a thief in the night-第29部分

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isgraceful　night。　　In　a　far　corner　of　the　garden；　over　a　hundred　yards　from　the　house；　a　little　ornamental　lake　had　been　dug　within　my　own　memory；　its　shores　were　shelving　lawn　and　steep　banks　of　rhododendrons；　and　among　the　rhododendrons　nestled　a　tiny　boathouse　which　had　been　my　childish　joy。　　It　was　half　a　dock　for　the　dingy　in　which　one　plowed　these　miniature　waters　and　half　a　bathing…box　for　those　who　preferred　their　morning　tub　among　the　goldfish。　　I　could　not　think　of　a　safer　asylum　than　this；　if　we　must　spend　the　night　upon　the　premises；　and　Raffles　agreed　with　me　when　I　had　led　him　by　sheltering　shrubbery　and　perilous　lawn　to　the　diminutive　chalet　between　the　rhododendrons　and　the　water。

But　what　a　night　it　was！　　The　little　bathing…box　had　two　doors；　one　to　the　water；　the　other　to　the　path。　　To　hear　all。　that　could　be　heard；　it　was　necessary　to　keep　both　doors　open；　and　quite　imperative　not　to　talk。　　The　damp　night　air　of　April　filled　the　place；　and　crept　through　our　evening　clothes　and　light　overcoats　into　the　very　marrow；　the　mental　torture　of　the　situation　was　renewed　and　multiplied　in　my　brain；　and　all。　the　time　one's　ears　were　pricked　for　footsteps　on　the　path　between　the　rhododendrons。　The　only　sounds　we　could　at　first　identify　came　one　and　all。　from　the　stables。　　Yet　there　the　excitement　subsided　sooner　than　we　had　expected；　and　it　was　Raffles　himself　who　breathed　a　doubt　as　to　whether　they　were　turning　out　the　hunters　after　all。　　On　the　other　hand；　we　heard　wheels　in　the　drive　not　long　after　midnight；　and　Raffles；　who　was　beginning　to　scout　among　the　shrubberies；　stole　back　to　tell　me　that　the　guests　were　departing；　and　being　sped；　with　an　unimpaired　conviviality　which　he　failed　to　understand。　I　said　I　could　not　understand　it　either；　but　suggested　the　general　influence　of　liquor；　and　expressed　my　envy　of　their　state。　　I　had　drawn　my　knees　up　to　my　chin；　on　the　bench　where　one　used　to　dry　one's　self　after　bathing；　and　there　I　sat　in　a　seeming　stolidity　at　utter　variance　with　my　inward　temper。　　I　heard　Raffles　creep　forth　again　and　I　let　him　go　without　a　word。　　I　never　doubted　that　he　would　be　back　again　in　a　minute；　and　so　let　many　minutes　elapse　before　I　realized　his　continued　absence；　and　finally　crept　out　myself　to　look　for　him。

Even　then　I　only　supposed　that　he　had　posted　himself　outside　in　some　more　commanding　position。　　I　took　a　catlike　stride　and　breathed　his　name。　　There　was　no　answer。　　I　ventured　further；　till　I　could　overlook　the　lawns：　they　lay　like　clean　slates　in　the　starlight：　there　was　no　sign　of　living　thing　nearer　than　the　house；　which　was　still　lit　up；　but　quiet　enough　now。　　Was　it　a　cunning　and　deliberate　quiet　assumed　as　a　snare？　　Had　they　caught　Raffles；　and　were　they　waiting　for　me？　　I　returned　to　the　boat…house　in　an　agony　of　fear　and　indignation。　　It　was　fear　for　the　long　hours　that　I　sat　there　waiting　for　him；　it　was　indignation　when　at　last　I　heard　his　stealthy　step　upon　the　gravel。　　I　would　not　go　out　to　meet　him。　　I　sat　where　I　was　while　the　stealthy　step　came　nearer；　nearer；　and　there　I　was　sitting　when　the　door　opened；　and　a　huge　man　in　riding…clothes　stood　before　me　in　the　steely　dawn。

I　leaped　to　my　feet；　and　the　huge　man　clapped　me　playfully　on　the　shoulder。

〃Sorry　I've　been　so　long；　Bunny；　but　we　should　never　have　got　away　as　we　were；　this　riding…suit　makes　a　new　man　of　me；　on　top　of　my　own；　and　here's　a　youth's　kit　that　should　do　you　down　to　the　ground。〃

