a thief in the night-第18章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


rubber　soles。　　I　had　to　call　him　〃officer〃　as　I　passed；　and　to　pass　my　turning　by　a　couple　of　hundred　yards；　before　venturing　back　another　way。

At　last　I　had　crept　through　a　garden　gate；　and　round　by　black　windows　to　a　black　lawn　drenched　with　dew。　　It　had　been　a　heating　walk；　and　I　was　glad　to　blunder　on　a　garden　seat；　most　considerately　placed　under　a　cedar　which　added　its　own　darkness　to　that　of　the　night。　　Here　I　rested　a　few　minutes；　putting　up　my　feet　to　keep　them　dry；　untying　my　shoes　to　save　time；　and　generally　facing　the　task　before　me　with　a　coolness　which　I　strove　to　make　worthy　of　my　absent　chief。　　But　mine　was　a　self…conscious　quality；　as　far　removed　from　the　original　as　any　other　deliberate　imitation　of　genius。　　I　actually　struck　a　match　on　my　trousers；　and　lit　one　of　the　shorter　Sullivans。　　Raffles　himself　would　not　have　done　such　a　thing　at　such　a　moment。　　But　I　wished　to　tell　him　that　I　had　done　it；　and　in　truth　I　was　not　more　than　pleasurably　afraid；　I　had　rather　that　impersonal　curiosity　as　to　the　issue　which　has　been　the　saving　of　me　in　still　more　precarious　situations。　　I　even　grew　impatient　for　the　fray；　and　could　not　after　all　sit　still　as　long　as　I　had　intended。　　So　it　happened　that　I　was　finishing　my　cigarette　on　the　edge　of　the　wet　lawn；　and　about　to　slip　off　my　shoes　before　stepping　across　the　gravel　to　the　conservatory　door；　when　a　most　singular　sound　arrested　me　in　the　act。　　It　was　a　muffled　gasping　somewhere　overhead。　　I　stood　like　stone；　and　my　listening　attitude　must　have　been　visible　against　the　milky　sheen　of　the　lawn；　for　a　labored　voice　hailed　me　sternly　from　a　window。

〃Who　on　earth　are　you？〃　it　wheezed。

〃A　detective　officer；〃　I　replied；　〃sent　down　by　the　Burglary　Insurance　Company。〃

Not　a　moment　had　I　paused　for　my　precious　fable。　　It　had　all。　been　prepared　for　me　by　Raffles；　in　case　of　need。　　I　was　merely　repeating　a　lesson　in　which　I　had　been　closely　schooled。　　But　at　the　window　there　was　pause　enough；　filled　only　by　the　uncanny　wheezing　of　the　man　I　could　not　see。

〃I　don't　see　why　they　should　have　sent　you　down；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃We　are　being　quite　well　looked　after　by　the　local　police；　they're　giving　us　a　special　call　every　hour。〃

〃I　know　that；　Mr。　Medlicott；〃　I　rejoined　on　my　own　account。　　〃I　met　one　of　them　at　the　corner　just　now；　and　we　passed　the　time　of　night。〃

My　heart　was　knocking　me　to　bits。　　I　had　started　for　myself　at　last。

〃Did　you　get　my　name　from　him？〃　pursued　my　questioner；　in　a　suspicious　wheeze。

〃No；　they　gave　me　that　before　I　started；〃　I　replied。　　〃But　I'm　sorry　you　saw　me；　sir；　it's　a　mere　matter　of　routine；　and　not　intended　to　annoy　anybody。　　I　propose　to　keep　a　watch　on　the　place　all。　night；　but　I　own　it　wasn't　necessary　to　trespass　as　I've　done。　　I'll　take　myself　off　the　actual　premises；　if　you　prefer　it。〃

This　again　was　all。　my　own；　and　it　met　with　a　success　that　might　have　given　me　confidence。

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　replied　young　Medlicott；　with　a　grim　geniality。　〃I've　just　woke　up　with　the　devil　of　an　attack　of　asthma；　and　may　have　to　sit　up　in　my　chair　till　morning。　　You'd　better　come　up　and　see　me　through；　and　kill　two　birds　while　you're　about　it。　　Stay　where　you　are；　and　I'll　come　down　and　let　you　in。〃

Here　was　a　dilemma　which　Raffles　himself　had　not　foreseen！　　Outside；　in　the　dark；　my　audacious　part　was　not　hard　to　play；　but　to　carry　the　improvisation　in…doors　was　to　double　at　once　the　difficulty　and　the　risk。　　It　was　true　that　I　had　purposely　come　down　in　a　true　detective's　overcoat　and　bowler；　but　my　personal　appearance　was　hardly　of　the　detective　type。　　On　the　other　hand　as　the　soi…disant　guardian　of　the　gifts　one　might　only　excite　suspicion　by　refusing　to　enter　the　house　where　they　were。　　Nor　could　I　forget　that　it　was　my　purpose　to　effect　such　entry　first　or　last。　　That　was　the　casting　consideration。　　I　decided　to　take　my　dilemma　by　the　horns。

