the amateur cracksman-第4章

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ing　all　night　long；　and　in　their　cold　white　rays　I　could　at　first　see　nothing　amiss。　　I　looked　along　an　orderly　lane；　an　empty　glass　counter　on　my　left；　glass　cupboards　of　untouched　silver　on　my　right；　and　facing　me　the　filmy　black　eye　of　the　peep…hole　that　shone　like　a　stage　moon　on　the　street。　　The　counter　had　not　been　emptied　by　Raffles；　its　contents　were　in　the　Chubb's　safe；　which　he　had　given　up　at　a　glance；　nor　had　he　looked　at　the　silver；　except　to　choose　a　cigarette　case　for　me。　　He　had　confined　himself　entirely　to　the　shop　window。　　This　was　in　three　compartments；　each　secured　for　the　night　by　removable　panels　with　separate　locks。　Raffles　had　removed　them　a　few　hours　before　their　time；　and　the　electric　light　shone　on　a　corrugated　shutter　bare　as　the　ribs　of　an　empty　carcase。　　Every　article　of　value　was　gone　from　the　one　place　which　was　invisible　from　the　little　window　in　the　door；　elsewhere　all　was　as　it　had　been　left　overnight。　And　but　for　a　train　of　mangled　doors　behind　the　iron　curtain；　a　bottle　of　wine　and　a　cigar…box　with　which　liberties　had　been　taken；　a　rather　black　towel　in　the　lavatory；　a　burnt　match　here　and　there；　and　our　finger…marks　on　the　dusty　banisters；　not　a　trace　of　our　visit　did　we　leave。

〃Had　it　in　my　head　for　long？〃　said　Raffles；　as　we　strolled　through　the　streets　towards　dawn；　for　all　the　world　as　though　we　were　returning　from　a　dance。　　〃No；　Bunny；　I　never　thought　of　it　till　I　saw　that　upper　part　empty　about　a　month　ago；　and　bought　a　few　things　in　the　shop　to　get　the　lie　of　the　land。　　That　reminds　me　that　I　never　paid　for　them；　but；　by　Jove；　I　will　to…morrow；　and　if　that　isn't　poetic　justice；　what　is？　　One　visit　showed　me　the　possibilities　of　the　place；　but　a　second　convinced　me　of　its　impossibilities　without　a　pal。　　So　I　had　practically　given　up　the　idea；　when　you　came　along　on　the　very　night　and　in　the　very　plight　for　it！　　But　here　we　are　at　the　Albany；　and　I　hope　there's　some　fire　left；　for　I　don't　know　how　you　feel；　Bunny；　but　for　my　part　I'm　as　cold　as　Keats's　owl。〃

He　could　think　of　Keats　on　his　way　from　a　felony！　　He　could　hanker　for　his　fireside　like　another！　　Floodgates　were　loosed　within　me；　and　the　plain　English　of　our　adventure　rushed　over　me　as　cold　as　ice。　　Raffles　was　a　burglar。　　I　had　helped　him　to　commit　one　burglary；　therefore　I　was　a　burglar；　too。　　Yet　I　could　stand　and　warm　myself　by　his　fire；　and　watch　him　empty　his　pockets；　as　though　we　had　done　nothing　wonderful　or　wicked！

My　blood　froze。　　My　heart　sickened。　　My　brain　whirled。　　How　I　had　liked　this　villain！　　How　I　had　admired　him！　　Now　my　liking　and　admiration　must　turn　to　loathing　and　disgust。　　I　waited　for　the　change。　　I　longed　to　feel　it　in　my　heart。　　ButI　longed　and　I　waited　in　vain！

I　saw　that　he　was　emptying　his　pockets；　the　table　sparkled　with　their　hoard。　　Rings　by　the　dozen；　diamonds　by　the　score；　bracelets；　pendants；　aigrettes；　necklaces；　pearls；　rubies；　amethysts；　sapphires；　and　diamonds　always；　diamonds　in　everything；　flashing　bayonets　of　light；　dazzling　meblinding　memaking　me　disbelieve　because　I　could　no　longer　forget。　　Last　of　all　came　no　gem；　indeed；　but　my　own　revolver　from　an　inner　pocket。　And　that　struck　a　chord。　　I　suppose　I　said　somethingmy　hand　flew　out。　　I　can　see　Raffles　now；　as　he　looked　at　me　once　more　with　a　high　arch　over　each　clear　eye。　　I　can　see　him　pick　out　the　cartridges　with　his　quiet；　cynical　smile；　before　he　would　give　me　my　pistol　back　again。

〃You　mayn't　believe　it；　Bunny；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　never　carried　a　loaded　one　before。　　On　the　whole　I　think　it　gives　one　confidence。　　Yet　it　would　be　very　awkward　if　anything　went　wrong；　one　might　use　it；　and　that's　not　the　game　at　all；　though　I　have　often　thought　that　the　murderer　who　has　just　done　the　trick　must　have　great　sensations　before　things　get　too　hot　for　him。　　Don't　look　so　distressed；　my　dear　chap。　　I've　never　had　those　sensations；　and　I　don't　suppose　I　ever　shall。〃