〃So　you　broke　into　the　house　again？　　　　〃I　was　obliged　to；　Bunny；　but　I　had　to　watch　the　lights　out　one　by　one；　and　give　them　a　good　hour　after　that　I　went　through　that　dressing　room　at　my　leisure　this　time；　the　only　difficulty　was　to　spot　the　son's　quarters　at　the　back　of　the　house；　but　I　overcame　it；　as　you　see；　in　the　end。　　I　only　hope　they'll　fit；　Bunny。　　Give　me　your　patent　leathers；　and　I'll　fill　them　with　stones　and　sink　them　in　the　pond。　　I'm　doing　the　same　with　mine。　　Here's　a　brown　pair　apiece；　and　we　mustn't　let　the　grass　grow　under　them　if　we're　to　get　to　the　station　in　time　for　the　early　train　while　the　coast's　still　clear。〃

The　early　train　leaves　the　station　in　question　at　6。20　A。M。；　and　that　fine　spring　morning　there　was　a　police　officer　in　a　peaked　cap　to　see　it　off；　but　he　was　too　busy　peering　into　the　compartments　for　a　pair　of　very　swell　mobsmen　that　he　took　no　notice　of　the　huge　man　in　riding…clothes；　who　was　obviously　intoxicated；　or　the　more　insignificant　but　not　less　horsy　character　who　had　him　in　hand。　　The　early　train　is　due　at　Victoria　at　8。28；　but　these　worthies　left　it　at　Clapham　Junction；　and　changed　cabs　more　than　once　between　Battersea　and　Piccadilly；　and　a　few　of　their　garments　in　each　four…wheeler。　　It　was　barely　nine　o'clock　when　they　sat　together　in　the　Albany；　and　might　have　been　recognized　once　more　as　Raffles　and　myself。

〃And　now；〃　said　Raffles；　〃before　we　do　anything　else；　let　us　turn　out　those　little　cases　that　we　hadn't　time　to　open　when　we　took　them。　　I　mean　the　ones　I　handed　to　you；　Bunny。　　I　had　a　look　into　mine　in　the　garden；　and　I'm　sorry　to　say　there　was　nothing　in　them。　The　lady　must　have　been　wearing　their　proper　contents。〃

Raffles　held　out　his　hand　for　the　substantial　leather　cases　which　I　had　produced　at　his　request。　　But　that　was　the　extent　of　my　compliance；　instead　of　handing　them　over；　I　looked　boldly　into　the　eyes　that　seemed　to　have　discerned　my　wretched　secret　at　one　glance。

〃It　is　no　use　my　giving　them　to　you；〃　I　said。　　〃They　are　empty　also。〃

〃When　did　you　look　into　them？〃

〃In　the　tower。〃

〃Well；　let　me　see　for　myself。〃

〃As　you　like。〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　this　one　must　have　contained　the　necklace　you　boasted　about。〃

〃Very　likely。〃

〃And　this　one　the　tiara。〃

〃I　dare　say。〃

〃Yet　she　was　wearing　neither；　as　you　prophesied；　and　as　we　both　saw　for　ourselves？　　　　I　had　not　taken　my　eyes　from　his。

〃Raffles；〃　I　said；　〃I'll　be　frank　with　you　after　all。　　I　meant　you　never　to　know；　but　it's　easier　than　telling　you　a　lie。　　I　left　both　things　behind　me　in　the　tower。　　I　won't　attempt　to　explain　or　defend　myself；　it　was　probably　the　influence　of　the　tower；　and　nothing　else；　but　the　whole　thing　came　over　me　at　the　last　moment；　when　you　had　gone　and　I　was　going。　　I　felt　that　I　should　very　probably　break　my　neck；　that　I　cared　very　little　whether　I　did　or　not；　but　that　it　would　be　frightful　to　break　it　at　that　house　with　those　things　in　my　pocket。　　You　may　say　I　ought　to　have　thought　of　all。　that　before！　you　may　say　what　you　like；　and　you　won't　say　more　than　I　deserve。　It　was　hysterical；　and　it　was　mean；　for　I　kept　the　cases　to　impose　on　you。〃

〃You　were　always　a　bad　liar；　Bunny；〃　said　Raffles；　smiling。　　〃Will　you　think　me　one　when　I　tell　you　that　I　can　understand　what　you　felt；　and　even　what　you　did？　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　have　understood　for　several　hours　now。〃

