the amateur cracksman-第8章

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d　lost　the　toss）　on　the　second　Monday　in　July。　　We　were　to　be　seen；　but　not　heard；　for　Raffles　had　failed　to　score；　and　was　uncommonly　cross　for　a　player　who　cared　so　little　for　the　game。　　Merely　taciturn　with　me；　he　was　positively　rude　to　more　than　one　member　who　wanted　to　know　how　it　had　happened；　or　who　ventured　to　commiserate　him　on　his　luck；　there　he　sat；　with　a　straw　hat　tilted　over　his　nose　and　a　cigarette　stuck　between　lips　that　curled　disagreeably　at　every　advance。　　I　was　therefore　much　surprised　when　a　young　fellow　of　the　exquisite　type　came　and　squeezed　himself　in　between　us；　and　met　with　a　perfectly　civil　reception　despite　the　liberty。　　I　did　not　know　the　boy　by　sight；　nor　did　Raffles　introduce　us；　but　their　conversation　proclaimed　at　once　a　slightness　of　acquaintanceship　and　a　license　on　the　lad's　part　which　combined　to　puzzle　me。　　Mystification　reached　its　height　when　Raffles　was　informed　that　the　other's　father　was　anxious　to　meet　him；　and　he　instantly　consented　to　gratify　that　whim。

〃He's　in　the　Ladies'　Enclosure。　　Will　you　come　round　now？〃

〃With　pleasure；〃　says　Raffles。　　〃Keep　a　place　for　me；　Bunny。〃

And　they　were　gone。

〃Young　Crowley；〃　said　some　voice　further　back。　　〃Last　year's　Harrow　Eleven。〃

〃I　remember　him。　　Worst　man　in　the　team。〃

〃Keen　cricketer；　however。　　Stopped　till　he　was　twenty　to　get　his　colors。　　Governor　made　him。　　Keen　breed。　　Oh；　pretty；　sir！　　Very　pretty！〃

The　game　was　boring　me。　　I　only　came　to　see　old　Raffles　perform。　　Soon　I　was　looking　wistfully　for　his　return；　and　at　length　I　saw　him　beckoning　me　from　the　palings　to　the　right。

〃Want　to　introduce　you　to　old　Amersteth；〃　he　whispered；　when　I　joined　him。　　〃They've　a　cricket　week　next　month；　when　this　boy　Crowley　comes　of　age；　and　we've　both　got　to　go　down　and　play。〃

〃Both！〃　I　echoed。　　〃But　I'm　no　cricketer！〃

〃Shut　up；〃　says　Raffles。　　〃Leave　that　to　me。　I've　been　lying　for　all　I'm　worth；〃　he　added　sepulchrally　as　we　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps。　〃I　trust　to　you　not　to　give　the　show　away。〃

There　was　a　gleam　in　his　eye　that　I　knew　well　enough　elsewhere；　but　was　unprepared　for　in　those　healthy；　sane　surroundings；　and　it　was　with　very　definite　misgivings　and　surmises　that　I　followed　the　Zingari　blazer　through　the　vast　flower…bed　of　hats　and　bonnets　that　bloomed　beneath　the　ladies'　awning。

Lord　Amersteth　was　a　fine…looking　man　with　a　short　mustache　and　a　double　chin。　　He　received　me　with　much　dry　courtesy；　through　which；　however；　it　was　not　difficult　to　read　a　less　flattering　tale。　　I　was　accepted　as　the　inevitable　appendage　of　the　invaluable　Raffles；　with　whom　I　felt　deeply　incensed　as　I　made　my　bow。

〃I　have　been　bold　enough；〃　said　Lord　Amersteth；　〃to　ask　one　of　the　Gentlemen　of　England　to　come　down　and　play　some　rustic　cricket　for　us　next　month。　　He　is　kind　enough　to　say　that　he　would　have　liked　nothing　better；　but　for　this　little　fishing　expedition　of　yours；　Mr。…；　Mr。…；〃　and　Lord　Amersteth　succeeded　in　remembering　my　name。

It　was；　of　course；　the　first　I　had　ever　heard　of　that　fishing　expedition；　but　I　made　haste　to　say　that　it　could　easily；　and　should　certainly；　be　put　off。　　Raffles　gleamed　approval　through　his　eyelashes。　　Lord　Amersteth　bowed　and　shrugged。

〃You're　very　good；　I'm　sure；〃　said　he。　　〃But　I　understand　you're　a　cricketer　yourself？〃

〃He　was　one　at　school；〃　said　Raffles；　with　infamous　readiness。

〃Not　a　real　cricketer；〃　I　was　stammering　meanwhile。

〃In　the　eleven？〃　said　Lord　Amersteth。

〃I'm　afraid　not；〃　said　I。

〃But　only　just　out　of　it；〃　declared　Raffles；　to　my　horror。

〃Well；　well；　we　can't　all　play　for　the　Gentlemen；〃　said　Lord　Amersteth　slyly。　　〃My　son　Crowley　only　just　scraped　into　the　eleven　at　Harrow；　and　HE'S　going　to　play。　　I　may　even　come　in　myself　at　a　pinch；　so　you　won't　be　the　only　duffer；　if　you　are　one；　and　I　shall　be　very　glad　if　you　will　come　down　and　help　us　too。　　You　shall　flog　a　stream　before　breakfast　and　after　dinner；　if　you　like。〃

