the amateur cracksman-第4部分

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sed；　but　hung　up　his　coat　and　hat　on　some　pegs　in　the　lobby　before　examining　this　curtain　with　his　lantern。

〃That's　nothing；〃　said　he；　after　a　minute's　inspection；　〃we'll　be　through　that　in　no　time；　but　there's　a　door　on　the　other　side　which　may　give　us　trouble。〃

〃Another　door！〃　I　groaned。　　〃And　how　do　you　mean　to　tackle　this　thing？〃

〃Prise　it　up　with　the　jointed　jimmy。　　The　weak　point　of　these　iron　curtains　is　the　leverage　you　can　get　from　below。　　But　it　makes　a　noise；　and　this　is　where　you're　coming　in；　Bunny；　this　is　where　I　couldn't　do　without　you。　　I　must　have　you　overhead　to　knock　through　when　the　street's　clear。　I'll　come　with　you　and　show　a　light。〃

Well；　you　may　imagine　how　little　I　liked　the　prospect　of　this　lonely　vigil；　and　yet　there　was　something　very　stimulating　in　the　vital　responsibility　which　it　involved。　　Hitherto　I　had　been　a　mere　spectator。　　Now　I　was　to　take　part　in　the　game。　And　the　fresh　excitement　made　me　more　than　ever　insensible　to　those　considerations　of　conscience　and　of　safety　which　were　already　as　dead　nerves　in　my　breast。

So　I　took　my　post　without　a　murmur　in　the　front　room　above　the　shop。　　The　fixtures　had　been　left　for　the　refusal　of　the　incoming　tenant；　and　fortunately　for　us　they　included　Venetian　blinds　which　were　already　down。　　It　was　the　simplest　matter　in　the　world　to　stand　peeping　through　the　laths　into　the　street；　to　beat　twice　with　my　foot　when　anybody　was　approaching；　and　once　when　all　was　clear　again。　　The　noises　that　even　I　could　hear　below；　with　the　exception　of　one　metallic　crash　at　the　beginning；　were　indeed　incredibly　slight；　but　they　ceased　altogether　at　each　double　rap　from　my　toe；　and　a　policeman　passed　quite　half　a　dozen　times　beneath　my　eyes；　and　the　man　whom　I　took　to　be　the　jeweller's　watchman　oftener　still；　during　the　better　part　of　an　hour　that　I　spent　at　the　window。　　Once；　indeed；　my　heart　was　in　my　mouth；　but　only　once。　　It　was　when　the　watchman　stopped　and　peered　through　the　peep…hole　into　the　lighted　shop。　　I　waited　for　his　whistleI　waited　for　the　gallows　or　the　gaol！　　But　my　signals　had　been　studiously　obeyed；　and　the　man　passed　on　in　undisturbed　serenity。

In　the　end　I　had　a　signal　in　my　turn；　and　retraced　my　steps　with　lighted　matches；　down　the　broad　stairs；　down　the　narrow　ones；　across　the　area；　and　up　into　the　lobby　where　Raffles　awaited　me　with　an　outstretched　hand。

〃Well　done；　my　boy！〃　said　he。　　〃You're　the　same　good　man　in　a　pinch；　and　you　shall　have　your　reward。　　I've　got　a　thousand　pounds'　worth　if　I've　got　a　penn'oth。　　It's　all　in　my　pockets。　　And　here's　something　else　I　found　in　this　locker；　very　decent　port　and　some　cigars；　meant　for　poor　dear　Danby's　business　friends。　　Take　a　pull；　and　you　shall　light　up　presently。　　I've　found　a　lavatory；　too；　and　we　must　have　a　wash…and…brush…up　before　we　go；　for　I'm　as　black　as　your　boot。〃

