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С˵£º a thief in the night ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

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th¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡and¡¡doors¡¡upon¡¡our¡¡left£»¡¡the¡¡banisters¡¡on¡¡our¡¡right£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡baize¡¡door¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡if¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Guillemard¡¡had¡¡not¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡live¡¡up¡¡to¡¡his¡¡sporting¡¡reputation£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡assuredly¡¡have¡¡laid¡¡one¡¡or¡¡other¡¡of¡¡us¡¡by¡¡the¡¡heels£»¡¡and¡¡either¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡tantamount¡¡to¡¡both¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡Raffles¡¡a¡¡headlong¡¡lead¡¡to¡¡the¡¡baize¡¡door£»¡¡I¡¡glanced¡¡down¡¡the¡¡great¡¡well¡¡of¡¡stairs£»¡¡and¡¡up¡¡came¡¡the¡¡daft¡¡yells¡¡of¡¡these¡¡sporting¡¡oafs£º

¡¨Gone¡¡away¡¡¡­¡¡gone¡¡away£¡¡¨

¡¨Yoick¡¡¡­¡¡yoick¡¡¡­¡¡yoick£¿¡¨

¡¨Yon¡­der¡¡they¡¡go£¿¡¨

And¡¡gone¡¡I¡¡had£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡baize¡¡door¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡landing£»¡¡with¡¡Raffles¡¡at¡¡my¡¡heels¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡held¡¡the¡¡swing¡¡door¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡him¡¡bang¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spluttering¡¡and¡¡blustering¡¡master¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡Other¡¡feet¡¡were¡¡already¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡backstairs£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡flight¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡we¡¡were¡¡racing¡¡along¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡corridor¡¡with¡¡the¡¡chuckle¡­headed¡¡pack¡¡at¡¡our¡¡heels¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡£¡¡but¡¡dark¡¡¡­¡¡they¡¡were¡¡the¡¡servants'¡¡bedrooms¡¡that¡¡we¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡now¡¡¡­¡¡but¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡doing¡£¡¡¡¡Round¡¡the¡¡last¡¡corner¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡first¡¡door¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡and¡¡we¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡¡underneath¡¡the¡¡tower¡£¡¡In¡¡our¡¡time¡¡a¡¡long¡¡stepladder¡¡had¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tower¡¡itself¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡rushed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡to¡¡the¡¡old¡¡corner¡£¡¡¡¡Thank¡¡God£»¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡was¡¡there¡¡still£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡leaped¡¡under¡¡us¡¡as¡¡we¡¡rushed¡¡aloft¡¡like¡¡one¡¡quadruped¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡breakneck¡¡trap¡­door¡¡was¡¡still¡¡protected¡¡by¡¡a¡¡curved¡¡brass¡¡stanchion£»¡¡this¡¡I¡¡grasped¡¡with¡¡one¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Raffles¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other¡¡as¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡my¡¡feet¡¡firm¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡tower¡¡floor¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡he¡¡sprawled¡¡after¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡down¡¡went¡¡the¡¡trap¡­door¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bang¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡leading¡¡hound¡£

I¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡dead¡­weight¡¡shake¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡crashed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡below£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡must¡¡have¡¡ducked£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡crash¡¡came¡£¡¡Meanwhile¡¡not¡¡a¡¡word¡¡passed¡¡between¡¡Raffles¡¡and¡¡me£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡me£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡led¡¡him£»¡¡without¡¡waste¡¡of¡¡breath¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡single¡¡syllable¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡merry¡¡lot¡¡below¡¡were¡¡still¡¡yelling¡¡and¡¡bellowing¡¡in¡¡full¡¡cry¡£

¡¨Gone¡¡to¡¡ground£¿¡¡¡¡screamed¡¡one¡£

¡¨Where's¡¡the¡¡terrier£¿¡¨¡¡screeched¡¡another¡£

But¡¡their¡¡host¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡girth¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡man¡¡like¡¡a¡¡soda¡­water¡¡bottle£»¡¡from¡¡my¡¡one¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡him¡¡on¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡¡­¡¡seemed¡¡sobered¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡stunned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡crack¡¡on¡¡that¡¡head¡¡of¡¡his¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡heard¡¡his¡¡fine¡¡voice¡¡no¡¡more£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡him¡¡straining¡¡every¡¡thew¡¡against¡¡the¡¡trap¡­door¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡Raffles¡¡and¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡side¡¡by¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡least¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡Raffles¡¡was¡¡standing£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡a¡¡light£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡found¡¡him¡¡on¡¡his¡¡knees¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡on¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡busy¡¡screwing¡¡down¡¡the¡¡trap¡­door¡¡with¡¡his¡¡gimlet¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡carried¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡gimlets¡¡for¡¡wedging¡¡doors£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡drove¡¡them¡¡all¡£¡¡in¡¡to¡¡the¡¡handle£»¡¡while¡¡I¡¡pulled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡stanchion¡¡and¡¡pushed¡¡with¡¡my¡¡feet¡£

