the amateur cracksman-第7章
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〃Trust me for that；〃 was his reply； 〃I'll see you through。 After all I expect to find that the difficulties are nearly all on the surface。 These fellows both drink like the devil； and that should simplify matters considerably。 But we shall see； and we must take our time。 There will probably turn out to be a dozen different ways in which the thing might be done； and we shall have to choose between them。 It will mean watching the house for at least a week in any case； it may mean lots of other things that will take much longer； but give me a week and I will tell you more。 That's to say； if you're really on？〃
〃Of course I am；〃 I replied indignantly。 〃But why should I give you a week？ Why shouldn't we watch the house together？〃
〃Because two eyes are as good as four and take up less room。 Never hunt in couples unless you're obliged。 But don't you look offended； Bunny； there'll be plenty for you to do when the time comes； that I promise you。 You shall have your share of the fun； never fear； and a purple diamond all to yourselfif we're lucky。〃
On the whole； however； this conversation left me less than lukewarm； and I still remember the depression which came upon me when Raffles was gone。 I saw the folly of the enterprise to which I had committed myselfthe sheer； gratuitous； unnecessary folly of it。 And the paradoxes in which Raffles revelled； and the frivolous casuistry which was nevertheless half sincere； and which his mere personality rendered wholly plausible at the moment of utterance； appealed very little to me when recalled in cold blood。 I admired the spirit of pure mischief in which he seemed prepared to risk his liberty and his life； but I did not find it an infectious spirit on calm reflection。 Yet the thought of withdrawal was not to be entertained for a moment。 On the contrary； I was impatient of the delay ordained by Raffles； and； perhaps； no small part of my secret disaffection came of his galling determination to do without me until the last moment。
It made it no better that this was characteristic of the man and of his attitude towards me。 For a month we had been； I suppose； 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