The　iron　curtain　was　down；　but　he　insisted　on　raising　it　until　I　could　peep　through　the　glass　door　on　the　other　side　and　see　his　handiwork　in　the　shop　beyond。　　Here　two　electric　lights　were　left　burning　all　night　long；　and　in　their　cold　white　rays　I　could　at　first　see　nothing　amiss。　　I　looked　along　an　orderly　lane；　an　empty　glass　counter　on　my　left；　glass　cupboards　of　untouched　silver　on　my　right；　and　facing　me　the　filmy　black　eye　of　the　peep…hole　that　shone　like　a　stage　moon　on　the　street。　　The　counter　had　not　been　emptied　by　Raffles；　its　contents　were　in　the　Chubb's　safe；　which　he　had　given　up　at　a　glance；　nor　had　he　looked　at　the　silver；　except　to　choose　a　cigarette　case　for　me。　　He　had　confined　himself　entirely　to　the　shop　window。　　This　was　in　three　compartments；　each　secured　for　the　night　by　removable　panels　with　separate　locks。　Raffles　had　removed　them　a　few　hours　before　their　time；　and　the　electric　light　shone　on　a　corrugated　shutter　bare　as　the　ribs　of　an　empty　carcase。　　Every　article　of　value　was　gone　from　the　one　place　which　was　invisible　from　the　little　window　in　the　door；　elsewhere　all　was　as　it　had　been　left　overnight。　And　but　for　a　train　of　mangled　doors　behind　the　iron　curtain；　a　bottle　of　wine　and　a　cigar…box　with　which　liberties　had　been　taken；　a　rather　black　towel　in　the　lavatory；　a　burnt　match　here　and　there；　and　our　finger…marks　on　the　dusty　banisters；　not　a　trace　of　our　visit　did　we　leave。

〃Had　it　in　my　head　for　long？〃　said　Raffles；　as　we　strolled　through　the　streets　towards　dawn；　for　all　the　world　as　though　we　were　returning　from　a　dance。　　〃No；　Bunny；　I　never　thought　of　it　till　I　saw　that　upper　part　empty　about　a　month　ago；　and　bought　a　few　things　in　the　shop　to　get　the　lie　of　the　land。　　That　reminds　me　that　I　never　paid　for　them；　but；　by　Jove；　I　will　to…morrow；　and　if　that　isn't　poetic　justice；　what　is？　　One　visit　showed　me　the　possibilities　of　the　place；　but　a　second　convinced　me　of　its　impossibilities　without　a　pal。　　So　I　had　practically　given　up　the　idea；　when　you　came　along　on　the　very　night　and　in　the　very　plight　for　it！　　But　here　we　are　at　the　Albany；　and　I　hope　there's　some　fire　left；　for　I　don't　know　how　you　feel；　Bunny；　but　for　my　part　I'm　as　cold　as　Keats's　owl。〃

He　could　think　of　Keats　on　his　way　from　a　felony！　　He　could　hanker　for　his　fireside　like　another！　　Floodgates　were　loosed　within　me；　and　the　plain　English　of　our　adventure　rushed　over　me　as　cold　as　ice。　　Raffles　was　a　burglar。　　I　had　helped　him　to　commit　one　burglary；　therefore　I　was　a　burglar；　too。　　Yet　I　could　stand　and　warm　myself　by　his　fire；　and　watch　him　empty　his　pockets；　as　though　we　had　done　nothing　wonderful　or　wicked！

My　blood　froze。　　My　heart　sickened。　　My　brain　whirled。　　How　I　had　liked　this　villain！　　How　I　had　admired　him！　　Now　my　liking　and　admiration　must　turn　to　loathing　and　disgust。　　I　waited　for　the　change。　　I　longed　to　feel　it　in　my　heart。　　ButI　longed　and　I　waited　in　vain！

I　saw　that　he　was　emptying　his　pockets；　the　table　sparkled　with　their　hoard。　　Rings　by　the　dozen；　diamonds　by　the　score；　bracelets；　pendants；　aigrettes；　necklaces；　pearls；　rubies；　amethysts；　sapphires；　and　diamonds　always；　diamonds　in　everything；　flashing　bayonets　of　light；　dazzling　meblinding　memaking　me　disbelieve　because　I　could　no　longer　forget。　　Last　of　all　came　no　gem；　indeed；　but　my　own　revolver　from　an　inner　pocket。　And　that　struck　a　chord。　　I　suppose　I　said　somethingmy　hand　flew　out。　　I　can　see　Raffles　now；　as　he　looked　at　me　once　more　with　a　high　arch　over　each　clear　eye。　　I　can　see　him　pick　out　the　cartridges　with　his　quiet；　cynical　smile；　before　he　would　give　me　my　pistol　back　again。

〃You　mayn't　believe　it；　Bunny；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　never　carried　a　loaded　one　before。　　On　the　whole　I　think　it　gives　one　confidence。　　Yet　it　would　be　very　awkward　if　anything　went　wrong；　one　might　use　it；　and　that's　not　the　game　at　all；　though　I　have　often　thought　that　the　murderer　who　has　just　done　the　trick　must　have　great　sensations　before　things　get　too　hot　for　him。　　Don't　look　so　distressed；　my　dear　chap。　　I've　never　had　those　sensations；　and　I　don't　suppose　I　ever　shall。〃

