a thief in the night-第21部分

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than　heard　…　and　we　exchanged　grim　nods　of　simultaneous　excitement。　　But　by　this　time　Medlicott　was　as　helpless　as　he　had　been　before；　the　flush　had　faded　from　his　face；　and　his　breathing　alone　would　have　spoiled　everything。　　In　dumb　show　I　had　to　order　him　to　stay　where　he　was；　to　leave　my　man　to　me。　　And　then　it　was　that　in　a　gusty　whisper；　with　the　same　shrewd　look　that　had　disconcerted　me　more　than　once　during　our　vigil；　young　Medlicott　froze　and　fired　my　blood　by　turns。

〃I've　been　unjust　to　you；〃　he　said；　with　his　right　hand　in　his　dressing…gown　pocket。　　〃I　thought　for　a　bit　…　never　mind　what　I　thought　…　I　soon　saw　I　was　wrong。　　But　…　I've　had　this　thing　in　my　pocket　all。　the　time！〃

And　he　would　have　thrust　his　revolver　upon　me　as　a　peace…offering；　but　I　would　not　even　take　his　hand；　as　I　tapped　the　life…preserver　in　my　pocket；　and　crept　out　to　earn　his　honest　grip　or　to　fall　in　the　attempt。　　On　the　landing　I　drew　Raffles's　little　weapon；　slipped　my　right　wrist　through　the　leathern　loop；　and　held　it　in　readiness　over　my　right　shoulder。　　Then；　down…stairs　I　stole；　as　Raffles　himself　had　taught　me；　close　to　the　wall；　where　the　planks　are　nailed。　　Nor　had　I　made　a　sound；　to　my　knowledge；　for　a　door　was　open；　and　a　light　was　burning；　and　the　light　did　not　flicker　as　I　approached　the　door。　　I　clenched　my　teeth　and　pushed　it　open；　and　　here　was　the　veriest　villain　waiting　for　me；　his　little　lantern　held　aloft。

〃You　blackguard！〃　I　cried；　and　with　a　single　thwack　I　felled　the　ruffian　to　the　floor。

There　was　no　question　of　a　foul　blow。　　He　had　been　just　as　ready　to　pounce　on　me；　it　was　simply　my　luck　to　have　got　the　first　blow　home。　　Yet　a　fellow…feeling　touched　me　with　remorse；　as　I　stood　over　the　senseless　body；　sprawling　prone；　and　perceived　that　I　had　struck　an　unarmed　man。　　The　lantern　only　had　fallen　from　his　hands；　it　lay　on　one　side；　smoking　horribly；　and　a　something　in　the　reek　caused　me　to　set　it　up　in　haste　and　turn　the　body　over　with　both　hands。

Shall　I　ever　forget　the　incredulous　horror　of　that　moment？

It　was　Raffles　himself！

How　it　was　possible；　I　did　not　pause　to　ask　myself；　if　one　man　on　earth　could　annihilate　space　and　time；　it　was　the　man　lying　senseless　at　my　feet；　and　that　was　Raffles；　without　an　instant's　doubt。　　He　was　in　villainous　guise；　which　I　knew　of　old；　now　that　I　knew　the　unhappy　wearer。　　His　face　was　grimy；　and　dexterously　plastered　with　a　growth　of　reddish　hair；　his　clothes　were　those　in　which　he　had　followed　cabs　from　the　London　termini；　his　boots　were　muffled　in　thick　socks；　and　I　had　laid　him　low　with　a　bloody　scalp　that　filled　my　cup　of　horror。　　I　groaned　aloud　as　I　knelt　over　him　and　felt　his　heart。　　And　I　was　answered　by　a　bronchial　whistle　from　the　door。

〃Jolly　well　done！〃　cheered　my　asthmatical　friend。　　〃I　heard　the　whole　thing　…　only　hope　my　mother　didn't。　　We　must　keep　it　from　her　if　we　can。〃

I　could　have　cursed　the　creature's　mother　from　my　full　heart；　yet　even　with　my　hand　on　that　of　Raffles；　as　I　felt　his　feeble　pulse；　I　told　myself　that　this　served　him　right。　　Even　had　I　brained　him；　the　fault　had　been　his；　not　mine。　　And　it　was　a　characteristic；　an　inveterate　fault；　that　galled　me　for　all。　my　anguish：　to　trust　and　yet　distrust　me　to　the　end；　to　race　through　England　in　the　night；　to　spy　upon　me　at　his　work　…　to　do　it　himself　after　all。！

