a thief in the night-第9节

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　I　follow　cabs。　　Yes；　Bunny；　I　turn　out　about　dusk　and　meet　the　expresses　at　Euston　or　King's　Cross；　that　is；　of　course；　I　loaf　outside　and　pick　my　cab；　and　often　run　my　three　or　four　miles　for　a　bob　or　less。　　And　it　not　only　keeps　you　in　the　very　pink：　if　you're　good　they　let　you　carry　the　trunks　up…stairs；　and　I've　taken　notes　from　the　inside　of　more　than　one　commodious　residence　which　will　come　in　useful　in　the　autumn。　　In　fact；　Bunny；　what　with　these　new　Rowton　houses；　my　beard；　and　my　otherwise　well…spent　holiday；　I　hope　to　have　quite　a　good　autumn　season　before　the　erratic　Raffles　turns　up　in　town。〃

I　felt　it　high　time　to　wedge　in　a　word　about　my　own　far　less　satisfactory　affairs。　　But　it　was　not　necessary　for　me　to　recount　half　my　troubles。　　Raffles　could　be　as　full　of　himself　as　many　a　worse　man；　and　I　did　not　like　his　society　the　less　for　these　human　outpourings。　　They　had　rather　the　effect　of　putting　me　on　better　terms　with　myself；　through　bringing　him　down　to　my　level　for　the　time　being。　　But　his　egoism　was　not　even　skin…deep；　it　was　rather　a　cloak；　which　Raffles　could　cast　off　quicker　than　any　man　I　ever　knew；　as　he　did　not　fail　to　show　me　now。

〃Why；　Bunny；　this　is　the　very　thing！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　must　come　and　stay　with　me；　and　we'll　lie　low　side　by　side。　　Only　remember　it　really　is　a　Rest　Cure。　　I　want　to　keep　literally　as　quiet　as　I　was　without　you。　　What　do　you　say　to　forming　ourselves　at　once　into　a　practically　Silent　Order？　　You　agree？　　Very　well；　then；　here's　the　street　and　that's　the　house。〃

It　was　ever　such　a　quiet　little　street；　turning　out　of　one　of　those　which　climb　right　over　the　pleasant　hill。　　One　side　was　monopolized　by　the　garden　wall　of　an　ugly　but　enviable　mansion　standing　in　its　own　ground；　opposite　were　a　solid　file　of　smaller　but　taller　houses；　on　neither　side　were　there　many　windows　alight；　nor　a　solitary　soul　on　the　pavement　or　in　the　road。　　Raffles　led　the　way　to　one　of　the　small　tall　houses。　　It　stood　immediately　behind　a　lamppost；　and　I　could　not　but　notice　that　a　love…lock　of　Virginia　creeper　was　trailing　almost　to　the　step；　and　that　the　bow…window　on　the　ground　floor　was　closely　shuttered。　　Raffles　admitted　himself　with　his　latch…key；　and　I　squeezed　past　him　into　a　very　narrow　hall。　　I　did　not　hear　him　shut　the　door；　but　we　were　no　longer　in　the　lamplight；　and　he　pushed　softly　past　me　in　his　turn。

〃I'll　get　a　light；〃　he　muttered　as　he　went；　but　to　let　him　pass　I　had　leaned　against　some　electric　switches；　and　while　'his　back　was　turned　I　tried　one　of　these　without　thinking。　　In　an　instant　hall　and　staircase　were　flooded　with　light；　in　another　Raffles　was　upon　me　in　a　fury；　and；　all。　was　dark　once　more。　　He　had　not　said　a　word；　but　I　heard　him　breathing　through　his　teeth。

Nor　was　there　anything　to　tell　me　now。　　The　mere　flash　of　electric　light　upon　a　hail　of　chaos　and　uncarpeted　stairs；　and　on　the　face　of　Raffles　as　he　sprang　to　switch　it　off；　had　been　enough　even　for　me。

〃So　this　is　how　you　have　taken　the　house；〃　said　I　in　his　own　undertone。　　〃'Taken'　is　good；　'taken'　is　beautiful！〃