〃You　mean　what　I　felt；　Raffles？〃

〃And　what　you　did。　　I　guessed　it　in　the　boathouse。　　I　knew　that　something　must　have　happened　or　been　discovered　to　disperse　that　truculent　party　of　sportsmen　so　soon　and　on　such　good　terms　with　themselves。　　They　had　not　got　us；　they　might　have　got　something　better　worth　having；　and　your　phlegmatic　attitude　suggested　what。　As　luck　would　have　it；　the　cases　that　I　personally　had　collared　were　the　empty　ones；　the　two　prizes　had　fallen　to　you。　　Well；　to　allay　my　horrid　suspicion；　I　went　and　had　another　peep　through　the　lighted　venetians。　　And　what　do　you　think　I　saw？〃

I　shook　my　head。　　I　had　no　idea；　nor　was　I　very　eager　for　enlightenment。

〃The　two　poor　people　whom　it　was　your　own　idea　to　despoil；〃　quoth　Raffles；　〃prematurely　gloating　over　these　two　pretty　things？　　　　He　withdrew　a　hand　from　either　pocket　of　his　crumpled　dinner…jacket；　and　opened　the　pair　under　my　nose。　　In　one　was　a　diamond　tiara；　and　in　the　other　a　necklace　of　fine　emeralds　set　in　clusters　of　brilliants。

〃You　must　try　to　forgive　me；　Bunny；〃　continued　Raffles　before　I　could　speak。　　〃I　don't　say　a　word　against　what　you　did；　or　undid；　in　fact；　now　it's　all。　over；　I　am　rather　glad　to　think　that　you　did　try　to　undo　it。　　But；　my　dear　fellow；　we　had　both　risked　life；　limb；　and　liberty；　and　I　had　not　your　sentimental　scruples。　　Why　should　I　go　empty　away？　　If　you　want　to　know　the　inner　history　of　my　second　visit　to　that　good　fellow's　dressing…room；　drive　home　for　a　fresh　kit　and　meet　me　at　the　Turkish　bath　in　twenty　minutes。　I　feel　more　than　a　little　grubby；　and　we　can　have　our　breakfast　in　the　cooling　gallery。　　Besides；　after　a　whole　night　in　your　old　haunts；　Bunny；　it's　only　in　order　to　wind　up　in　Northumberland　Avenue。〃




The　Raffles　Relics


It　was　in　one　of　the　magazines　for　December；　1899；　that　an　article　appeared　which　afforded　our　minds　a　brief　respite　from　the　then　consuming　excitement　of　the　war　in　South　Africa。　　These　were　the　days　when　Raffles　really　had　white　hair；　and　when　he　and　I　were　nearing　the　end　of　our　surreptitious　second　innings；　as　professional　cracksmen　of　the　deadliest　dye。　　Piccadilly　and　the　Albany　knew　us　no　more。　　But　we　still　operated；　as　the　spirit　tempted　us；　from　our　latest　and　most　idyllic　base；　on　the　borders　of　Ham　Common。　　Recreation　was　our　greatest　want；　and　though　we　had　both　descended　to　the　humble　bicycle；　a　lot　of　reading　was　forced　upon　us　in　the　winter　evenings。　　Thus　the　war　came　as　a　boon　to　us　both。　　It　not　only　provided　us　with　an　honest　interest　in　life；　but　gave　point　and　zest　to　innumerable　spins　across　Richmond　Park；　to　the　nearest　paper　shop；　and　it　was　from　such　an　expedition　that　I　returned　with　inflammatory　matter　unconnected　with　the　war。　　The　magazine　was　one　of　those　that　are　read　（and　sold）　by　the　million；　the　article　was　rudely　illustrated　on　every　other　page。　　Its　subject　was　the　so…called　Black　Museum　at　Scotland　Yard；　and　from　the　catchpenny　text　we　first　learned　that　the　gruesome　show　was　now　enriched　by　a　special　and　elaborate　exhibit　known　as　the　Raffles　Relics。

〃Bunny；〃　said　Raffles；　〃this　is　fame　at　last！　　It　is　no　longer　notoriety；　it　lifts　one　out　of　the　ruck　of　robbers　into　the　society　of　the　big　brass　gods；　whose　little　delinquencies　are　written　in　water　by　the　finger　of　time。　　The　Napoleon　Relics　we　know；　the　Nelson　Relics　we've　heard　about；　and　here　are　mine！〃　　　　〃Which　I　wish　to　goodness　we　could　see；〃　I