〃But　this　much　you　have　done　before？〃　said　I　hoarsely。

〃Before？　　My　dear　Bunny；　you　offend　me！　　Did　it　look　like　a　first　attempt？　　Of　course　I　have　done　it　before。〃

〃Often？〃

〃Wellno！　　Not　often　enough　to　destroy　the　charm；　at　all　events；　never；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　unless　I'm　cursedly　hard　up。　　Did　you　hear　about　the　Thimbleby　diamonds？　　Well；　that　was　the　last　timeand　a　poor　lot　of　paste　they　were。　　Then　there　was　the　little　business　of　the　Dormer　house…boat　at　Henley　last　year。　　That　was　mine　alsosuch　as　it　was。　　I've　never　brought　off　a　really　big　coup　yet；　when　I　do　I　shall　chuck　it　up。〃

Yes；　I　remembered　both　cases　very　well。　　To　think　that　he　was　their　author！　　It　was　incredible；　outrageous；　inconceivable。　　Then　my　eyes　would　fall　upon　the　table；　twinkling　and　glittering　in　a　hundred　places；　and　incredulity　was　at　an　end。

〃How　came　you　to　begin？〃　I　asked；　as　curiosity　overcame　mere　wonder；　and　a　fascination　for　his　career　gradually　wove　itself　into　my　fascination　for　the　man。

〃Ah！　that's　a　long　story；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃It　was　in　the　Colonies；　when　I　was　out　there　playing　cricket。　　It's　too　long　a　story　to　tell　you　now；　but　I　was　in　much　the　same　fix　that　you　were　in　to…night；　and　it　was　my　only　way　out。　　I　never　meant　it　for　anything　more；　but　I'd　tasted　blood；　and　it　was　all　over　with　me。　　Why　should　I　work　when　I　could　steal？　　Why　settle　down　to　some　humdrum　uncongenial　billet；　when　excitement；　romance；　danger　and　a　decent　living　were　all　going　begging　together？　　Of　course　it's　very　wrong；　but　we　can't　all　be　moralists；　and　the　distribution　of　wealth　is　very　wrong　to　begin　with。　　Besides；　you're　not　at　it　all　the　time。　　I'm　sick　of　quoting　Gilbert's　lines　to　myself；　but　they're　profoundly　true。　　I　only　wonder　if　you'll　like　the　life　as　much　as　I　do！〃

〃Like　it？〃　I　cried　out。　　〃Not　I！　　It's　no　life　for　me。　　Once　is　enough！〃

〃You　wouldn't　give　me　a　hand　another　time？〃

〃Don't　ask　me；　Raffles。　　Don't　ask　me；　for　God's　sake！〃

〃Yet　you　said　you　would　do　anything　for　me！　You　asked　me　to　name　my　crime！　　But　I　knew　at　the　time　you　didn't　mean　it；　you　didn't　go　back　on　me　to…night；　and　that　ought　to　satisfy　me；　goodness　knows！　　I　suppose　I'm　ungrateful；　and　unreasonable；　and　all　that。　　I　ought　to　let　it　end　at　this。　　But　you're　the　very　man　for　me；　Bunny；　theveryman！　　Just　think　how　we　got　through　to…night。　Not　a　scratchnot　a　hitch！　　There's　nothing　very　terrible　in　it；　you　see；　there　never　would　be；　while　we　worked　together。〃

He　was　standing　in　front　of　me　with　a　hand　on　either　shoulder；　he　was　smiling　as　he　knew　so　well　how　to　smile。　　I　turned　on　my　heel；　planted　my　elbows　on　the　chimney…piece；　and　my　burning　head　between　my　hands。　　Next　instant　a　still　heartier　hand　had　fallen　on　my　back。

〃All　right；　my　boy！　　You　are　quite　right　and　I'm　worse　than　wrong。　　I'll　never　ask　it　again。　Go；　if　you　want　to；　and　come　again　about　mid…day　for　the　cash。　　There　was　no　bargain；　but；　of　course；　I'll　get　you　out　of　your　scrapeespecially　after　the　way　you've　stood　by　me　to…night。〃

I　was　round　again　with　my　blood　on　fire。

〃I'll　do　it　again；〃　I　said；　through　my　teeth。

He　shook　his　head。　　〃Not　you；〃　he　said；　smiling　quite　good…humoredly　on　my　insane　enthusiasm。

〃I　will；〃　I　cried　with　an　oath。　　〃I'll　lend　you　a　hand　as　often　as　you　like！　　What　does　it　matter　now？　　I've　been　in　it　once。　　I'll　be　in　it　again。　　I've　gone　to　the　devil　anyhow。　　I　can't　go　back；　and　wouldn't　if　I　could。　　Nothing　matters　another　rap！　　When　you　want　me；　I'm　your　man！〃

