the amateur cracksman-第9章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


was　at　last　announced。　　I　little　knew　what　an　ordeal　it　was　to　prove。

I　had　taken　in　a　much　less　formidable　young　lady　than　might　have　fallen　to　my　lot。　　Indeed　I　began　by　blessing　my　good　fortune　in　this　respect。　Miss　Melhuish　was　merely　the　rector's　daughter；　and　she　had　only　been　asked　to　make　an　even　number。　　She　informed　me　of　both　facts　before　the　soup　reached　us；　and　her　subsequent　conversation　was　characterized　by　the　same　engaging　candor。　It　exposed　what　was　little　short　of　a　mania　for　imparting　information。　　I　had　simply　to　listen；　to　nod；　and　to　be　thankful。

When　I　confessed　to　knowing　very　few　of　those　present；　even　by　sight；　my　entertaining　companion　proceeded　to　tell　me　who　everybody　was；　beginning　on　my　left　and　working　conscientiously　round　to　her　right。　　This　lasted　quite　a　long　time；　and　really　interested　me；　but　a　great　deal　that　followed　did　not；　and；　obviously　to　recapture　my　unworthy　attention；　Miss　Melhuish　suddenly　asked　me；　in　a　sensational　whisper；　whether　I　could　keep　a　secret。

I　said　I　thought　I　might；　whereupon　another　question　followed；　in　still　lower　and　more　thrilling　accents：

〃Are　you　afraid　of　burglars？〃

Burglars！　　I　was　roused　at　last。　　The　word　stabbed　me。　　I　repeated　it　in　horrified　query。

〃So　I've　found　something　to　interest　you　at　last！〃　said　Miss　Melhuish；　in　naive　triumph。　〃Yesburglars！　　But　don't　speak　so　loud。　　It's　supposed　to　be　kept　a　great　secret。　　I　really　oughtn't　to　tell　you　at　all！〃

〃But　what　is　there　to　tell？〃　I　whispered　with　satisfactory　impatience。

〃You　promise　not　to　speak　of　it？〃

〃Of　course！〃

〃Well；　then；　there　are　burglars　in　the　neighborhood。〃

〃Have　they　committed　any　robberies？〃

〃Not　yet。〃

〃Then　how　do　you　know？〃

〃They've　been　seen。　　In　the　district。　　Two　well…known　London　thieves！〃

Two！　　I　looked　at　Raffles。　　I　had　done　so　often　during　the　evening；　envying　him　his　high　spirits；　his　iron　nerve；　his　buoyant　wit；　his　perfect　ease　and　self…possession。　　But　now　I　pitied　him；　through　all　my　own　terror　and　consternation；　I　pitied　him　as　he　sat　eating　and　drinking；　and　laughing　and　talking；　without　a　cloud　of　fear　or　of　embarrassment　on　his　handsome；　taking；　daredevil　face。　　I　caught　up　my　champagne　and　emptied　the　glass。

〃Who　has　seen　them？〃　I　then　asked　calmly。

〃A　detective。　　They　were　traced　down　from　town　a　few　days　ago。　　They　are　believed　to　have　designs　on　the　Abbey！〃

〃But　why　aren't　they　run　in？〃

〃Exactly　what　I　asked　papa　on　the　way　here　this　evening；　he　says　there　is　no　warrant　out　against　the　men　at　present；　and　all　that　can　be　done　is　to　watch　their　movements。〃

〃Oh！　so　they　are　being　watched？〃

〃Yes；　by　a　detective　who　is　down　here　on　purpose。　　And　I　heard　Lord　Amersteth　tell　papa　that　they　had　been　seen　this　afternoon　at　Warbeck　Junction！〃

The　very　place　where　Raffles　and　I　had　been　caught　in　the　rain！　　Our　stampede　from　the　inn　was　now　explained；　on　the　other　hand；　I　was　no　longer　to　be　taken　by　surprise　by　anything　that　my　companion　might　have　to　tell　me；　and　I　succeeded　in　looking　her　in　the　face　with　a　smile。

〃This　is　really　quite　exciting；　Miss　Melhuish；〃　said　I。　　〃May　I　ask　how　you　come　to　know　so　much　about　it？〃

〃It's　papa；〃　was　the　confidential　reply。　　〃Lord　Amersteth　consulted　him；　and　he　consulted　me。　But　for　goodness'　sake　don't　let　it　get　about！　　I　can't　think　WHAT　tempted　me　to　tell　you！〃

〃You　may　trust　me；　Miss　Melhuish。　　Butaren't　you　frightened？〃

Miss　Melhuish　giggled。

〃Not　a　bit！　　They　won't　come　to　the　rectory。　There's　nothing　for　them　there。　　But　look　round　the　table：　look　at　the　diamonds：　look　at　old　Lady　Melrose's　necklace　alone！〃

