a thief in the night-第17部分

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ck　in　London；　and　I　did　get　back　to　my　room　in　our　old　house。　　My　dancing　days　were　already　over；　there　I　had　taken　the　one　resolution　to　which　I　remained　as　true　as　better　men　to　better　vows；　there　the　painful　association　was　no　mere　sense　of　personal　unworthiness。　　I　fell　to　thinking　in　my　room　of　other　dances　。。。　and　was　still　smoking　the　cigarette　which　Raffles　had　taught　me　to　appreciate　when　I　looked　up　to　find　him　regarding　me　from　the　door。　　He　had　opened　it　as　noiselessly　as　only　Raffles　could　open　doors；　and　now　he　closed　it　in　the　same　professional　fashion。

〃I　missed　Achilles　hours　ago；〃　said　he。　　〃And　still　he's　sulking　in　his　tent！〃

〃I　have　been；〃　I　answered；　laughing　as　he　could　always　make　me；　〃but　I'll　chuck　it　if　you'll　stop　and　smoke。　　Our　host　doesn't　mind；　there's　an　ash…tray　provided　for　the　purpose。　　I　ought　to　be　sulking　between　the　sheets；　but　I'm　ready　to　sit　up　with　you　till　morning。〃

〃We　might　do　worse；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　we　might　do　still　better；〃　rejoined　Raffles；　and　for　once　he　resisted　the　seductive　Sullivan。　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　it's　morning　now；　in　another　hour　it　will　be　dawn；　and　where　could　day　dawn　better　than　in　Warfield　Woods；　or　along　the　Stockley　road；　or　even　on　the　Upper　or　the　Middle？　　I　don't　want　to　turn　in；　any　more　than　you　do。　　I　may　as　well　confess　that　the　whole　show　down　here　has　exalted　me　more　than　anything　for　years。　　But　if　we　can't　sleep；　Bunny；　let's　have　some　fresh　air　instead。〃

〃Has　everybody　gone　to　bed？〃　I　asked。

〃Long　ago。　　I　was　the　last　in。　　Why？〃

〃Only　it　might　sound　a　little　odd；　our　turning　out　again；　if　they　were　to　hear　us。〃

Raffles　stood　over　me　with　a　smile　made　of　mischief　and　cunning；　but　it　was　the　purest　mischief　imaginable；　the　most　innocent　and　comic　cunning。

〃They　shan't　hear　us　at　all。；　Bunny；〃　said　he。　　〃I　mean　to　get　out　as　I　did　in　the　good　old　nights。　　I've　been　spoiling　for　the　chance　ever　since　I　came　down。　　There's　not　the　smallest　harm　in　it　now；　and　if　you'll　come　with　me　I'll　show　you　how　it　used　to　be　done。〃

〃But　I　know；〃　said　I。　　〃Who　used　to　haul　up　the　rope　after　you；　and　let　it　down　again　to　the　minute？〃

Raffles　looked　down　on　me　from　lowered　lids；　over　a　smile　too　humorous　to　offend。

〃My　dear　good　Bunny！　　And　do　you　suppose　that　even　then　I　had　only　one　way　of　doing　a　thing？　　I've　had　a　spare　loophole　all。　my　life；　and　when　you're　ready　I'll　show　you　what　it　was　when　I　was　here。　Take　off　those　boots；　and　carry　your　tennis…shoes；　slip　on　another　coat；　put　out　your　light；　and　I'll　meet　you　on　the　landing　in　two　minutes。〃

He　met　me　with　uplifted　finger；　and　not　a　syllable；　and　down…stairs　he　led　me；　stocking　soles　close　against　the　skirting；　two　feet　to　each　particular　step。　　It　must　have　seemed　child's　play　to　Raffles；　the　old　precautions　were　obviously　assumed　for　my　entertainment；　but　I　confess　that　to　me　it　was　all。　refreshingly　exciting　…　for　once　without　a　risk　of　durance　if　we　came　to　grief！　　With　scarcely　a　creak　we　reached　the　hall；　and　could　have　walked　out　of　the　street　door　without　danger　or　difficulty。　　But　that　would　not　do　for　Raffles。　　He　must　needs　lead　me　into　the　boys'　part；　through　the　green　baize　door。　　It　took　a　deal　of　opening　and　shutting；　but　Raffles　seemed　to　enjoy　nothing　better　than　these　mock　obstacles；　and　in　a　few　minutes　we　were　resting　with　sharp　ears　in　the　boys'　hall。

