the amateur cracksman-第13节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　at　Paddington；　and　were　skimming　through　the　streets　in　a　hansom　with　noiseless　tires　and　a　tinkling　bell。

〃Well；　Bunny；〃　said　Raffles；　〃so　the　professors　have　it；　eh？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　I。　　〃And　I'm　jolly　glad！〃

〃That　poor　Mackenzie　has　a　ball　in　his　chest？〃

〃That　you　and　I　have　been　on　the　decent　side　for　once。〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃You're　hopeless；　Bunny；　quite　hopeless！　　I　take　it　you　wouldn't　have　refused　your　share　if　the　boodle　had　fallen　to　us？　　Yet　you　positively　enjoy　coming　off　second　bestfor　the　second　time　running！　　I　confess；　however；　that　the　professors'　methods　were　full　of　interest　to　me。　　I；　for　one；　have　probably　gained　as　much　in　experience　as　I　have　lost　in　other　things。　　That　lowering　the　jewel…case　out　of　the　window　was　a　very　simple　and　effective　expedient；　two　of　them　had　been　waiting　below　for　it　for　hours。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　I　asked。

〃I　saw　them　from　my　own　window；　which　was　just　above　the　dear　old　lady's。　　I　was　fretting　for　that　necklace　in　particular；　when　I　went　up　to　turn　in　for　our　last　nightand　I　happened　to　look　out　of　my　window。　　In　point　of　fact；　I　wanted　to　see　whether　the　one　below　was　open；　and　whether　there　was　the　slightest　chance　of　working　the　oracle　with　my　sheet　for　a　rope。　　Of　course　I　took　the　precaution　of　turning　my　light　off　first；　and　it　was　a　lucky　thing　I　did。　　I　saw　the　pros。　right　down　below；　and　they　never　saw　me。　　I　saw　a　little　tiny　luminous　disk　just　for　an　instant；　and　then　again　for　an　instant　a　few　minutes　later。　　Of　course　I　knew　what　it　was；　for　I　have　my　own　watch…dial　daubed　with　luminous　paint；　it　makes　a　lantern　of　sorts　when　you　can　get　no　better。　　But　these　fellows　were　not　using　theirs　as　a　lantern。　　They　were　under　the　old　lady's　window。　　They　were　watching　the　time。　　The　whole　thing　was　arranged　with　their　accomplice　inside。　　Set　a　thief　to　catch　a　thief：　in　a　minute　I　had　guessed　what　the　whole　thing　proved　to　be。〃

〃And　you　did　nothing！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃On　the　contrary；　I　went　downstairs　and　straight　into　Lady　Melrose's　room〃

〃You　did？〃

〃Without　a　moment's　hesitation。　　To　save　her　jewels。　　And　I　was　prepared　to　yell　as　much　into　her　ear…trumpet　for　all　the　house　to　hear。　　But　the　dear　lady　is　too　deaf　and　too　fond　of　her　dinner　to　wake　easily。〃

〃Well？〃

〃She　didn't　stir。〃

〃And　yet　you　allowed　the　professors；　as　you　call　them；　to　take　her　jewels；　case　and　all！〃

〃All　but　this；〃　said　Raffles；　thrusting　his　fist　into　my　lap。　　〃I　would　have　shown　it　you　before；　but　really；　old　fellow；　your　face　all　day　has　been　worth　a　fortune　to　the　firm！〃

And　he　opened　his　fist；　to　shut　it　next　instant　on　the　bunch　of　diamonds　and　of　sapphires　that　I　had　last　seen　encircling　the　neck　of　Lady　Melrose。

