the amateur cracksman-第30节

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　the　spoil；　he　would　not　hear　of　it；　for　a　dozen　good　reasons　which　will　be　obvious。

On　the　whole　I　do　not　think　that　anything　was　discovered　or　suspected　before　we　weighed　anchor；　but　I　cannot　be　sure。　　It　is　difficult　to　believe　that　a　man　could　be　chloroformed　in　his　sleep　and　feel　no　tell…tale　effects；　sniff　no　suspicious　odor；　in　the　morning。　　Nevertheless；　von　Heumann　reappeared　as　though　nothing　had　happened　to　him；　his　German　cap　over　his　eyes　and　his　mustaches　brushing　the　peak。　　And　by　ten　o'clock　we　were　quit　of　Genoa；　the　last　lean；　blue…chinned　official　had　left　our　decks；　the　last　fruitseller　had　been　beaten　off　with　bucketsful　of　water　and　left　cursing　us　from　his　boat；　the　last　passenger　had　come　aboard　at　the　last　momenta　fussy　graybeard　who　kept　the　big　ship　waiting　while　he　haggled　with　his　boatman　over　half　a　lira。　　But　at　length　we　were　off；　the　tug　was　shed；　the　lighthouse　passed；　and　Raffles　and　I　leaned　together　over　the　rail；　watching　our　shadows　on　the　pale　green；　liquid；　veined　marble　that　again　washed　the　vessel's　side。

Von　Heumann　was　having　his　innings　once　more；　it　was　part　of　the　design　that　he　should　remain　in　all　day；　and　so　postpone　the　inevitable　hour；　and；　though　the　lady　looked　bored；　and　was　for　ever　glancing　in　our　direction；　he　seemed　only　too　willing　to　avail　himself　of　his　opportunities。　But　Raffles　was　moody　and　ill…at…ease。　　He　had　not　the　air　of　a　successful　man。　　I　could　but　opine　that　the　impending　parting　at　Naples　sat　heavily　on　his　spirit。

He　would　neither　talk　to　me；　nor　would　he　let　me　go。

〃Stop　where　you　are；　Bunny。　　I've　things　to　tell　you。　　Can　you　swim？〃

〃A　bit。〃

〃Ten　miles？〃

〃Ten？〃　I　burst　out　laughing。　　〃Not　one！　　Why　do　you　ask？〃

〃We　shall　be　within　a　ten　miles'　swim　of　the　shore　most　of　the　day。〃

〃What　on　earth　are　you　driving　at；　Raffles？〃

〃Nothing；　only　I　shall　swim　for　it　if　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst。　　I　suppose　you　can't　swim　under　water　at　all？〃

I　did　not　answer　his　question。　　I　scarcely　heard　it：　cold　beads　were　bursting　through　my　skin。

〃Why　should　the　worst　come　to　the　worst？〃　I　whispered。　　〃We　aren't　found　out；　are　we？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　why　speak　as　though　we　were？〃

〃We　may　be；　an　old　enemy　of　ours　is　on　board。〃

〃An　old　enemy？〃

〃Mackenzie。〃

〃Never！〃

〃The　man　with　the　beard　who　came　aboard　last。〃

〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃Sure！　　I　was　only　sorry　to　see　you　didn't　recognize　him　too。〃

I　took　my　handkerchief　to　my　face；　now　that　I　thought　of　it；　there　had　been　something　familiar　in　the　old　man's　gait；　as　well　as　something　rather　youthful　for　his　apparent　years；　his　very　beard　seemed　unconvincing；　now　that　I　recalled　it　in　the　light　of　this　horrible　revelation。　　I　looked　up　and　down　the　deck；　but　the　old　man　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。

〃That's　the　worst　of　it；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　saw　him　go　into　the　captain's　cabin　twenty　minutes　ago。〃

〃But　what　can　have　brought　him？〃　I　cried　miserably。　　〃Can　it　be　a　coincidenceis　it　somebody　else　he's　after？〃