〃Through　these　windows？〃　I　whispered；　when　the　clock　over　the　piano　had　had　matters　its　own　way　long　enough　to　make　our　minds　quite　easy。

〃How　else？〃　whispered　Raffles；　as　he　opened　the　one　on　whose　ledge　our　letters　used　to　await　us　of　a　morning。

〃And　then　through　the　quad　…　〃

〃And　over　the　gates　at　the　end。　　No　talking；　Bunny；　there's　a　dormitory　just　overhead；　but　ours　was　in　front；　you　remember；　and　if　they　had　ever　seen　me　I　should　have　nipped　back　this　way　while　they　were　watching　the　other。〃

His　finger　was　on　his　lips　as　we　got　out　softly　into　the　starlight。　I　remember　how　the　gravel　hurt　as　we　left　the　smooth　flagged　margin　of　the　house　for　the　open　quad；　but　the　nearer　of　two　long　green　seats　（whereon　you　prepared　your　construe　for　the　second…school　in　the　summer　term）　was　mercifully　handy；　and　once　in　our　rubber　soles　we　had　no　difficulty　in　scaling　the　gates　beyond　the　fives…courts。　Moreover；　we　dropped　into　a　very　desert　of　a　country　road；　nor　saw　a　soul　when　we　doubled　back　beneath　the　outer　study　windows；　nor　heard　a　footfall　in　the　main　street　of　the　slumbering　town。　　Our　own　fell　like　the　night…dews　and　the　petals　of　the　poet；　but　Raffles　ran　his　arm　through　mine；　and　would　chatter　in　whispers　as　we　went。

〃So　you　and　Nipper　had　a　word　…　or　was　it　words？　　I　saw　you　out　of　the　tail　of　my　eye　when　I　was　dancing；　and　I　heard　you　out　of　the　tail　of　my　ear。　　It　sounded　like　words；　Bunny；　and　I　thought　I　caught　my　name。　　He's　the　most　consistent　man　I　know；　and　the　least　altered　from　a　boy。　　But　he'll　subscribe　all。　right；　you'll　see；　and　be　very　glad　I　made　him。〃

I　whispered　back　that　I　did　not　believe　it　for　a　moment。　　Raffles　had　not　heard　all。　Nasmyth　had　said　of　him。　　And　neither　would　he　listen　to　the　little　I　meant　to　repeat　to　him；　he　would　but　reiterate　a　conviction　so　chimerical　to　my　mind　that　I　interrupted　in　my　turn　to　ask　him　what　ground　he　had　for　it。

〃I've　told　you　already；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　mean　to　make　him。〃

〃But　how？〃　I　asked。　　〃And　when；　and　where？〃

〃At　Philippi；　Bunny；　where　I　said　I'd　see　him。　　What　a　rabbit　you　are　at　a　quotation！

　　　　　　　　　〃'And　I　think　that　the　field　of　Philippi　　　　　　　　　　　　　Was　where　Caesar　came　to　an　end；　　　　　　　　　　　　But　who　gave　old　Brutus　the　tip；　I　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Can't　comprehend！'

〃You　may　have　forgotten　your　Shakespeare；　Bunny；　but　you　ought　to　remember　that。〃

And　I　did；　vaguely；　but　had　no　idea　what　it　or　Raffles　meant；　as　I　plainly　told　him。

〃The　theatre　of　war；〃　he　answered　…　〃and　here　we　are　at　the　stage　door！〃

Raffles　had　stopped　suddenly　in　his　walk。　　It　was　the　last　dark　hour　of　the　summer　night；　but　the　light　from　a　neighboring　lamppost　showed　me　the　look　on　his　face　as　he　turned。

〃I　think　you　also　inquired　when；〃　he　continued。　　〃Well；　then；　this　minute　…　if　you　will　give　me　a　leg　up！〃

And　behind　him；　scarcely　higher　than　his　head；　and　not　even　barred；　was　a　wide　window　with　a　wire　blind；　and　the　name　of　Nasmyth　among　others　lettered　in　gold　upon　the　wire。

〃You're　never　going　to　break　in？〃

〃This　instant；　if　you'll；　help　me；　in　five　or　ten　minutes；　if　you　won't。〃

〃Surely　you　didn't　bring　the　…　the　tools？〃

He　jingled　them　gently　in　his　pocket。

〃Not　the　whole　outfit；　Bunny。　　But　you　never　know　when　you　mayn't　want　one　or　two。　　I'm　only　thankful　I　didn't　leave　the　lot　behind　this　time。　　I　very　nearly　did。〃

