the amateur cracksman-第6部分

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uppose；　the　thickest　thieves　in　all　London；　and　yet　our　intimacy　was　curiously　incomplete。　　With　all　his　charming　frankness；　there　was　in　Raffles　a　vein　of　capricious　reserve　which　was　perceptible　enough　to　be　very　irritating。　He　had　the　instinctive　secretiveness　of　the　inveterate　criminal。　　He　would　make　mysteries　of　matters　of　common　concern；　for　example；　I　never　knew　how　or　where　he　disposed　of　the　Bond　Street　jewels；　on　the　proceeds　of　which　we　were　both　still　leading　the　outward　lives　of　hundreds　of　other　young　fellows　about　town。　　He　was　consistently　mysterious　about　that　and　other　details；　of　which　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　had　already　earned　the　right　to　know　everything。　　I　could　not　but　remember　how　he　had　led　me　into　my　first　felony；　by　means　of　a　trick；　while　yet　uncertain　whether　he　could　trust　me　or　not。

That　I　could　no　longer　afford　to　resent；　but　I　did　resent　his　want　of　confidence　in　me　now。　　I　said　nothing　about　it；　but　it　rankled　every　day；　and　never　more　than　in　the　week　that　succeeded　the　Rosenthall　dinner。　　When　I　met　Raffles　at　the　club　he　would　tell　me　nothing；　when　I　went　to　his　rooms　he　was　out；　or　pretended　to　be。

One　day　he　told　me　he　was　getting　on　well；　but　slowly；　it　was　a　more　ticklish　game　than　he　had　thought；　but　when　I　began　to　ask　questions　he　would　say　no　more。　　Then　and　there；　in　my　annoyance；　I　took　my　own　decision。　　Since　he　would　tell　me　nothing　of　the　result　of　his　vigils；　I　determined　to　keep　one　on　my　own　account；　and　that　very　evening　found　my　way　to　the　millionaire's　front　gates。

The　house　he　was　occupying　is；　I　believe；　quite　the　largest　in　the　St。　John's　Wood　district。　　It　stands　in　the　angle　formed　by　two　broad　thoroughfares；　neither　of　which；　as　it　happens；　is　a　'bus　route；　and　I　doubt　if　many　quieter　spots　exist　within　the　four…mile　radius。　　Quiet　also　was　the　great　square　house；　in　its　garden　of　grass…plots　and　shrubs；　the　lights　were　low；　the　millionaire　and　his　friends　obviously　spending　their　evening　elsewhere。　　The　garden　walls　were　only　a　few　feet　high。　　In　one　there　was　a　side　door　opening　into　a　glass　passage；　in　the　other　two　five…barred；　grained…and…varnished　gates；　one　at　either　end　of　the　little　semi…circular　drive；　and　both　wide　open。　So　still　was　the　place　that　I　had　a　great　mind　to　walk　boldly　in　and　learn　something　of　the　premises；　in　fact；　I　was　on　the　point　of　doing　so；　when　I　heard　a　quick；　shuffling　step　on　the　pavement　behind　me。　　I　turned　round　and　faced　the　dark　scowl　and　the　dirty　clenched　fists　of　a　dilapidated　tramp。

〃You　fool！〃　said　he。　　〃You　utter　idiot！〃

〃Raffles！〃

〃That's　it；〃　he　whispered　savagely；　〃tell　all　the　neighborhoodgive　me　away　at　the　top　of　your　voice！〃

With　that　he　turned　his　back　upon　me；　and　shambled　down　the　road；　shrugging　his　shoulders　and　muttering　to　himself　as　though　I　had　refused　him　alms。　　A　few　moments　I　stood　astounded；　indignant；　at　a　loss；　then　I　followed　him。　　His　feet　trailed；　his　knees　gave；　his　back　was　bowed；　his　head　kept　nodding；　it　was　the　gait　of　a　man　eighty　years　of　age。　　Presently　he　waited　for　me　midway　between　two　lamp…posts。　　As　I　came　up　he　was　lighting　rank　tobacco；　in　a　cutty　pipe；　with　an　evil…smelling　match；　and　the　flame　showed　me　the　suspicion　of　a　smile。

〃You　must　forgive　my　heat；　Bunny；　but　it　really　was　very　foolish　of　you。　　Here　am　I　trying　every　dodgebegging　at　the　door　one　nighthiding　in　the　shrubs　the　nextdoing　every　mortal　thing　but　stand　and　stare　at　the　house　as　you　went　and　did。　It's　a　costume　piece；　and　in　you　rush　in　your　ordinary　clothes。　　I　tell　you　they're　on　the　lookout　for　us　night　and　day。　　It's　the　toughest　nut　I　ever　tackled！〃

〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃if　you　had　told　me　so　before　I　shouldn't　have　come。　　You　told　me　nothing。〃

He　looked　hard　at　me　from　under　the　broken　brim　of　a　battered　billycock。

〃You're　right；〃　he　said　at　length。　　〃I've　been　too　close。　　It's　become　second　nature　with　me　when　I've　anything　on。　　But　here's　an　end　of　it；　Bunny；　so　far　as　you're　concerned。　　I'm　going　home　now；　and　I　want　you　to　follow　me；　but　for　heaven's　sake　keep　your　distance；　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　taunt