a thief in the night-第7节

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There　was　only　one　course　for　me。　　I　must　follow　my　instructions　to　the　letter　and　recover　the　chest　at　all　hazards；　or　be　taken　myself　in　the　attempt。　　If　only　Raffles　had　left　me　some　address；　to　which　I　could　have　wired　some　word　of　warning！　　But　it　was　no　use　thinking　of　that；　for　the　rest　there　was　time　enough　up　to　four　o'clock；　and　as　yet　it　was　not　three。　　I　determined　to　go　through　with　my　bath　and　make　the　most　of　it。　　Might　it　not　be　my　last　for　years？

But　I　was　past　enjoying　even　a　Turkish　bath。　　I　had　not　the　patience　for　a　proper　shampoo；　or　sufficient　spirit　for　the　plunge。　　I　weighed　myself　automatically；　for　that　was　a　matter　near　my　heart；　but　I　forgot　to　give　my　man　his　sixpence　until　the　reproachful　intonation　of　his　adieu　recalled　me　to　myself。　　And　my　couch　in　the　cooling　gallery　…　my　favorite　couch；　in　my　favorite　corner；　which　I　had　secured　with　gusto　on　coming　in　…　it　was　a　bed　of　thorns；　with　hideous　visions　of　a　plank…bed　to　follow！

I　ought　to　be　able　to　add　that　I　heard　the　burglary　discussed　on　adjacent　couches　before　I　left　I　certainly　listened　for　it；　and　was　rather　disappointed　more　than　once　when　I　had　held　my　breath　in　vain。　But　this　is　the　unvarnished　record　of　an　odious　hour；　and　it　passed　without　further　aggravation　from　without；　only；　as　I　drove　to　Sloane　Street；　the　news　was　on　all　the　posters；　and　on　one　I　read　of　〃a　clew〃　which　spelt　for　me　a　doom　I　was　grimly　resolved　to　share。

Already　there　was　something　in　the　nature　of　a　〃run〃　up　on　the　Sloane　Street　branch　of　the　City　and　Suburban。　　A　cab　drove　away　with　a　chest　of　reasonable　dimensions　as　mine　drove　up；　while　in　the　bank　itself　a　lady　was　making　a　painful　scene。　　As　for　the　genial　clerk　who　had　roared　at　my　jokes　the　day　before；　he　was　mercifully　in　no　mood　for　any　more；　but；　on　the　contrary；　quite　rude　to　me　at　sight。

〃I've　been　expecting　you　all　the　afternoon；〃　said　he。　　〃You　needn't　look　so　pale。〃

〃Is　it　safe？〃

〃That　Noah's　Ark　of　yours？　　Yes；　so　I　hear；　they'd　just　got　to　it　when　they　were　interrupted；　and　they　never　went　back　again。〃

〃Then　it　wasn't　even　opened？〃

〃Only　just　begun　on；　I　believe。〃

〃Thank　God！〃

〃You　may；　we　don't；〃　growled　the　clerk。　　〃The　manager　says　he　believes　your　chest　was　at　the　bottom　of　it　all。〃

〃How　could　it　be？〃　I　asked　uneasily。

〃By　being　seen　on　the　cab　a　mile　off；　and　followed；〃　said　the　clerk。

〃Does　the　manager　want　to　see　me？〃　I　asked　boldly。

〃Not　unless　you　want　to　see　him；〃　was　the　blunt　reply。　　〃He's　been　at　it　with　others　all。　the　afternoon；　and　they　haven't　all。　got　off　as　cheap　as　you。〃

〃Then　my　silver　shall　not　embarrass　you　any　longer；〃　said　I　grandly。　〃I　meant　to　leave　it　if　it　was　all。　right；　but　after　all。　you　have　said　I　certainly　shall　not。　　Let　your　man　or　men　bring　up　the　chest　at　once。　　I　dare　say　they　also　have　been　'at　it　with　others　all。　the　afternoon；'　but　I　shall　make　this　worth　their　while。〃

