the amateur cracksman-第7节

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stance；　and　don't　speak　to　me　again　till　I　speak　to　you。　　Theregive　me　a　start。〃　　And　he　was　off　again；　a　decrepit　vagabond；　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　his　elbows　squared；　and　frayed　coat…tails　swinging　raggedly　from　side　to　side。

I　followed　him　to　the　Finchley　Road。　　There　he　took　an　Atlas　omnibus；　and　I　sat　some　rows　behind　him　on　the　top；　but　not　far　enough　to　escape　the　pest　of　his　vile　tobacco。　　That　he　could　carry　his　character…sketch　to　such　a　pitchhe　who　would　only　smoke　one　brand　of　cigarette！　　It　was　the　last；　least　touch　of　the　insatiable　artist；　and　it　charmed　away　what　mortification　there　still　remained　in　me。　Once　more　I　felt　the　fascination　of　a　comrade　who　was　forever　dazzling　one　with　a　fresh　and　unsuspected　facet　of　his　character。

As　we　neared　Piccadilly　I　wondered　what　he　would　do。　　Surely　he　was　not　going　into　the　Albany　like　that？　　No；　he　took　another　omnibus　to　Sloane　Street；　I　sitting　behind　him　as　before。　　At　Sloane　Street　we　changed　again；　and　were　presently　in　the　long　lean　artery　of　the　King's　Road。　　I　was　now　all　agog　to　know　our　destination；　nor　was　I　kept　many　more　minutes　in　doubt。　　Raffles　got　down。　　I　followed。　　He　crossed　the　road　and　disappeared　up　a　dark　turning。　　I　pressed　after　him；　and　was　in　time　to　see　his　coat…tails　as　he　plunged　into　a　still　darker　flagged　alley　to　the　right。　　He　was　holding　himself　up　and　stepping　out　like　a　young　man　once　more；　also；　in　some　subtle　way；　he　already　looked　less　disreputable。　　But　I　alone　was　there　to　see　him；　the　alley　was　absolutely　deserted；　and　desperately　dark。　　At　the　further　end　he　opened　a　door　with　a　latch…key；　and　it　was　darker　yet　within。

Instinctively　I　drew　back　and　heard　him　chuckle。　We　could　no　longer　see　each　other。

〃All　right；　Bunny！　　There's　no　hanky…panky　this　time。　　These　are　studios；　my　friend；　and　I'm　one　of　the　lawful　tenants。〃

Indeed；　in　another　minute　we　were　in　a　lofty　room　with　skylight；　easels；　dressing…cupboard；　platform；　and　every　other　adjunct　save　the　signs　of　actual　labor。　　The　first　thing　I　saw；　as　Raffles　lit　the　gas；　was　its　reflection　in　his　silk　hat　on　the　pegs　beside　the　rest　of　his　normal　garments。

〃Looking　for　the　works　of　art？〃　continued　Raffles；　lighting　a　cigarette　and　beginning　to　divest　himself　of　his　rags。　　〃I'm　afraid　you　won't　find　any；　but　there's　the　canvas　I'm　always　going　to　make　a　start　upon。　　I　tell　them　I'm　looking　high　and　low　for　my　ideal　model。　　I　have　the　stove　lit　on　principle　twice　a　week；　and　look　in　and　leave　a　newspaper　and　a　smell　of　Sullivanshow　good　they　are　after　shag！　　Meanwhile　I　pay　my　rent　and　am　a　good　tenant　in　every　way；　and　it's　a　very　useful　little　pied…a…terrethere's　no　saying　how　useful　it　might　be　at　a　pinch。　　As　it　is；　the　billy…cock　comes　in　and　the　topper　goes　out；　and　nobody　takes　the　slightest　notice　of　either；　at　this　time　of　night　the　chances　are　that　there's　not　a　soul　in　the　building　except　ourselves。〃

〃You　never　told　me　you　went　in　for　disguises；〃　said　I；　watching　him　as　he　cleansed　the　grime　from　his　face　and　hands。

