Raffles | Page 8

every step upon
the bare stone stairs could be heard by Raffles where he lay; and he
would never speak while one was ascending, until it had passed his
door. The afternoon brought more than one applicant for the post which
it was my duty to tell them that I had already obtained. Between three
and four, however, Raffles, suddenly looking at his watch, packed me
off in a hurry to the other end of London for my things.
"I'm afraid you must be famishing, Bunny. It's a fact that I eat very
little, and that at odd hours, but I ought not to have forgotten you. Get
yourself a snack outside, but not a square meal if you can resist one.
We've got to celebrate this day this night!"
"To-night?" I cried.
"To-night at eleven, and Kellner's the place. You may well open your
eyes, but we didn't go there much, if you remember, and the staff seems
changed. Anyway we'll risk it for once. I was in last night, talking like
a stage American, and supper's ordered for eleven sharp."
"You made as sure of me as all that!"

"There was no harm in ordering supper. We shall have it in a private
room, but you may as well dress if you've got the duds."
"They're at my only forgiving relative's."
"How much will get them out, and square you up, and bring you back
bag and baggage in good time?"
I had to calculate.
"A tenner, easily."
"I had one ready for you. Here it is, and I wouldn't lose any time if I
were you. On the way you might look up Theobald, tell him you've got
it and how long you'll be gone, and that I can't be left alone all the time.
And, by Jove, yes! You get me a stall for the Lyceum at the nearest
agent's; there are two or three in High Street; and say it was given you
when you come in. That young man shall be out of the way to-night."
I found our doctor in a minute consulting-room and his shirt-sleeves, a
tall tumbler at his elbow; at least I caught sight of the tumbler on
entering; thereafter he stood in front of it, with a futility which had my
sympathy.
"So you've got the billet," said Dr. Theobald. "Well, as I told you
before, and as you have since probably discovered for yourself, you
won't find it exactly a sinecure. My own part of the business is by no
means that; indeed, there are those who would throw up the case, after
the kind of treatment that you have seen for yourself. But professional
considerations are not the only ones, and one cannot make too many
allowances in such a case."
"But what is the case?" I asked him. "You said you would tell me if I
was successful."
Dr. Theobald's shrug was worthy of the profession he seemed destined
to adorn; it was not incompatible with any construction which one
chose to put upon it. Next moment he had stiffened. I suppose I still

spoke more or less like a gentleman. Yet, after all, I was only the male
nurse. He seemed to remember this suddenly, and he took occasion to
remind me of the fact.
"Ah," said he, "that was before I knew you were altogether without
experience; and I must say that I was surprised even at Mr. Maturin's
engaging you after that; but it will depend upon yourself how long I
allow him to persist in so curious an experiment. As for what is the
matter with him, my good fellow, it is no use my giving you an answer
which would be double Dutch to you; moreover, I have still to test your
discretionary powers. I may say, however, that that poor gentleman
presents at once the most complex and most troublesome case, which is
responsibility enough without certain features which make it all but
insupportable. Beyond this I must refuse to discuss my patient for the
present; but I shall certainly go up if I can find time."
He went up within five minutes. I found him there on my return at dusk.
But he did not refuse my stall for the Lyceum, which Raffles would not
allow me to use myself, and presented to him off-hand without my
leave.
"And don't you bother any more about me till to-morrow," snapped the
high thin voice as he was off. "I can send for you now when I want you,
and I'm hoping to have a decent night for once."
III
It was half-past ten when we left the flat, in an interval of silence on the
noisy stairs. The silence was unbroken by our wary feet. Yet for me a
surprise was in