the amateur cracksman-第24章

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as　in　his　shirt…sleeves　on　the　settee。

〃Achilles　sulking　in　his　bunk！〃

〃What　else　is　there　to　do？〃　I　asked　him　as　I　stretched　and　yawned。　　I　noted；　however；　the　good…humor　of　his　tone；　and　did　my　best　to　catch　it。

〃I　have　found　something　else；　Bunny。〃

〃I　daresay！〃

〃You　misunderstand　me。　　The　whipper…snapper's　making　his　century　this　afternoon。　　I've　had　other　fish　to　fry。〃

I　swung　my　legs　over　the　side　of　my　berth　and　sat　forward；　as　he　was　sitting；　all　attention。　　The　inner　door；　a　grating；　was　shut　and　bolted；　and　curtained　like　the　open　porthole。

〃We　shall　be　at　Genoa　before　sunset；〃　continued　Raffles。　　〃It's　the　place　where　the　deed's　got　to　be　done。〃

〃So　you　still　mean　to　do　it？〃

〃Did　I　ever　say　I　didn't？〃

〃You　have　said　so　little　either　way。〃

〃Advisedly　so；　my　dear　Bunny；　why　spoil　a　pleasure　trip　by　talking　unnecessary　shop？　　But　now　the　time　has　come。　　It　must　be　done　at　Genoa　or　not　at　all。〃

〃On　land？〃

〃No；　on　board；　to…morrow　night。　　To…night　would　do；　but　to…morrow　is　better；　in　case　of　mishap。　　If　we　were　forced　to　use　violence　we　could　get　away　by　the　earliest　train；　and　nothing　be　known　till　the　ship　was　sailing　and　von　Heumann　found　dead　or　drugged〃

〃Not　dead！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃Of　course　not；〃　assented　Raffles；　〃or　there　would　be　no　need　for　us　to　bolt；　but　if　we　should　have　to　bolt；　Tuesday　morning　is　our　time；　when　this　ship　has　got　to　sail；　whatever　happens。　　But　I　don't　anticipate　any　violence。　　Violence　is　a　confession　of　terrible　incompetence。　　In　all　these　years　how　many　blows　have　you　known　me　to　strike？　　Not　one；　I　believe；　but　I　have　been　quite　ready　to　kill　my　man　every　time；　if　the　worst　came　to　the　worst。〃

I　asked　him　how　he　proposed　to　enter　von　Heumann's　state…room　unobserved；　and　even　through　the　curtained　gloom　of　ours　his　face　lighted　up。

〃Climb　into　my　bunk；　Bunny；　and　you　shall　see。〃

I　did　so；　but　could　see　nothing。　　Raffles　reached　across　me　and　tapped　the　ventilator；　a　sort　of　trapdoor　in　the　wall　above　his　bed；　some　eighteen　inches　long　and　half　that　height。　　It　opened　outwards　into　the　ventilating　shaft。

〃That；〃　said　he；　〃is　our　door　to　fortune。　　Open　it　if　you　like；　you　won't　see　much；　because　it　doesn't　open　far；　but　loosening　a　couple　of　screws　will　set　that　all　right。　　The　shaft；　as　you　may　see；　is　more　or　less　bottomless；　you　pass　under　it　whenever　you　go　to　your　bath；　and　the　top　is　a　skylight　on　the　bridge。　　That's　why　this　thing　has　to　be　done　while　we're　at　Genoa；　because　they　keep　no　watch　on　the　bridge　in　port。　　The　ventilator　opposite　ours　is　von　Heumann's。　　It　again　will　only　mean　a　couple　of　screws；　and　there's　a　beam　to　stand　on　while　you　work。〃

〃But　if　anybody　should　look　up　from　below？〃

〃It's　extremely　unlikely　that　anybody　will　be　astir　below；　so　unlikely　that　we　can　afford　to　chance　it。　　No；　I　can't　have　you　there　to　make　sure。　　The　great　point　is　that　neither　of　us　should　be　seen　from　the　time　we　turn　in。　　A　couple　of　ship's　boys　do　sentry…go　on　these　decks；　and　they　shall　be　our　witnesses；　by　Jove；　it'll　be　the　biggest　mystery　that　ever　was　made！〃

〃If　von　Heumann　doesn't　resist。〃

〃Resist！　　He　won't　get　the　chance。　　He　drinks　too　much　beer　to　sleep　light；　and　nothing　is　so　easy　as　to　chloroform　a　heavy　sleeper；　you've　even　done　it　yourself　on　an　occasion　of　which　it's　perhaps　unfair　to　remind　you。　　Von　Heumann　will　be　past　sensation　almost　as　soon　as　I　get　my　hand　through　his　ventilator。　　I　shall　crawl　in　over　his　body；　Bunny；　my　boy！〃

〃And　I？〃

〃You　will　hand　me　what　I　want　and　hold　the　fort　in　case　of　accidents；　and　generally　lend　me　the　moral　support　you've　made　me　require。　　It's　a　luxury；　Bunny；　but　I　found　it　devilish　difficult　to　do　without　it　after　you　turned　pi！〃