〃No；　Bunny；　I've　treated　you　very　shabbily　all　round。　　There　was　really　no　reason　why　I　shouldn't　have　shown　you　this　place　a　month　ago；　and　yet　there　was　no　point　in　my　doing　so；　and　circumstances　are　just　conceivable　in　which　it　would　have　suited　us　both　for　you　to　be　in　genuine　ignorance　of　my　whereabouts。　　I　have　something　to　sleep　on；　as　you　perceive；　in　case　of　need；　and；　of　course；　my　name　is　not　Raffles　in　the　King's　Road。　　So　you　will　see　that　one　might　bolt　further　and　fare　worse。〃

〃Meanwhile　you　use　the　place　as　a　dressing…room？〃

〃It　is　my　private　pavilion；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃Disguises？　　In　some　cases　they're　half　the　battle；　and　it's　always　pleasant　to　feel　that；　if　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst；　you　needn't　necessarily　be　convicted　under　your　own　name。　　Then　they're　indispensable　in　dealing　with　the　fences。　　I　drive　all　my　bargains　in　the　tongue　and　raiment　of　Shoreditch。　　If　I　didn't　there'd　be　the　very　devil　to　pay　in　blackmail。　Now；　this　cupboard's　full　of　all　sorts　of　toggery。　I　tell　the　woman　who　cleans　the　room　that　it's　for　my　models　when　I　find　'em。　　By　the　way；　I　only　hope　I've　got　something　that'll　fit　you；　for　you'll　want　a　rig　for　to…morrow　night。〃

〃To…morrow　night！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃Why；　what　do　you　mean　to　do？〃

〃The　trick；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　intended　writing　to　you　as　soon　as　I　got　back　to　my　rooms；　to　ask　you　to　look　me　up　to…morrow　afternoon；　then　I　was　going　to　unfold　my　plan　of　campaign；　and　take　you　straight　into　action　then　and　there。　　There's　nothing　like　putting　the　nervous　players　in　first；　it's　the　sitting　with　their　pads　on　that　upsets　their　applecart；　that　was　another　of　my　reasons　for　being　so　confoundedly　close。　　You　must　try　to　forgive　me。　　I　couldn't　help　remembering　how　well　you　played　up　last　trip；　without　any　time　to　weaken　on　it　beforehand。　　All　I　want　is　for　you　to　be　as　cool　and　smart　to…morrow　night　as　you　were　then；　though；　by　Jove；　there's　no　comparison　between　the　two　cases！〃

〃I　thought　you　would　find　it　so。〃


〃You　were　right。　　I　have。　　Mind　you；　I　don't　say　this　will　be　the　tougher　job　all　round；　we　shall　probably　get　in　without　any　difficulty　at　all；　it's　the　getting　out　again　that　may　flummox　us。　　That's　the　worst　of　an　irregular　household！〃　cried　Raffles；　with　quite　a　burst　of　virtuous　indignation。　　〃I　assure　you；　Bunny；　I　spent　the　whole　of　Monday　night　in　the　shrubbery　of　the　garden　next　door；　looking　over　the　wall；　and；　if　you'll　believe　me；　somebody　was　about　all　night　long！　　I　don't　mean　the　Kaffirs。　　I　don't　believe　they　ever　get　to　bed　at　allpoor　devils！　　No；　I　mean　Rosenthall　himself；　and　that　pasty…faced　beast　Purvis。　　They　were　up　and　drinking　from　midnight；　when　they　came　in；　to　broad　daylight；　when　I　cleared　out。　　Even　then　I　left　them　sober　enough　to　slang　each　other。　　By　the　way；　they　very　nearly　came　to　blows　in　the　garden；　within　a　few　yards　of　me；　and　I　heard　something　that　might　come　in　useful　and　make　Rosenthall　shoot　crooked　at　a　critical　moment。　　You　know　what　an　I。　D。　B。　is？〃

