a thief in the night-第23节

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buried　his　face。　　I　watched　him　closely　as　a　subtle　odor　reached　my　nostrils；　and　it　was　like　the　miracle　of　oil　upon　the　billows。　　His　shoulders　rested　from　long　travail；　the　stertorous　gasping　died　away　to　a　quick　but　natural　respiration；　and　in　the　sudden　cessation　of　the　cruel　contest；　an　uncanny　stillness　fell　upon　the　scene。　Meanwhile　the　hidden　face　had　flushed　to　the　ears；　and；　when　at　length　it　was　raised　to　mine；　its　crimson　calm　was　as　incongruous　as　an　optical　illusion。

〃It　takes　the　blood　from　the　heart；〃　he　murmured；　〃and　clears　the　whole　show　for　the　moment。　　If　it　only　lasted！　　But　you　can't　take　two　without　a　doctor；　one's　quite　enough　to　make　you　smell　the　brimstone。。。。　　I　say；　what's　up？　　You're　listening　to　something！　If　it's　the　policeman　we'll　have　a　word　with　him。〃

It　was　not　the　policeman；　it　was　no　out…door　sound　that　I　had　caught　in　the　sudden　cessation　of　the　bout　for　breath。　　It　was　a　noise；　a　footstep；　in　the　room　below　us。　　I　went　to　the　window　and　leaned　out：　right　underneath；　in　the　conservatory；　was　the　faintest　glimmer　of　a　light　in　the　adjoining　room。

〃One　of　the　rooms　where　the　presents　are！〃　whispered　Medlicott　at　my　elbow。　　And　as　we　withdrew　together；　I　looked　him　in　the　face　as　I　had　not　done　all。　night。

I　looked　him　in　the　face　like　an　honest　man；　for　a　miracle　was　to　make　me　one　once　more。　　My　knot　was　cut　…　my　course　inevitable。　Mine；　after　all。；　to　prevent　the　very　thing　that　I　had　come　to　do！　My　gorge　had　long　since　risen　at　the　deed；　the　unforeseen　circumstances　had　rendered　it　impossible　from　the　first；　but　now　I　could　afford　to　recognize　the　impossibility；　and　to　think　of　Raffles　and　the　asthmatic　alike　without　a　qualm。　　I　could　play　the　game　by　them　both；　for　it　was　one　and　the　same　game。　　I　could　preserve　thieves'　honor；　and　yet　regain　some　shred　of　that　which　I　had　forfeited　as　a　man！

So　I　thought　as　we　stood　face　to　face；　our　ears　straining　for　the　least　movement　below；　our　eyes　locked　in　a　common　anxiety。　　Another　muffled　foot…fall　…　felt　rather　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　tha