the amateur cracksman-第8部分

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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　representative　with　impotent　malignity。　　A　fine　watch　they　kept；　a　lot　of　good　they　did；　coming　in　when　all　was　over　and　the　whole　household　might　have　been　murdered　in　their　sleep。　　The　officer　only　deigned　to　notice　him　as　he　marched　me　off。

〃We　know　all　about　YOU；　sir；〃　said　he　contemptuously；　and　he　refused　the　sovereign　Purvis　proffered。　　〃You　will　be　seeing　me　again；　sir；　at　Marylebone。〃

〃Shall　I　come　now？〃

〃As　you　please；　sir。　　I　rather　think　the　other　gentleman　requires　you　more；　and　I　don't　fancy　this　young　man　means　to　give　much　trouble。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　coming　quietly；〃　I　said。

And　I　went。

In　silence　we　traversed　perhaps　a　hundred　yards。　It　must　have　been　midnight。　　We　did　not　meet　a　soul。　　At　last　I　whispered：

〃How　on　earth　did　you　manage　it？〃

〃Purely　by　luck；〃　said　Raffles。　　〃I　had　the　luck　to　get　clear　away　through　knowing　every　brick　of　those　back…garden　walls；　and　the　double　luck　to　have　these　togs　with　the　rest　over　at　Chelsea。　　The　helmet　is　one　of　a　collection　I　made　up　at　Oxford；　here　it　goes　over　this　wall；　and　we'd　better　carry　the　coat　and　belt　before　we　meet　a　real　officer。　　I　got　them　once　for　a　fancy　ballostensiblyand　thereby　hangs　a　yarn。　　I　always　thought　they　might　come　in　useful　a　second　time。　　My　chief　crux　to…night　was　getting　rid　of　the　hansom　that　brought　me　back。　　I　sent　him　off　to　Scotland　Yard　with　ten　bob　and　a　special　message　to　good　old　Mackenzie。　　The　whole　detective　department　will　be　at　Rosenthall's　in　about　half　an　hour。　　Of　course；　I　speculated　on　our　gentleman's　hatred　of　the　policeanother　huge　slice　of　luck。　　If　you'd　got　away；　well　and　good；　if　not；　I　felt　he　was　the　man　to　play　with　his　mouse　as　long　as　possible。　Yes；　Bunny；　it's　been　more　of　a　costume　piece　than　I　intended；　and　we've　come　out　of　it　with　a　good　deal　less　credit。　　But；　by　Jove；　we're　jolly　lucky　to　have　come　out　of　it　at　all！〃

　　GENTLEMEN　AND　PLAYERS

Old　Raffles　may　or　may　not　have　been　an　exceptional　criminal；　but　as　a　cricketer　I　dare　swear　he　was　unique。　　Himself　a　dangerous　bat；　a　brilliant　field；　and　perhaps　the　very　finest　slow　bowler　of　his　decade；　he　took　incredibly　little　interest　in　the　game　at　large。　　He　never　went　up　to　Lord's　without　his　cricket…bag；　or　showed　the　slightest　interest　in　the　result　of　a　match　in　which　he　was　not　himself　engaged。　　Nor　was　this　mere　hateful　egotism　on　his　part。　　He　professed　to　have　lost　all　enthusiasm　for　the　game；　and　to　keep　it　up　only　from　the　very　lowest　motives。

〃Cricket；〃　said　Raffles；　〃like　everything　else；　is　good　enough　sport　until　you　discover　a　better。　　As　a　source　of　excitement　it　isn't　in　it　with　other　things　you　wot　of；　Bunny；　and　the　involuntary　comparison　becomes　a　bore。　　What's　the　satisfaction　of　taking　a　man's　wicket　when　you　want　his　spoons？　　Still；　if　you　can　bowl　a　bit　your　low　cunning　won't　get　rusty；　and　always　looking　for　the　weak　spot's　just　the　kind　of　mental　exercise　one　wants。　　Yes；　perhaps　there's　some　affinity　between　the　two　things　after　all。　　But　I'd　chuck　up　cricket　to…morrow；　Bunny；　if　it　wasn't　for　the　glorious　protection　it　affords　a　person　of　my　proclivities。〃

〃How　so？〃　said　I。　　〃It　brings　you　before　the　public；　I　should　have　thought；　far　more　than　is　either　safe　or　wise。〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　that's　exactly　where　you　make　a　mistake。　　To　follow　Crime　with　reasonable　impunity　you　simply　MUST　have　a　parallel；　ostensible　careerthe　more　public　the　better。　　The　principle　is　obvious。　　Mr。　Peace；　of　pious　memory；　disarmed　suspicion　by　acquiring　a　local　reputation　for　playing　the　fiddle　and　taming　animals；　and　it's　my　profound　conviction　that　Jack　the　Ripper　was　a　really　eminent　public　man；　whose　speeches　were　very　likely　reported　alongside　his　atrocities。　　Fill　the　bill　in　some　prominent　part；　and　you'll　never　be　suspected　of　doubling　it　with　another　of　equal　prominence。　　That's　why　I　want　you　to　cultivate　journalism；　my　boy；　and　sign　all　you　can。　　And　it's　the　one　and　only　reason　why　I　don't　burn　my　bats　for　firewood。〃