Raffles　shook　his　head。

〃Hardly　this　time。〃

〃Then　you　think　he's　after　you？〃

〃I've　been　afraid　of　it　for　some　weeks。〃

〃Yet　there　you　stand！〃

〃What　am　I　to　do？　　I　don't　want　to　swim　for　it　before　I　must。　　I　begin　to　wish　I'd　taken　your　advice；　Bunny；　and　left　the　ship　at　Genoa。　　But　I've　not　the　smallest　doubt　that　Mac　was　watching　both　ship　and　station　till　the　last　moment。　　That's　why　he　ran　it　so　fine。〃

He　took　a　cigarette　and　handed　me　the　case；　but　I　shook　my　head　impatiently。

〃I　still　don't　understand；〃　said　I。　　〃Why　should　he　be　after　you？　　He　couldn't　come　all　this　way　about　a　jewel　which　was　perfectly　safe　for　all　he　knew。　　What's　your　own　theory？〃

〃Simply　that　he's　been　on　my　track　for　some　time；　probably　ever　since　friend　Crawshay　slipped　clean　through　his　fingers　last　November。　　There　have　been　other　indications。　　I　am　really　not　unprepared　for　this。　　But　it　can　only　be　pure　suspicion。　　I'll　defy　him　to　bring　anything　home；　and　I'll　defy　him　to　find　the　pearl！　　Theory；　my　dear　Bunny？　　I　know　how　he's　got　here　as　well　as　though　I'd　been　inside　that　Scotchman's　skin；　and　I　know　what　he'll　do　next。　　He　found　out　I'd　gone　abroad；　and　looked　for　a　motive；　he　found　out　about　von　Heumann　and　his　mission；　and　there　was　his　motive　cut…and…dried。　　Great　chanceto　nab　me　on　a　new　job　altogether。　　But　he　won't　do　it；　Bunny；　mark　my　words；　he'll　search　the　ship　and　search　us　all；　when　the　loss　is　known；　but　he'll　search　in　vain。　　And　there's　the　skipper　beckoning　the　whippersnapper　to　his　cabin：　the　fat　will　be　in　the　fire　in　five　minutes！〃

Yet　there　was　no　conflagration；　no　fuss；　no　searching　of　the　passengers；　no　whisper　of　what　had　happened　in　the　air；　instead　of　a　stir　there　was　portentous　peace；　and　it　was　clear　to　me　that　Raffles　was　not　a　little　disturbed　at　the　falsification　of　all　his　predictions。　　There　was　something　sinister　in　silence　under　such　a　loss；　and　the　silence　was　sustained　for　hours　during　which　Mackenzie　never　reappeared。　　But　he　was　abroad　during　the　luncheon…hourhe　was　in　our　cabin！　　I　had　left　my　book　in　Raffles's　berth；　and　in　taking　it　after　lunch　I　touched　the　quilt。　　It　was　warm　from　the　recent　pressure　of　flesh　and　blood；　and　on　an　instinct　I　sprang　to　the　ventilator；　as　I　opened　it　the　ventilator　opposite　was　closed　with　a　snap。

I　waylaid　Raffles。　　〃All　right！　　Let　him　find　the　pearl。〃

〃Have　you　dumped　it　overboard？〃

〃That's　a　question　I　shan't　condescend　to　answer。〃

He　turned　on　his　heel；　and　at　subsequent　intervals　I　saw　him　making　the　most　of　his　last　afternoon　with　the　inevitable　Miss　Werner。　　I　remember　that　she　looked　both　cool　and　smart　in　quite　a　simple　affair　of　brown　holland；　which　toned　well　with　her　complexion；　and　was　cleverly　relieved　with　touches　of　scarlet。　　I　quite　admired　her　that　afternoon；　for　her　eyes　were　really　very　good；　and　so　were　her　teeth；　yet　I　had　never　admired　her　more　directly　in　my　own　despite。　　For　I　passed　them　again　and　again　in　order　to　get　a　word　with　Raffles；　to　tell　him　I　knew　there　was　danger　in　the　wind；　but　he　would　not　so　much　as　catch　my　eye。　　So　at　last　I　gave　it　up。　　And　I　saw　him　next　in　the　captain's　cabin。