〃Is　he　dead？〃　wheezed　the　asthmatic　coolly。

〃Not　he；〃　I　answered；　with　an　indignation　that　I　dared　not　show。

〃You　must　have　hit　him　pretty　hard；〃　pursued　young　Medlicott；　〃but　I　suppose　it　was　a　case　of　getting　first　knock。　　And　a　good　job　you　got　it；　if　this　was　his；〃　he　added；　picking　up　the　murderous　little　life…preserver　which　poor　Raffles　had　provided　for　his　own　destruction。

〃Look　here；〃　I　answered；　sitting　back　on　my　heels。　　〃He　isn't　dead；　Mr。　Medlicott；　and　I　don't　know　how　long　he'll　be　as　much　as　stunned。　He's　a　powerful　brute；　and　you're　not　fit　to　lend　a　hand。　　But　that　policeman　of　yours　can't　be　far　away。　　Do　you　think　you　could　struggle　out　and　look　for　him？〃

〃I　suppose　I　am　a　bit　better　than　I　was；〃　he　replied　doubtfully。　〃The　excitement　seems　to　have　done　me　good。　　If　you　like　to　leave　me　on　guard　with　my　revolver；　I'll　undertake　that　he　doesn't　escape　me。〃

I　shook　my　head　with　an　impatient　smile。

〃I　should　never　hear　the　last　of　it；〃　said　I。　　〃No；　in　that　case　all。　I　can　do　is　to　handcuff　the　fellow　and　wait　till　morning　if　he　won't　go　quietly；　and　he'll　be　a　fool　if　he　does；　while　there's　a　fighting　chance。〃

Young　Medlicott　glanced　upstairs　from　his　post　on　the　threshold。　I　refrained　from　watching　him　too　keenly；　but　I　knew　what　was　in　his　mind。

〃I'll　go；〃　he　said　hurriedly。　　〃I'll　go　as　I　am；　before　my　mother　is　disturbed　and　frightened　out　of　her　life。　　I　owe　you　something；　too；　not　only　for　what　you've　done　for　me；　but　for　what　I　was　fool　enough　to　think　about　you　at　the　first　blush。　　It's　entirely　through　you　that　I　feel　as　fit　as　I　do　for　the　moment。　　So　I'll　take　your　tip；　and　go　just　as　I　am；　before　my　poor　old　pipes　strike　up　another　tune。〃

I　scarcely　looked　up　until　the　good　fellow　had　turned　his　back　upon　the　final　tableau　of　watchful　officer　and　prostrate　prisoner　and　gone　out　wheezing　into　the　night。　　But　I　was　at　the　door　to　hear　the　last　of　him　down　the　path　and　round　the　corner　of　the　house。　And　when　I　rushed　back　into　the　room；　there　was　Raffles　sitting　cross…legged　on　the　floor；　and　slowly　shaking　his　broken　head　as　he　stanched　the　blood。

〃Et　tu；　Bunny！〃　he　groaned。　　〃Mine　own　familiar　friend！〃

〃Then　you　weren't　even　stunned！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃Thank　God　for　that！〃

〃Of　course　I　was　stunned；〃　he　murmured；　〃and　no　thanks　to　you　that　I　wasn't　brained。　　Not　to　know　me　in　the　kit　you've　seen　scores　of　times！　　You　never　looked　at　me；　Bunny；　you　didn't　give　me　time　to　open　my　mouth。　　I　was　going　to　let　you　run　me　in　so　prettily！　　We'd　have　walked　off　arm…in…arm；　now　it's　as　tight　a　place　as　ever　we　were　in；　though　you　did　get　rid　of　old　blow…pipes　rather　nicely。　But　we　shall　have　the　devil's　own　run　for　our　money！〃

Raffles　had　picked　himself　up　between　his　mutterings；　and　I　had　followed　him　to　the　door　into　the　garden；　where　he　stood　busy　with　the　key　in　the　dark；　having　blown　out　his　lantern　and　handed　it　to　me。　　But　though　I　followed　Raffles；　as　my　nature　must；　I　was　far　too　embittered　to　answer　him　again。　　And　so　it　was　for　some　minutes　that　might　furnish　forth　a　thrilling　page；　but　not　a　novel　one　to　those　who　know　their　Raffles　and　put　up　with　me。　　Suffice　it　that　we　left　a　locked　door　behind　us；　and　the　key　on　the　garden　wall；　which　was　the　first　of　half　a　dozen　that　we　scaled　before　dropping　into　a　lane　that　led　to　a　foot…bridge　higher　up　the　backwater。　　And　when　we　paused　upon　the　foot…bridge；　the　houses　along　the　bank　were　still　in　peace　and　darkness。

