the amateur cracksman-第7章

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cks　every　day；　you　buggins；　an'　the　same　tracks　every　night；　all　round　the　blessed　premises。〃

〃All　right；　guv'nor；〃　drawled　Raffles；　〃don't　excite。　　It's　a　fair　cop。　　We　don't　sweat　to　know　'ow　you　brung　it　orf。　　On'y　don't　you　go　for　to　shoot；　'cos　we　'int　awmed；　s'help　me　Gord！〃

〃Ah；　you're　a　knowin'　one；〃　said　Rosenthall；　fingering　his　triggers。　　〃But　you've　struck　a　knowin'er。〃

〃Ho；　yuss；　we　know　all　abaht　thet！　　Set　a　thief　to　ketch　a　thiefho；　yuss。〃

My　eyes　had　torn　themselves　from　the　round　black　muzzles；　from　the　accursed　diamonds　that　had　been　our　snare；　the　pasty　pig…face　of　the　over…fed　pugilist；　and　the　flaming　cheeks　and　hook　nose　of　Rosenthall　himself。　　I　was　looking　beyond　them　at　the　doorway　filled　with　quivering　silk　and　plush；　black　faces；　white　eyeballs；　woolly　pates。　　But　a　sudden　silence　recalled　my　attention　to　the　millionaire。　　And　only　his　nose　retained　its　color。

〃What　d'ye　mean？〃　he　whispered　with　a　hoarse　oath。　　〃Spit　it　out；　or；　by　Christmas；　I'll　drill　you！〃

〃Whort　price　thet　brikewater？〃　drawled　Raffles　coolly。

〃Eh？〃

Rosenthall's　revolvers　were　describing　widening　orbits。

〃Whort　price　thet　brikewaterold　_I。D。B。_？〃

〃Where　in　hell　did　you　get　hold　o'　that　？〃　asked　Rosenthall；　with　a　rattle　in　his　thick　neck；　meant　for　mirth。

〃You　may　well　arst；〃　says　Raffles。　　〃It's　all　over　the　plice　w'ere　_I_　come　from。〃

〃Who　can　have　spread　such　rot？〃

〃I　dunno；〃　says　Raffles；　〃arst　the　gen'leman　on　yer　left；　p'r'aps　'E　knows。〃

The　gentleman　on　his　left　had　turned　livid　with　emotion。　　Guilty　conscience　never　declared　itself　in　plainer　terms。　　For　a　moment　his　small　eyes　bulged　like　currants　in　the　suet　of　his　face；　the　next；　he　had　pocketed　his　pistols　on　a　professional　instinct；　and　was　upon　us　with　his　fists。

〃Out　o'　the　lightout　o'　the　light！〃　yelled　Rosenthall　in　a　frenzy。

He　was　too　late。　　No　sooner　had　the　burly　pugilist　obstructed　his　fire　than　Raffles　was　through　the　window　at　a　bound；　while　I；　for　standing　still　and　saying　nothing；　was　scientifically　felled　to　the　floor。


I　cannot　have　been　many　moments　without　my　senses。　　When　I　recovered　them　there　was　a　great　to…do　in　the　garden；　but　I　had　the　drawing…room　to　myself。　　I　sat　up。　　Rosenthall　and　Purvis　were　rushing　about　outside；　cursing　the　Kaffirs　and　nagging　at　each　other。

〃Over　THAT　wall；　I　tell　yer！〃

〃I　tell　you　it　was　this　one。　　Can't　you　whistle　for　the　police？〃

〃Police　be　damned！　　I've　had　enough　of　the　blessed　police。〃

〃Then　we'd　better　get　back　and　make　sure　of　the　other　rotter。〃

〃Oh；　make　sure　o'　yer　skin。　　That's　what　you'd　better　do。　　Jala；　you　black　hog；　if　I　catch　YOU　skulkin'。　。　。　。〃

I　never　heard　the　threat。　　I　was　creeping　from　the　drawing…room　on　my　hands　and　knees；　my　own　revolver　swinging　by　its　steel　ring　from　my　teeth。

For　an　instant　I　thought　that　the　hall　also　was　deserted。　　I　was　wrong；　and　I　crept　upon　a　Kaffir　on　all　fours。　　Poor　devil；　I　could　not　bring　myself　to　deal　him　a　base　blow；　but　I　threatened　him　most　hideously　with　my　revolver；　and　left　the　white　teeth　chattering　in　his　black　head　as　I　took　the　stairs　three　at　a　time。　　Why　I　went　upstairs　in　that　decisive　fashion；　as　though　it　were　my　only　course；　I　cannot　explain。　　But　garden　and　ground　floor　seemed　alive　with　men；　and　I　might　have　done　worse。

