the amateur cracksman-第24节

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In　an　instant　the　enthusiasm　faded　from　Raffles's　face；　clearly　I　had　reminded　him　of　some　prime　anxiety；　forgotten　in　his　impersonal　joy　over　the　exploit　of　a　fellow…criminal。　　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　towards　the　lobby　before　replying。

〃I　believe；〃　said　he；　〃that　the　beggar's　on　MY　tracks！〃

And　as　he　spoke　he　was　himself　againquietly　amusedcynically　unperturbedcharacteristically　enjoying　the　situation　and　my　surprise。

〃But　look　here；　what　do　you　mean？〃　said　I。　〃What　does　Crawshay　know　about　you？〃

〃Not　much；　but　he　suspects。〃

〃Why　should　he？〃

〃Because；　in　his　way　he's　very　nearly　as　good　a　man　as　I　am；　because；　my　dear　Bunny；　with　eyes　in　his　head　and　brains　behind　them；　he　couldn't　help　suspecting。　　He　saw　me　once　in　town　with　old　Baird。　　He　must　have　seen　me　that　day　in　the　pub　on　the　way　to　Milchester；　as　well　as　afterwards　on　the　cricket…field。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　know　he　did；　for　he　wrote　and　told　me　so　before　his　trial。〃

〃He　wrote　to　you！　　And　you　never　told　me！〃

The　old　shrug　answered　the　old　grievance。

〃What　was　the　good；　my　dear　fellow？　　It　would　only　have　worried　you。〃

〃Well；　what　did　he　say？〃

〃That　he　was　sorry　he　had　been　run　in　before　getting　back　to　town；　as　he　had　proposed　doing　himself　the　honor　of　paying　me　a　call；　however；　he　trusted　it　was　only　a　pleasure　deferred；　and　he　begged　me　not　to　go　and　get　lagged　myself　before　he　came　out。　　Of　course　he　knew　the　Melrose　necklace　was　gone；　though　he　hadn't　got　it；　and　he　said　that　the　man　who　could　take　that　and　leave　the　rest　was　a　man　after　his　own　heart。　　And　so　on；　with　certain　little　proposals　for　the　far　future；　which　I　fear　may　be　the　very　near　future　indeed！　I'm　only　surprised　he　hasn't　turned　up　yet。〃

He　looked　again　towards　the　lobby；　which　he　had　left　in　darkness；　with　the　inner　door　shut　as　carefully　as　the　outer　one。　　I　asked　him　what　he　meant　to　do。

〃Let　him　knockif　he　gets　so　far。　　The　porter　is　to　say　I'm　out　of　town；　it　will　be　true；　too；　in　another　hour　or　so。〃

〃You're　going　off　to…night？〃

〃By　the　7。15　from　Liverpool　Street。　　I　don't　say　much　about　my　people；　Bunny；　but　I　have　the　best　of　sisters　married　to　a　country　parson　in　the　eastern　counties。　　They　always　make　me　welcome；　and　let　me　read　the　lessons　for　the　sake　of　getting　me　to　church。　　I'm　sorry　you　won't　be　there　to　hear　me　on　Sunday；　Bunny。　　I've　figured　out　some　of　my　best　schemes　in　that　parish；　and　I　know　of　no　better　port　in　a　storm。　　But　I　must　pack。　　I　thought　I'd　just　let　you　know　where　I　was　going；　and　why；　in　case　you　cared　to　follow　my　example。〃

He　flung　the　stump　of　his　cigarette　into　the　fire；　stretched　himself　as　he　rose；　and　remained　so　long　in　the　inelegant　attitude　that　my　eyes　mounted　from　his　body　to　his　face；　a　second　later　they　had　followed　his　eyes　across　the　room；　and　I　also　was　on　my　legs。　　On　the　threshold　of　the　folding　doors　that　divided　bedroom　and　sitting…room；　a　well…built　man　stood　in　ill…fitting　broadcloth；　and　bowed　to　us　until　his　bullet　head　presented　an　unbroken　disk　of　short　red　hair。

Brief　as　was　my　survey　of　this　astounding　apparition；　the　interval　was　long　enough　for　Raffles　to　recover　his　composure；　his　hands　were　in　his　pockets；　and　a　smile　upon　his　face；　when　my　eyes　flew　back　to　him。

