the amateur cracksman-第19节

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the　creaking　stairs　and　to　overhaul　Raffles　on　the　landing。

But　three　doors　presented　themselves；　the　first　opened　into　a　bedroom　with　the　bed　turned　down　but　undisturbed；　the　second　room　was　empty　in　every　sense；　the　third　door　was　locked。

Raffles　lit　the　landing　gas。

〃He's　in　there；〃　said　he；　cocking　his　revolver。　〃Do　you　remember　how　we　used　to　break　into　the　studies　at　school？　　Here　goes！〃

His　flat　foot　crashed　over　the　keyhole；　the　lock　gave；　the　door　flew　open；　and　in　the　sudden　draught　the　landing　gas　heeled　over　like　a　cobble　in　a　squall；　as　the　flame　righted　itself　I　saw　a　fixed　bath；　two　bath…towels　knotted　togetheran　open　windowa　cowering　figureand　Raffles　struck　aghast　on　the　threshold。

〃JACKRUTTER？〃

The　words　came　thick　and　slow　with　horror；　and　in　horror　I　heard　myself　repeating　them；　while　the　cowering　figure　by　the　bathroom　window　rose　gradually　erect。

〃It's　you！〃　he　whispered；　in　amazement　no　less　than　our　own；　〃it's　you　two！　　What's　it　mean；　Raffles？　　I　saw　you　get　over　the　gate；　a　bell　rang；　the　place　is　full　of　them。　　Then　you　broke　in。　What's　it　all　mean？〃

〃We　may　tell　you　that；　when　you　tell　us　what　in　God's　name　you've　done；　Rutter！〃

〃Done？　　What　have　I　done？〃　　The　unhappy　wretch　came　out　into　the　light　with　bloodshot；　blinking　eyes；　and　a　bloody　shirt…front。　　〃You　knowyou've　seenbut　I'll　tell　you　if　you　like。　　I've　killed　a　robber；　that's　all。　　I've　killed　a　robber；　a　usurer；　a　jackal；　a　blackmailer；　the　cleverest　and　the　cruellest　villain　unhung。　　I'm　ready　to　hang　for　him。　　I'd　kill　him　again！〃

And　he　looked　us　fiercely　in　the　face；　a　fine　defiance　in　his　dissipated　eyes；　his　breast　heaving；　his　jaw　like　a　rock。

〃Shall　I　tell　you　how　it　happened？〃　he　went　passionately　on。　　〃He's　made　my　life　a　hell　these　weeks　and　months　past。　　You　may　know　that。　　A　perfect　hell！　　Well；　to…night　I　met　him　in　Bond　Street。　　Do　you　remember　when　I　met　you　fellows？　　He　wasn't　twenty　yards　behind　you；　he　was　on　your　tracks；　Raffles；　he　saw　me　nod　to　you；　and　stopped　me　and　asked　me　who　you　were。　　He　seemed　as　keen　as　knives　to　know；　I　couldn't　think　why；　and　didn't　care　either；　for　I　saw　my　chance。　　I　said　I'd　tell　him　all　about　you　if　he'd　give　me　a　private　interview。　　He　said　he　wouldn't。　　I　said　he　should；　and　held　him　by　the　coat；　by　the　time　I　let　him　go　you　were　out　of　sight；　and　I　waited　where　I　was　till　he　came　back　in　despair。　　I　had　the　whip…hand　of　him　then。　　I　could　dictate　where　the　interview　should　be；　and　I　made　him　take　me　home　with　him；　still　swearing　to　tell　him　all　about　you　when　we'd　had　our　talk。　　Well；　when　we　got　here　I　made　him　give　me　something　to　eat；　putting　him　off　and　off；　and　about　ten　o'clock　I　heard　the　gate　shut。　　I　waited　a　bit；　and　then　asked　him　if　he　lived　alone。

〃'Not　at　all；'　says　he；　'did　you　not　see　the　servant？'