I　turned　into　the　first　room　I　came　to。　　It　was　a　bedroomempty；　though　lit　up；　and　never　shall　I　forget　how　I　started　as　I　entered；　on　encountering　the　awful　villain　that　was　myself　at　full　length　in　a　pier…glass！　　Masked；　armed；　and　ragged；　I　was　indeed　fit　carrion　for　a　bullet　or　the　hangman；　and　to　one　or　the　other　I　made　up　my　mind。　　Nevertheless；　I　hid　myself　in　the　wardrobe　behind　the　mirror；　and　there　I　stood　shivering　and　cursing　my　fate；　my　folly；　and　Raffles　most　of　allRaffles　first　and　lastfor　I　daresay　half　an　hour。　　Then　the　wardrobe　door　was　flung　suddenly　open；　they　had　stolen　into　the　room　without　a　sound；　and　I　was　hauled　downstairs；　an　ignominious　captive。

Gross　scenes　followed　in　the　hall；　the　ladies　were　now　upon　the　stage；　and　at　sight　of　the　desperate　criminal　they　screamed　with　one　accord。　In　truth　I　must　have　given　them　fair　cause；　though　my　mask　was　now　torn　away　and　hid　nothing　but　my　left　ear。　　Rosenthall　answered　their　shrieks　with　a　roar　for　silence；　the　woman　with　the　bath…sponge　hair　swore　at　him　shrilly　in　return；　the　place　became　a　Babel　impossible　to　describe。　　I　remember　wondering　how　long　it　would　be　before　the　police　appeared。　　Purvis　and　the　ladies　were　for　calling　them　in　and　giving　me　in　charge　without　delay。　　Rosenthall　would　not　hear　of　it。　　He　swore　that　he　would　shoot　man　or　woman　who　left　his　sight。　　He　had　had　enough　of　the　police。　　He　was　not　going　to　have　them　coming　there　to　spoil　sport；　he　was　going　to　deal　with　me　in　his　own　way。　　With　that　he　dragged　me　from　all　other　hands；　flung　me　against　a　door；　and　sent　a　bullet　crashing　through　the　wood　within　an　inch　of　my　ear。

〃You　drunken　fool！　　It'll　be　murder！〃　shouted　Purvis；　getting　in　the　way　a　second　time。

〃Wha'　do　I　care？　　He's　armed；　isn't　he？　　I　shot　him　in　self…defence。　　It'll　be　a　warning　to　others。　　Will　you　stand　aside；　or　d'ye　want　it　yourself？〃

〃You're　drunk；〃　said　Purvis；　still　between　us。　〃I　saw　you　take　a　neat　tumblerful　since　you　come　in；　and　it's　made　you　drunk　as　a　fool。　　Pull　yourself　together；　old　man。　　You　ain't　a…going　to　do　what　you'll　be　sorry　for。〃

〃Then　I　won't　shoot　at　him；　I'll　only　shoot　roun'　an'　roun'　the　beggar。　　You're　quite　right；　ole　feller。　　Wouldn't　hurt　him。　　Great　mishtake。　Roun'　an'　roun'。　　Therelike　that！〃

His　freckled　paw　shot　up　over　Purvis's　shoulder；　mauve　lightning　came　from　his　ring；　a　red　flash　from　his　revolver；　and　shrieks　from　the　women　as　the　reverberations　died　away。　　Some　splinters　lodged　in　my　hair。

Next　instant　the　prize…fighter　disarmed　him；　and　I　was　safe　from　the　devil；　but　finally　doomed　to　the　deep　sea。　　A　policeman　was　in　our　midst。　He　had　entered　through　the　drawing…room　window；　he　was　an　officer　of　few　words　and　creditable　promptitude。　　In　a　twinkling　he　had　the　handcuffs　on　my　wrists；　while　the　pugilist　explained　the　situation；　and　his　patron　reviled　the　force　and　its　representative　with　impotent　malignity。　　A　fine　watch　they　kept；　a　lot　of　good　they　did；　coming　in　when　all　was　over　and　the　whole　household　might　have　been　murdered　in　their　sleep。　　The　officer　only　deigned　to　notice　him　as　he　marched　me　off。

〃We　know　all　about　YOU；　sir；〃　said　he　contemptuously；　and　he　refused　the　sovereign　Purvis　proffered。　　〃You　will　be　seeing　me　again；　sir；　at　Marylebone。〃

〃Shall　I　come　now？〃

〃As　you　please；　sir。　　I　rather　think　the　other　gentleman　requires　you　more；　and　I　don't　fancy　this　young　man　means　to　give　much　trouble。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　coming　quietly；〃　I　said。

And　I　went。

In　silence　we　traversed　perhaps　a　hundred　yards。　It　must　have　been　midnight。　　We　did　not　meet　a　soul。　　At　last　I　whispered：

