Raffles | Page 5

to me that he had one patient who was a
little practice in himself. I determined there and then that he should
prove a little profession to me, if we could but keep him alive between
us. Mr. Maturin, however, had the whitest face that I have ever seen,
and his teeth gleamed out through the dusk as though the withered lips
no longer met about them; nor did they except in speech; and anything
ghastlier than the perpetual grin of his repose I defy you to imagine. It
was with this grin that he lay regarding me while the doctor held the
blind.
"So you think you could look after me, do you?"
"I'm certain I could, sir."
"Single-handed, mind! I don't keep another soul. You would have to
cook your own grub and my slops. Do you think you could do all that?"
"Yes, sir, I think so."
"Why do you? Have you any experience of the kind?"
"No, sir, none."
"Then why do you pretend you have?"
"I only meant that I would do my best."
"Only meant, only meant! Have you done your best at everything else,
then?"
I hung my head. This was a facer. And there was something in my

invalid which thrust the unspoken lie down my throat.
"No, sir, I have not," I told him plainly.
"He, he, he!" the old wretch tittered; "and you do well to own it; you do
well, sir, very well indeed. If you hadn't owned up, out you would have
gone, out neck-and-crop! You've saved your bacon. You may do more.
So you are a public-school boy, and a very good school yours is, but
you weren't at either University. Is that correct?"
"Absolutely."
"What did you do when you left school?"
"I came in for money."
"And then?"
"I spent my money."
"And since then?"
I stood like a mule.
"And since then, I say!"
"A relative of mine will tell you if you ask him. He is an eminent man,
and he has promised to speak for me. I would rather say no more
myself."
"But you shall, sir, but you shall! Do you suppose that I suppose a
public-school boy would apply for a berth like this if something or
other hadn't happened? What I want is a gentleman of sorts, and I don't
much care what sort; but you've got to tell me what did happen, if you
don't tell anybody else. Dr. Theobald, sir, you can go to the devil if you
won't take a hint. This man may do or he may not. You have no more to
say to it till I send him down to tell you one thing or the other. Clear
out, sir, clear out; and if you think you've anything to complain of, you
stick it down in the bill!"

In the mild excitement of our interview the thin voice had gathered
strength, and the last shrill insult was screamed after the devoted
medico, as he retired in such order that I felt certain he was going to
take this trying patient at his word. The bedroom door closed, then the
outer one, and the doctor's heels went drumming down the common
stair. I was alone in the flat with this highly singular and rather terrible
old man.
"And a damned good riddance!" croaked the invalid, raising himself on
one elbow without delay. "I may not have much body left to boast
about, but at least I've got a lost old soul to call my own. That's why I
want a gentleman of sorts about me. I've been too dependent on that
chap. He won't even let me smoke, and he's been in the flat all day to
see I didn't. You'll find the cigarettes behind the Madonna of the
Chair."
It was a steel engraving of the great Raffaelle, and the frame was tilted
from the wall; at a touch a packet of cigarettes tumbled down from
behind.
"Thanks; and now a light."
I struck the match and held it, while the invalid inhaled with normal
lips; and suddenly I sighed. I was irresistibly reminded of my poor dear
old Raffles. A smoke-ring worthy of the great A. J. was floating
upward from the sick man's lips.
"And now take one yourself. I have smoked more poisonous cigarettes.
But even these are not Sullivans!"
I cannot repeat what I said. I have no idea what I did. I only know--I
only knew--that it was A. J. Raffles in the flesh!
II
"Yes, Bunny, it was the very devil of a swim; but I defy you to sink in
the Mediterranean. That sunset saved me. The sea was on fire. I hardly
swam under water at all, but went all I knew for the sun itself; when