〃I　said　I'd　seen　her；　but　I　thought　I'd　heard　her　go；　if　I　was　mistaken　no　doubt　she　would　come　when　she　was　called；　and　I　yelled　three　times　at　the　top　of　my　voice。　　Of　course　there　was　no　servant　to　come。　　I　knew　that；　because　I　came　to　see　him　one　night　last　week；　and　he　interviewed　me　himself　through　the　gate；　but　wouldn't　open　it。　Well；　when　I　had　done　yelling；　and　not　a　soul　had　come　near　us；　he　was　as　white　as　that　ceiling。　Then　I　told　him　we　could　have　our　chat　at　last；　and　I　picked　the　poker　out　of　the　fender；　and　told　him　how　he'd　robbed　me；　but；　by　God；　he　shouldn't　rob　me　any　more。　　I　gave　him　three　minutes　to　write　and　sign　a　settlement　of　all　his　iniquitous　claims　against　me；　or　have　his　brains　beaten　out　over　his　own　carpet。　　He　thought　a　minute；　and　then　went　to　his　desk　for　pen　and　paper。　　In　two　seconds　he　was　round　like　lightning　with　a　revolver；　and　I　went　for　him　bald…headed。　　He　fired　two　or　three　times　and　missed；　you　can　find　the　holes　if　you　like；　but　I　hit　him　every　timemy　God！　　I　was　like　a　savage　till　the　thing　was　done。　And　then　I　didn't　care。　　I　went　through　his　desk　looking　for　my　own　bills；　and　was　coming　away　when　you　turned　up。　　I　said　I　didn't　care；　nor　do　I；　but　I　was　going　to　give　myself　up　to…night；　and　shall　still；　so　you　see　I　sha'n't　give　you　fellows　much　trouble！〃

He　was　done；　and　there　we　stood　on　the　landing　of　the　lonely　house；　the　low；　thick；　eager　voice　still　racing　and　ringing　through　our　ears；　the　dead　man　below；　and　in　front　of　us　his　impenitent　slayer。　　I　knew　to　whom　the　impenitence　would　appeal　when　he　had　heard　the　story；　and　I　was　not　mistaken。

〃That's　all　rot；〃　said　Raffles；　speaking　after　a　pause；　〃we　sha'n't　let　you　give　yourself　up。〃

〃You　sha'n't　stop　me！　　What　would　be　the　good？　　The　woman　saw　me；　it　would　only　be　a　question　of　time；　and　I　can't　face　waiting　to　be　taken。　　Think　of　it：　waiting　for　them　to　touch　you　on　the　shoulder！　　No；　no；　no；　I'll　give　myself　up　and　get　it　over。〃

His　speech　was　changed；　he　faltered；　floundered。　It　was　as　though　a　clearer　perception　of　his　position　had　come　with　the　bare　idea　of　escape　from　it。

〃But　listen　to　me；〃　urged　Raffles；　〃We're　here　at　our　peril　ourselves。　　We　broke　in　like　thieves　to　enforce　redress　for　a　grievance　very　like　your　own。　　But　don't　you　see？　　We　took　out　a　panedid　the　thing　like　regular　burglars。　　Regular　burglars　will　get　the　credit　of　all　the　rest！〃

〃You　mean　that　I　sha'n't　be　suspected？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃But　I　don't　want　to　get　off　scotfree；〃　cried　Rutter　hysterically。　　〃I've　killed　him。　　I　know　that。　　But　it　was　in　self…defence；　it　wasn't　murder。　　I　must　own　up　and　take　the　consequences。　I　shall　go　mad　if　I　don't！〃

His　hands　twitched；　his　lips　quivered；　the　tears　were　in　his　eyes。　　Raffles　took　him　roughly　by　the　shoulder。

〃Look　here；　you　fool！　　If　the　three　of　us　were　caught　here　now；　do　you　know　what　those　consequences　would　be？　　We　should　swing　in　a　row　at　Newgate　in　six　weeks'　time！　　You　talk　as　though　we　were　sitting　in　a　club；　don't　you　know　it's　one　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　the　lights　on；　and　a　dead　man　down　below？　　For　God's　sake　pull　yourself　together；　and　do　what　I　tell　you；　or　you're　a　dead　man　yourself。〃