There　had　been　a　scraping　of　matches　in　the　room　over　the　conservatory；　the　open　window　had　shown　for　a　moment；　like　an　empty　picture…frame；　a　gigantic　shadow　wavering　on　the　ceiling；　and　in　the　next　half…minute　I　remembered　to　tie　my　shoes。　　But　the　light　was　slow　to　reappear　through　the　leaded　glasses　of　an　outer　door　farther　along　the　path。　　And　when　the　door　opened；　it　was　a　figure　of　woe　that　stood　within　and　held　an　unsteady　candle　between　our　faces。

I　have　seen　old　men　look　half　their　age；　and　young　men　look　double　theirs；　but　never　before　or　since　have　I　seen　a　beardless　boy　bent　into　a　man　of　eighty；　gasping　for　every　breath；　shaken　by　every　gasp；　swaying；　tottering；　and　choking；　as　if　about　to　die　upon　his　feet。　　Yet　with　it　all。；　young　Medlicott　overhauled　me　shrewdly；　and　it　was　several　moments　before　he　would　let　me　take　the　candle　from　him。

〃I　shouldn't　have　come　down　…　made　me　worse；〃　he　began　whispering　in　spurts。　　〃Worse　still　going　up　again。　　You　must　give　me　an　arm。　You　will　come　up？　　That's　right！　　Not　as　bad　as　I　look；　you　know。　Got　some　good　whiskey；　too。　　Presents　are　all。　right；　but　if　they　aren't　you'll　hear　of　it　in…doors　sooner　than　out。　　Now　I'm　ready　　…　thanks！　　Mustn't　make　more　noise　than　we　can　help　…　wake　my　mother。〃

It　must　have　taken　us　minutes　to　climb　that　single　flight　of　stairs。　There　was　just　room　for　me　to　keep　his　arm　in　mine；　with　the　other　he　hauled　on　the　banisters；　and　so　we　mounted；　step　by　step；　a　panting　pause　on　each；　and　a　pitched　battle　for　breath　on　the　half…landing。　　In　the　end　we　gained　a　cosey　library；　with　an　open　door　leading　to　a　bedroom　beyond。　　But　the　effort　had　deprived　my　poor　companion　of　all。　power　of　speech；　his　laboring　lungs　shrieked　like　the　wind；　he　could　just　point　to　the　door　by　which　we　had　entered；　and　which　I　shut　in　obedience　to　his　gestures；　and　then　to　the　decanter　and　its　accessories　on　the　table　where　he　had　left　them　overnight。　　I　gave　him　nearly　half　a　glassful；　and　his　paroxysm　subsided　a　little　as　he　sat　hunched　up　in　a　chair。

〃I　was　a　fool　。。。　to　turn　in；〃　he　blurted　in　more　whispers　between　longer　pauses。　　〃Lying　down　is　the　devil　。。。　when　you're　in　for　a　real　bad　night。　　You　might　get　me　the　brown　cigarettes　。。。　on　the　table　in　there。　　That's　right　。。。　thanks　awfully　。。。　and　now　a　match！〃

The　asthmatic　had　bitten　off　either　end　of　the　stramonium　cigarette；　and　was　soon　choking　himself　with　the　crude　fumes；　which　he　inhaled　in　desperate　gulps；　to　exhale　in　furious　fits　of　coughing。　　Never　was　more　heroic　remedy；　it　seemed　a　form　of　lingering　suicide；　but　by　degrees　some　slight　improvement　became　apparent；　and　at　length　the　sufferer　was　able　to　sit　upright；　and　to　drain　his　glass　with　a　sigh　of　rare　relief。　　I　sighed　also；　for　I　had　witnessed　a　struggle　for　dear　life　by　a　man　in　the　flower　of　his　youth；　whose　looks　I　liked；　whose　smile　came　like　the　sun　through　the　first　break　in　his　torments；　and　whose　first　words　were　to　thank　me　for　the　little　I　had　done　in　bare　humanity。

That　made　me　feel　the　thing　I　was。　　But　the　feeling　put　me　on　my　guard。　　And　I　was　not　unready　for　the　remark　which　followed　a　more　exhaustive　scrutiny　than　I　had　hitherto　sustained。

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　young　Medlicott；　〃that　you　aren't　a　bit　like　the　detective　of　my　dreams？〃

〃Only　to　proud　to　hear　it；〃　I　replied。　　〃There　would　be　no　point　in　my　being　in　plain　clothes　if　I　looked　exactly　what　I　was。〃

My　companion　reassured　me　with　a　wheezy　laugh。

〃There's　something　in　that；〃　said　he；　〃although　I　do　congratulate　the　insurance　people　on　getting　a　man　of　your　class　to　do　their　dirty　work。　　And　I　congratulate　myself；〃　he　was　quick　enough　to　add；　〃on　having　you　to　see　me　through　as　bad　a　night　as　I've　had　for　a　long　time。　　You're　like　flowers　in　the　depths　of　winter。　　Got　a　drink？　　That's　right！　　I　suppose　you　didn't　happen　to　bring　down　an　evening　paper？〃

