a thief in the night-第26部分

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ight　from　the　inner　room　was　seen　streaming　upon　the　banisters　at　the　foot　of　the　narrow　stairs。

〃A　light　in　my　den；〃　said　Maguire　in　a　mighty　whisper；　〃and　the　blamed　door　open；　though　the　key's　in　my　pocket　and　we　left　it　locked！　　Talk　about　crooks；　eh？　　Holy　smoke；　how　I　hope　we've　landed　one　alive！　　You　ladies　and　gentlemen；　lay　round　where　you　are；　while　I　see。〃

And　the　hulking　figure　advanced　on　tiptoe；　like　a　performing　elephant；　until　just　at　the　open　door；　when　for　a　second　we　saw　his　left　revolving　like　a　piston　and　his　head　thrown　back　at　its　fighting　angle。　　But　in　another　second　his　fists　were　hands　again；　and　Maguire　was　rubbing　them　together　as　he　stood　shaking　with　laughter　in　the　light　of　the　open　door。

〃Walk　up！〃　he　cried；　as　he　beckoned　to　us　three。　　〃Walk　up　and　see　one　o'　their　blamed　British　crooks　laid　as　low　as　the　blamed　carpet；　and　nailed　as　tight！〃

Imagine　my　feelings　on　the　mat！　　The　sallow　secretary　went　first；　the　sequins　glittered　at　his　heels；　and　I　must　own　that　for　one　base　moment　I　was　on　the　brink　of　bolting　through　the　street　door。　　It　had　never　been　shut　behind　us。　　I　shut　it　myself　in　the　end。　　Yet　it　was　small　credit　to　me　that　I　actually　remained　on　the　same　side　of　the　door　as　Raffles。

〃Reel　home…grown；　low…down；　unwashed　Whitechapel！〃　　I　had　heard　Maguire　remark　within。　　〃Blamed　if　our　Bowery　boys　ain't　cock…angels　to　scum　like　this。　　Ah；　you　biter；　I　wouldn't　soil　my　knuckles　on　your　ugly　face；　but　if　I　had　my　thick　boots　on　I'd　dance　the　soul　out　of　your　carcass　for　two　cents！〃

After　this　it　required　less　courage　to　join　the　others　in　the　inner　room；　and　for　some　moments　even　I　failed　to　identify　the　truly　repulsive　object　about　which　I　found　them　grouped。　　There　was　no　false　hair　upon　the　face；　but　it　was　as　black　as　any　sweep's。　　The　clothes；　on　the　other　hand；　were　new　to　me；　though　older　and　more　pestiferous　in　themselves　than　most　worn　by　Raffles　for　professional　purposes。　　And　at　first；　as　I　say；　I　was　far　from　sure　whether　it　was　Raffles　at　all。；　but　I　remembered　the　crash　that　cut　short　our　talk　over　the　telephone；　and　this　inanimate　heap　of　rags　was　lying　directly　underneath　a　wall　instrument；　with　the　receiver　dangling　over　him。

〃Think　you　know　him？〃　asked　the　sallow　secretary；　as　I　stooped　and　peered　with　my　heart　in　my　boots。

〃Good　Lord；　no！　　I　only　wanted　to　see　if　he　was　dead；〃　I　explained；　having　satisfied　myself　that　it　was　really　Raffles；　and　that　Raffles　was　really　insensible。　　〃But　what　on　earth　has　happened？〃　　I　asked　in　my　turn。

〃That's　what　I　want　to　know；〃　whined　the　person　in　sequins；　who　had　contributed　various　ejaculations　unworthy　of　report；　and　finally　subsided　behind　an　ostentatious　fan。

〃I　should　judge；〃　observed　the　secretary；　〃that　it's　for　Mr。　Maguire　to　say；　or　not　to　say；　just　as　he　darn　pleases。〃