〃Let　me　introduce　you；　Bunny；〃　said　he；　〃to　our　distinguished　colleague；　Mr。　Reginald　Crawshay。〃

The　bullet　head　bobbed　up；　and　there　was　a　wrinkled　brow　above　the　coarse；　shaven　face；　crimson　also；　I　remember；　from　the　grip　of　a　collar　several　sizes　too　small。　　But　I　noted　nothing　consciously　at　the　time。　　I　had　jumped　to　my　own　conclusion；　and　I　turned　on　Raffles　with　an　oath。

〃It's　a　trick！〃　I　cried。　　〃It's　another　of　your　cursed　tricks！　　You　got　him　here；　and　then　you　got　me。　　You　want　me　to　join　you；　I　suppose？　　I'll　see　you　damned！〃

So　cold　was　the　stare　which　met　this　outburst　that　I　became　ashamed　of　my　words　while　they　were　yet　upon　my　lips。

〃Really；　Bunny！〃　said　Raffles；　and　turned　his　shoulder　with　a　shrug。

〃Lord　love　yer；〃　cried　Crawshay；　〃'_E_　knew　nothin'。　　_'E_　didn't　expect　me；　'E'S　all　right。　　And　you're　the　cool　canary；　YOU　are；〃　he　went　on　to　Raffles。　　〃I　knoo　you　were；　but；　do　me　proud；　you're　one　after　my　own　kidney！〃　　And　he　thrust　out　a　shaggy　hand。

〃After　that；〃　said　Raffles；　taking　it；　〃what　am　I　to　say？　　But　you　must　have　heard　my　opinion　of　you。　　I　am　proud　to　make　your　acquaintance。　How　the　deuce　did　you　get　in？〃

〃Never　you　mind；〃　said　Crawshay；　loosening　his　collar；　〃let's　talk　about　how　I'm　to　get　out。　Lord　love　yer；　but　that's　better！〃

There　was　a　livid　ring　round　his　bull…neck；　that　he　fingered　tenderly。　　〃Didn't　know　how　much　longer　I　might　have　to　play　the　gent；〃　he　explained；　〃didn't　know　who　you'd　bring　in。〃

〃Drink　whiskey　and　soda？〃　inquired　Raffles；　when　the　convict　was　in　the　chair　from　which　I　had　leapt。

〃No；　I　drink　it　neat；〃　replied　Crawshay；　〃but　I　talk　business　first。　　You　don't　get　over　me　like　that；　Lor'　love　yer！〃

〃Well；　then；　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃

〃You　know　without　me　tellin'　you。〃

〃Give　it　a　name。〃

〃Clean　heels；　then；　that's　what　I　want　to　show；　and　I　leaves　the　way　to　you。　　We're　brothers　in　arms；　though　I　ain't　armed　this　time。　　It　ain't　necessary。　　You've　too　much　sense。　　But　brothers　we　are；　and　you'll　see　a　brother　through。　　Let's　put　it　at　that。　　You'll　see　me　through　in　yer　own　way。　　I　leaves　it　all　to　you。〃

His　tone　was　rich　with　conciliation　and　concession；　he　bent　over　and　tore　a　pair　of　button　boots　from　his　bare　feet；　which　he　stretched　towards　the　fire；　painfully　uncurling　his　toes。

〃I　hope　you　take　a　larger　size　than　them；〃　said　he。　　〃I'd　have　had　a　see　if　you'd　given　me　time。　I　wasn't　in　long　afore　you。〃

〃And　you　won't　tell　me　how　you　got　in？〃

〃Wot's　the　use？　　I　can't　teach　YOU　nothin'。　　Besides；　I　want　out。　　I　want　out　of　London；　an'　England；　an'　bloomin'　Europe　too。　　That's　all　I　want　of　you；　mister。　　I　don't　arst　how　YOU　go　on　the　job。　　You　know　w'ere　I　come　from；　'cos　I　'eard　you　say；　you　know　w'ere　I　want　to　'ead　for；　'cos　I've　just　told　yer；　the　details　I　leaves　entirely　to　you。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Raffles；　〃we　must　see　what　can　be　done。〃

