a thief in the night-第3部分

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from　theatre　or　ball。　　Insensibly　I　drew　back　as　the　candle　swam　into　our　field　of　vision：　it　had　not　traversed　many　inches　when　a　hand　was　clapped　firmly　but　silently　across　my　mouth。

I　could　forgive　Raffles　for　that；　at　any　rate！　　In　another　breath　I　should　have　cried　aloud：　for　the　girl　with　the　candle；　the　girl　in　her　ball…dress；　at　dead　of　night；　the　girl　with　the　letter　for　the　post；　was　the　last　girl　on　God's　wide　earth　whom　I　should　have　chosen　thus　to　encounter　…　a　midnight　intruder　in　the　very　house　where　I　had　been　reluctantly　received　on　her　account！

I　forgot　Raffles。　　I　forgot　the　new　and　unforgivable　grudge　I　had　against　him　now。　　I　forgot　his　very　hand　across　my　mouth；　even　before　he　paid　me　the　compliment　of　removing　it。　　There　was　the　only　girl　in　all　the　world：　I　had　eyes　and　brains　for　no　one　and　for　nothing　else。　　She　had　neither　seen　nor　heard　us；　had　looked　neither　to　the　right　hand　nor　the　left。　　But　a　small　oak　table　stood　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　hall；　it　was　to　this　table　that　she　went。　　On　it　was　one　of　those　boxes　in　which　one　puts　one's　letters　for　the　post；　and　she　stooped　to　read　by　her　candle　the　times　at　which　this　box　was　cleared。

The　loud　clock　ticked　and　ticked。　　She　was　standing　at　her　full　height　now；　her　candle　on　the　table；　her　letter　in　both　hands；　and　in　her　downcast　face　a　sweet　and　pitiful　perplexity　that　drew　the　tears　to　my　eyes。　　Through　a　film　I　saw　her　open　the　envelope　so　lately　sealed　and　read　her　letter　once　more；　as　though　she　would　have　altered　it　a　little　at　the　last。　　It　was　too　late　for　that；　but　of　a　sudden　she　plucked　a　rose　from　her　bosom；　and　was　pressing　it　in　with　her　letter　when　I　groaned　aloud。

How　could　I　help　it？　　The　letter　was　for　me：　of　that　I　was　as　sure　as　though　I　had　been　looking　over　her　shoulder。　　She　was　as　true　as　tempered　steel；　there　were　not　two　of　us　to　whom　she　wrote　and　sent　roses　at　dead　of　night。　　It　was　her　one　chance　of　writing　to　me。　None　would　know　that　she　had　written。　　And　she　cared　enough　to　soften　the　reproaches　I　had　richly　earned；　with　a　red　rose　warm　from　her　own　warm　heart。　　And　there；　and　there　was　I；　a　common　thief　who　had　broken　in　to　steal！　　Yet　I　was　unaware　that　I　had　uttered　a　sound　until　she　looked　up；　startled；　and　the　hands　behind　me　pinned　me　where　I　stood。

I　think　she　must　have　seen　us；　even　in　the　dim　light　of　the　solitary　candle。　　Yet　not　a　sound　escaped　her　as　she　peered　courageously　in　our　direction；　neither　did　one　of　us　move；　but　the　hall　clock　went　on　and　on；　every　tick　like　the　beat　of　a　drum　to　bring　the　house　about　our　ears；　until　a　minute　must　have　passed　as　in　some　breathless　dream。　　And　then　came　the　awakening　…　with　such　a　knocking　and　a　ringing　at　the　front　door　as　brought　all　three　of　us　to　our　senses　on　the　spot。

〃The　son　of　the　house！〃　whispered　Raffles　in　my　ear；　as　he　dragged　me　back　to　the　window　he　had　left　open　for　our　escape。　　But　as　he　leaped　out　first　a　sharp　cry　stopped　me　at　the　sill。　　〃Get　back！　Get　back！　　We're　trapped！〃　he　cried；　and　in　the　single　second　that　I　stood　there；　I　saw　him　fell　one　officer　to　the　ground；　and　dart　across　the　lawn　with　another　at　his　heels。　　A　third　came　running　up　to　the　window。　　What　could　I　do　but　double　back　into　the　house？　　And　there　in　the　hall　I　met　my　lost　love　face　to　face。