I　did　not　mind　driving　through　the　streets　with　the　thing　this　time。　My　present　relief　was　too　overwhelming　as　yet　to　admit　of　pangs　and　fears　for　the　immediate　future。　　No　summer　sun　had　ever　shone　more　brightly　than　that　rather　watery　one　of　early　April。　　There　was　a　green…and…gold　dust　of　buds　and　shoots　on　the　trees　as　we　passed　the　park。　　I　felt　greater　things　sprouting　in　my　heart。　　Hansoms　passed　with　schoolboys　just　home　for　the　Easter　holidays；　four…wheelers　outward　bound；　with　bicycles　and　perambulators　atop；　none　that　rode　in　them　were　half　so　happy　as　I；　with　the　great　load　on　my　cab；　but　the　greater　one　off　my　heart。

At　Mount　Street　it　just　went　into　the　lift；　that　was　a　stroke　of　luck；　and　the　lift…man　and　I　between　us　carried　it　into　my　flat。　It　seemed　a　featherweight　to　me　now。　　I　felt　a　Samson　in　the　exaltation　of　that　hour。　　And　I　will　not　say　what　my　first　act　was　when　I　found　myself　alone　with　my　white　elephant　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　enough　that　the　siphon　was　still　doing　its　work　when　the　glass　slipped　through　my　fingers　to　the　floor。

〃Bunny！〃

It　was　Raffles。　　Yet　for　a　moment　I　looked　about　me　quite　in　vain。　He　was　not　at　the　window；　he　was　not　at　the　open　door。　　And　yet　Raffles　it　had　been；　or　at　all。　events　his　voice；　and　that　bubbling　over　with　fun　and　satisfaction；　be　his　body　where　it　might。　　In　the　end　I　dropped　my　eyes；　and　there　was　his　living　face　in　the　middle　of　the　lid　of　the　chest；　like　that　of　the　saint　upon　its　charger。

But　Raffles　was　alive；　Raffles　was　laughing　as　though　his　vocal　cords　would　snap　…　there　was　neither　tragedy　nor　illusion　in　the　apparition　of　Raffles。　　A　life…size　Jack…in…the…box；　he　had　thrust　his　head　through　a　lid　within　the　lid；　cut　by　himself　between　the　two　iron　bands　that　ran　round　the　chest　like　the　straps　of　a　portmanteau。　　He　must　have　been　busy　at　it　when　I　found　him　pretending　to　pack；　if　not　far　into　that　night；　for　it　was　a　very　perfect　piece　of　work；　and　even　as　I　stared　without　a　word；　and　he　crouched　laughing　in　my　face；　an　arm　came　squeezing　out；　keys　in　hand；　one　was　turned　in　either　of　the　two　great　padlocks；　the　whole　lid　lifted；　and　out　stepped　Raffles　like　the　conjurer　he　was。

〃So　you　were　the　burglar！〃　I　exclaimed　at　last。　　〃Well；　I　am　just　as　glad　I　didn't　know。〃

He　had　wrung　my　hand　already；　but　at　this　he　fairly　mangled　it　in　his。

〃You　dear　little　brick；〃　he　cried；　〃that's　the　one　thing　of　all。　things　I　longed　to　hear　you　say！　　How　could　you　have　behaved　as　you've　done　if　you　had　known？　　How　could　any　living　man？　　How　could　you　have　acted；　as　the　polar　star　of　all。　the　stages　could　not　have　acted　in　your　place？　　Remember　that　I　have　heard　a　lot；　and　as　good　as　seen　as　much　as　I've　heard。　　Bunny；　I　don't　know　where　you　were　greatest：　at　the　Albany；　here；　or　at　your　bank！〃

〃I　don't　know　where　I　was　most　miserable；〃　I　rejoined；　beginning　to　see　the　matter　in　a　less　perfervid　light。　　〃I　know　you　don't　credit　me　with　much　finesse；　but　I　would　undertake　to　be　in　the　secret　and　to　do　quite　as　well；　the　only　difference　would　be　in　my　own　peace　of　mind；　which；　of　course；　doesn't　count。〃

But　Raffles　wagged　away　with　his　most　charming　and　disarming　smile；　he　was　in　old　clothes；　rather　tattered　and　torn；　and　more　than　a　little　grimy　as　to　the　face　and　hands；　but；　on　the　surface；　wonderfully　little　the　worse　for　his　experience。　　And；　as　I　say；　his　smile　was　the　smile　of　the　Raffles　I　loved　best。

