her　eyes；　I　suppose；　were　really　fine；　and　certainly　the　shape　of　the　little　brown　face　was　charming；　so　far　as　mere　contour　can　charm。

I　admit　also　more　audacity　than　I　cared　about；　with　enviable　health；　mettle；　and　vitality。　　I　may　not　have　occasion　to　report　any　of　this　young　lady's　speeches　（they　would　scarcely　bear　it）；　and　am　therefore　the　more　anxious　to　describe　her　without　injustice。　I　confess　to　some　little　prejudice　against　her。　　I　resented　her　success　with　Raffles；　of　whom；　in　consequence；　I　saw　less　and　less　each　day。　　It　is　a　mean　thing　to　have　to　confess；　but　there　must　have　been　something　not　unlike　jealousy　rankling　within　me。

Jealousy　there　was　in　another　quartercrude；　rampant；　undignified　jealousy。　　Captain　von　Heumann　would　twirl　his　mustaches　into　twin　spires；　shoot　his　white　cuffs　over　his　rings；　and　stare　at　me　insolently　through　his　rimless　eyeglasses；　we　ought　to　have　consoled　each　other；　but　we　never　exchanged　a　syllable。　　The　captain　had　a　murderous　scar　across　one　of　his　cheeks；　a　present　from　Heidelberg；　and　I　used　to　think　how　he　must　long　to　have　Raffles　there　to　serve　the　same。　　It　was　not　as　though　von　Heumann　never　had　his　innings。　Raffles　let　him　go　in　several　times　a　day；　for　the　malicious　pleasure　of　bowling　him　out　as　he　was　〃getting　set〃；　those　were　his　words　when　I　taxed　him　disingenuously　with　obnoxious　conduct　towards　a　German　on　a　German　boat。

〃You'll　make　yourself　disliked　on　board！〃

〃By　von　Heumann　merely。〃

〃But　is　that　wise　when　he's　the　man　we've　got　to　diddle？〃

〃The　wisest　thing　I　ever　did。　　To　have　chummed　up　with　him　would　have　been　fatalthe　common　dodge。〃

I　was　consoled；　encouraged；　almost　content。　　I　had　feared　Raffles　was　neglecting　things；　and　I　told　him　so　in　a　burst。　　Here　we　were　near　Gibraltar；　and　not　a　word　since　the　Solent。　　He　shook　his　head　with　a　smile。

〃Plenty　of　time；　Bunny；　plenty　of　time。　　We　can　do　nothing　before　we　get　to　Genoa；　and　that　won't　be　till　Sunday　night。　　The　voyage　is　still　young；　and　so　are　we；　let's　make　the　most　of　things　while　we　can。〃

It　was　after　dinner　on　the　promenade　deck；　and　as　Raffles　spoke　he　glanced　sharply　fore　and　aft；　leaving　me　next　moment　with　a　step　full　of　purpose。　　I　retired　to　the　smoking…room；　to　smoke　and　read　in　a　corner；　and　to　watch　von　Heumann；　who　very　soon　came　to　drink　beer　and　to　sulk　in　another。

Few　travellers　tempt　the　Red　Sea　at　midsummer；　the　Uhlan　was　very　empty　indeed。　　She　had；　however；　but　a　limited　supply　of　cabins　on　the　promenade　deck；　and　there　was　just　that　excuse　for　my　sharing　Raffles's　room。　　I　could　have　had　one　to　myself　downstairs；　but　I　must　be　up　above。　　Raffles　had　insisted　that　I　should　insist　on　the　point。　So　we　were　together；　I　think；　without　suspicion；　though　also　without　any　object　that　I　could　see。

On　the　Sunday　afternoon　I　was　asleep　in　my　berth；　the　lower　one；　when　the　curtains　were　shaken　by　Raffles；　who　was　in　his　shirt…sleeves　on　the　settee。

〃Achilles　sulking　in　his　bunk！〃

〃What　else　is　t