the amateur cracksman- 第7部分

〃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　taunting　him　with　it；　and　threatening　him　with　the　breakwater　at　Capetown；　and　I　begin　to　think　our　friends　are　friend　and　foe。　But　about　to…morrow　night：　there's　nothing　subtle　in　my　plan。　　It's　simply　to　get　in　while　these　fellows　are　out　on　the　loose；　and　to　lie　low　till　they　come　back；　and　longer。　　If　possible；　we　must　doctor　the　whiskey。　　That　would　simplify　the　whole　thing；　though　it's　not　a　very　sporting　game　to　play；　still；　we　must　remember　Rosenthall's　revolver；　we　don't　want　him　to　sign　his　name　on　US。　　With　all　those　Kaffirs　about；　however；　it's　ten　to　one　on　the　whiskey；　and　a　hundred　to　one　against　us　if　we　go　looking　for　it。

A　brush　with　the　heathen　would　spoil　everything；　if　it　did　no　more。　　Besides；　there　are　the　ladies〃

〃The　deuce　there　are！〃

〃Ladies　with　an　_I_；　and　the　very　voices　for　raising　Cain。　　I　fear；　I　fear　the　clamor！　　It　would　be　fatal　to　us。　　Au　contraire；　if　we　can　manage　to　stow　ourselves　away　unbeknownst；　half　the　battle　will　be　won。　　If　Rosenthall　turns　in　drunk；　it's　a　purple　diamond　apiece。　　If　he　sits　up　sober；　it　may　be　a　bullet　instead。　　We　will　hope　not；　Bunny；　and　all　the　firing　wouldn't　be　on　one　side；　but　it's　on　the　knees　of　the　gods。〃

And　so　we　left　it　when　we　shook　hands　in　Picadillynot　by　any　means　as　much　later　as　I　could　have　wished。　　Raffles　would　not　ask　me　to　his　rooms　that　night。　　He　said　he　made　it　a　rule　to　have　a　long　night　before　playing　cricket　andother　games。　　His　final　word　to　me　was　framed　on　the　same　principle。

〃Mind；　only　one　drink　to…night；　Bunny。　　Two　at　the　outsideas　you　value　your　lifeand　mine！〃

I　remember　my　abject　obedience；　and　the　endless；　sleepless　night　it　gave　me；　and　the　roofs　of　the　houses　opposite　standing　out　at　last　against　the　blue…gray　London　dawn。　　I　wondered　whether　I　should　ever　see　another；　and　was　very　hard　on　myself　for　that　little　expedition　which　I　had　made　on　my　own　wilful　account。

It　was　between　eight　and　nine　o'clock　in　the　evening　when　we　took　up　our　position　in　the　garden　adjoining　that　of　Reuben　Rosenthall；　the　house　itself　was　shut　up；　thanks　to　the　outrageous　libertine　next　door；　who；　by　driving　away　the　neighbors；　had　gone　far　towards　delivering　himself　into　our　hands。　　Practically　secure　from　surprise　on　that　side；　we　could　watch　our　house　under　cover　of　a　wall　just　high　enough　to　see　over；　while　a　fair　margin　of　shrubs　in　either　garden　afforded　us　additional　protection。　　Thus　entrenched；　we　had　stood　an　hour；　watching　a　pair　of　lighted　bow…windows　with　vague　shadows　flitting　continually　across　the　blinds；　and　listening　to　the　drawing　of　corks；　the　clink　of　glasses；　and　a　gradual　crescendo　of　coarse　voices　within。　　Our　luck　seemed　to　have　deserted　us：　the　owner　of　the　purple　diamonds　was　dining　at　home　and　dining　at　undue　length。　　I　thought　it　was　a　dinner…party。　　Raffles　differed；　in　the　end　he　proved　right。　　Wheels　grated　in　the　drive；　a　carriage　and　pair　stood　at　the　steps；　there　was　a　stampede　from　the　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　th