Knowing　my　Raffles　as　I　did；　I　was　not　surprised　when　he　dived　under　one　end　of　this　bridge；　and　came　up　with　his　Inverness　cape　and　opera　hat；　which　he　had　hidden　there　on　his　way　to　the　house。　The　thick　socks　were　peeled　from　his　patent…leathers；　the　ragged　trousers　stripped　from　an　evening　pair；　bloodstains　and　Newgate　fringe　removed　at　the　water's　edge；　and　the　whole　sepulchre　whited　in　less　time　than　the　thing　takes　to　tell。　　Nor　was　that　enough　for　Raffles；　but　he　must　alter　me　as　well；　by　wearing　my　overcoat　under　his　cape；　and　putting　his　Zingari　scarf　about　my　neck。

〃And　now；〃　said　he；　〃you　may　be　glad　to　hear　there's　a　3：12　from　Surbiton；　which　we　could　catch　on　all。　fours。　　If　you　like　we'll　go　separately；　but　I　don't　think　there's　the　slightest　danger　now；　　and　I　begin　to　wonder　what's　happening　to　old　blow…pipes。〃

So；　indeed；　did　I；　and　with　no　small　concern；　until　I　read　of　his　adventures　（and　our　own）　in　the　newspapers。　　It　seemed　that　he　had　made　a　gallant　spurt　into　the　road；　and　there　paid　the　penalty　of　his　rashness　by　a　sudden　incapacity　to　move　another　inch。　　It　had　eventually　taken　him　twenty　minutes　to　creep　back　to　locked　doors；　and　another　ten　to　ring　up　the　inmates。　　His　description　of　my　personal　appearance；　as　reported　in　the　papers；　is　the　only　thing　that　reconciles　me　to　the　thought　of　his　sufferings　during　that　half…hour。

But　at　the　time　I　had　other　thoughts；　and　they　lay　too　deep　for　idle　words；　for　to　me　also　it　was　a　bitter　hour。　　I　had　not　only　failed　in　my　self…sought　task；　I　had　nearly　killed　my　comrade　into　the　bargain。　　I　had　meant　well　by　friend　and　foe　in　turn；　and　I　had　ended　in　doing　execrably　by　both。　　It　was　not　all。　my　fault；　but　I　knew　how　much　my　weakness　had　contributed　to　the　sum。　　And　I　must　walk　with　the　man　whose　fault　it　was；　who　had　travelled　two　hundred　miles　to　obtain　this　last　proof　of　my　weakness；　to　bring　it　home　to　me；　and　to　make　our　intimacy　intolerable　from　that　hour。　　I　must　walk　with　him　to　Surbiton；　but　I　need　not　talk；　all。　through　Thames　Ditton　I　had　ignored　his　sallies；　nor　yet　when　he　ran　his　arm　through　mine；　on　the　river　front；　when　we　were　nearly　there；　would　I　break　the　seal　my　pride　had　set　upon　my　lips。

〃Come；　Bunny；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃I　have　been　the　one　to　suffer　most；　when　all。's　said　and　done；　and　I'll　be　the　first　to　say　that　I　deserved　it。　　You've　broken　my　head；　my　hair's　all。　glued　up　in　my　gore；　and　what　yarn　I'm　to　put　up　at　Manchester；　or　how　I　shall　take　the　field　at　all。；　I　really　don't　know。　　Yet　I　don't　blame　you；　Bunny；　and　I　do　blame　myself。　　Isn't　it　rather　hard　luck　if　I　am　to　go　unforgiven　into　the　bargain？　　I　admit　that　I　made　a　mistake；　but；　my　dear　fellow；　I　made　it　entirely　for　your　sake。〃

〃For　my　sake！〃　I　echoed　bitterly。

Raffles　was　more　generous；　he　ignored　my　tone。

〃I　was　miserable　about　you　…　frankly　…　miserable！〃　he　went　on。　　〃I　couldn't　get　it　out　of　my　head　that　somehow　you　would　be　laid　by　the　heels。　　It　was　not　your　pluck　that　I　distrusted；　my　dear　fellow；　but　it　was　your　very　pluck　that　made　me　tremble　for　you。　　I　couldn't　get　you　out　of　my　head。　　I　went　in　when　runs　were　wanted；　but　I　give　you　my　word　that　I　was　more　anxious　about　you；　and　no　doubt　that's　why　I　helped　to　put　on　some　runs。　　Didn't　you　see　it　in　the　paper；　Bunny？　　It's　the　innings　of　my　life；　so　far。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃I　saw　that　you　were　in　at　close　of　play。　　But　I　don't　believe　it　was　you　…　I　believe　you　have　a　doubl