a thief in the night-第27部分

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；　for　choice；　every　detail　was　premeditated；　and　an　alternative　expedient　at　each　finger's　end　for　as　many　bare　and　awful　possibilities。　　In　this　case；　however；　the　finished　study　stopped　short　at　the　garden　gate　or　wall；　there　I　was　to　assume　command；　and　though　Raffles　carried　the　actual　tools　of　trade　of　which　he　alone　was　master；　it　was　on　the　understanding　that　for　once　I　should　control　and　direct　their　use。

I　had　gone　down　in　evening…clothes　by　an　evening　train；　but　had　carefully　overshot　old　landmarks；　and　alighted　at　a　small　station　some　miles　south　of　the　one　where　I　was　still　remembered。　　This　committed　me　to　a　solitary　and　somewhat　lengthy　tramp；　but　the　night　was　mild　and　starry；　and　I　marched　into　it　with　a　high　stomach；　for　this　was　to　be　no　costume　crime；　and　yet　I　should　have　Raffles　at　my　elbow　all。　the　night。　　Long　before　I　reached　my　destination；　indeed；　he　stood　in　wait　for　me　on　the　white　highway；　and　we　finished　with　linked　arms。

〃I　came　down　early；〃　said　Raffles；　〃and　had　a　look　at　the　races。　　I　always　prefer　to　measure　my　man；　Bunny；　and　you　needn't　sit　in　the　front　row　of　the　stalls　to　take　stock　of　your　friend　Guillemard。　No　wonder　he　doesn't　ride　his　own　horses！　　The　steeple…chaser　isn't　foaled　that　would　carry　him　round　that　course。　　But　he's　a　fine　monument　of　a　man；　and　he　takes　his　troubles　in　a　way　that　makes　me　blush　to　add　to　them。〃

〃Did　he　lose　a　horse？〃　I　inquired　cheerfully。

〃No；　Bunny；　but　he　didn't　win　a　race！　　His　horses　were　by　chalks　the　best　there；　and　his　pals　rode　them　like　the　foul　fiend；　but　with　the　worst　of　luck　every　time。　　Not　that　you'd　think　it；　from　the　row　they're　making。　　I've　been　listening　to　them　from　the　road　…　you　always　did　say　the　house　stood　too　near　it。〃

〃Then　you　didn't　go　in？〃

〃When　it's　your　show？　　You　should　know　me　better。　　Not　a　foot　would　I　set　on　the　premises　behind　your　back。　　But　here　they　are；　so　perhaps　you'll　lead　the　way。〃

And　I　led　it　without　a　moment's　hesitation；　through　the　unpretentious　six…barred　gate　into　the　long　but　shallow　crescent　of　the　drive。　There　were　two　such　gates；　one　at　each　end　of　the　drive；　but　no　lodge　at　either；　and　not　a　light　nearer　than　those　of　the　house。　　The　shape　and　altitude　of　the　lighted　windows；　the　whisper　of　the　laurels　on　either　hand；　the　very　feel　of　the　gravel　underfoot；　were　at　once　familiar　to　my　senses　as　the　sweet；　relaxing；　immemorial　air　that　one　drank　deeper　at　every　breath。　　Our　stealthy　advance　was　to　me　like　stealing　back　into　one's　childhood；　and　yet　I　could　conduct　it　without　compunction。　　I　was　too　excited　to　feel　immediate　remorse；　albeit　not　too　lost　in　excitement　to　know　that　remorse　for　every　step　that　I　was　taking　would　be　my　portion　soon　enough。　　I　mean　every　word　that　I　have　written　of　my　peculiar　shame　for　this　night's　work。　　And　it　was　all。　to　come　over　me　before　the　night　was　out。　　But　in　the　garden　I　never　felt　it　once。