I　said　I　had　brought　one；　but　had　unfortunately　left　it　in　the　train。

〃What　about　the　Test　Match？〃　cried　my　asthmatic；　shooting　forward　in　his　chair。

〃I　can　tell　you　that；〃　said　I。　　〃We　went　in　first　…　〃

〃Oh；　I　know　all。　about　that；〃　he　interrupted。　　〃I've　seen　the　miserable　score　up　to　lunch。　　How　many　did　we　scrape　altogether？〃

〃We're　scraping　them　still。〃

〃No！　　How　many？〃

〃Over　two　hundred　for　seven　wickets。〃

〃Who　made　the　stand？〃

〃Raffles；　for　one。　　He　was　62　not　out　at　close　of　play！〃

And　the　note　of　admiration　rang　in　my　voice；　though　I　tried　in　my　self…consciousness　to　keep　it　out。　　But　young　Medlicott's　enthusiasm　proved　an　ample　cloak　for　mine；　it　was　he　who　might　have　been　the　personal　friend　of　Raffles；　and　in　his　delight　he　chuckled　till　he　puffed　and　blew　again。

〃Good　old　Raffles！〃　he　panted　in　every　pause。　　〃After　being　chosen　last；　and　as　a　bowler…man！　　That's　the　cricketer　for　me；　sir；　by　Jove；　we　must　have　another　drink　in　his　honor！　　Funny　thing；　asthma；　your　liquor　affects　your　head　no　more　than　it　does　a　man　with　a　snake…bite；　but　it　eases　everything　else；　and　sees　you　through。　　Doctors　will　tell　you　so；　but　you've　got　to　ask　'em　first；　they're　no　good　for　asthma！　　I've　only　known　one　who　could　stop　an　attack；　and　he　knocked　me　sideways　with　nitrite　of　amyl。　　Funny　complaint　in　other　ways；　raises　your　spirits；　if　anything。　　You　can't　look　beyond　the　next　breath。　　Nothing　else　worries　you。　　Well；　well；　here's　luck　to　A。　J。　Raffles；　and　may　he　get　his　century　in　the　morning！〃

And　he　struggled　to　his　feet　for　the　toast；　but　I　drank　it　sitting　down。　　I　felt　unreasonably　wroth　with　Raffles；　for　coming　into　the　conversation　as　he　had　done　…　for　taking　centuries　in　Test　Matches　as　he　was　doing；　without　bothering　his　head　about　me。　　A　failure　would　have　been　in　better　taste；　it　would　have　shown　at　least　some　imagination；　some　anxiety　on　one's　account　I　did　not　reflect　that　even　Raffles　could　scarcely　be　expected　to　picture　me　in　my　cups　with　the　son　of　the　house　that　I　had　come　to　rob；　chatting　with　him；　ministering　to　him；　admiring　his　cheery　courage；　and　honestly　attempting　to　lighten　his　load！　　Truly　it　was　an　infernal　position：　how　could　I　rob　him　or　his　after　this？　　And　yet　I　had　thrust　myself　into　it；　and　Raffles　would　never；　never　understand！

Even　that　was　not　the　worst。　　I　was　not　quite　sure　that　young　Medlicott　was　sure　of　me。　　I　had　feared　this　from　the　beginning；　and　now　（over　the　second　glass　that　could　not　possibly　affect　a　man　in　his　condition）　he　practically　admitted　as　much　to　me。　Asthma　was　such　a　funny　thing　（he　insisted）　that　it　would　not　worry　him　a　bit　to　discover　that　I　had　come　to　take　the　presents　instead　of　to　take　care　of　them！　　I　showed　a　sufficiently　faint　appreciation　of　the　jest。　　And　it　was　presently　punished　as　it　deserved；　by　the　most　violent　paroxysm　that　had　seized　the　sufferer　yet：　the　fight　for　breath　became　faster　and　more　furious；　and　the　former　weapons　of　no　more　avail。　　I　prepared　a　cigarette；　but　the　poor　brute　was　too　breathless　to　inhale。　　I　poured　out　yet　more　whiskey；　but　he　put　it　from　him　with　a　gesture。

〃Amyl　…　get　me　amyl！〃　he　gasped。　　〃The　tin　on　the　table　by　my　bed。〃

I　rushed　into　his　room；　and　returned　with　a　little　tin　of　tiny　cylinders　done　up　like　miniature　crackers　in　scraps　of　calico；　the　spent　youth　broke　one　in　his　handkerchief；　in　which　he　immediately　buried　his　face。　　I　watched　him　closely　as　a　subtle　odor　reached　my　nostrils；　and　it　was　like　the　mi