〃I　wish　I　was　one！〃　Rutter　sobbed。　　〃I　wish　I　had　his　revolver　to　blow　my　own　brains　out。　It's　lying　under　him。　　O　my　God；　my　God！〃

His　knees　knocked　together：　the　frenzy　of　reaction　was　at　its　height。　　We　had　to　take　him　downstairs　between　us；　and　so　through　the　front　door　out　into　the　open　air。

All　was　still　outsideall　but　the　smothered　weeping　of　the　unstrung　wretch　upon　our　hands。　　Raffles　returned　for　a　moment　to　the　house；　then　all　was　dark　as　well。　　The　gate　opened　from　within；　we　closed　it　carefully　behind　us；　and　so　left　the　starlight　shining　on　broken　glass　and　polished　spikes；　one　and　all　as　we　had　found　them。

We　escaped；　no　need　to　dwell　on　our　escape。　　Our　murderer　seemed　set　upon　the　scaffolddrunk　with　his　deed；　he　was　more　trouble　than　six　men　drunk　with　wine。　　Again　and　again　we　threatened　to　leave　him　to　his　fate；　to　wash　our　hands　of　him。　　But　incredible　and　unmerited　luck　was　with　the　three　of　us。　　Not　a　soul　did　we　meet　between　that　and　Willesden；　and　of　those　who　saw　us　later；　did　one　think　of　the　two　young　men　with　crooked　white　ties；　supporting　a　third　in　a　seemingly　unmistakable　condition；　when　the　evening　papers　apprised　the　town　of　a　terrible　tragedy　at　Kensal　Rise？

We　walked　to　Maida　Vale；　and　thence　drove　openly　to　my　rooms。　　But　I　alone　went　upstairs；　the　other　two　proceeded　to　the　Albany；　and　I　saw　no　more　of　Raffles　for　forty…eight　hours。　　He　was　not　at　his　rooms　when　I　called　in　the　morning；　he　had　left　no　word。　　When　he　reappeared　the　papers　were　full　of　the　murder；　and　the　man　who　had　committed　it　was　on　the　wide　Atlantic；　a　steerage　passenger　from　Liverpool　to　New　York。

〃There　was　no　arguing　with　him；〃　so　Raffles　told　me；　〃either　he　must　make　a　clean　breast　of　it　or　flee　the　country。　　So　I　rigged　him　up　at　the　studio；　and　we　took　the　first　train　to　Liverpool。　Nothing　would　induce　him　to　sit　tight　and　enjoy　the　situation　as　I　should　have　endeavored　to　do　in　his　place；　and　it's　just　as　well！　　I　went　to　his　diggings　to　destroy　some　papers；　and　what　do　you　think　I　found。　　The　police　in　possession；　there's　a　warrant　out　against　him　already！　　The　idiots　think　that　window　wasn't　genuine；　and　the　warrant's　out。　　It　won't　be　my　fault　if　it's　ever　served！〃

Nor；　after　all　these　years；　can　I　think　it　will　be　mine。

　　NINE　POINTS　OF　THE　LAW

Well；〃　said　Raffles；　〃what　do　you　make　of　it？〃

I　read　the　advertisement　once　more　before　replying。　　It　was　in　the　last　column　of　the　Daily　Telegraph；　and　it　ran：

TWO　THOUSAND　POUNDS　REWARDThe　above　sum　may　be　earned　by　any　one　qualified　to　undertake　delicate　mission　and　prepared　to　run　certain　risk。Apply　by　telegram；　Security；　London。


〃I　think；〃　said　I；　〃it's　the　most　extraordinary　advertisement　that　ever　got　into　print！〃

Raffles　smiled。

〃Not　quite　all　that；　Bunny；　still；　extraordinary　enough；　I　grant　you。〃

〃Look　at　the　figure！〃

〃It　is　certainly　large。〃

〃And　the　missionand　the　risk！〃

〃Yes；　the　combination　is　frank；　to　say　the　least　of　it。　　But　the　really　original　point　is　requiring　applications　by　telegram　to　a　telegraphic　address！　　There's　something　in　the　fellow　who　thought　of　that；　and　something　in　his　game；　with　one　word　he　chokes　off　the　million　who　answer　an　advertisement　eve