The　dining…room　windows　blazed　in　the　side　of　the　house　facing　the　road。　　That　was　an　objection　to　peeping　through　the　venetian　blinds；　as　we　nevertheless　did；　at　our　peril　of　observation　from　the　road。　Raffles　would　never　have　led　me　into　danger　so　gratuitous　and　unnecessary；　but　he　followed　me　into　it　without　a　word。　　I　can　only　plead　that　we　both　had　our　reward。　　There　was　a　sufficient　chink　in　the　obsolete　venetians；　and　through　it　we　saw　every　inch　of　the　picturesque　board。　　Mrs。　Guillemard　was　still　in　her　place；　but　she　really　was　the　only　lady；　and　dressed　as　quietly　as　I　had　prophesied；　round　her　neck　was　her　rope　of　pearls；　but　not　the　glimmer　of　an　emerald　nor　the　glint　of　a　diamond；　nor　yet　the　flashing　constellation　of　a　tiara　in　her　hair。　　I　gripped　Raffles　in　token　of　my　triumph；　and　he　nodded　as　he　scanned　the　overwhelming　majority　of　flushed　fox…hunters。　　With　the　exception　of　one　stripling；　evidently　the　son　of　the　house；　they　were　in　evening　pink　to　a　man；　and　as　I　say；　their　faces　matched　their　coats。　　An　enormous　fellow；　with　a　great　red　face　and　cropped　moustache；　occupied　my　poor　father's　place；　he　it　was　who　had　replaced　our　fruitful　vineries　with　his　stinking　stables；　but　I　am　bound　to　own　he　looked　a　genial　clod；　as　he　sat　in　his　fat　and　listened　to　the　young　bloods　boasting　of　their　prowess；　or　elaborately　explaining　their　mishaps。　　And　for　a　minute　we　listened　also；　before　I　remembered　my　responsibilities；　and　led　Raffles　round　to　the　back　of　the　house。

There　never　was　an　easier　house　to　enter。　　I　used　to　feel　that　keenly　as　a　boy；　when；　by　a　prophetic　irony；　burglars　were　my　bugbear；　and　I　looked　under　my　bed　every　night　in　life。　　The　bow…windows　on　the　ground　floor　finished　in　inane　balconies　to　the　first…floor　windows。　　These　balconies　had　ornamental　iron　railings；　to　which　a　less　ingenious　rope…ladder　than　ours　could　have　been　hitched　with　equal　ease。　　Raffles　had　brought　it　with　him；　round　his　waist；　and　he　carried　the　telescopic　stick　for　fixing　it　in　place。　　The　one　was　unwound；　and　the　other　put　together；　in　a　secluded　corner　of　the　red…brick　walls；　where　of　old　I　had　played　my　own　game　of　squash…rackets　in　the　holidays。　　I　made　further　investigations　in　the　starlight；　and　even　found　a　trace　of　my　original　white　line　along　the　red　wall。

But　it　was　not　until　we　had　effected　our　entry　through　the　room　which　had　been　my　very　own；　and　made　our　parlous　way　across　the　lighted　landing；　to　the　best　bedroom　of　those　days　and　these；　that　I　really　felt　myself　a　worm。　　Twin　brass　bedsteads　occupied　the　site　of　the　old　four…poster　from　which　I　had　first　beheld　the　light。　　The　doors　were　the　same；　my　childish　hands　had　grasped　these　very　handles。　　And　there　was　Raffles　securing　the　landing　door　with　wedge　and　gimlet；　the　very　second　after　softly　closing　it　behind　us。

〃The　other　leads　into　the　dressing…room；　of　course？　　Then　you　might　be　fixing　the　outer　dressing…room　door；〃　he　whispered　at　his　work；　〃but　not　the　middle　one　Bunny；　unless　you　want　to。　　The　stuff　will　be　in　there；　you　see；　if　it　isn't　in　here。〃

My　door　was　done　in　a　moment；　being　fitted　with　a　powerful　bolt；　but　now　an　aching　conscience　made　me　busier　than　I　need　have　been。　I　had　raised　the　rope…ladder　after　us　into　my　own　old　room；　and　while　Raffles　wedged　his　door　I　lowered　the　ladder　from　one　of　the　best　bedroom　windows；　in　order　to　prepare　that　way　of　escape　which　was　a　fundamental　feature　of　his　own　strategy。　　I　meant　to　show　Raffles　that　I　had　not　followed　in　his　train　for　nothing。　　But　I　left　it　to　him　to　unearth　the　jewels。　　I　had　begun　by　turning　up　the　gas；　there　appeared　to　be　no　possible　risk　in　that；　and　Raffles　went　to　work　with　a　will　in　the　excellent　light。　　There　were　some　good　pieces　in　the　room；　including　an　ancient　tallboy　in　fruity　mahogany；　every　drawer　of　which　was　turned　out　on　the　bed　without　avail。　　A　few　of　the　drawers　had　locks　to　pick；　yet　not　one　triffle　to　our　taste　within。　　The　situation　became　serious　as　the　minutes　flew。　　We　had　left　the　party　at　its　sweets；　the　solitary　lady　might　be　free　to　roam　her　house　at　any　minute。　　In　the　end　we　turned　our　attention　to　the　dressing…room。　　And　no　sooner　did　Raffles　behold　the　bolted　door　than　up　went　his　hands。