　　LE　PREMIER　PAS

That　night　he　told　me　the　story　of　his　earliest　crime。　　Not　since　the　fateful　morning　of　the　Ides　of　March；　when　he　had　just　mentioned　it　as　an　unreported　incident　of　a　certain　cricket　tour；　had　I　succeeded　in　getting　a　word　out　of　Raffles　on　the　subject。　　It　was　not　for　want　of　trying；　he　would　shake　his　head；　and　watch　his　cigarette　smoke　thoughtfully；　a　subtle　look　in　his　eyes；　half　cynical；　half　wistful；　as　though　the　decent　honest　days　that　were　no　more　had　had　their　merits　after　all。　　Raffles　would　plan　a　fresh　enormity；　or　glory　in　the　last；　with　the　unmitigated　enthusiasm　of　the　artist。　　It　was　impossible　to　imagine　one　throb　or　twitter　of　compunction　beneath　those　frankly　egotistic　and　infectious　transports。　　And　yet　the　ghost　of　a　dead　remorse　seemed　still　to　visit　him　with　the　memory　of　his　first　felony；　so　that　I　had　given　the　story　up　long　before　the　night　of　our　return　from　Milchester。　　Cricket；　however；　was　in　the　air；　and　Raffles's　cricket…bag　back　where　he　sometimes　kept　it；　in　the　fender；　with　the　remains　of　an　Orient　label　still　adhering　to　the　leather。　　My　eyes　had　been　on　this　label　for　some　time；　and　I　suppose　his　eyes　had　been　on　mine；　for　all　at　once　he　asked　me　if　I　still　burned　to　hear　that　yarn。

〃It's　no　use；〃　I　replied。　　〃You　won't　spin　it。　I　must　imagine　it　for　myself。〃

〃How　can　you？〃

〃Oh；　I　begin　to　know　your　methods。〃

〃You　take　it　I　went　in　with　my　eyes　open；　as　I　do　now；　eh？〃

〃I　can't　imagine　your　doing　otherwise。〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　it　was　the　most　unpremeditated　thing　I　ever　did　in　my　life！〃

His　chair　wheeled　back　into　the　books　as　he　sprang　up　with　sudden　energy。　　There　was　quite　an　indignant　glitter　in　his　eyes。

〃I　can't　believe　that；〃　said　I　craftily。　　〃I　can't　pay　you　such　a　poor　compliment！〃

〃Then　you　must　be　a　fool〃

He　broke　off；　stared　hard　at　me；　and　in　a　trice　stood　smiling　in　his　own　despite。

〃Or　a　better　knave　than　I　thought　you；　Bunny；　and　by　Jove　it's　the　knave！　　WellI　suppose　I'm　fairly　drawn；　I　give　you　best；　as　they　say　out　there。　　As　a　matter　of　fact　I've　been　thinking　of　the　thing　myself；　last　night's　racket　reminds　me　of　it　in　one　or　two　respects。　　I　tell　you　what；　though；　this　is　an　occasion　in　any　case；　and　I'm　going　to　celebrate　it　by　breaking　the　one　good　rule　of　my　life。　　I'm　going　to　have　a　second　drink！〃

The　whiskey　tinkled；　the　syphon　fizzed；　the　ice　plopped　home；　and　seated　there　in　his　pyjamas；　with　the　inevitable　cigarette；　Raffles　told　me　the　story　that　I　had　given　up　hoping　to　hear。　　The　windows　were　wide　open；　the　sounds　of　Piccadilly　floated　in　at　first。　　Long　before　he　finished；　the　last　wheels　had　rattled；　the　last　brawler　was　removed；　we　alone　broke　the　quiet　of　the　summer　night。


〃。　。　。　No；　they　do　you　very　well；　indeed。　You　pay　for　nothing　but　drinks；　so　to　speak；　but　I'm　afraid　mine　were　of　a　comprehensive　character。　　I　had　started　in　a　hole；　I　ought　really　to　have　refused　the　invitation；　then　we　all　went　to　the　Melbourne　Cup；　and　I　had　the　certain　winner　that　didn't　win；　and　that's　not　the　only　way　you　can　play　the　fool　in　Melbourne。　　I　wasn't　the　steady　old　stager　I　am　now；　Bunny；　my　analysis　was　a　confession　in　itself。　　But　the　others　didn't　know　how　hard　up　I　was；　and　I　swore　they　shouldn't。　　I　tried　the　Jews；　but　they're　extra　fly　out　there。　Then　I　thought　of　a　kinsman　of　sorts；　a　second　cousin　of　my　father's　whom　none　of　us　knew　anything　about；　except　that　he　was　supposed　to　be　in　one　or　other　of　the　Colonies。　　If　he　was　a　rich　man；　well　and　good；　I　would　work　him；　if　not　there　would　be　no　harm　done。　　I　tried　to　get　on　his　tracks；　and；　as　luck　would　have　it；　I　succeeded　（or　thought　I　had）　at　the　very　moment　when　I　happened　to　have　a　few　days　to　myself。　　I　was　cut　over　on　the　hand；　just　before　the　big　Christmas　match；　and　couldn't　have　bowled　a　ball　if　they　had　played　me。