He　said　that　Von　Heumann　was　certain　to　sleep　with　a　bolted　door；　which　he；　of　course；　would　leave　unbolted；　and　spoke　of　other　ways　of　laying　a　false　scent　while　rifling　the　cabin。　　Not　that　Raffles　anticipated　a　tiresome　search。　　The　pearl　would　be　about　von　Heumann's　person；　in　fact；　Raffles　knew　exactly　where　and　in　what　he　kept　it。　Naturally　I　asked　how　he　could　have　come　by　such　knowledge；　and　his　answer　led　up　to　a　momentary　unpleasantness。

〃It's　a　very　old　story；　Bunny。　　I　really　forget　in　what　Book　it　comes；　I'm　only　sure　of　the　Testament。　　But　Samson　was　the　unlucky　hero；　and　one　Delilah　the　heroine。〃

And　he　looked　so　knowing　that　I　could　not　be　in　a　moment's　doubt　as　to　his　meaning。

〃So　the　fair　Australian　has　been　playing　Delilah？〃　said　I。

〃In　a　very　harmless；　innocent　sort　of　way。〃

〃She　got　his　mission　out　of　him？〃

〃Yes；　I've　forced　him　to　score　all　the　points　he　could；　and　that　was　his　great　stroke；　as　I　hoped　it　would　be。　　He　has　even　shown　Amy　the　pearl。〃

〃Amy；　eh！　and　she　promptly　told　you？〃

〃Nothing　of　the　kind。　　What　makes　you　think　so？　　I　had　the　greatest　trouble　in　getting　it　out　of　her。〃

His　tone　should　have　been　a　sufficient　warning　to　me。　　I　had　not　the　tact　to　take　it　as　such。　　At　last　I　knew　the　meaning　of　his　furious　flirtation；　and　stood　wagging　my　head　and　shaking　my　finger；　blinded　to　his　frowns　by　my　own　enlightenment。

〃Wily　worm！〃　said　I。　　〃Now　I　see　through　it　all；　how　dense　I've　been！〃

〃Sure　you're　not　still？〃

〃No；　now　I　understand　what　has　beaten　me　all　the　week。　　I　simply　couldn't　fathom　what　you　saw　in　that　little　girl。　　I　never　dreamt　it　was　part　of　the　game。〃

〃So　you　think　it　was　that　and　nothing　more？〃

〃You　deep　old　dogof　course　I　do！〃

〃You　didn't　know　she　was　the　daughter　of　a　wealthy　squatter？〃

〃There　are　wealthy　women　by　the　dozen　who　would　marry　you　to…morrow。〃

〃It　doesn't　occur　to　you　that　I　might　like　to　draw　stumps；　start　clean；　and　live　happily　ever　afterin　the　bush？〃

〃With　that　voice？　　It　certainly　does　not！〃

〃Bunny！〃　he　cried；　so　fiercely　that　I　braced　myself　for　a　blow。

But　no　more　followed。

〃Do　you　think　you　would　live　happily？〃　I　made　bold　to　ask　him。

〃God　knows！〃　he　answered。　　And　with　that　he　left　me；　to　marvel　at　his　look　and　tone；　and；　more　than　ever；　at　the　insufficiently　exciting　cause。

　　III

Of　all　the　mere　feats　of　cracksmanship　which　I　have　seen　Raffles　perform；　at　once　the　most　delicate　and　most　difficult　was　that　which　he　accomplished　between　one　and　two　o'clock　on　the　Tuesday　morning；　aboard　the　North　German　steamer　Uhlan；　lying　at　anchor　in　Genoa　harbor。

Not　a　hitch　occurred。　　Everything　had　been　foreseen；　everything　happened　as　I　had　been　assured　everything　must。　　Nobody　was　about　below；　only　the　ship's　boys　on　deck；　and　nobody　on　the　bridge。　　It　was　twenty…five　minutes　past　one　when　Raffles；　without　a　stitch　of　clothing　on　his　body；　but　with　a　glass　phial；　corked　with　cotton…wool；　between　his　teeth；　and　a　tiny　screw…driver　behind　his　ear；　squirmed　feet　first　through　the　ventilator　over　his　berth；　and　it　was　nineteen　minutes　to　two　when　he　returned；　head　first；　with　the　phial　still　between　his　teeth；　and　the　cotton…wool　rammed　home　to　still　the　rattling　of　that　which　lay　like　a　great　gray　bean　within。　　He　had　taken　screws　out　and　put　them　in　again；　he　had　unfastened　von　Heumann's　ventilator　and　had　left　it　fast　as　he　had　found　itfast　as　he　instantly　proceeded　to　make　his　own。　　As　for　von　Heumann；　it　had　been　enough　to　place　the　drenched　wad　first　on　his　mustache；　and　then　to　hold　it　between　his　gaping　lips；　thereafter　the　intruder　had　climbed　both　ways　across　his　shins　without　eliciting　a　groan。

