Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman | Page 2

the summer, and do nothing for the rest of the year, I had fatuously
counted on his mercy, his sympathy, his help! Yes, I had relied on him
in my heart, for all my outward diffidence and humility; and I was
rightly served. There was as little of mercy as of sympathy in that
curling nostril, that rigid jaw, that cold blue eye which never glanced
my way. I caught up my hat. I blundered to my feet. I would have gone
without a word; but Raffles stood between me and the door.
"Where are you going?" said he.
"That's my business," I replied. "I won't trouble YOU any more."
"Then how am I to help you?"
"I didn't ask your help."
"Then why come to me?"
"Why, indeed!" I echoed. "Will you let me pass?"
"Not until you tell me where you are going and what you mean to do."
"Can't you guess?" I cried. And for many seconds we stood staring in
each other's eyes.
"Have you got the pluck?" said he, breaking the spell in a tone so
cynical that it brought my last drop of blood to the boil.
"You shall see," said I, as I stepped back and whipped the pistol from
my overcoat pocket. "Now, will you let me pass or shall I do it here?"
The barrel touched my temple, and my thumb the trigger. Mad with
excitement as I was, ruined, dishonored, and now finally determined to
make an end of my misspent life, my only surprise to this day is that I
did not do so then and there. The despicable satisfaction of involving

another in one's destruction added its miserable appeal to my baser
egoism; and had fear or horror flown to my companion's face, I shudder
to think I might have died diabolically happy with that look for my last
impious consolation. It was the look that came instead which held my
hand. Neither fear nor horror were in it; only wonder, admiration, and
such a measure of pleased expectancy as caused me after all to pocket
my revolver with an oath.
"You devil!" I said. "I believe you wanted me to do it!"
"Not quite," was the reply, made with a little start, and a change of
color that came too late. "To tell you the truth, though, I half thought
you meant it, and I was never more fascinated in my life. I never
dreamt you had such stuff in you, Bunny! No, I'm hanged if I let you go
now. And you'd better not try that game again, for you won't catch me
stand and look on a second time. We must think of some way out of the
mess. I had no idea you were a chap of that sort! There, let me have the
gun."
One of his hands fell kindly on my shoulder, while the other slipped
into my overcoat pocket, and I suffered him to deprive me of my
weapon without a murmur. Nor was this simply because Raffles had
the subtle power of making himself irresistible at will. He was beyond
comparison the most masterful man whom I have ever known; yet my
acquiescence was due to more than the mere subjection of the weaker
nature to the stronger. The forlorn hope which had brought me to the
Albany was turned as by magic into an almost staggering sense of
safety. Raffles would help me after all! A. J. Raffles would be my
friend! It was as though all the world had come round suddenly to my
side; so far therefore from resisting his action, I caught and clasped his
hand with a fervor as uncontrollable as the frenzy which had preceded
it.
"God bless you!" I cried. "Forgive me for everything. I will tell you the
truth. I DID think you might help me in my extremity, though I well
knew that I had no claim upon you. Still--for the old school's sake--the
sake of old times--I thought you might give me another chance. If you
wouldn't I meant to blow out my brains--and will still if you change

your mind!"
In truth I feared that it was changing, with his expression, even as I
spoke, and in spite of his kindly tone and kindlier use of my old school
nickname. His next words showed me my mistake.
"What a boy it is for jumping to conclusions! I have my vices, Bunny,
but backing and filling is not one of them. Sit down, my good fellow,
and have a cigarette to soothe your nerves. I insist. Whiskey? The worst
thing for you; here's some coffee that I was brewing when you came in.
Now listen to me. You speak of 'another chance.' What do you mean?
Another chance at baccarat? Not if