〃Illicit　Diamond　Buyer？〃

〃Exactly。　　Well；　it　seems　that　Rosenthall　was　one。　　He　must　have　let　it　out　to　Purvis　in　his　cups。　Anyhow；　I　heard　Purvis　taunting　him　with　it；　and　threatening　him　with　the　breakwater　at　Capetown；　and　I　begin　to　think　our　friends　are　friend　and　foe。　But　about　to…morrow　night：　there's　nothing　subtle　in　my　plan。　　It's　simply　to　get　in　while　these　fellows　are　out　on　the　loose；　and　to　lie　low　till　they　come　back；　and　longer。　　If　possible；　we　must　doctor　the　whiskey。　　That　would　simplify　the　whole　thing；　though　it's　not　a　very　sporting　game　to　play；　still；　we　must　remember　Rosenthall's　revolver；　we　don't　want　him　to　sign　his　name　on　US。　　With　all　those　Kaffirs　about；　however；　it's　ten　to　one　on　the　whiskey；　and　a　hundred　to　one　against　us　if　we　go　looking　for　it。

A　brush　with　the　heathen　would　spoil　everything；　if　it　did　no　more。　　Besides；　there　are　the　ladies〃

〃The　deuce　there　are！〃

〃Ladies　with　an　_I_；　and　the　very　voices　for　raising　Cain。　　I　fear；　I　fear　the　clamor！　　It　would　be　fatal　to　us。　　Au　contraire；　if　we　can　manage　to　stow　ourselves　away　unbeknownst；　half　the　battle　will　be　won。　　If　Rosenthall　turns　in　drunk；　it's　a　purple　diamond　apiece。　　If　he　sits　up　sober；　it　may　be　a　bullet　instead。　　We　will　hope　not；　Bunny；　and　all　the　firing　wouldn't　be　on　one　side；　but　it's　on　the　knees　of　the　gods。〃

And　so　we　left　it　when　we　shook　hands　in　Picadillynot　by　any　means　as　much　later　as　I　could　have　wished。　　Raffles　would　not　ask　me　to　his　rooms　that　night。　　He　said　he　made　it　a　rule　to　have　a　long　night　before　playing　cricket　andother　games。　　His　final　word　to　me　was　framed　on　the　same　principle。

〃Mind；　only　one　drink　to…night；　Bunny。　　Two　at　the　outsideas　you　value　your　lifeand　mine！〃

I　remember　my　abject　obedience；　and　the　endless；　sleepless　night　it　gave　me；　and　the　roofs　of　the　houses　opposite　standing　out　at　last　against　the　blue…gray　London　dawn。　　I　wondered　whether　I　should　ever　see　another；　and　was　very　hard　on　myself　for　that　little　expedition　which　I　had　made　on　my　own　wilful　account。

It　was　between　eight　and　nine　o'clock　in　the　evening　when　we　took　up　our　position　in　the　garden　adjoining　that　of　Reuben　Rosenthall；　the　house　itself　was　shut　up；　thanks　to　the　outrageous　libertine　next　door；　who；　by　driving　away　the　neighbors；　had　gone　far　towards　delivering　himself　into　our　hands。　　Practically　secure　from　surprise　on　that　side；　we　could　watch　our　house　under　cover　of　a　wall　just　high　enough　to　see　over；　while　a　fair　margin　of　shrubs　in　either　garden　afforded　us　additional　protection。　　Thus　entrenched；　we　had　stood　an　hour；　watching　a　pair　of　lighted　bow…windows　with　vague　shadows　flitting　continually　across　the　blinds；　and　listening　to　the　drawing　of　corks；　the　clink　of　glasses；　and　a　gradual　crescendo　of　coarse　voices　within。　　Our　luck　seemed　to　have　deserted　us：　the　owner　of　the　purple　diamonds　was　dining　at　home　and　dining　at　undue　length。　　I　thought　it　was　a　dinner…party。　　Raffles　differed；　in　the　end　he　proved　right。　　Wheels　grated　in　the　drive；　a　carriage　and　pair　stood　at　the　steps；　there　was　a　stampede　from　the　dining…room；　and　the　loud　voices　died　away；　to　burst　forth　presently　from　the　porch。

Let　me　make