〃I　must　say　I　thought　you　would；　coming　down　here；〃　I　said　reproachfully。

〃But　you　ought　to　be　glad　I　didn't；〃　he　rejoined　with　a　smile。　〃It's　going　to　mean　old　Nasmyth's　subscription　to　the　Founder's　Fund；　and　that's　to　be　a　big　one；　I　promise　you！　　The　lucky　thing　is　that　I　went　so　far　as　to　bring　my　bunch　of　safekeys。　　Now；　are　you　going　to　help　me　use　them；　or　are　you　not？　　If　so；　now's　your　minute；　if　not；　clear　out　and　be　…　〃

〃Not　so　fast；　Raffles；〃　said　I　testily。　　〃You　must　have　planned　this　before　you　came　down；　or　you　would　never　have　brought　all。　those　things　with　you。〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　they're　a　part　of　my　kit！　　I　take　them　wherever　I　take　my　evening…clothes。　　As　to　this　potty　bank；　I　never　even　thought　of　it；　much　less　that　it　would　become　a　public　duty　to　draw　a　hundred　or　so　without　signing　for　it。　　That's　all。　I　shall　touch；　Bunny　…　I'm　not　on　the　make　to…night。　　There's　no　risk　in　it　either。　　If　I　am　caught　I　shall　simply　sham　champagne　and　stand　the　racket；　it　would　be　an　obvious　frolic　after　what　happened　at　that　meeting。　　And　they　will　catch　me；　if　I　stand　talking　here：　you　run　away　back　to　bed　…　unless　you're　quite　determined　to　'give　old　Brutus　the　tip！'

Now　we　had　barely　been　a　minute　whispering　where　we　stood；　and　the　whole　street　was　still　as　silent　as　the　tomb。　　To　me　there　seemed　least　danger　in　discussing　the　matter　quietly　on　the　spot。　　But　even　as　he　gave　me　my　dismissal　Raffles　turned　and　caught　the　sill　above　him；　first　with　one　hand　and　then　with　the　other。　　His　legs　swung　like　a　pendulum　as　he　drew　himself　up　with　one　arm；　then　shifted　the　position　of　the　other　hand；　and　very　gradually　worked　himself　waist…high　with　the　sill。　　But　the　sill　was　too　narrow　for　him；　that　was　as　far　as　he　could　get　unaided；　and　it　was　as　much　as　I　could　bear　to　see　of　a　feat　which　in　itself　might　have　hardened　my　conscience　and　softened　my　heart。　　But　I　had　identified　his　doggerel　verse　at　last。　　I　am　ashamed　to　say　that　it　was　part　of　a　set　of　my　very　own　writing　in　the　school　magazine　of　my　time。　　So　Raffles　knew　the　stuff　better　than　I　did　myself；　and　yet　scorned　to　press　his　flattery　to　win　me　over！　　He　had　won　me：　in　a　second　my　rounded　shoulders　were　a　pedestal　for　those　dangling　feet。　　And　before　many　more　I　heard　the　old　metallic　snap；　followed　by　the　raising　of　a　sash　so　slowly　and　gently　as　to　be　almost　inaudible　to　me　listening　just　below。

Raffles　went　through　hands　first；　disappeared　for　an　instant；　then　leaned　out；　lowering　his　hands　for　me。

〃Come　on；　Bunny！　　You're　safer　in　than　out。　　Hang　on　to　the　sill　and　let　me　get　you　under　the　arms。　　Now　all。　together　…　quietly　does　it　…　and　over　you　come！〃

No　need　to　dwell　on　our　proceedings　in　the　bank。　　I　myself　had　small　part　in　the　scene；　being　posted　rather　in　the　wings；　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　leading　to　the　private　premises　in　which　the　manager　had　his　domestic　being。　　But　I　made　my　mind　easy　about　him；　for　in　the　silence　of　my　watch　I　soon　detected　a　nasal　note　overhead；　and　it　was　resonant　and　aggressive　as　the　man　himself。　　Of　Raffles；　on　the　contrary；　I　heard　nothing；　for　he　had　shut　the　door　between　us；　and　I　was　to　warn　him　if　a　single　sound　came　through。　　I　need　scarcely　add　that　no　warning　was　necessary　during　the　twenty　minutes　we　remained　in　the　bank。　　Raffles　afterward　assured　me　that　nineteen　of　them　had　been　spent　in　filing　one　key；　but　one　of　his　latest　inventions　was　a　little　thick　velvet　bag　in　which　he　carried　the　keys；　and　this　bag　had　two　elastic　mouths；　which　closed