the amateur cracksman-第8节

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dining…room；　and　the　loud　voices　died　away；　to　burst　forth　presently　from　the　porch。

Let　me　make　our　position　perfectly　clear。　　We　were　over　the　wall；　at　the　side　of　the　house；　but　a　few　feet　from　the　dining…room　windows。　　On　our　right；　one　angle　of　the　building　cut　the　back　lawn　in　two　diagonally；　on　our　left；　another　angle　just　permitted　us　to　see　the　jutting　steps　and　the　waiting　carriage。　　We　saw　Rosenthall　come　outsaw　the　glimmer　of　his　diamonds　before　anything。　Then　came　the　pugilist；　then　a　lady　with　a　head　of　hair　like　a　bath　sponge；　then　another；　and　the　party　was　complete。

Raffles　ducked　and　pulled　me　down　in　great　excitement。

〃The　ladies　are　going　with　them；〃　he　whispered。　　〃This　is　great！〃

〃That's　better　still。〃

〃The　Gardenia！〃　the　millionaire　had　bawled。

〃And　that's　best　of　all；〃　said　Raffles；　standing　upright　as　hoofs　and　wheels　crunched　through　the　gates　and　rattled　off　at　a　fine　speed。

〃Now　what？〃　I　whispered；　trembling　with　excitement。

〃They'll　be　clearing　away。　　Yes；　here　come　their　shadows。　　The　drawing…room　windows　open　on　the　lawn。　　Bunny；　it's　the　psychological　moment。　Where's　that　mask？〃

I　produced　it　with　a　hand　whose　trembling　I　tried　in　vain　to　still；　and　could　have　died　for　Raffles　when　he　made　no　comment　on　what　he　could　not　fail　to　notice。　　His　own　hands　were　firm　and　cool　as　he　adjusted　my　mask　for　me；　and　then　his　own。

〃By　Jove；　old　boy；〃　he　whispered　cheerily；　〃you　look　about　the　greatest　ruffian　I　ever　saw！　These　masks　alone　will　down　a　nigger；　if　we　meet　one。　　But　I'm　glad　I　remembered　to　tell　you　not　to　shave。　　You'll　pass　for　Whitechapel　if　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst　and　you　don't　forget　to　talk　the　lingo。　　Better　sulk　like　a　mule　if　you're　not　sure　of　it；　and　leave　the　dialogue　to　me；　but；　please　our　stars；　there　will　be　no　need。　　Now；　are　you　ready？〃

〃Quite。〃

〃Got　your　gag？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Shooter？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　follow　me。〃

In　an　instant　we　were　over　the　wall；　in　another　on　the　lawn　behind　the　house。　　There　was　no　moon。　The　very　stars　in　their　courses　had　veiled　themselves　for　our　benefit。　　I　crept　at　my　leader's　heels　to　some　French　windows　opening　upon　a　shallow　veranda。　　He　pushed。　　They　yielded。

〃Luck　again；〃　he　whispered；　〃nothing　BUT　luck！　Now　for　a　light。〃

And　the　light　came！

A　good　score　of　electric　burners　glowed　red　for　the　fraction　of　a　second；　then　rained　merciless　white　beams　into　our　blinded　eyes。　　When　we　found　our　sight　four　revolvers　covered　us；　and　between　two　of　them　the　colossal　frame　of　Reuben　Rosenthall　shook　with　a　wheezy　laughter　from　head　to　foot。

〃Good…evening；　boys；〃　he　hiccoughed。　　〃Glad　to　see　ye　at　last。　　Shift　foot　or　finger；　you　on　the　left；　though；　and　you're　a　dead　boy。　　I　mean　you；　you　greaser！〃　he　roared　out　at　Raffles。　　〃I　know　you。　　I've　been　waitin'　for　you。　　I've　been　WATCHIN'　you　all　this　week！　　Plucky　smart　you　thought　yerself；　didn't　you？　　One　day　beggin'；　next　time　shammin'　tight；　and　next　one　o'　them　old　pals　from　Kimberley　what　never　come　when　I'm　in。　　But　you　left　the　same　tracks　every　day；　you　buggins；　an'　the　same　tracks　every　night；　all　round　the　blessed　premises。〃