〃You　would　have　done　your　damnedest；　Bunny！　　There　is　no　limit　to　your　heroism；　but　you　forget　the　human　equation　in　the　pluckiest　of　the　plucky。　　I　couldn't　afford　to　forget　it；　Bunny；　I　couldn't　afford　to　give　a　point　away。　　Don't　talk　as　though　I　hadn't　trusted　you！　　I　trusted　my　very　life　to　your　loyal　tenacity。　　What　do　you　suppose　would　have　happened　to　me　if　you　had　let　me　rip　in　that　strong…room？　　Do　you　think　I　would　ever　have　crept　out　and　given　myself　up？　　Yes；　I'll　have　a　peg　for　once；　the　beauty　of　all。　laws　is　in　the　breaking；　even　of　the　kind　we　make　unto　ourselves。〃

I　had　a　Sullivan　for　him；　too；　and　in　another　minute　he　was　spread　out　on　my　sofa；　stretching　his　cramped　limbs　with　infinite　gusto；　a　cigarette　between　his　fingers；　a　yellow　bumper　at　hand　on　the　chest　of　his　triumph　and　my　tribulation。

〃Never　mind　when　it　occurred　to　me；　Bunny；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　it　was　only　the　other　day；　when　I　had　decided　to　go　away　for　the　real　reasons　I　have　already　given　you。　　I　may　have　made　more　of　them　to　you　than　I　do　in　my　own　mind；　but　at　all。　events　they　exist。　　And　I　really　did　want　the　telephone　and　the　electric　light。〃

〃But　where　did　you　stow　the　silver　before　you　went？〃

〃Nowhere；　it　was　my　luggage　…　a　portmanteau；　cricket…bag；　and　suit…case　full　of　very　little　else　…　and　by　the　same　token　I　left　the　lot　at　Euston；　and　one　of　us　must　fetch　them　this　evening。〃

〃I　can　do　that；〃　said　I。　　〃But　did　you　really　go　all。　the　way　to　Crewe？〃

〃Didn't　you　get　my　note？　　I　went　all。　the　way　to　Crewe　to　post　you　those　few　lines；　my　dear　Bunny！　　It's　no　use　taking　trouble　if　you　don't　take　trouble　enough；　I　wanted　you　to　show　the　proper　set　of　faces　at　the　bank　and　elsewhere；　and　I　know　you　did。　　Besides；　there　was　an　up…train　four　minutes　after　mine　got　in。　　I　simply　posted　my　letter　in　Crewe　station；　and　changed　from　one　train　to　the　other。〃

〃At　two　in　the　morning！〃

〃Nearer　three；　Bunny。　　It　was　after　seven　when　I　slung　in　with　the　Daily　Mail。　　The　milk　had　beaten　me　by　a　short　can。　　But　even　so　I　had　two　very　good　hours　before　you　were　due。〃

〃And　to　think；〃　I　murmured；　〃how　you　deceived　me　there！〃

〃With　your　own　assistance；〃　said　Raffles　laughing。　　〃If　you　had　looked　it　up　you　would　have　seen　there　was　no　such　train　in　the　morning；　and　I　never　said　there　was。　　But　I　meant　you　to　be　deceived；　Bunny；　and　I　won't　say　I　didn't　…　it　was　all。　for　the　sake　of　the　side！　　Well；　when　you　carted　me　away　with　such　laudable　despatch；　I　had　rather　an　uncomfortable　half…hour；　but　that　was　all。　just　then。　　I　had　my　candle；　I　had　matches；　and　lots　to　read。　It　was　quite　nice　in　that　strong…room　until　a　very　unpleasant　incident　occurred。〃

〃Do　tell　me；　my　dear　fellow！〃

〃I　must　have　another　Sullivan　…　thank　you　…　and　a　match。　　The　unpleasant　incident　was　steps　outside　and　a　key　in　the　lock！　　I　was　disporting　myself　on　the　lid　of　the　trunk　at　t