〃How　on　earth　did　you　manage　it？〃

〃Purely　by　luck；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　had　the　luck　to　get　clear　away　through　knowing　every　brick　of　those　back…garden　walls；　and　the　double　luck　to　have　these　togs　with　the　rest　over　at　Chelsea。　　The　helmet　is　one　of　a　collection　I　made　up　at　Oxford；　here　it　goes　over　this　wall；　and　we'd　better　carry　the　coat　and　belt　before　we　meet　a　real　officer。　　I　got　them　once　for　a　fancy　ballostensiblyand　thereby　hangs　a　yarn。　　I　always　thought　they　might　come　in　useful　a　second　time。　　My　chief　crux　to…night　was　getting　rid　of　the　hansom　that　brought　me　back。　　I　sent　him　off　to　Scotland　Yard　with　ten　bob　and　a　special　message　to　good　old　Mackenzie。　　The　whole　detective　department　will　be　at　Rosenthall's　in　about　half　an　hour。　　Of　course；　I　speculated　on　our　gentleman's　hatred　of　the　policeanother　huge　slice　of　luck。　　If　you'd　got　away；　well　and　good；　if　not；　I　felt　he　was　the　man　to　play　with　his　mouse　as　long　as　possible。　Yes；　Bunny；　it's　been　more　of　a　costume　piece　than　I　intended；　and　we've　come　out　of　it　with　a　good　deal　less　credit。　　But；　by　Jove；　we're　jolly　lucky　to　have　come　out　of　it　at　all！〃

　　GENTLEMEN　AND　PLAYERS

Old　Raffles　may　or　may　not　have　been　an　exceptional　criminal；　but　as　a　cricketer　I　dare　swear　he　was　unique。　　Himself　a　dangerous　bat；　a　brilliant　field；　and　perhaps　the　very　finest　slow　bowler　of　his　decade；　he　took　incredibly　little　interest　in　the　game　at　large。　　He　never　went　up　to　Lord's　without　his　cricket…bag；　or　showed　the　slightest　interest　in　the　result　of　a　match　in　which　he　was　not　himself　engaged。　　Nor　was　this　mere　hateful　egotism　on　his　part。　　He　professed　to　have　lost　all　enthusiasm　for　the　game；　and　to　keep　it　up　only　from　the　very　lowest　motives。

〃Cricket；〃　said　Raffles；　〃like　everything　else；　is　good　enough　sport　until　you　discover　a　better。　　As　a　source　of　excitement　it　isn't　in　it　with　other　things　you　wot　of；　Bunny；　and　the　involuntary　comparison　becomes　a　bore。　　What's　the　satisfaction　of　taking　a　man's　wicket　when　you　want　his　spoons？　　Still；　if　you　can　bowl　a　bit　your　low　cunning　won't　get　rusty；　and　always　looking　for　the　weak　spot's　just　the　kind　of　mental　exercise　one　wants。　　Yes；　perhaps　there's　some　affinity　between　the　two　things　after　all。　　But　I'd　chuck　up　cricket　to…morrow；　Bunny；　if　it　wasn't　for　the　glorious　protection　it　affords　a　person　of　my　proclivities。〃

〃How　so？〃　said　I。　　〃It　brings　you　before　the　public；　I　should　have　thought；　far　more　than　is　either　safe　or　wise。〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　that's　exactly　where　you　make　a　mistake。　　To　follow　Crime　with　reasonable　impunity　you　simply　MUST　have　a　parallel；　ostensible　careerthe　more　public　the　better。　　The　principle　is　obvious。　　Mr。　Peace；　of　pious　memory；　disarmed　suspicion　by　acquiring　a　local　reputation　for　playing　the　fiddle　and　taming　animals；　and　it's　my　profound　conviction　that　Jack　the　Ripper　was　a　really　eminent　public　man；　whose　speeches　were　very　likely　reported　alongside　his　atrocities。　　Fill　the　bill　in　some　prominent　part；　and　you'll　never　be　suspected　of　doubling　it　with　another　of　equal　prominence。　　That's　why　I　want　you　to　cultivate　journalism；　my　boy；　and　sign　all　you　can。　　And　it's　the　one　and　only　reason　why　I　don't　burn　my　bats　for　firewood。〃

Nevertheless；　when　he　did　play　there　was　no　keener　performer　on　the　field；　nor　one　more　anxious　to　do　well　for　his　side。　　I　remember　how　he　went　to　the　nets；　before　the　first　match　of　the　season；　with　his　pocket　full　of　sovereigns；　which　he　put　on　the　stumps　instead　of　bails。　　It　was　a　sight　to　see　the　professionals　bowling　like　demons　for　the　hard　cash；　for　whenever　a　stump　was　hit　a　pound　was　tossed　to　the　bowler　and　another　balanced　in　its　stead；　while　one　man　took　#3　with　a　ball　that　spreadeagled　the　wicket。　　Raffles's　practice　cost　him　either　eight　or　nine　sovereigns；　but　he　had　absolutely　first…class　bowling　all　the　time；　and　he　made　fifty…seven　runs　next　day。

It　became　my　pleasure　to　accompany　him　to　all　his　matches；　to　watch　every　ball　he　bowled；　or　played；　or　fielded；　and　to　sit　chatting　with　him　in　the　pavilion　when　he　was　doing　none　of　these　three　things。　　You　might　have　seen　us　there；　side　by　side；　during　the　greater　part　of　the　Gentlemen's　first　innings　against　the　Players　（who　had　lost　the　toss）　on　the　second　Monday　in　July。　　We　were　to　be　seen；　but　not　heard；　for　Raffles　had　f