〃I　should　be　very　proud；〃　I　was　beginning；　as　the　mere　prelude　to　resolute　excuses；　but　the　eye　of　Raffles　opened　wide　upon　me；　and　I　hesitated　weakly；　to　be　duly　lost。

〃Then　that's　settled；〃　said　Lord　Amersteth；　with　the　slightest　suspicion　of　grimness。　　〃It's　to　be　a　little　week；　you　know；　when　my　son　comes　of　age。　　We　play　the　Free　Foresters；　the　Dorsetshire　Gentlemen；　and　probably　some　local　lot　as　well。　But　Mr。　Raffles　will　tell　you　all　about　it；　and　Crowley　shall　write。　　Another　wicket！　　By　Jove；　they're　all　out！　　Then　I　rely　on　you　both。〃　　And；　with　a　little　nod；　Lord　Amersteth　rose　and　sidled　to　the　gangway。

Raffles　rose　also；　but　I　caught　the　sleeve　of　his　blazer。

〃What　are　you　thinking　of？〃　I　whispered　savagely。　　〃I　was　nowhere　near　the　eleven。　　I'm　no　sort　of　cricketer。　　I　shall　have　to　get　out　of　this！〃

〃Not　you；〃　he　whispered　back。　　〃You　needn't　play；　but　come　you　must。　　If　you　wait　for　me　after　half…past　six　I'll　tell　you　why。〃

But　I　could　guess　the　reason；　and　I　am　ashamed　to　say　that　it　revolted　me　much　less　than　did　the　notion　of　making　a　public　fool　of　myself　on　a　cricket…field。　　My　gorge　rose　at　this　as　it　no　longer　rose　at　crime；　and　it　was　in　no　tranquil　humor　that　I　strolled　about　the　ground　while　Raffles　disappeared　in　the　pavilion。　　Nor　was　my　annoyance　lessened　by　a　little　meeting　I　witnessed　between　young　Crowley　and　his　father；　who　shrugged　as　he　stopped　and　stooped　to　convey　some　information　which　made　the　young　man　look　a　little　blank。　It　may　have　been　pure　self…　consciousness　on　my　part；　but　I　could　have　sworn　that　the　trouble　was　their　inability　to　secure　the　great　Raffles　without　his　insignificant　friend。

Then　the　bell　rang；　and　I　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　pavilion　to　watch　Raffles　bowl。　　No　subtleties　are　lost　up　there；　and　if　ever　a　bowler　was　full　of　them；　it　was　A。　J。　Raffles　on　this　day；　as；　indeed；　all　the　cricket　world　remembers。　　One　had　not　to　be　a　cricketer　oneself　to　appreciate　his　perfect　command　of　pitch　and　break；　his　beautifully　easy　action；　which　never　varied　with　the　varying　pace；　his　great　ball　on　the　leg…stumphis　dropping　head…ballin　a　word；　the　infinite　ingenuity　of　that　versatile　attack。　　It　was　no　mere　exhibition　of　athletic　prowess；　it　was　an　intellectual　treat；　and　one　with　a　special　significance　in　my　eyes。　　I　saw　the　〃affinity　between　the　two　things；〃　saw　it　in　that　afternoon's　tireless　warfare　against　the　flower　of　professional　cricket。　　It　was　not　that　Raffles　took　many　wickets　for　few　runs；　he　was　too　fine　a　bowler　to　mind　being　hit；　and　time　was　short；　and　the　wicket　good。　　What　I　admired；　and　what　I　remember；　was　the　combination　of　resource　and　cunning；　of　patience　and　precision；　of　head…work　and　handiwork；　which　made　every　over　an　artistic　whole。　　It　was　all　so　characteristic　of　that　other　Raffles　whom　I　alone　knew！

〃I　felt　like　bowling　this　afternoon；〃　he　told　me　later　in　the　hansom。　　〃With　a　pitch　to　help　me；　I'd　have　done　something　big；　as　it　is；　three　for　forty…one；　out　of　the　four　that　fell；　isn't　so　bad　for　a　slow　bowler　on　a　plumb　wicket　against　those　fellows。　　But　I　felt　venomous！　　Nothing　riles　me　more　than　being　asked　about　for　my　cricket　as　though　I　were　a　pro。　myself。〃

〃Then　why　on　earth　go？〃

〃To　punish　them；　andbecause　we　shall　be　jolly　hard　up；　Bunny；　before　the　season's　over！〃