But¡¡the¡¡upward¡¡pressure¡¡ceased¡¡before¡¡our¡¡efforts¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡creak¡¡again¡¡under¡¡a¡¡ponderous¡¡and¡¡slow¡¡descent£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡upright¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡flicker¡¡of¡¡a¡¡candle¡­end¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡lit¡¡and¡¡left¡¡burning¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡¡¡Raffles¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡four¡¡small¡¡windows¡¡in¡¡turn¡¡and¡¡then¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Is¡¡there¡¡any¡¡way¡¡out¡¡at¡¡all¡££¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡whispered£»¡¡as¡¡no¡¡other¡¡being¡¡would¡¡or¡¡could¡¡have¡¡whispered¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡led¡¡him¡¡into¡¡such¡¡a¡¡trap¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨We've¡¡no¡¡rope¡­ladder£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¨

¡¨Thanks¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡groaned¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡whole¡¡thing's¡¡my¡¡fault£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Nonsense£»¡¡Bunny£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡other¡¡way¡¡to¡¡run¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡what¡¡about¡¡these¡¡windows£¿¡¨

His¡¡magnanimity¡¡took¡¡me¡¡by¡¡the¡¡throat£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word¡¡I¡¡led¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡one¡¡window¡¡looking¡¡inward¡¡upon¡¡sloping¡¡slates¡¡and¡¡level¡¡leads¡£¡¡Often¡¡as¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡I¡¡had¡¡clambered¡¡over¡¡them£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fearful¡¡fun¡¡of¡¡risking¡¡life¡¡and¡¡limb£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡fascination¡¡of¡¡peering¡¡through¡¡the¡¡great¡¡square¡¡skylight£»¡¡down¡¡the¡¡well¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡below¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were£»¡¡however£»¡¡several¡¡smaller¡¡skylights£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡benefit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡top¡¡floor£»¡¡through¡¡any¡¡one¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡we¡¡might¡¡have¡¡made¡¡a¡¡dash¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡at¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡we¡¡were¡¡too¡¡late£º¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡skylights¡¡became¡¡a¡¡brilliant¡¡square¡¡before¡¡our¡¡eyes£»¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡admitted¡¡a¡¡flushed¡¡face¡¡on¡¡flaming¡¡shoulders¡£

¡¨I'll¡¡give¡¡them¡¡a¡¡fright£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡said¡¡Raffles¡¡through¡¡his¡¡teeth¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡he¡¡had¡¡plucked¡¡out¡¡his¡¡revolver£»¡¡smashed¡¡the¡¡window¡¡with¡¡its¡¡butt£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡slates¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bullet¡¡not¡¡a¡¡yard¡¡from¡¡the¡¡protruding¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡that£»¡¡I¡¡believe£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡shot¡¡that¡¡Raffles¡¡ever¡¡fired¡¡in¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡career¡¡as¡¡a¡¡midnight¡¡marauder¡£

¡¨You¡¡didn't¡¡hit¡¡him£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡gasped£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡head¡¡disappeared£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡crash¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corridor¡£

¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡didn't£»¡¡Bunny£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡replied£»¡¡backing¡¡into¡¡the¡¡tower£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡no¡¡one¡¡will¡¡believe¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡mean¡¡to£»¡¡and¡¡it'll¡¡stick¡¡on¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡if¡¡we're¡¡caught¡£¡¡¡¡That's¡¡nothing£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡gives¡¡us¡¡an¡¡extra¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡now£»¡¡while¡¡they¡¡hold¡¡a¡¡council¡¡of¡¡war¡£¡¡¡¡Is¡¡that¡¡a¡¡working¡¡flag¡­staff¡¡overhead£¿¡¨