〃We　must；〃　said　Mr。　Crawshay；　and　leaned　back　comfortably；　and　began　twirling　his　stubby　thumbs。

Raffles　turned　to　me　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye；　but　his　forehead　was　scored　with　thought；　and　resolve　mingled　with　resignation　in　the　lines　of　his　mouth。　　And　he　spoke　exactly　as　though　he　and　I　were　alone　in　the　room。

〃You　seize　the　situation；　Bunny？　　If　our　friend　here　is　'copped；'　to　speak　his　language；　he　means　to　'blow　the　gaff'　on　you　and　me。　　He　is　considerate　enough　not　to　say　so　in　so　many　words；　but　it's　plain　enough；　and　natural　enough　for　that　matter。　　I　would　do　the　same　in　his　place。　　We　had　the　bulge　before；　he　has　it　now；　it's　perfectly　fair。　We　must　take　on　this　job；　we　aren't　in　a　position　to　refuse　it；　even　if　we　were；　I　should　take　it　on！　　Our　friend　is　a　great　sportsman；　he　has　got　clear　away　from　Dartmoor；　it　would　be　a　thousand　pities　to　let　him　go　back。　　Nor　shall　he；　not　if　I　can　think　of　a　way　of　getting　him　abroad。〃

〃Any　way　you　like；〃　murmured　Crawshay；　with　his　eyes　shut。　　〃I　leaves　the　'ole　thing　to　you。〃

〃But　you'll　have　to　wake　up　and　tell　us　things。〃

〃All　right；　mister；　but　I'm　fair　on　the　rocks　for　a　sleep！〃

And　he　stood　up；　blinking。

〃Think　you　were　traced　to　town？〃

〃Must　have　been。〃

〃And　here？〃

〃Not　in　this　fognot　with　any　luck。〃

Raffles　went　into　the　bedroom；　lit　the　gas　there；　and　returned　next　minute。

〃So　you　got　in　by　the　window？〃

〃That's　about　it。〃

〃It　was　devilish　smart　of　you　to　know　which　one；　it　beats　me　how　you　brought　it　off　in　daylight；　fog　or　no　fog！　　But　let　that　pass。　　You　don't　think　you　were　seen？〃

〃I　don't　think　it；　sir。〃

〃Well；　let's　hope　you　are　right。　　I　shall　reconnoitre　and　soon　find　out。　　And　you'd　better　come　too；　Bunny；　and　have　something　to　eat　and　talk　it　over。〃

As　Raffles　looked　at　me；　I　looked　at　Crawshay；　anticipating　trouble；　and　trouble　brewed　in　his　blank；　fierce　face；　in　the　glitter　of　his　startled　eyes；　in　the　sudden　closing　of　his　fists。

〃And　what's　to　become　o'　me？〃　he　cried　out　with　an　oath。

〃You　wait　here。〃

〃No；　you　don't；〃　he　roared；　and　at　a　bound　had　his　back　to　the　door。　　〃You　don't　get　round　me　like　that；　you　cuckoos！〃

Raffles　turned　to　me　with　a　twitch　of　the　shoulders。　　〃That's　the　worst　of　these　professors；〃　said　he；　〃they　never　will　use　their　heads。　　They　see　the　pegs；　and　they　mean　to　hit　'em；　but　that's　all　they　do　see　and　mean；　and　they　think　we're　the　same。　No　wonder　we　licked　them　last　time！〃

〃Don't　talk　through　yer　neck；〃　snarled　the　convict。　　〃Talk　out　straight；　curse　you！〃

〃Right；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I'll　talk　as　straight　as　you　like。　　You　say　you　put　yourself　in　my　handsyou　leave　it　all　to　meyet　you　don't　trust　me　an　inch！　　I　know　what's　to　happen　if　I　fail。　　I　accept　the　risk。　　I　take　this　thing　on。　　Yet　you　think　I'm　going　straight　out　to　give　you　away　and　make　you　give　me　away　in　my　turn。　　You're　a　fool；　Mr。　Crawshay；　though　you　have　broken　Dartmoor；　you've　got　to　listen　to　a　better　man；　and　obey　him。　I　see　you　through　in　my　own　way；　or　not　at　all。　I　come　and　go　as　I　like；　and　with　whom　I　like；　without