the amateur cracksman-第26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！



〃I've　got　to　go　now；〃　I　heard　him　say；　〃but　my　friend　will　stay　and　see　this　through；　and　I'll　leave　the　gas　on　in　my　rooms；　and　my　key　with　the　constable　downstairs。　　Good　luck；　Mackenzie；　only　wish　I　could　stay。〃

〃Good…by；　sir；〃　came　in　a　preoccupied　voice；　〃and　many　thanks。〃

Mackenzie　was　still　busy　at　his　window；　and　I　remained　at　mine；　a　prey　to　mingled　fear　and　wrath；　for　all　my　knowledge　of　Raffles　and　of　his　infinite　resource。　　By　this　time　I　felt　that　I　knew　more　or　less　what　he　would　do　in　any　given　emergency；　at　least　I　could　conjecture　a　characteristic　course　of　equal　cunning　and　audacity。　　He　would　return　to　his　rooms；　put　Crawshay　on　his　guard；　andstow　him　away？　　Nothere　were　such　things　as　windows。　　Then　why　was　Raffles　going　to　desert　us　all？　　I　thought　of　many　thingslastly　of　a　cab。　　These　bedroom　windows　looked　into　a　narrow　side…street；　they　were　not　very　high；　from　them　a　man　might　drop　on　to　the　roof　of　a　cabeven　as　it　passedand　be　driven　away　even　under　the　noses　of　the　police！　　I　pictured　Raffles　driving　that　cab；　unrecognizable　in　the　foggy　night；　the　vision　came　to　me　as　he　passed　under　the　window；　tucking　up　the　collar　of　his　great　driving…coat　on　the　way　to　his　rooms；　it　was　still　with　me　when　he　passed　again　on　his　way　back；　and　stopped　to　hand　the　constable　his　key。

〃We're　on　his　track；〃　said　a　voice　behind　me。　〃He's　got　up　on　the　leads；　sure　enough；　though　how　he　managed　it　from　yon　window　is　a　myst'ry　to　me。　　We're　going　to　lock　up　here　and　try　what　like　it　is　from　the　attics。　　So　you'd　better　come　with　us　if　you've　a　mind。〃

The　top　floor　at　the　Albany；　as　elsewhere；　is　devoted　to　the　servantsa　congeries　of　little　kitchens　and　cubicles；　used　by　many　as　lumber…roomsby　Raffles　among　the　many。　　The　annex　in　this　case　was；　of　course；　empty　as　the　rooms　below；　and　that　was　lucky；　for　we　filled　it；　what　with　the　manager；　who　now　joined　us；　and　another　tenant　whom　he　brought　with　him　to　Mackenzie's　undisguised　annoyance。

〃Better　let　in　all　Piccadilly　at　a　crown　a　head；〃　said　he。　　〃Here；　my　man；　out　you　go　on　the　roof　to　make　one　less；　and　have　your　truncheon　handy。〃

We　crowded　to　the　little　window；　which　Mackenzie　took　care　to　fill；　and　a　minute　yielded　no　sound　but　the　crunch　and　slither　of　constabulary　boots　upon　sooty　slates。　　Then　came　a　shout。

〃What　now？〃　cried　Mackenzie。

〃A　rope；〃　we　heard；　〃hanging　from　the　spout　by　a　hook！〃

〃Sirs；〃　purred　Mackenzie；　〃yon's　how　he　got　up　from　below！　　He　would　do　it　with　one　o'　they　telescope　sticks；　an'　I　never　thocht　o't！　　How　long　a　rope；　my　lad？〃

〃Quite　short。　　I've　got　it。〃

〃Did　it　hang　over　a　window？　　Ask　him　that！〃　cried　the　manager。　　〃He　can　see　by　leaning　over　the　parapet。〃

The　question　was　repeated　by　Mackenzie；　a　pause；　then　〃Yes；　it　did。〃

〃Ask　him　how　many　windows　along！〃　shouted　the　manager　in　high　excitement。

〃Six；　he　says；〃　said　Mackenzie　next　minute；　and　he　drew　in　his　head　and　shoulders。　　〃I　should　just　like　to　see　those　rooms；　six　windows　along。〃