〃Did　you　think　I'd　done　it　through　an　agent？〃　he　snarled。　　〃Upon　my　word；　Bunny；　I　did　you　the　credit　of　supposing　you　saw　the　joke　all。　the　time！〃

〃Why　shouldn't　you　take　a　house；〃　I　asked；　〃and　pay　for　it？〃

〃Why　should　I；〃　he　retorted；　〃within　three　miles　of　the　Albany？　Besides；　I　should　have　had　no　peace；　and　I　meant　every　word　I　said　about　my　Rest　Cure。〃

〃You　are　actually　staying　in　a　house　where　you've　broken　in　to　steal？〃

〃Not　to　steal；　Bunny！　　I　haven't　stolen　a　thing。　　But　staying　here　I　certainly　am；　and　having　the　most　complete　rest　a　busy　man　could　wish。〃

〃There'll　be　no　rest　for　me！〃

Raffles　laughed　as　he　struck　a　match。　　I　had　followed　him　into　what　would　have　been　the　back　drawing…room　in　the　ordinary　little　London　house；　the　inspector　of　prisons　had　converted　it　into　a　separate　study　by　filling　the　folding　doors　with　book…shelves；　which　I　scanned　at　once　for　the　congenial　works　of　which　Raffles　had　spoken。　　I　was　not　able　to　carry　my　examination　very　far。　　Raffles　had　lighted　a　candle；　stuck　（by　its　own　grease）　in　the　crown　of　an　opera　hat；　which　he　opened　the　moment　the　wick　caught。　　The　light　thus　struck　the　ceiling　in　an　oval　shaft；　which　left　the　rest　of　the　room　almost　as　dark　as　it　had　been　before。

〃Sorry；　Bunny！〃　said　Raffles；　sitting　on　one　pedestal　of　a　desk　from　which　the　top　had　been　removed；　and　setting　his　makeshift　lantern　on　the　other。　　〃In　broad　daylight；　when　it　can't　be　spotted　from　the　outside；　you　shall　have　as　much　artificial　light　as　you　like。　　If　you　want　to　do　some　writing；　that's　the　top　of　the　desk　on　end　against　the　mantlepiece。　　You'll　never　have　a　better　chance　so　far　as　interruption　goes。　　But　no　midnight　oil　or　electricity！　　You　observe　that　their　last　care　was　to　fix　up　these　shutters；　they　appear　to　have　taken　the　top　off　the　desk　to　get　at　'em　without　standing　on　it；　but　the　beastly　things　wouldn't　go　all。　the　way　up；　and　the　strip　they　leave　would　give　us　away　to　the　backs　of　the　other　houses　if　we　lit　up　after　dark。　　Mind　that　telephone！　　If　you　touch　the　receiver　they　will　know　at　the　exchange　that　the　house　is　not　empty；　and　I　wouldn't　put　it　past　the　colonel　to　have　told　them　exactly　how　long　he　was　going　to　be　away。　　He's　pretty　particular：　look　at　the　strips　of　paper　to　keep　the　dust　off　his　precious　books！〃

〃Is　he　a　colonel？〃　I　asked；　perceiving　that　Raffles　referred　to　the　absentee　householder。

〃Of　sappers；〃　he　replied；　〃and　a　V。C。　into　the　bargain；　confound　him！　Got　it　at　Rorke's　Drift；　prison　governor　or　inspector　ever　since；　favorite　recreation；　what　do　you　think？　　Revolver　shooting！　　You　can　read　all。　about　him　in　his　own　Who's　Who。　　A　devil　of　a　chap　to　tackle；　Bunny；　when　he's　at　home！〃

〃And　where　is　he　now？〃　I　asked　uneasily。　　And　do　you　know　he　isn't　on　his　way　home？〃

〃Switzerland；〃　replied　Raffles；　chuckling；　〃he　wrote　one　too　many　labels；　and　was　considerate　enough　to　leave　it　behind　for　our　guidance。　　Well；　no　one　ever　comes　back　from　Switzerland　at　the　beginning　of　September；　you　know；　and　nobody　ever　thinks　of　coming　back　before　the　servants。　When　they　turn　up　they　won't　get　in。　　I　　keep　the　latch　jammed；　but　the　servants　will　think　it's　jammed　itself；　and　while　they're　gone　for　the　locksmith　we　shall　walk　out　like　gentlemen　…　if　we　haven't　done　so　already。〃