〃The　surgeon　who　fixed　me　up　happened　to　ask　me　if　I　was　any　relation　of　Raffles　of　the　National　Bank；　and　the　pure　luck　of　it　almost　took　my　breath　away。　　A　relation　who　was　a　high　official　in　one　of　the　banks；　who　would　finance　me　on　my　mere　namecould　anything　be　better？　　I　made　up　my　mind　that　this　Raffles　was　the　man　I　wanted；　and　was　awfully　sold　to　find　next　moment　that　he　wasn't　a　high　official　at　all。　　Nor　had　the　doctor　so　much　as　met　him；　but　had　merely　read　of　him　in　connection　with　a　small　sensation　at　the　suburban　branch　which　my　namesake　managed；　an　armed　robber　had　been　rather　pluckily　beaten　off；　with　a　bullet　in　him；　by　this　Raffles；　and　the　sort　of　thing　was　so　common　out　there　that　this　was　the　first　I　had　heard　of　it！　　A　suburban　branchmy　financier　had　faded　into　some　excellent　fellow　with　a　billet　to　lose　if　he　called　his　soul　his　own。　Still　a　manager　was　a　manager；　and　I　said　I　would　soon　see　whether　this　was　the　relative　I　was　looking　for；　if　he　would　be　good　enough　to　give　me　the　name　of　that　branch。

〃'I'll　do　more；'　says　the　doctor。　　'I'll　get　you　the　name　of　the　branch　he's　been　promoted　to；　for　I　think　I　heard　they'd　moved　him　up　one　already。'　And　the　next　day　he　brought　me　the　name　of　the　township　of　Yea；　some　fifty　miles　north　of　Melbourne；　but；　with　the　vagueness　which　characterized　all　his　information；　he　was　unable　to　say　whether　I　should　find　my　relative　there　or　not。

〃'He's　a　single　man；　and　his　initials　are　W。　F。；'　said　the　doctor；　who　was　certain　enough　of　the　immaterial　points。　　'He　left　his　old　post　several　days　ago；　but　it　appears　he's　not　due　at　the　new　one　till　the　New　Year。　　No　doubt　he'll　go　before　then　to　take　things　over　and　settle　in。　　You　might　find　him　up　there　and　you　might　not。　　If　I　were　you　I　should　write。'

〃'That'll　lose　two　days；'　said　I；　'and　more　if　he　isn't　there；'　for　I'd　grown　quite　keen　on　this　up…country　manager；　and　I　felt　that　if　I　could　get　at　him　while　the　holidays　were　still　on；　a　little　conviviality　might　help　matters　considerably。

〃'Then；'　said　the　doctor；　'I　should　get　a　quiet　horse　and　ride。　　You　needn't　use　that　hand。'

〃'Can't　I　go　by　train？'

〃'You　can　and　you　can't。　　You　would　still　have　to　ride。　　I　suppose　you're　a　horseman？'

〃'Yes。'

〃'Then　I　should　certainly　ride　all　the　way。　　It's　a　delightful　road；　through　Whittlesea　and　over　the　Plenty　Ranges。　　It'll　give　you　some　idea　of　the　bush；　Mr。　Raffles；　and　you'll　see　the　sources　of　the　water　supply　of　this　city；　sir。　　You'll　see　where　every　drop　of　it　comes　from；　the　pure　Yan　Yean！　I　wish　I　had　time　to　ride　with　you。'

〃'But　where　can　I　get　a　horse？'

〃The　doctor　thought　a　moment。

〃'