〃Ah！〃　said　I。　　〃I　thought　it　was　that。〃

〃Of　course；　it　was！　　It　seems　they're　going　to　have　the　very　devil　of　a　week　of　itballsdinner　partiesswagger　house　partygeneral　junketingsand　obviously　a　houseful　of　diamonds　as　well。　　Diamonds　galore！　　As　a　general　rule　nothing　would　induce　me　to　abuse　my　position　as　a　guest。　　I've　never　done　it；　Bunny。　　But　in　this　case　we're　engaged　like　the　waiters　and　the　band；　and　by　heaven　we'll　take　our　toll！　　Let's　have　a　quiet　dinner　somewhere　and　talk　it　over。〃

〃It　seems　rather　a　vulgar　sort　of　theft；〃　I　could　not　help　saying；　and　to　this；　my　single　protest；　Raffles　instantly　assented。

〃It　is　a　vulgar　sort；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　can't　help　that。　　We're　getting　vulgarly　hard　up　again；　and　there's　an　end　on　't。　　Besides；　these　people　deserve　it；　and　can　afford　it。　　And　don't　you　run　away　with　the　idea　that　all　will　be　plain　sailing；　nothing　will　be　easier　than　getting　some　stuff；　and　nothing　harder　than　avoiding　all　suspicion；　as；　of　course；　we　must。　　We　may　come　away　with　no　more　than　a　good　working　plan　of　the　premises。　　Who　knows？　　In　any　case　there's　weeks　of　thinking　in　it　for　you　and　me。〃

But　with　those　weeks　I　will　not　weary　you　further　than　by　remarking　that　the　〃thinking；〃　was　done　entirely　by　Raffles；　who　did　not　always　trouble　to　communicate　his　thoughts　to　me。　　His　reticence；　however；　was　no　longer　an　irritant。　　I　began　to　accept　it　as　a　necessary　convention　of　these　little　enterprises。　　And；　after　our　last　adventure　of　the　kind；　more　especially　after　its　denouement；　my　trust　in　Raffles　was　much　too　solid　to　be　shaken　by　a　want　of　trust　in　me；　which　I　still　believe　to　have　been　more　the　instinct　of　the　criminal　than　the　judgment　of　the　man。

It　was　on　Monday；　the　tenth　of　August；　that　we　were　due　at　Milchester　Abbey；　Dorset；　and　the　beginning　of　the　month　found　us　cruising　about　that　very　county；　with　fly…rods　actually　in　our　hands。　　The　idea　was　that　we　should　acquire　at　once　a　local　reputation　as　decent　fishermen；　and　some　knowledge　of　the　countryside；　with　a　view　to　further　and　more　deliberate　operations　in　the　event　of　an　unprofitable　week。　　There　was　another　idea　which　Raffles　kept　to　himself　until　he　had　got　me　down　there。　　Then　one　day　he　produced　a　cricket…ball　in　a　meadow　we　were　crossing；　and　threw　me　catches　for　an　hour　together。　　More　hours　he　spent　in　bowling　to　me　on　the　nearest　green；　and；　if　I　was　never　a　cricketer；　at　least　I　came　nearer　to　being　one；　by　the　end　of　that　week；　than　ever　before　or　since。

Incident　began　early　on　the　Monday。　　We　had　sallied　forth　from　a　desolate　little　junction　within　quite　a　few　miles　of　Milchester；　had　been　caught　in　a　shower；　had　run　for　shelter　to　a　wayside　inn。　A　florid；　overdressed　man　was　drinking　in　the　parlor；　and　I　could　have　sworn　it　was　at　the　sight　of　him　that　Raffles　recoiled　on　the　threshold；　and　afterwards　insisted　on　returning　to　the　station　through　the　rain。　　He　assured　me；　however；　that　the　odor　of　stale　ale　had　almost　knocked　him　down。　　And　I　had　to　make　what　I　could　of　his　speculative；　downcast　eyes　and　knitted　brows。

Milchester　Abbey　is　a　gray；　quadrangular　pile；　deep…set　in　rich　woody　country；　and　twinkling　with　triple　rows　of　quaint　windows；　every　one　of　which　seemed　alight　as　we　drove　up　just　in　time　to　dress　for　dinner。　　The　carriage　had　whirled　us　under　I　know　not　how　many　triumphal　arches　in　process　of　construction；　and　past　the　tents　and　flag…poles　of　a　juicy…looking　cricket…field；　on　which　Raffles　undertook　to　bowl　up　to　his　reputation。　　But　the　chief　signs　of　festival　were　within；　where　we　found　an　enormous　house…party　assembled；　including　more　persons　of　pomp；　majesty；　and　dominion　than　I　had　ever　encountered　in　one　room　before。　　I　confess　I　felt　overpowered。　　Our　errand　and　my　own　presences　combined　to　rob　me　of　an　address　upon　which　I　have　sometimes　plumed　myself；　and　I　have　a　grim　recollection　of　my　nervous　relief　when　dinner　was　at　last　announced。　　I　little　knew　what　an　ordeal　it　was　to　prove。

I　had　taken　in　a　much　less