¡¨It¡¡used¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¨

¡¨Then¡¡there'll¡¡be¡¡halliards¡£¡¨

¡¨They¡¡were¡¡as¡¡thin¡¡as¡¡clothes¡­lines¡£¡¨¡£

¡¨And¡¡they're¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡be¡¡rotten£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡should¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡cutting¡¡them¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡Bunny£»¡¡that¡¡won't¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡Wait¡¡a¡¡bit¡£¡¡¡¡Is¡¡there¡¡a¡¡lightning¡¡conductor£¿¡¨

¡¨There¡¡was¡£¡¨

I¡¡opened¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡side¡¡windows¡¡and¡¡reached¡¡out¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡£¡¡xyz¡¡¡¨You'll¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡from¡¡that¡¡skylight£¿¡¡¡¡cried¡¡Raffles¡¡in¡¡a¡¡warning¡¡undertone¡£

¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡won't¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡see¡¡it¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡here's¡¡the¡¡lightning¡­conductor£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡always¡¡was¡£¡¨

¡¨How¡¡thick£»¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Raffles£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡drew¡¡in¡¡and¡¡rejoined¡¡him¡£

¡¨Rather¡¡thicker¡¡than¡¡a¡¡lead¡­pencil¡£¡¨

¡¨They¡¡sometimes¡¡bear¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Raffles£»¡¡slipping¡¡on¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡white¡¡kid¡¡gloves£»¡¡and¡¡stuffing¡¡his¡¡handkerchief¡¡into¡¡the¡¡palm¡¡of¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡difficulty¡¡is¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡grip£»¡¡but¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡them¡¡before¡¡to¡­night¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡it's¡¡our¡¡only¡¡chance¡£¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡go¡¡first£»¡¡Bunny£º¡¡you¡¡watch¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡do¡¡exactly¡¡as¡¡I¡¡do¡¡if¡¡I¡¡get¡¡down¡¡all¡£¡¡right¡£¡¨

¡¨But¡¡if¡¡you¡¡don't£¿¡¨

¡¨If¡¡I¡¡don't£»¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡Raffles£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡wormed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡window¡¡feet¡¡foremost£»¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡afraid¡¡you'll¡¡have¡¡to¡¡face¡¡the¡¡music¡¡where¡¡you¡¡are£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡it¡¡down¡¡in¡¡Acheron£¡¡¨

And¡¡he¡¡slid¡¡out¡¡of¡¡reach¡¡without¡¡another¡¡word£»¡¡leaving¡¡me¡¡to¡¡shudder¡¡alike¡¡at¡¡his¡¡levity¡¡and¡¡his¡¡peril£»¡¡nor¡¡could¡¡I¡¡follow¡¡him¡¡very¡¡far¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wan¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡April¡¡stars£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡forearms¡¡resting¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡in¡¡the¡¡spout¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡around¡¡the¡¡tower£»¡¡between¡¡bricks¡¡and¡¡slates£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡level¡¡of¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡another¡¡dim¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡him¡¡lower¡¡still£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡eaves¡¡over¡¡the¡¡very¡¡room¡¡that¡¡we¡¡had¡¡ransacked¡£¡¡¡¡Thence¡¡the¡¡conductor¡¡ran¡¡straight¡¡to¡¡earth¡¡in¡¡an¡¡angle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡facade¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡since¡¡it¡¡had¡¡borne¡¡him¡¡thus¡¡far¡¡without¡¡mishap£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡Raffles¡¡was¡¡as¡¡good¡¡as¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡had¡¡neither¡¡his¡¡muscles¡¡nor¡¡his¡¡nerves£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡head¡¡swam¡¡as¡¡I¡¡mounted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡window¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡creep¡¡out¡¡backward¡¡in¡¡my¡¡turn¡£

So¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡at¡¡the¡¡last¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡had¡¡my¡¡first¡¡unobstructed¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡old¡¡tower¡¡of¡¡other¡¡days¡£¡¡¡¡Raffles¡¡was¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡the¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡candle¡¡was¡¡still¡¡burning¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡its¡¡dim¡¡light¡¡the¡¡familiar¡¡haunt¡¡was¡¡cruelly¡¡like¡¡itself¡¡of¡¡innocent¡¡memory¡£¡¡A¡¡lesser¡¡ladder¡¡still¡¡ascended¡¡to¡¡a¡¡tinier¡¡trap¡­door¡¡in¡¡the¡¡apex¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tower£»¡¡the¡¡fixed¡¡seats¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wearing¡¡their¡¡old£»¡¡old¡¡coat¡¡of¡¡grained¡¡varnish£»¡¡nay¡¡the¡¡varnish¡¡had¡¡its¡¡ancient¡¡smell£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡very¡¡vanes¡¡outside¡¡creaked¡¡their¡¡message¡¡to¡¡my¡¡ears¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡remembered¡¡whole¡¡days¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡spent£»¡¡whole¡¡books¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡read£»¡¡here¡¡in¡¡this¡¡favorite¡¡fastness¡¡of¡¡my¡¡boyhood¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡dirty¡¡little¡¡place£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dormer¡¡window¡¡in¡¡each¡¡of¡¡its¡¡four¡¡sloping¡¡sides£»¡¡became¡¡a¡¡gallery¡¡hung¡¡with¡¡poignant¡¡pictures¡¡of¡¡the¡¡past¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡here¡¡was¡¡I¡¡leaving¡¡it¡¡with¡¡my¡¡life¡¡in¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡my¡¡pockets¡¡full¡¡of¡¡stolen¡¡jewels£¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡superstition¡¡seized¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Suppose¡¡the¡¡conductor¡¡came¡¡down¡¡with¡¡me¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡suppose¡¡I¡¡slipped¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡was¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡dead£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡proceeds¡¡of¡¡my¡¡shameful¡¡crime¡¡upon¡¡me£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡very¡¡windows

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡where¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Came¡¡peeping¡¡in¡¡at¡¡dawn¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£

I¡¡hardly¡¡remember¡¡what¡¡I¡¡did¡¡or¡¡left¡¡undone¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡only¡¡know¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡broke£»¡¡that¡¡somehow¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡my¡¡hold£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡the¡¡wire¡¡ran¡¡red¡­hot¡¡through¡¡my¡¡palms¡¡so¡¡that¡¡both¡¡were¡¡torn¡¡and¡¡bleeding¡¡when¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡panting¡¡beside¡¡Raffles¡¡in¡¡the¡¡flower¡­beds¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡thinking¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¡Already¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡commotion¡¡in¡­doors£»¡¡the¡¡tidal¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡excitement¡¡which¡¡had¡¡swept¡¡all¡£¡¡before¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡regions¡¡was¡¡subsiding¡¡in¡¡as¡¡swift¡¡a¡¡rush¡¡downstairs£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡raced¡¡after¡¡Raffles¡¡along¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drive¡¡without¡¡daring¡¡to¡¡look¡¡behind¡£

We¡¡came¡¡out¡¡by¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡gate¡¡to¡¡that¡¡by¡¡which¡¡we¡¡had¡¡stolen¡¡in¡£¡¡Sharp¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡ran¡¡the¡¡private¡¡lane¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡stables¡¡and¡¡sharp¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡dashed¡¡Raffles£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡straight¡¡along¡¡the¡¡open¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡course¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡chosen£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡Raffles¡¡without¡¡a¡¡murmur£»¡¡only¡¡too¡¡thankful¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡assumed¡¡the¡¡lead¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡¡¡Already¡¡the¡¡stables¡¡were¡¡lit¡¡up¡¡like¡¡a¡¡chandelier£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡staccato¡¡rattle¡¡of¡¡horseshoes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡yard£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡great¡¡gates¡¡were¡¡opening¡¡as¡¡we¡¡skimmed¡¡past¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nick¡¡of¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡another¡¡minute¡¡we¡¡were¡¡skulking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡­garden¡¡wall¡¡while¡¡the¡¡high¡­road¡¡rang¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dying¡¡tattoo¡¡of¡¡galloping¡¡hoofs¡£

¡¨That's¡¡for¡¡the¡¡police£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Raffles£»¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡the¡¡fun's¡¡only¡¡beginning¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stables¡£¡¡¡¡Hear¡¡the¡¡uproar£»¡¡and¡¡see¡¡the¡¡lights£¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡another¡¡minute¡¡they'll¡¡be¡¡turning¡¡out¡¡the¡¡hunters¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡run¡¡of¡¡the¡¡season

¡¨We¡¡mustn't¡¡give¡¡them¡¡one£»¡¡Raffles£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡we¡¡mustn't£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡means¡¡stopping¡¡where¡¡we¡¡are¡£¡¨

¡¨We¡¡can't¡¡do¡¡that£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡they

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