〃Mr。　Raffles；〃　announced　the　manager　after　a　mental　calculation。

〃Is　that　a　fact？〃　cried　Mackenzie。　　〃Then　we　shall　have　no　difficulty　at　all。　　He's　left　me　his　key　down　below。〃

The　words　had　a　dry；　speculative　intonation；　which　even　then　I　found　time　to　dislike；　it　was　as　though　the　coincidence　had　already　struck　the　Scotchman　as　something　more。

〃Where　is　Mr。　Raffles？〃　asked　the　manager；　as　we　all　filed　downstairs。

〃He's　gone　out　to　his　dinner；〃　said　Mackenzie。

〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃I　saw　him　go；〃　said　I。　　My　heart　was　beating　horribly。　　I　would　not　trust　myself　to　speak　again。　But　I　wormed　my　way　to　a　front　place　in　the　little　procession；　and　was；　in　fact；　the　second　man　to　cross　the　threshold　that　had　been　the　Rubicon　of　my　life。　　As　I　did　so　I　uttered　a　cry　of　pain；　for　Mackenzie　had　trod　back　heavily　on　my　toes；　in　another　second　I　saw　the　reason；　and　saw　it　with　another　and　a　louder　cry。

A　man　was　lying　at　full　length　before　the　fire　on　his　back；　with　a　little　wound　in　the　white　forehead；　and　the　blood　draining　into　his　eyes。　　And　the　man　was　Raffles　himself！

〃Suicide；〃　said　Mackenzie　calmly。　　〃Nohere's　the　pokerlooks　more　like　murder。〃　　He　went　on　his　knees　and　shook　his　head　quite　cheerfully。　　〃An'　it's　not　even　murder；〃　said　he；　with　a　shade　of　disgust　in　his　matter…of…fact　voice；　〃yon's　no　more　than　a　flesh…wound；　and　I　have　my　doubts　whether　it　felled　him；　but；　sirs；　he　just　stinks　o'　chloryform！〃

He　got　up　and　fixed　his　keen　gray　eyes　upon　me；　my　own　were　full　of　tears；　but　they　faced　him　unashamed。

〃I　understood　ye　to　say　ye　saw　him　go　out？〃　said　he　sternly。

〃I　saw　that　long　driving…coat；　of　course；　I　thought　he　was　inside　it。〃

〃And　I　could　ha'　sworn　it　was　the　same　gent　when　he　give　me　the　key！〃

It　was　the　disconsolate　voice　of　the　constable　in　the　background；　on　him　turned　Mackenzie；　white　to　the　lips。

〃You'd　think　anything；　some　of　you　damned　policemen；〃　said　he。　　〃What's　your　number；　you　rotter？　　P　34？　　You'll　be　hearing　more　of　this；　Mr。　P　34！　　If　that　gentleman　was　deadinstead　of　coming　to　himself　while　I'm　talkingdo　you　know　what　you'd　be？　　Guilty　of　his　manslaughter；　you　stuck　pig　in　buttons！　　Do　you　know　who　you've　let　slip；　butter…fingers？　　Crawshayno　lesshim　that　broke　Dartmoor　yesterday。　　By　the　God　that　made　ye；　P　34；　if　I　lose　him　I'll　hound　ye　from　the　forrce！〃

Working　faceshaking　fista　calm　man　on　fire。　　It　was　a　new　side　of　Mackenzie；　and　one　to　mark　and　to　digest。　　Next　moment　he　had　flounced　from　our　midst。



〃Difficult　thing　to　break　your　own　head；〃　said　Raffles　later；　〃infinitely　easier　to　cut　your　own　throat。　　Chloroform's　another　matter；　when　you've　used　it　on　others；　you　know　the　dose　to　a　nicety。　　So　you　thought　I　was　really　gone？　　Poor　old　Bunny！　　But　I　hope　Mackenzie　saw　your　face？〃

〃He　did；〃　said　I。　　I　would　not　tell　him　all　Mackenzie　must　have　seen；　however。

〃That's　all　right。　　I　wouldn't　have　had　him　miss　it　for　worlds；　and　you　mustn't　think　me　a　brute；　old　boy；　for　I　fear　that　man；　and；　know；　we　sink　or　swim　together。〃