〃But　this　much　you　have　done　before？〃　said　I　hoarsely。

〃Before？　　My　dear　Bunny；　you　offend　me！　　Did　it　look　like　a　first　attempt？　　Of　course　I　have　done　it　before。〃

〃Often？〃

〃Wellno！　　Not　often　enough　to　destroy　the　charm；　at　all　events；　never；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　unless　I'm　cursedly　hard　up。　　Did　you　hear　about　the　Thimbleby　diamonds？　　Well；　that　was　the　last　timeand　a　poor　lot　of　paste　they　were。　　Then　there　was　the　little　business　of　the　Dormer　house…boat　at　Henley　last　year。　　That　was　mine　alsosuch　as　it　was。　　I've　never　brought　off　a　really　big　coup　yet；　when　I　do　I　shall　chuck　it　up。〃

Yes；　I　remembered　both　cases　very　well。　　To　think　that　he　was　their　author！　　It　was　incredible；　outrageous；　inconceivable。　　Then　my　eyes　would　fall　upon　the　table；　twinkling　and　glittering　in　a　hundred　places；　and　incredulity　was　at　an　end。

〃How　came　you　to　begin？〃　I　asked；　as　curiosity　overcame　mere　wonder；　and　a　fascination　for　his　career　gradually　wove　itself　into　my　fascination　for　the　man。

〃Ah！　that's　a　long　story；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃It　was　in　the　Colonies；　when　I　was　out　there　playing　cricket。　　It's　too　long　a　story　to　tell　you　now；　but　I　was　in　much　the　same　fix　that　you　were　in　to…night；　and　it　was　my　only　way　out。　　I　never　meant　it　for　anything　more；　but　I'd　tasted　blood；　and　it　was　all　over　with　me。　　Why　should　I　work　when　I　could　steal？　　Why　settle　down　to　some　humdrum　uncongenial　billet；　when　excitement；　romance；　danger　and　a　decent　living　were　all　going　begging　together？　　Of　course　it's　very　wrong；　but　we　can't　all　be　moralists；　and　the　distribution　of　wealth　is　very　wrong　to　begin　with。　　Besides；　you're　not　at　it　all　the　time。　　I'm　sick　of　quoting　Gilbert's　lines　to　myself；　but　they're　profoundly　true。　　I　only　wonder　if　you'll　like　the　life　as　much　as　I　do！〃

〃Like　it？〃　I　cried　out。　　〃Not　I！　　It's　no　life　for　me。　　Once　is　enough！〃

〃You　wouldn't　give　me　a　hand　another　time？〃

〃Don't　ask　me；　Raffles。　　Don't　ask　me；　for　God's　sake！〃

〃Yet　you　said　you　would　do　anything　for　me！　You　asked　me　to　name　my　crime！　　But　I　knew　at　the　time　you　didn't　mean　it；　you　didn't　go　back　on　me　to…night；　and　that　ought　to　satisfy　me；　goodness　knows！　　I　suppose　I'm　ungrateful；　and　unreasonable；　and　all　that。　　I　ought　to　let　it　end　at　this。　　But　you're　the　very　man　for　me；　Bunny；　theveryman！　　Just　think　how　we　got　through　to…night。　Not　a　scratchnot　a　hitch！　　There's　nothing　very　terrible　in　it；　you　see；　there　never　would　be；　while　we　worked　together。〃

He　was　standing　in　front　of　me　with　a　hand　on　either　shoulder；　he　was　smiling　as　he　knew　so　well　how　to　smile。　　I　turned　on　my　heel；　planted　my　elbows　on　the　chimney…piece；　and　my　burning　head　between　my　hands。　　Next　instant　a　still　heartier　hand　had　fallen　on　my　back。

〃All　right；　my　boy！　　You　are　quite　right　and　I'm　worse　than　wrong。　　I'll　never　ask　it　again。　Go；　if　you　want　to；　and　come　again　about　mid…day　for　the　cash。　　There　was　no　bargain；　but；　of　course；　I'll　get　you　out　of　your　scrapeespecially　after　the　way　you've　stood　by　me　to…night。〃

I　was　round　again　with　my　blood　on　fire。

〃I'll　do　it　again；〃　I　said；　through　my　teeth。

He　shook　his　head。　　〃Not　you；〃　he　said；　smiling　quite　good…humoredly　on　my　insane　enthusiasm。

〃I　will；〃　I　cried　with　an　oath。　　〃I'll　lend　you　a　hand　as　often　as　you　like！　　W