But　the　celebrated　Barney　stood　upon　a　Persian　hearth…rug；　beaming　upon　us　all。　in　a　triumph　too　delicious　for　immediate　translation　into　words。　　The　room　was　furnished　as　a　study；　and　most　artistically　furnished；　if　you　consider　outlandish　shapes　in　fumed　oak　artistic。　There　was　nothing　of　the　traditional　prize…fighter　about　Barney　Maguire；　except　his　vocabulary　and　his　lower　jaw。　　I　had　seen　over　his　house　already；　and　it　was　fitted　and　decorated　throughout　by　a　high…art　firm　which　exhibits　just　such　a　room　as　that　which　was　the　scene　of　our　tragedietta。　　The　person　in　the　sequins　lay　glistening　like　a　landed　salmon　in　a　quaint　chair　of　enormous　nails　and　tapestry　compact。　　The　secretary　leaned　against　an　escritoire　with　huge　hinges　of　beaten　metal。　　The　pugilist's　own　background　presented　an　elaborate　scheme　of　oak　and　tiles；　with　inglenooks　green　from　the　joiner；　and　a　china　cupboard　with　leaded　panes　behind　his　bullet　head。　　And　his　bloodshot　eyes　rolled　with　rich　delight　from　the　decanter　and　glasses　on　the　octagonal　table　to　another　decanter　in　the　quaintest　and　craftiest　of　revolving　spirit　tables。

〃Isn't　it　bully？〃　asked　the　prize…fighter；　smiling　on　us　each　in　turn；　with　his　black　and　bloodshot　eyes　and　his　bloated　lip。　　〃To　think　that　I've　only　to　invent　a　trap　to　catch　a　crook；　for　a　blamed　crook　to　walk　right　into！　　You；　Mr。　Man；〃　and　he　nodded　his　great　head　at　me；　〃you'll　recollect　me　telling　you　that　I'd　gotten　one　when　you　come　in　that　night　with　the　other　sport？　　Say；　pity　he's　not　with　you　now；　he　was　a　good　boy；　and　I　liked　him　a　lot；　but　he　wanted　to　know　too　much；　and　I　guess　he'd　got　to　want。　　But　I'm　liable　to　tell　you　now；　or　else　bu'st。　　See　that　decanter　on　the　table？〃

〃I　was　just　looking　at　it；〃　said　the　person　in　sequins。　　〃You　don't　know　what　a　turn　I've　had；　or　you'd　offer　me　a　little　something。〃

〃You　shall　have　a　little　something　in　a　minute；〃　rejoined　Maguire。　〃But　if　you　take　a　little　anything　out　of　that　decanter；　you'll　collapse　like　our　friend　upon　the　floor。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　I　cried　out；　with　involuntary　indignation；　and　his　fell　scheme　broke　upon　me　in　a　clap。

〃Yes；　sir！〃　said　Maguire；　fixing　me　with　his　bloodshot　orbs。　　〃My　trap　for　crooks　and　cracksmen　is　a　bottle　of　hocussed　whiskey；　and　I　guess　that's　it　on　the　table；　with　the　silver　label　around　its　neck。　Now　look　at　this　other　decanter；　without　any　label　at　all。；　but　for　that　they're　the　dead　spit　of　each　other。　　I'll　put　them　side　by　side；　so　you　can　see。　　It　isn't　only　the　decanters；　but　the　liquor　looks　the　same　in　both；　and　tastes　so　you　wouldn't　know　the　difference　till　you　woke　up　in　your　tracks。　　I　got　the　poison　from　a　blamed　Indian　away　west；　and　it's　ruther　ticklish　stuff。　　So　I　keep　the　label　around　the　trap…bottle；　and　only　leave　it　out　nights。　That's　the　idea；　and　that's　all。　there　is　to　it；〃　added　Maguire；　putting　the　labelled　decanter　back　in　the　stand。　　〃But　I　figure　it's　enough　for　ninety…nine　crooks　out　of　a　hundred；　and　nineteen　out　of　twenty　'll　have　their　liquor　before　they　go　to　work。〃

〃I　wouldn't　figure　on　that；〃　observed　the　secretary；　with　a　downward　glance　as　though　at　the　prostrate　Raffles。　　〃Have　you　looked　to　see　if　the　trophies　are　all。　safe？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　said　Maguire；　with　a　glance　at　the　pseudo…antique　cabinet　in　which　he　kept　them。　　〃Then　you　can　save　yourself　the　trouble；〃　rejoined　the　secretary；　as　he　dived　under　the　octagonal　table；　and　came　up　with　a　small　black　bag　that　I　knew　at　a　glance。　　It　was　the　one　that　Raffles　had　used　for　heavy　plunder　ever　since　I　had　known　　him。