They　had　summoned　him　first；　he　had　gone　in　smiling；　and　smiling　I　found　him　when　they　summoned　me。　　The　state…room　was　spacious；　as　befitted　that　of　a　commander。　　Mackenzie　sat　on　the　settee；　his　beard　in　front　of　him　on　the　polished　table；　but　a　revolver　lay　in　front　of　the　captain；　and；　when　I　had　entered；　the　chief　officer；　who　had　summoned　me；　shut　the　door　and　put　his　back　to　it。　Von　Heumann　completed　the　party；　his　fingers　busy　with　his　mustache。

Raffles　greeted　me。

〃This　is　a　great　joke！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　remember　the　pearl　you　were　so　keen　about；　Bunny；　the　emperor's　pearl；　the　pearl　money　wouldn't　buy？　　It　seems　it　was　entrusted　to　our　little　friend　here；　to　take　out　to　Canoodle　Dum；　and　the　poor　little　chap's　gone　and　lost　it；　ergo；　as　we're　Britishers；　they　think　we've　got　it！〃

〃But　I　know　ye　have；〃　put　in　Mackenzie；　nodding　to　his　beard。

〃You　will　recognize　that　loyal　and　patriotic　voice；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃Mon；　'tis　our　auld　acquaintance　Mackenzie；　o'　Scoteland　Yarrd　an'　Scoteland　itsel'！〃

〃Dat　is　enough；〃　cried　the　captain。　　〃Have　you　submid　to　be　searge；　or　do　I　vorce　you？〃

〃What　you　will；〃　said　Raffles；　〃but　it　will　do　you　no　harm　to　give　us　fair　play　first。　　You　accuse　us　of　breaking　into　Captain　von　Heumann's　state…room　during　the　small　hours　of　this　morning；　and　abstracting　from　it　this　confounded　pearl。　　Well；　I　can　prove　that　I　was　in　my　own　room　all　night　long；　and　I　have　no　doubt　my　friend　can　prove　the　same。〃

〃Most　certainly　I　can；〃　said　I　indignantly。　〃The　ship's　boys　can　bear　witness　to　that。〃

Mackenzie　laughed；　and　shook　his　head　at　his　reflection　in　the　polished　mahogany。

〃That　was　ver　clever；〃　said　he；　〃and　like　enough　it　would　ha'　served　ye　had　I　not　stepped　aboard。　　But　I've　just　had　a　look　at　they　ventilators；　and　I　think　I　know　how　ye　worrked　it。　　Anyway；　captain；　it　makes　no　matter。　　I'll　just　be　clappin'　the　derbies　on　these　young　sparks；　an'　then〃

〃By　what　right？〃　roared　Raffles；　in　a　ringing　voice；　and　I　never　saw　his　face　in　such　a　blaze。　〃Search　us　if　you　like；　search　every　scrap　and　stitch　we　possess；　but　you　dare　to　lay　a　finger　on　us　without　a　warrant！〃

〃I　wouldna'　dare；〃　said　Mackenzie；　as　he　fumbled　in　his　breast　pocket；　and　Raffles　dived　his　hand　into　his　own。　　〃Haud　his　wrist！〃　shouted　the　Scotchman；　and　the　huge　Colt　that　had　been　with　us　many　a　night；　but　had　never　been　fired　in　my　hearing；　clattered　on　the　table　and　was　raked　in　by　the　captain。

〃All　right；〃　said　Raffles　savagely　to　the　mate。　〃You　can　let　go　now。　　I　won't　try　it　again。　　Now；　Mackenzie；　let's　see　your　warrant！〃

〃Ye'll　no　mishandle　it？〃

〃What　good　would　that　do　me？　　Let　me　see　it；〃　said　Raffles；　peremptorily；　and　the　detective　obeyed。　　Raffles　raised　his　eyebrows　as　he　perused　the　document；　his　mouth　hardened；　but　suddenly　relaxed；　and　it　was　with　a　smile　and　a　shrug　that　he　returned　the　paper。

〃Wull　that　do　for　ye？〃　inquired　Mackenzie。

〃It　may。　　I　congratulate　you；　Mackenzie；　it's　a　strong　hand；　at　any　rate。　　Two　burglaries　and　the　Melrose　necklace；　Bunny！〃　　And　he　turned　to　me　with　a　rueful　smile。