And　here　was　the　prizethis　pearl　as　large　as　a　filbertwith　a　pale　pink　tinge　like　a　lady's　fingernailthis　spoil　of　a　filibustering　agethis　gift　from　a　European　emperor　to　a　South　Sea　chief。　We　gloated　over　it　when　all　was　snug。　　We　toasted　it　in　whiskey　and　soda…water　laid　in　overnight　in　view　of　the　great　moment。　　But　the　moment　was　greater；　more　triumphant；　than　our　most　sanguine　dreams。　　All　we　had　now　to　do　was　to　secrete　the　gem　（which　Raffles　had　prised　from　its　setting；　replacing　the　latter）；　so　that　we　could　stand　the　strictest　search　and　yet　take　it　ashore　with　us　at　Naples；　and　this　Raffles　was　doing　when　I　turned　in。　　I　myself　would　have　landed　incontinently；　that　night；　at　Genoa　and　bolted　with　the　spoil；　he　would　not　hear　of　it；　for　a　dozen　good　reasons　which　will　be　obvious。

On　the　whole　I　do　not　think　that　anything　was　discovered　or　suspected　before　we　weighed　anchor；　but　I　cannot　be　sure。　　It　is　difficult　to　believe　that　a　man　could　be　chloroformed　in　his　sleep　and　feel　no　tell…tale　effects；　sniff　no　suspicious　odor；　in　the　morning。　　Nevertheless；　von　Heumann　reappeared　as　though　nothing　had　happened　to　him；　his　German　cap　over　his　eyes　and　his　mustaches　brushing　the　peak。　　And　by　ten　o'clock　we　were　quit　of　Genoa；　the　last　lean；　blue…chinned　official　had　left　our　decks；　the　last　fruitseller　had　been　beaten　off　with　bucketsful　of　water　and　left　cursing　us　from　his　boat；　the　last　passenger　had　come　aboard　at　the　last　momenta　fussy　graybeard　who　kept　the　big　ship　waiting　while　he　haggled　with　his　boatman　over　half　a　lira。　　But　at　length　we　were　off；　the　tug　was　shed；　the　lighthouse　passed；　and　Raffles　and　I　leaned　together　over　the　rail；　watching　our　shadows　on　the　pale　green；　liquid；　veined　marble　that　again　washed　the　vessel's　side。

Von　Heumann　was　having　his　innings　once　more；　it　was　part　of　the　design　that　he　should　remain　in　all　day；　and　so　postpone　the　inevitable　hour；　and；　though　the　lady　looked　bored；　and　was　for　ever　glancing　in　our　direction；　he　seemed　only　too　willing　to　avail　himself　of　his　opportunities。　But　Raffles　was　moody　and　ill…at…ease。　　He　had　not　the　air　of　a　successful　man。　　I　could　but　opine　that　the　impending　parting　at　Naples　sat　heavily　on　his　spirit。

He　would　neither　talk　to　me；　nor　would　he　let　me　go。

〃Stop　where　you　are；　Bunny。　　I've　things　to　tell　you。　　Can　you　swim？〃

〃A　bit。〃

〃Ten　miles？〃

〃Ten？〃　I　burst　out　laughing。　　〃Not　one！　　Why　do　you　ask？〃

〃We　shall　be　within　a　ten　miles'　swim　of　the　shore　most　of　the　day。〃

〃What　on　earth　are　you　driving　at；　Raffles？〃

〃Nothing；　only　I　shall　swim　for　it　if　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst。　　I　suppose　you　can't　swim　under　water　at　all？〃

I　did　not　answer　his　question。　　I　scarcely　heard　it：　cold　beads　were　bursting　through　my　skin。

〃Why　should　the　worst　come　to　the　worst？〃　I　whispered。　　〃We　aren't　found　out；　are　we？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　why　speak　as　though　we　were？〃

〃We　may　be；　an　old　enemy　of　ours　is　on　board。〃

〃An　old　enemy？〃

〃Mackenzie。〃

〃Never！〃

〃The　man　with　the　beard　who　came　aboard　last。〃

〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃Sure！　　I　was　only　sorry　to　see　you　didn't　recognize　him　too。〃

I　took　my　handkerchief　to　my　face；　now　that　I　thought　of　it；　there　had　been　something　familiar　in　the　old　man's　gait；　as　well　as　something　rather　youthful　for　his　apparent　years；　his　very　beard　seemed　unconvincing；　now　that　I　recalled　it　in　the　light　of　this　horrible　revelation。　　I　looked　up　and　down　the　deck；　but　the　old　man　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。

〃That's　the　worst　of　it；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　saw　him　go　into　the　captain's　cabin　twenty　minutes　ago。〃

〃But　what　can　have　brought　him？〃　I　cried　miserably。　　〃Can　it　be　a　coincidenceis　it　somebody　else　he's　after？〃

Raffles　shook　his　head。

〃Hardly　this　time。〃

〃Then　you　think　he's　after　you？〃

〃I've　been　afraid　of　it　for　some　weeks。〃

〃Yet　there　you　stand！〃