Till　that　moment　she　had　not　recognized　me。　　I　ran　to　catch　her　as　she　all　but　fell。　　And　my　touch　repelled　her　into　life；　so　that　she　shook　me　off；　and　stood　gasping：　〃You；　of　all　men！　　You；　of　all　men！〃　until　I　could　bear　it　no　more；　but　broke　again　for　the　study…window。　〃Not　that　way　…　not　that　way！〃　she　cried　in　an　agony　at　that。　　Her　hands　were　upon　me　now。　　〃In　there；　in　there；〃　she　whispered；　pointing　and　pulling　me　to　a　mere　cupboard　under　the　stairs；　where　hats　and　coats　were　hung；　and　it　was　she　who　shut　the　door　on　me　with　a　sob。

Doors　were　already　opening　overhead；　voices　calling；　voices　answering；　the　alarm　running　like　wildfire　from　room　to　room。　　Soft　feet　pattered　in　the　gallery　and　down　the　stairs　about　my　very　ears。　I　do　not　know　what　made　me　put　on　my　own　shoes　as　I　heard　them；　but　I　think　that　I　was　ready　and　even　longing　to　walk　out　and　give　myself　up。　　I　need　not　say　what　and　who　it　was　that　alone　restrained　me。　　I　heard　her　name。　　I　heard　them　crying　to　her　as　though　she　had　fainted。　　I　recognized　the　detested　voice　of　my　bete　noir；　Alick　Carruthers；　thick　as　might　be　expected　of　the　dissipated　dog；　yet　daring　to　stutter　out　her　name。　　And　then　I　heard；　without　catching；　her　low　reply；　it　was　in　answer　to　the　somewhat　stern　questioning　of　quite　another　voice；　and　from　what　followed　I　knew　that　she　had　never　fainted　at　all。

〃Upstairs；　miss；　did　he？　　Are　you　sure？〃

I　did　not　hear　her　answer。　　I　conceive　her　as　simply　pointing　up　the　stairs。　　In　any　case；　about　my　very　ears　once　more；　there　now　followed　such　a　patter　and　tramp　of　bare　and　booted　feet　as　renewed　in　me　a　base　fear　for　my　own　skin。　　But　voices　and　feet　passed　over　my　head；　went　up　and　up；　higher　and　higher；　and　I　was　wondering　whether　or　not　to　make　a　dash　for　it；　when　one　light　pair　came　running　down　again；　and　in　very　despair　I　marched　out　to　meet　my　preserver；　looking　as　little　as　I　could　like　the　abject　thing　I　felt。

〃Be　quick！〃　she　cried　in　a　harsh　whisper；　and　pointed　peremptorily　to　the　porch。

But　I　stood　stubbornly　before　her；　my　heart　hardened　by　her　hardness；　and　perversely　indifferent　to　all　else。　　And　as　I　stood　I　saw　the　letter　she　had　written；　in　the　hand　with　which　she　pointed；　crushed　into　a　ball。

〃Quickly！〃　She　stamped　her　foot。　　〃Quickly　…　if　you　ever　cared！〃

This　in　a　whisper；　without　bitterness；　without　contempt；　but　with　a　sudden　wild　entreaty　that　breathed　upon　the　dying　embers　of　my　poor　manhood。　　I　drew　myself　together　for　the　last　time　in　her　sight。　　I　turned；　and　left　her　as　she　wished　…　for　her　sake；　not　for　mine。　　And　as　I　went　I　heard　her　tearing　her　letter　into　little　pieces；　and　the　little　pieces　falling　on　the　floor。

Then　I　remembered　Raffles；　and　could　have　killed　him　for　what　he　had　done。　　Doubtless　by　this　time　he　was　safe　and　snug　in　the　Albany：　what　did　my　fate　matter　to　him？　　Never　mind；　this　should　be　the　end　between　him　and　me　as　well；　it　was　the　end　of　everything；　this　dark　night's　work！　　I　would　go　and　tell　him　so。　　I　would　jump　into　a　cab　and　drive　there　and　then　to　his　accursed　rooms。　　But　first　I　must　escape　from　the　trap　in　which　he　had　been　so　ready　to　leave　me。　　And　on　the　very　steps　I　drew　back　in　despair。　　They　were　searching　the　shrubberies　between　the　drive　and　the　road；　a　policeman's　lantern　kept　flashing　in　and　out　among　the　laurels；　while　a　young　man　in　evening…clothes　directed　him　from　the　gravel　sweep。　　It　was　this　young　man　whom　I　must　dodge；　but　at　my　first　step　in　the　gravel　he　wheeled　round；　and　it　was　Raffles　himself。