〃All　right；　guv'nor；〃　drawled　Raffles；　〃don't　excite。　　It's　a　fair　cop。　　We　don't　sweat　to　know　'ow　you　brung　it　orf。　　On'y　don't　you　go　for　to　shoot；　'cos　we　'int　awmed；　s'help　me　Gord！〃

〃Ah；　you're　a　knowin'　one；〃　said　Rosenthall；　fingering　his　triggers。　　〃But　you've　struck　a　knowin'er。〃

〃Ho；　yuss；　we　know　all　abaht　thet！　　Set　a　thief　to　ketch　a　thiefho；　yuss。〃

My　eyes　had　torn　themselves　from　the　round　black　muzzles；　from　the　accursed　diamonds　that　had　been　our　snare；　the　pasty　pig…face　of　the　over…fed　pugilist；　and　the　flaming　cheeks　and　hook　nose　of　Rosenthall　himself。　　I　was　looking　beyond　them　at　the　doorway　filled　with　quivering　silk　and　plush；　black　faces；　white　eyeballs；　woolly　pates。　　But　a　sudden　silence　recalled　my　attention　to　the　millionaire。　　And　only　his　nose　retained　its　color。

〃What　d'ye　mean？〃　he　whispered　with　a　hoarse　oath。　　〃Spit　it　out；　or；　by　Christmas；　I'll　drill　you！〃

〃Whort　price　thet　brikewater？〃　drawled　Raffles　coolly。

〃Eh？〃

Rosenthall's　revolvers　were　describing　widening　orbits。

〃Whort　price　thet　brikewaterold　_I。D。B。_？〃

〃Where　in　hell　did　you　get　hold　o'　that　？〃　asked　Rosenthall；　with　a　rattle　in　his　thick　neck；　meant　for　mirth。

〃You　may　well　arst；〃　says　Raffles。　　〃It's　all　over　the　plice　w'ere　_I_　come　from。〃

〃Who　can　have　spread　such　rot？〃

〃I　dunno；〃　says　Raffles；　〃arst　the　gen'leman　on　yer　left；　p'r'aps　'E　knows。〃

The　gentleman　on　his　left　had　turned　livid　with　emotion。　　Guilty　conscience　never　declared　itself　in　plainer　terms。　　For　a　moment　his　small　eyes　bulged　like　currants　in　the　suet　of　his　face；　the　next；　he　had　pocketed　his　pistols　on　a　professional　instinct；　and　was　upon　us　with　his　fists。

〃Out　o'　the　lightout　o'　the　light！〃　yelled　Rosenthall　in　a　frenzy。

He　was　too　late。　　No　sooner　had　the　burly　pugilist　obstructed　his　fire　than　Raffles　was　through　the　window　at　a　bound；　while　I；　for　standing　still　and　saying　nothing；　was　scientifically　felled　to　the　floor。


I　cannot　have　been　many　moments　without　my　senses。　　When　I　recovered　them　there　was　a　great　to…do　in　the　garden；　but　I　had　the　drawing…room　to　myself。　　I　sat　up。　　Rosenthall　and　Purvis　were　rushing　about　outside；　cursing　the　Kaffirs　and　nagging　at　each　other。

〃Over　THAT　wall；　I　tell　yer！〃

〃I　tell　you　it　was　this　one。　　Can't　you　whistle　for　the　police？〃

〃Police　be　damned！　　I've　had　enough　of　the　blessed　police。〃

〃Then　we'd　better　get　back　and　make　sure　of　the　other　rotter。〃

〃Oh；　make　sure　o'　yer　skin。　　That's　what　you'd　better　do。　　Jala；　you　black　hog；　if　I　catch　YOU　skulkin'。　。　。　。〃

I　never　heard　the　threat。　　I　was　creeping　from　the　drawing…room　on　my　hands　and　knees；　my　own　revolver　swinging　by　its　steel　ring　from　my　teeth。