The　Dowager　Marchioness　of　Melrose　was　one　of　the　few　persons　whom　it　had　been　unnecessary　to　point　out　to　me。　　She　sat　on　Lord　Amersteth's　right；　flourishing　her　ear…trumpet；　and　drinking　champagne　with　her　usual　notorious　freedom；　as　dissipated　and　kindly　a　dame　as　the　world　has　ever　seen。　　It　was　a　necklace　of　diamonds　and　sapphires　that　rose　and　fell　about　her　ample　neck。

〃They　say　it's　worth　five　thousand　pounds　at　least；〃　continued　my　companion。　　〃Lady　Margaret　told　me　so　this　morning　（that's　Lady　Margaret　next　your　Mr。　Raffles；　you　know）；　and　the　old　dear　WILL　wear　them　every　night。　　Think　what　a　haul　they　would　be！　　No；　we　don't　feel　in　immediate　danger　at　the　rectory。〃

When　the　ladies　rose；　Miss　Melhuish　bound　me　to　fresh　vows　of　secrecy；　and　left　me；　I　should　think；　with　some　remorse　for　her　indiscretion；　but　more　satisfaction　at　the　importance　which　it　had　undoubtedly　given　her　in　my　eyes。　　The　opinion　may　smack　of　vanity；　though；　in　reality；　the　very　springs　of　conversation　reside　in　that　same　human；　universal　itch　to　thrill　the　auditor。　　The　peculiarity　of　Miss　Melhuish　was　that　she　must　be　thrilling　at　all　costs。　　And　thrilling　she　had　surely　been。

I　spare　you　my　feelings　of　the　next　two　hours。　I　tried　hard　to　get　a　word　with　Raffles；　but　again　and　again　I　failed。　　In　the　dining…room　he　and　Crowley　lit　their　cigarettes　with　the　same　match；　and　had　their　heads　together　all　the　time。　　In　the　drawing…room　I　had　the　mortification　of　hearing　him　talk　interminable　nonsense　into　the　ear…trumpet　of　Lady　Melrose；　whom　he　knew　in　town。　　Lastly；　in　the　billiard…room；　they　had　a　great　and　lengthy　pool；　while　I　sat　aloof　and　chafed　more　than　ever　in　the　company　of　a　very　serious　Scotchman；　who　had　arrived　since　dinner；　and　who　would　talk　of　nothing　but　the　recent　improvements　in　instantaneous　photography。　　He　had　not　come　to　play　in　the　matches　（he　told　me）；　but　to　obtain　for　Lord　Amersteth　such　a　series　of　cricket　photographs　as　had　never　been　taken　before；　whether　as　an　amateur　or　a　professional　photographer　I　was　unable　to　determine。　　I　remember；　however；　seeking　distraction　in　little　bursts　of　resolute　attention　to　the　conversation　of　this　bore。　　And　so　at　last　the　long　ordeal　ended；　glasses　were　emptied；　men　said　good…night；　and　I　followed　Raffles　to　his　room。

〃It's　all　up！〃　I　gasped；　as　he　turned　up　the　gas　and　I　shut　the　door。　　〃We're　being　watched。　We've　been　followed　down　from　town。　　There's　a　detective　here　on　the　spot！〃

〃How　do　YOU　know？〃　asked　Raffles；　turning　upon　me　quite　sharply；　but　without　the　least　dismay。　　And　I　told　him　how　I　knew。

〃Of　course；〃　I　added；　〃it　was　the　fellow　we　saw　in　the　inn　this　afternoon。〃

〃The　detective？〃　said　Raffles。　　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　you　don't　know　a　detective　when　you　see　one；　Bunny？〃

〃If　that　wasn't　the　fellow；　which　is？〃

Raffles　shook　his　head。

〃To　think　that　you've　been　talking　to　him　for　the　last　hour　in　the　billiard…room　and　couldn't　spot　what　he　was！〃

〃The　Scotch　photographer〃

I　paused　aghast。

〃Scotch　he　is；〃　said　Raffles；　〃and　photographer　he　may　be。　　He　is　also　Inspector　Mackenzie　of　Scotland　Yardthe　very　man　I　sent　the　message　to　that　night　last　April。　　And　you　couldn't　spot　who　he　was　in　a　whole　hour！　O　Bunny；　Bunny；　you　were　never　built　for　crime！〃

〃But；〃　said　I；　〃if　that　was　Mackenzie；　who　was　the　fellow　you　bolted　from　at　Warbeck？〃

〃The　man　he's　watching。〃

〃But　he's　watching　us！〃

Raffles　looked　at　me　with　a　pitying　eye；　and　shook　his　head　again　before　handing　me　his　open　cigarette…case。

〃I　don't　know　whether　smoking's　forbidden　in　one's　bedroom；　but　you'd　better　take　one　of　these　and　stand　tight；　Bunny；　because　I'm　going　to　say　something　offensive。〃

I　helped　myself　with　a　laugh。

〃Say　what　you　like；　my　dear　fellow；　if　it　really　isn't　you　and　I　that　Mackenzie's　after。〃