And　that　is　how　Raffles　and　I　joined　felonious　forces　on　the　Ides　of　March。

　　A　COSTUME　PIECE

London　was　just　then　talking　of　one　whose　name　is　already　a　name　and　nothing　more。　Reuben　Rosenthall　had　made　his　millions　on　the　diamond　fields　of　South　Africa；　and　had　come　home　to　enjoy　them　according　to　his　lights；　how　he　went　to　work　will　scarcely　be　forgotten　by　any　reader　of　the　halfpenny　evening　papers；　which　revelled　in　endless　anecdotes　of　his　original　indigence　and　present　prodigality；　varied　with　interesting　particulars　of　the　extraordinary　establishment　which　the　millionaire　set　up　in　St。　John's　Wood。　　Here　he　kept　a　retinue　of　Kaffirs；　who　were　literally　his　slaves；　and　hence　he　would　sally；　with　enormous　diamonds　in　his　shirt　and　on　his　finger；　in　the　convoy　of　a　prize…fighter　of　heinous　repute；　who　was　not；　however；　by　any　means　the　worst　element　in　the　Rosenthall　melange。　　So　said　common　gossip；　but　the　fact　was　sufficiently　established　by　the　interference　of　the　police　on　at　least　one　occasion；　followed　by　certain　magisterial　proceedings　which　were　reported　with　justifiable　gusto　and　huge　headlines　in　the　newspapers　aforesaid。

And　this　was　all　one　knew　of　Reuben　Rosenthall　up　to　the　time　when　the　Old　Bohemian　Club；　having　fallen　on　evil　days；　found　it　worth　its　while　to　organize　a　great　dinner　in　honor　of　so　wealthy　an　exponent　of　the　club's　principles。　　I　was　not　at　the　banquet　myself；　but　a　member　took　Raffles；　who　told　me　all　about　it　that　very　night。

〃Most　extraordinary　show　I　ever　went　to　in　my　life；〃　said　he。　　〃As　for　the　man　himselfwell；　I　was　prepared　for　something　grotesque；　but　the　fellow　fairly　took　my　breath　away。　　To　begin　with；　he's　the　most　astounding　brute　to　look　at；　well　over　six　feet；　with　a　chest　like　a　barrel；　and　a　great　hook…nose；　and　the　reddest　hair　and　whiskers　you　ever　saw。　　Drank　like　a　fire…engine；　but　only　got　drunk　enough　to　make　us　a　speech　that　I　wouldn't　have　missed　for　ten　pounds。　　I'm　only　sorry　you　weren't　there；　too；　Bunny；　old　chap。〃

I　began　to　be　sorry　myself；　for　Raffles　was　anything　but　an　excitable　person；　and　never　had　I　seen　him　so　excited　before。　　Had　he　been　following　Rosenthall's　example？　　His　coming　to　my　rooms　at　midnight；　merely　to　tell　me　about　his　dinner；　was　in　itself　enough　to　excuse　a　suspicion　which　was　certainly　at　variance　with　my　knowledge　of　A。　J。　Raffles。

〃What　did　he　say？〃　I　inquired　mechanically；　divining　some　subtler　explanation　of　this　visit；　and　wondering　what　on　earth　it　could　be。

〃Say？〃　cried　Raffles。　　〃What　did　he　not　say！　　He　boasted　of　his　rise；　he　bragged　of　his　riches；　and　he　blackguarded　society　for　taking　him　up　for　his　money　and　dropping　him　out　of　sheer　pique　and　jealousy　because　he　had　so　much。　　He　mentioned　names；　too；　with　the　most　charming　freedom；　and　swore　he　was　as　good　a　man　as　the　Old　Country　had　to　showPACE　the　Old　Bohemians。　To　prove　it　he　pointed　to　a　great　diamond　in　the　middle　of　his　shirt…front　with　a　little　finger　loaded　with　another　just　like　it：　which　of　our　bloated　princes　could　show　a　pair　like　that？　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　they　seemed　quite　wonderful　stones；　with　a　curious　purple　gleam　to　them　that　must　mean　a　pot　of　money。　　But　old　Rosenthall　swore　he　wouldn't　take　fifty　thousand　pounds　for　the　two；　and　wanted　to　know　where　the　other　man　was　who　went　about　with　twenty…five　thousand　in　his　shirt…front　and　another　twenty…five　on　his　little　finger。　He　didn't　exist。　　If　he　did；　he　wouldn't　have　the　pluck　to　wear　them。　　But　he　hadhe'd　tell　us　why。　And　before　you　could　say　Jack　Robinson　he　had　whipped　out　a　whacking　great　revolver！〃

〃Not　at　the　table？〃

〃At　the　table！　　In　the　middle　of　his　speech！　　But　it　was　nothing　to　what　he　wanted　to　do。　　He　actually　wanted　us　to　let　him　write　his　name　in　bullets　on　the　opposite　wall；　to　show　us　why　he　wasn't　afraid　to　go　about　in　all　his　diamonds！　　T