〃And　now　we　sink　or　swim　with　Crawshay；　too；〃　said　I　dolefully。

〃Not　we！〃　said　Raffles　with　conviction。　　〃Old　Crawshay's　a　true　sportsman；　and　he'll　do　by　us　as　we've　done　by　him；　besides；　this　makes　us　quits；　and　I　don't　think；　Bunny；　that　we'll　take　on　the　professors　again！〃

　　THE　GIFT　OF　THE　EMPEROR

I

When　the　King　of　the　Cannibal　Islands　made　faces　at　Queen　Victoria；　and　a　European　monarch　set　the　cables　tingling　with　his　compliments　on　the　exploit；　the　indignation　in　England　was　not　less　than　the　surprise；　for　the　thing　was　not　so　common　as　it　has　since　become。　　But　when　it　transpired　that　a　gift　of　peculiar　significance　was　to　follow　the　congratulations；　to　give　them　weight；　the　inference　prevailed　that　the　white　potentate　and　the　black　had　taken　simultaneous　leave　of　their　fourteen　senses。　　For　the　gift　was　a　pearl　of　price　unparalleled；　picked　aforetime　by　British　cutlasses　from　a　Polynesian　setting；　and　presented　by　British　royalty　to　the　sovereign　who　seized　this　opportunity　of　restoring　it　to　its　original　possessor。

The　incident　would　have　been　a　godsend　to　the　Press　a　few　weeks　later。　　Even　in　June　there　were　leaders；　letters；　large　headlines；　leaded　type；　the　Daily　Chronicle　devoting　half　its　literary　page　to　a　charming　drawing　of　the　island　capital　which　the　new　Pall　Mall；　in　a　leading　article　headed　by　a　pun；　advised　the　Government　to　blow　to　flinders。　I　was　myself　driving　a　poor　but　not　dishonest　quill　at　the　time；　and　the　topic　of　the　hour　goaded　me　into　satiric　verse　which　obtained　a　better　place　than　anything　I　had　yet　turned　out。　　I　had　let　my　flat　in　town；　and　taken　inexpensive　quarters　at　Thames　Ditton；　on　the　plea　of　a　disinterested　passion　for　the　river。

〃First…rate；　old　boy！〃　said　Raffles　（who　must　needs　come　and　see　me　there）；　lying　back　in　the　boat　while　I　sculled　and　steered。　　〃I　suppose　they　pay　you　pretty　well　for　these；　eh？〃

〃Not　a　penny。〃

〃Nonsense；　Bunny！　　I　thought　they　paid　so　well？　　Give　them　time；　and　you'll　get　your　check。〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　sha'n't；〃　said　I　gloomily。　　〃I've　got　to　be　content　with　the　honor　of　getting　in；　the　editor　wrote　to　say　so；　in　so　many　words；〃　I　added。　　But　I　gave　the　gentleman　his　distinguished　name。

〃You　don't　mean　to　say　you've　written　for　payment　already？〃

No；　it　was　the　last　thing　I　had　intended　to　admit。　　But　I　had　done　it。　　The　murder　was　out；　there　was　no　sense　in　further　concealment。　　I　had　written　for　my　money　because　I　really　needed　it；　if　he　must　know；　I　was　cursedly　hard　up。　　Raffles　nodded　as　though　he　knew　already。　　I　warmed　to　my　woes。　　It　was　no　easy　matter　to　keep　your　end　up　as　a　raw　freelance　of　letters；　for　my　part；　I　was　afraid　I　wrote　neither　well　enough　nor　ill　enough　for　success。　　I　suffered　from　a　persistent　ineffectual　feeling　after　style。　　Verse　I　could　manage；　but　it　did　not　pay。　　To　personal　paragraphs　and　the　baser　journalism　I　could　not　and　I　would　not　stoop。

Raffles　nodded　again；　this　time　with　a　smile　that　stayed　in　his　eyes　as　he　leant　back　watching　me。　I　knew　that　he　was　thinking　of　other　things　I　had　stooped　to；　and　I　thought　I　knew　what　he　was　going　to　say。　　He　had　said　it　before　so　often；　he　was　sure　to　say　it　again。　　I　had　my　ans