The　bag　was　so　heavy　now　that　the　secretary　used　both　hands　to　get　it　on　the　table。　　In　another　moment　he　had　taken　out　the　jewelled　belt　presented　to　Maguire　by　the　State　of　Nevada；　the　solid　silver　statuette　of　himself；　and　the　gold　brick　from　the　citizens　of　Sacramento。

Either　the　sight　of　his　treasures；　so　nearly　lost；　or　the　feeling　that　the　thief　had　dared　to　tamper　with　them　after　all。；　suddenly　infuriated　Maguire　to　such　an　extent　that　he　had　bestowed　a　couple　of　brutal　kicks　upon　the　senseless　form　of　Raffles　before　the　secretary　and　I　could　interfere。

〃Play　light；　Mr。　Maguire！〃　cried　the　sallow　secretary。　　〃The　man's　drugged；　as　well　as　down。〃

〃He'll　be　lucky　if　he　ever　gets　up；　blight　and　blister　him！〃

〃I　should　judge　it　about　time　to　telephone　for　the　police。〃

〃Not　till　I've　done　with　him。　　Wait　till　he　comes　to！　　I　guess　I'll　punch　his　face　into　a　jam　pudding！　　He　shall　wash　down　his　teeth　with　his　blood　before　the　coppers　come　in　for　what's　left！〃

〃You　make　me　feel　quite　ill；〃　complained　the　grand　lady　in　the　chair。　　〃I　wish　you'd　give　me　a　little　something；　and　not　be　more　vulgar　than　you　can　'elp。〃

〃Help　yourself；〃　said　Maguire；　ungallantly；　〃and　don't　talk　through　your　hat。　　Say；　what's　the　matter　with　the　'phone？〃

The　secretary　had　picked　up　the　dangling　receiver。

〃It　looks　to　me；〃　said　he；　〃as　though　the　crook　had　rung　up　somebody　before　he　went　off。〃

I　turned　and　assisted　the　grand　lady　to　the　refreshment　that　she　craved。

〃Like　his　cheek！〃　Maguire　thundered。　　〃But　who　in　blazes　should　he　ring　up？〃

〃It'll　all。　come　out；〃　said　the　secretary。　　〃They'll　tell　us　at　the　central；　and　we　shall　find　out　fast　enough。〃

〃It　don't　matter　now；〃　said　Maguire。　　〃Let's　have　a　drink　and　then　rouse　the　devil　up。〃

But　now　I　was　shaking　in　my　shoes。　　I　saw　quite　clearly　what　this　meant。　　Even　if　I　rescued　Raffles　for　the　time　being；　the　police　would　promptly　ascertain　that　it　was　I　who　had　been　rung　up　by　the　burglar；　and　the　fact　of　my　not　having　said　a　word　about　it　would　be　directly　damning　to　me；　if　in　the　end　it　did　not　incriminate　us　both。　　It　made　me　quite　faint　to　feel　that　we　might　escape　the　Scylla　of　our　present　peril　and　yet　split　on　the　Charybdis　of　circumstantial　evidence。　　Yet　I　could　see　no　middle　course　of　conceivable　safety；　if　I　held　my　tongue　another　moment。　　So　I　spoke　up　desperately；　with　the　rash　resolution　which　was　the　novel　feature　of　my　whole　conduct　on　this　occasion。　　But　any　sheep　would　be　resolute　and　rash　after　dining　with　Swigger　Morrison　at　his　club。

〃I　wonder　if　he　rang　me　up？〃　I　exclaimed；　as　if　inspired。

〃You；　sonny？〃　echoed　Maguire；　decanter　in　hand。　　〃What　in　hell　could　he　know　about　you？〃

〃Or　what　could　you　know　about　him？〃　amended　the　secretary；　fixing　me　with　eyes　like　drills。

〃Nothing；〃　I　admitted；　regretting　my　temeri