Nevertheless；　when　he　did　play　there　was　no　keener　performer　on　the　field；　nor　one　more　anxious　to　do　well　for　his　side。　　I　remember　how　he　went　to　the　nets；　before　the　first　match　of　the　season；　with　his　pocket　full　of　sovereigns；　which　he　put　on　the　stumps　instead　of　bails。　　It　was　a　sight　to　see　the　professionals　bowling　like　demons　for　the　hard　cash；　for　whenever　a　stump　was　hit　a　pound　was　tossed　to　the　bowler　and　another　balanced　in　its　stead；　while　one　man　took　#3　with　a　ball　that　spreadeagled　the　wicket。　　Raffles's　practice　cost　him　either　eight　or　nine　sovereigns；　but　he　had　absolutely　first…class　bowling　all　the　time；　and　he　made　fifty…seven　runs　next　day。

It　became　my　pleasure　to　accompany　him　to　all　his　matches；　to　watch　every　ball　he　bowled；　or　played；　or　fielded；　and　to　sit　chatting　with　him　in　the　pavilion　when　he　was　doing　none　of　these　three　things。　　You　might　have　seen　us　there；　side　by　side；　during　the　greater　part　of　the　Gentlemen's　first　innings　against　the　Players　（who　had　lost　the　toss）　on　the　second　Monday　in　July。　　We　were　to　be　seen；　but　not　heard；　for　Raffles　had　failed　to　score；　and　was　uncommonly　cross　for　a　player　who　cared　so　little　for　the　game。　　Merely　taciturn　with　me；　he　was　positively　rude　to　more　than　one　member　who　wanted　to　know　how　it　had　happened；　or　who　ventured　to　commiserate　him　on　his　luck；　there　he　sat；　with　a　straw　hat　tilted　over　his　nose　and　a　cigarette　stuck　between　lips　that　curled　disagreeably　at　every　advance。　　I　was　therefore　much　surprised　when　a　young　fellow　of　the　exquisite　type　came　and　squeezed　himself　in　between　us；　and　met　with　a　perfectly　civil　reception　despite　the　liberty。　　I　did　not　know　the　boy　by　sight；　nor　did　Raffles　introduce　us；　but　their　conversation　proclaimed　at　once　a　slightness　of　acquaintanceship　and　a　license　on　the　lad's　part　which　combined　to　puzzle　me。　　Mystification　reached　its　height　when　Raffles　was　informed　that　the　other's　father　was　anxious　to　meet　him；　and　he　instantly　consented　to　gratify　that　whim。

〃He's　in　the　Ladies'　Enclosure。　　Will　you　come　round　now？〃

〃With　pleasure；〃　says　Raffles。　　〃Keep　a　place　for　me；　Bunny。〃

And　they　were　gone。

〃Young　Crowley；〃　said　some　voice　further　back。　　〃Last　year's　Harrow　Eleven。〃

〃I　remember　him。　　Worst　man　in　the　team。〃

〃Keen　cricketer；　however。　　Stopped　till　he　was　twenty　to　get　his　colors。　　Governor　made　him。　　Keen　breed。　　Oh；　pretty；　sir！　　Very　pretty！〃

The　game　was　boring　me。　　I　only　came　to　see　old　Raffles　perform。　　Soon　I　was　looking　wistfully　for　his　return；　and　at　length　I　saw　him　beckoning　me　from　the　palings　to　the　right。

〃Want　to　introduce　you　to　old　Amersteth；〃　he　whispered；　when　I　joined　him。　　〃They've　a　cricket　week　next　month；　when　this　boy　Crowley　comes　of　age；　and　we've　both　got　to　go　down　and　play。〃

〃Both！〃　I　echoed。　　〃But　I'm　no　cricketer！〃

〃Shut　up；〃　says　Raffles。　　〃Leave　that　to　me。　I've　been　lying　for　all　I'm　worth；〃　he　added　sepulchrally　as　we　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps。　〃I　trust　to　you　not　to　give　the　show　away。〃

There　was　a　gleam　in　his　eye　that　I　knew　well　enough　elsewhere；　but　was　unprepared　for　in　those　healthy；　sane　surroundings；　and　it　was　with　very　definite　misgivings　and　surmises　that　I　followed　the　Zingari　blazer　through　the　vast　flower…bed　of　hats　and　bonnets　that　bloomed　beneath　the　ladies'　awning。

Lord　Amersteth　was　a　fine…looking　man　with　a　short　mustache　and　a　double　chin。　　He　received　me　with　much　dry　courtesy；　through　which；　however；　it　was　not　difficult　to　read　a　less　flattering　tale。　　I　was　accepted　as　the　inevitable　appendage　of　the　invaluable　Raffles；　with　whom　I　felt　deeply　incensed　as　I　made　my　bow。

〃I　have　been　bold　enough；〃　said　Lord　Amersteth；　〃to　ask　one　of　the　Gentlemen　of　England　to　come　down　and　play　some　rustic　cricket　for　us　next　month。　　He　is　kind　enough　to　say　that　he　would　have　liked　nothing　better；　but　for　this　little　fishing　expedition　of　yours；　Mr。…；　Mr。…；〃　and　Lord　Amersteth　succeeded　in　remembering　my　name。

It　was；　of　course；　the　first　I　had　ever　heard　of　that　fishing　expedition；　but　I　made　haste　to　say