〃Well；　then；　it　isn't；　and　it　couldn't　be；　and　nobody　but　a　born　Bunny　would　suppose　for　a　moment　that　it　was！　　Do　you　seriously　think　he　would　sit　there　and　knowingly　watch　his　man　playing　pool　under　his　nose？　　Well；　he　might；　he's　a　cool　hand；　Mackenzie；　but　I'm　not　cool　enough　to　win　a　pool　under　such　conditions。　　At　least　I　don't　think　I　am；　it　would　be　interesting　to　see。　　The　situation　wasn't　free　from　strain　as　it　was；　though　I　knew　he　wasn't　thinking　of　us。　　Crowley　told　me　all　about　it　after　dinner；　you　see；　and　then　I'd　seen　one　of　the　men　for　myself　this　afternoon。　You　thought　it　was　a　detective　who　made　me　turn　tail　at　that　inn。　　I　really　don't　know　why　I　didn't　tell　you　at　the　time；　but　it　was　just　the　opposite。　That　loud；　red…faced　brute　is　one　of　the　cleverest　thieves　in　London；　and　I　once　had　a　drink　with　him　and　our　mutual　fence。　　I　was　an　Eastender　from　tongue　to　toe　at　the　moment；　but　you　will　understand　that　I　don't　run　unnecessary　risks　of　recognition　by　a　brute　like　that。〃

〃He's　not　alone；　I　hear。〃

〃By　no　means；　there's　at　least　one　other　man　with　him；　and　it's　suggested　that　there　may　be　an　accomplice　here　in　the　house。〃

〃Did　Lord　Crowley　tell　you　so？〃

〃Crowley　and　the　champagne　between　them。　　In　confidence；　of　course；　just　as　your　girl　told　you；　but　even　in　confidence　he　never　let　on　about　Mackenzie。　　He　told　me　there　was　a　detective　in　the　background；　but　that　was　all。　　Putting　him　up　as　a　guest　is　evidently　their　big　secret；　to　be　kept　from　the　other　guests　because　it　might　offend　them；　but　more　particularly　from　the　servants　whom　he's　here　to　watch。　　That's　my　reading　of　the　situation；　Bunny；　and　you　will　agree　with　me　that　it's　infinitely　more　interesting　than　we　could　have　imagined　it　would　prove。〃

〃But　infinitely　more　difficult　for　us；〃　said　I；　with　a　sigh　of　pusillanimous　relief。　　〃Our　hands　are　tied　for　this　week；　at　all　events。〃

〃Not　necessarily；　my　dear　Bunny；　though　I　admit　that　the　chances　are　against　us。　　Yet　I'm　not　so　sure　of　that　either。　　There　are　all　sorts　of　possibilities　in　these　three…cornered　combinations。　　Set　A　to　watch　B；　and　he　won't　have　an　eye　left　for　C。　　That's　the　obvious　theory；　but　then　Mackenzie's　a　very　big　A。　　I　should　be　sorry　to　have　any　boodle　about　me　with　that　man　in　the　house。　Yet　it　would　be　great　to　nip　in　between　A　and　B　and　score　off　them　both　at　once！　　It　would　be　worth　a　risk；　Bunny；　to　do　that；　it　would　be　worth　risking　something　merely　to　take　on　old　hands　like　B　and　his　men　at　their　own　old　game！　　Eh；　Bunny？　　That　would　be　something　like　a　match。　Gentlemen　and　Players　at　single　wicket；　by　Jove！〃

His　eyes　were　brighter　than　I　had　known　them　for　many　a　day。　　They　shone　with　the　perverted　enthusiasm　which　was　roused　in　him　only　by　the　contemplation　of　some　new　audacity。　　He　kicked　off　his　shoes　and　began　pacing　his　room　with　noiseless　rapidity；　not　since　the　night　of　the　Old　Bohemian　dinner　to　Reuben　Rosenthall　had　Raffles　exhibited　such　excitement　in　my　presence；　and　I　was　not　sorry　at　the　moment　to　be　reminded　of　the　fiasco　to　which　that　banquet　had　been　the　prelude。

〃My　dear　A。　J。；〃　said　I　in　his　very　own　tone；　〃you're　far　too　fond　of　the　uphill　game；　you　will　eventually　fall　a　victim　to　the　sporting　spirit　and　nothing　else。　　Take　a　lesson　from　our　last　escape；　and　fly　lower　as　you　value　our　skins。　　Study　the　house　as　much　as　you　like；　but　donotgo　and　shove　your　head　into　Mackenzie's　mouth！〃

My　wealth　of　metaphor　brought　him　to　a　stand…still；　with　his　cigarette　between　his　fingers　and　a　grin　beneath　his　shining　eyes。

〃You're　quite　right；　Bunny。　　I　won't。　　I　really　won't。　　Yetyou　saw　old　Lady　Melrose's　necklace？　　I've　been　wanting　it　for　years！　　But　I'm　not　going　to　play　the　fool；　honor　bright；　I'm　not；　yet　by　Jove！to　get　to　windward　of　the　professors　and　Mackenzie　too！