〃As　you　walked　in；　I　suppose？〃

Raffles　shook　his　head　in　the　dim　light　to　which　my　sight　was　growing　inured。

〃No；　Bunny；　I　regret　to　say　I　came　in　through　the　dormer　window。　They　were　painting　next　door　but　one。　　I　never　did　like　ladder　work；　but　it　takes　less　time　than　in　picking　a　lock　in　the　broad　light　of　a　street　lamp。〃

〃So　they　left　you　a　latch…key　as　well　as　everything　else！〃

〃No；　Bunny。　　I　was　just　able　to　make　that　for　myself。　　I　am　playing　at　'Robinson　Crusoe；'　not　'The　Swiss　Family　Robinson。'　　And　now；　my　dear　Friday；　if　you　will　kindly　take　off　those　boots；　we　can　explore　the　island　before　we　turn　in　for　the　night。〃

The　stairs　were　very　steep　and　narrow；　and　they　creaked　alarmingly　as　Raffles　led　the　way　up；　with　the　single　candle　in　the　crown　of　the　colonel's　hat。　　He　blew　it　out　before　we　reached　the　half…landing；　where　a　naked　window　stared　upon　the　backs　of　the　houses　in　the　next　road；　but　lit　it　again　at　the　drawing…room　door。　　I　just　peeped　in　upon　a　semi…grand　swathed　in　white　and　a　row　of　water　colors　mounted　in　gold。　　An　excellent　bathroom　broke　our　journey　to　the　second　floor。

〃I'll　have　one　to…night；〃　said　I；　taking　heart　of　a　luxury　unknown　in　my　last　sordid　sanctuary。

〃You'll　do　no　such　thing；〃　snapped　Raffles。　　〃Have　the　goodness　to　remember　that　our　island　is　one　of　a　group　inhabited　by　hostile　tribes。　　You　can　fill　the　bath　quietly　if　you　try；　but　it　empties　under　the　study　window；　and　makes　the　very　devil　of　a　noise　about　　it。　　No；　Bunny；　I　bale　out　every　drop　and　pour　it　away　through　the　scullery　sink；　so　you　will　kindly　consult　me　before　you　turn　a　tap。　Here's　your　room；　hold　the　light　outside　while　I　draw　the　curtains；　it's　the　old　chap's　dressing…room。　　Now　you　can　bring　the　glim。　How's　that　for　a　jolly　wardrobe？　　And　look　at　his　coats　on　their　cross…trees　inside：　dapper　old　dog；　shouldn't　you　say？　　Mark　the　boots　on　the　shelf　above；　and　the　little　brass　rail　for　his　ties！　Didn't　I　tell　you　he　was　particular？　　And　wouldn't　he　simply　love　to　catch　us　at　his　kit？〃

〃Let's　only　hope　it　would　give　him　an　apoplexy；〃　said　I　shuddering。

〃I　shouldn't　build　on　it；〃　replied　Raffles。　　〃That's　a　big　man's　trouble；　and　neither　you　nor　I　could　get　into　the　old　chap's　clothes。　But　come　into　the　best　bedroom；　Bunny。　　You　won't　think　me　selfish　if　I　don't　give　it　up　to　you？　　Look　at　this；　my　boy；　look　at　this！　It's　the　only　one　I　use　in　all。　the　house。〃

I　had　followed　him　into　a　good　room；　with　ample　windows　closely　curtained；　and　he　had　switched　on　the　light　in　a　hanging　lamp　at　the　bedside。　　The　rays　fell　from　a　thick　green　funnel　in　a　plateful　of　strong　light　upon　a　table　deep　in　books。　　I　noticed　several　volumes　of　the　〃Invasion　of　the　Crimea。〃

〃That's　where　I　rest　the　body　and　exercise　the　brain；〃　said　Raffles。　〃I　have　long　wanted　to　read　my　Kinglake　from　A　to　Z；　and　I　manage　about　a　volum