For　an　instant　I　thought　that　the　hall　also　was　deserted。　　I　was　wrong；　and　I　crept　upon　a　Kaffir　on　all　fours。　　Poor　devil；　I　could　not　bring　myself　to　deal　him　a　base　blow；　but　I　threatened　him　most　hideously　with　my　revolver；　and　left　the　white　teeth　chattering　in　his　black　head　as　I　took　the　stairs　three　at　a　time。　　Why　I　went　upstairs　in　that　decisive　fashion；　as　though　it　were　my　only　course；　I　cannot　explain。　　But　garden　and　ground　floor　seemed　alive　with　men；　and　I　might　have　done　worse。

I　turned　into　the　first　room　I　came　to。　　It　was　a　bedroomempty；　though　lit　up；　and　never　shall　I　forget　how　I　started　as　I　entered；　on　encountering　the　awful　villain　that　was　myself　at　full　length　in　a　pier…glass！　　Masked；　armed；　and　ragged；　I　was　indeed　fit　carrion　for　a　bullet　or　the　hangman；　and　to　one　or　the　other　I　made　up　my　mind。　　Nevertheless；　I　hid　myself　in　the　wardrobe　behind　the　mirror；　and　there　I　stood　shivering　and　cursing　my　fate；　my　folly；　and　Raffles　most　of　allRaffles　first　and　lastfor　I　daresay　half　an　hour。　　Then　the　wardrobe　door　was　flung　suddenly　open；　they　had　stolen　into　the　room　without　a　sound；　and　I　was　hauled　downstairs；　an　ignominious　captive。

Gross　scenes　followed　in　the　hall；　the　ladies　were　now　upon　the　stage；　and　at　sight　of　the　desperate　criminal　they　screamed　with　one　accord。　In　truth　I　must　have　given　them　fair　cause；　though　my　mask　was　now　torn　away　and　hid　nothing　but　my　left　ear。　　Rosenthall　answered　their　shrieks　with　a　roar　for　silence；　the　woman　with　the　bath…sponge　hair　swore　at　him　shrilly　in　return；　the　place　became　a　Babel　impossible　to　describe。　　I　remember　wondering　how　long　it　would　be　before　the　police　appeared。　　Purvis　and　the　ladies　were　for　calling　them　in　and　giving　me　in　charge　without　delay。　　Rosenthall　would　not　hear　of　it。　　He　swore　that　he　would　shoot　man　or　woman　who　left　his　sight。　　He　had　had　enough　of　the　police。　　He　was　not　going　to　have　them　coming　there　to　spoil　sport；　he　was　going　to　deal　with　me　in　his　own　way。　　With　that　he　dragged　me　from　all　other　hands；　flung　me　against　a　door；　and　sent　a　bullet　crashing　through　the　wood　within　an　inch　of　my　ear。

〃You　drunken　fool！　　It'll　be　murder！〃　shouted　Purvis；　getting　in　the　way　a　second　time。

〃Wha'　do　I　care？　　He's　armed；　isn't　he？　　I　shot　him　in　self…defence。　　It'll　be　a　warning　to　others。　　Will　you　stand　aside；　or　d'ye　want　it　yourself？〃

〃You're　drunk；〃　said　Purvis；　still　between　us。　〃I　saw　you　take　a　neat　tumblerful　since　you　come　in；　and　it's　made　you　drunk　as　a　fool。　　Pull　yourself　together；　old　man。　　You　ain't　a…going　to　do　what　you'll　be　sorry　for。〃

〃Then　I　won't　shoot　at　him；　I'll　only　shoot　roun'　an'　roun'　the　beggar。　　You're　quite　right；　ole　feller。　　Wouldn't　hurt　him。　　Great　mishtake。　Roun'　an'　roun'。　　Therelike　that！〃

His　freckled　paw　shot　up　over　Purvis's　shoulder；　mauve　lightning　came　from　his　ring；　a　red　flash　from　his　revolver；　and　shrieks　from　the　women　as　the　reverberations　died　away。　　Some　splinters　lodged　in　my　hair。

Next　instant　the　prize…fighter　disarmed　him；　and　I　was　safe　from　the　devil；　but　finally　doomed　to　the　deep　sea。　　A　policeman　was　in　our　midst。　He　had　entered　through　the　drawing…room　window；　he　was　an　officer　of　few　words　and　creditable　promptitude。　　In　a　twinkling　he　had　the　handcuffs　on　my　wrists；　while　the　pugilist　explained　the　situation；　and　his　patron　reviled　the　force　and　its　re