〃A　bathroom　bolt；〃　he　cried　below　his　breath；　〃and　no　bath　in　the　room！　　Why　didn't　you　tell　me；　Bunny？　　A　bolt　like　that　speaks　volumes；　there's　none　on　the　bedroom　door；　remember；　and　this　one's　worthy　of　a　strong　room！　　What　if　it　is　their　strong　room；　Bunny！　Oh；　Bunny；　what　if　this　is　their　safe？〃　　　　Raffles　had　dropped　upon　his　knees　before　a　carved　oak　chest　of　indisputable　antiquity。　　Its　panels　were　delightfully　irregular；　its　angles　faultlessly　faulty；　its　one　modern　defilement　a　strong　lock　to　the　lid。　　Raffles　was　smiling　as　he　produced　his　jimmy。　R　…　r　…　r　…　rip　went　lock　or　lid　in　another　ten　seconds　…　I　was　not　there　to　see　which。　　I　had　wandered　back　into　the　bedroom　in　a　paroxysm　of　excitement　and　suspense。　　I　must　keep　busy　as　well。　as　Raffles；　and　it　was　not　too　soon　to　see　whether　the　rope…ladder　was　all。　right。　　In　another　minute　。　。　。

I　stood　frozen　to　the　floor。　　I　had　hooked　the　ladder　beautifully　to　the　inner　sill　of　wood；　and　had　also　let　down　the　extended　rod　for　the　more　expeditious　removal　of　both　on　our　return　to　terra　firma。　　Conceive　my　cold　horror　on　arriving　at　the　open　window　just　in　time　to　see　the　last　of　hooks　and　bending　rod；　as　they　floated　out　of　sight　and　reach　into　the　outer　darkness　of　the　night；　removed　by　some　silent　and　invisible　hand　below！

〃Raffles…Raffles　…　they've　spotted　us　and　moved　the　ladder　this　very　instant！〃

So　I　panted　as　I　rushed　on　tiptoe　to　the　dressing…room。　　Raffles　had　the　working　end　of　his　jimmy　under　the　lid　of　a　leathern　jewel　case。　It　flew　open　at　the　vicious　twist　of　his　wrist　that　preceded　his　reply。

〃Did　you　let　them　see　that　you'd　spotted　that？〃

〃No。〃

〃Good！　　Pocket　some　of　these　cases　…　no　time　to　open　them。　　Which　door's　nearest　the　backstairs？〃

〃The　other。〃

〃Come　on　then？〃

〃No；　no；　I'll　lead　the　way。　　I　know　every　inch　of　it。〃

And；　as　I　leaned　against　the　bedroom　door；　handle　in　hand；　while　Raffles　stooped　to　unscrew　the　gimlet　and　withdraw　the　wedge；　I　hit　upon　the　ideal　port　in　the　storm　that　was　evidently　about　to　burst　on　our　devoted　heads。　　It　was　the　last　place　in　which　they　would　look　for　a　couple　of　expert　cracksmen　with　no　previous　knowledge　of　the　house。　　If　only　we　could　gain　my　haven　unobserved；　there　we　might　lie　in　unsuspected　hiding；　and　by　the　hour；　if　not　for　days　and　nights。

Alas　for　that　sanguine　dream！　　The　wedge　was　out；　and　Raffles　on　his　feet　behind　me。　　I　opened　the　door；　and　for　a　second　the　pair　of　us　stood　upon　the　threshold。

Creeping　up　the　stairs　before　us；　each　on　the　tip　of　his　silken　toes；　was　a　serried　file　of　pink　barbarians；　redder　in　the　face　than　anywhere　else；　and　armed　with　crops　carried　by　the　wrong　end。　The　monumental　person　with　the　short　moustache　led　the　advance。　　The　fool　stood　still　upon　the　top　step　to　let　out　the　loudest　and　cheeriest　view…holloa　that　ever　smote　my　ears。

It　cost　him　more　than　he　may　know　until　I　tell　him。　　There　was　the　wide　part　of　the　landing　between　us；　we　had　just　that　much　start　along　the　narrow　part；　with　the　walls　and　doors　upon　our　left；　the　banisters　on　our　right；　and　the　baize　door　at　the　end。　　Bu