〃Hulloa！〃　he　cried。　　〃So　you've　come　up　to　join　the　dance　as　well！　Had　a　look　inside；　have　you？　　You'll　be　better　employed　in　helping　to　draw　the　cover　in　front　here。　　It's　all　right；　officer　…　only　another　gentleman　from　the　Empress　Rooms。〃

And　we　made　a　brave　show　of　assisting　in　the　futile　search；　until　the　arrival　of　more　police；　and　a　broad　hint　from　an　irritable　sergeant；　gave　us　an　excellent　excuse　for　going　off　arm…in…arm。　But　it　was　Raffles　who　had　thrust　his　arm　through　mine。　　I　shook　him　off　as　we　left　the　scene　of　shame　behind。

〃My　dear　Bunny！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Do　you　know　what　brought　me　back？〃

I　answered　savagely　that　I　neither　knew　nor　cared。

〃I　had　the　very　devil　of　a　squeak　for　it；〃　he　went　on。　　〃I　did　the　hurdles　over　two　or　three　garden…walls；　but　so　did　the　flyer　who　was　on　my　tracks；　and　he　drove　me　back　into　the　straight　and　down　to　High　Street　like　any　lamplighter。　　If　he　had　only　had　the　breath　to　sing　out　it　would　have　been　all　up　with　me　then；　as　it　was　I　pulled　off　my　coat　the　moment　I　was　round　the　corner；　and　took　a　ticket　for　it　at　the　Empress　Rooms。〃

〃I　suppose　you　had　one　for　the　dance　that　was　going　on；〃　I　growled。　Nor　would　it　have　been　a　coincidence　for　Raffles　to　have　had　a　ticket　for　that　or　any　other　entertainment　of　the　London　season。

〃I　never　asked　what　the　dance　was；〃　he　returned。　　〃I　merely　took　the　opportunity　of　revising　my　toilet；　and　getting　rid　of　that　rather　distinctive　overcoat；　which　I　shall　call　for　now。　　They're　not　too　particular　at　such　stages　of　such　proceedings；　but　I've　no　doubt　I　should　have　seen　someone　I　knew　if　I　had　none　right　in。　　I　might　even　have　had　a　turn；　if　only　I　had　been　less　uneasy　about　you；　Bunny。〃

〃It　was　like　you　to　come　back　to　help　me　out；〃　said　I。　　〃But　to　lie　to　me；　and　to　inveigle　me　with　your　lies　into　that　house　of　all　houses　…　that　was　not　like　you；　Raffles　…　and　I　never　shall　forgive　it　or　you！〃

Raffles　took　my　arm　again。　　We　were　near　the　High　Street　gates　of　Palace　Gardens；　and　I　was　too　miserable　to　resist　an　advance　which　I　meant　never　to　give　him　an　opportunity　to　repeat。

〃Come；　come；　Bunny；　there　wasn't　much　inveigling　about　it；〃　said　he。　〃I　did　my　level　best　to　leave　you　behind；　but　you　wouldn't　listen　to　me。〃

〃If　you　had　told　me　the　truth　I　should　have　listened　fast　enough；〃　I　retorted。　　〃But　what's　the　use　of　talking？　　You　can　boast　of　your　own　adventures　after　you　bolted。　　You　don't　care　what　happened　to　me。〃

〃I　cared　so　much　that　I　came　back　to　see。〃

〃You　might　have　spared　yourself　the　trouble！　　The　wrong　had　been　done。　　Raffles　…　Raffles　…　don't　you　know　who　she　was？〃

It　was　my　hand　that　gripped　his　arm　once　more。

〃I　guessed；〃　he　answered；　gravely　enough　even　for　me。

〃It　was　she　who　saved　me；　not　you；〃　I　said。　　〃And　that　is　the　bitterest　part　of　all！〃

Yet　I　told　him　that　part　with　a　strange　sad　pride　in　her　whom　I　had　lost　…　through　him　…　forever。　　As　I　ended　we　turned　into　High　Street；　in　the　prevailing　stillness；　the　faint　strains　of　the　band　reached　us　from　the　Empress　Rooms；　and　I　hailed　a　crawling　hansom　as　Raffles　turned　that　way。

〃Bunny；〃　said　he；　〃it's　no　use　saying　I'm　sorry。　　Sorrow　adds　insult　in　a　case　like　this　…　if　ever　there　was　or　will　be　such　another！　Only　believe　me；　Bunny；　when　I　swear　to　you　that　I　had　not　the　smallest　shadow　of　a　suspicion　that　she　was　in　the　house。〃

And　in　my　heart　of　hearts　I　did　believe　him；　but　I　could　n