Raffles | Page 6

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set I must have been a mile away; until it did I was the invisible man. I
figured on that, and only hope it wasn't set down as a case of suicide. I
shall get outed quite soon enough, Bunny, but I'd rather be dropped by
the hangman than throw my own wicket away."
"Oh, my dear old chap, to think of having you by the hand again! I feel
as though we were both aboard that German liner, and all that's
happened since a nightmare. I thought that time was the last!"
"It looked rather like it, Bunny. It was taking all the risks, and hitting at
everything. But the game came off, and some day I'll tell you how."
"Oh, I'm in no hurry to hear. It's enough for me to see you lying there. I
don't want to know how you came there, or why, though I fear you
must be pretty bad. I must have a good look at you before I let you
speak another word!"
I raised one of the blinds, I sat upon the bed, and I had that look. It left
me all unable to conjecture his true state of health, but quite certain in
my own mind that my dear Raffles was not and never would be the
man that he had been. He had aged twenty years; he looked fifty at the
very least. His hair was white; there was no trick about that; and his
face was another white. The lines about the corners of the eyes and
mouth were both many and deep. On the other hand, the eyes
themselves were alight and alert as ever; they were still keen and gray
and gleaming, like finely tempered steel. Even the mouth, with a
cigarette to close it, was the mouth of Raffles and no other: strong and
unscrupulous as the man himself. It was only the physical strength
which appeared to have departed; but that was quite sufficient to make
my heart bleed for the dear rascal who had cost me every tie I valued
but the tie between us two.
"Think I look much older?" he asked at length.
"A bit," I admitted. "But it is chiefly your hair."
"Whereby hangs a tale for when we've talked ourselves out, though I
have often thought it was that long swim that started it. Still, the Island

of Elba is a rummy show, I can assure you. And Naples is a rummier!"
"You went there after all?"
"Rather! It's the European paradise for such as our noble selves. But
there's no place that's a patch on little London as a non-conductor of
heat; it never need get too hot for a fellow here; if it does it's his own
fault. It's the kind of wicket you don't get out on, unless you get
yourself out. So here I am again, and have been for the last six weeks.
And I mean to have another knock."
"But surely, old fellow, you're not awfully fit, are you?"
"Fit? My dear Bunny, I'm dead--I'm at the bottom of the sea--and don't
you forget it for a minute."
"But are you all right, or are you not?"
"No, I'm half-poisoned by Theobald's prescriptions and putrid
cigarettes, and as weak as a cat from lying in bed."
"Then why on earth lie in bed, Raffles?"
"Because it's better than lying in gaol, as I am afraid YOU know, my
poor dear fellow. I tell you I am dead; and my one terror is of coming
to life again by accident. Can't you see? I simply dare not show my
nose out of doors--by day. You have no idea of the number of perfectly
innocent things a dead man daren't do. I can't even smoke Sullivans,
because no one man was ever so partial to them as I was in my lifetime,
and you never know when you may start a clew."
"What brought you to these mansions?"
"I fancied a flat, and a man recommended these on the boat; such a
good chap, Bunny; he was my reference when it came to signing the
lease. You see I landed on a stretcher--most pathetic case--old
Australian without a friend in old country--ordered Engadine as last
chance--no go--not an earthly--sentimental wish to die in

London--that's the history of Mr. Maturin. If it doesn't hit you hard,
Bunny, you're the first. But it hit friend Theobald hardest of all. I'm an
income to him. I believe he's going to marry on me."
"Does he guess there's nothing wrong?"
"Knows, bless you! But he doesn't know I know he knows, and there
isn't a disease in the dictionary that he hasn't treated me for since he's
had me in hand. To do him justice, I believe he thinks me a