"
"But why in the world should they ask us to dine with them?"
And I brandished the invitation which had brought me hotfoot to the
Albany: it was from the Right Hon. the Earl of Thornaby, K.G.; and
it requested the honor of my company at dinner, at Thornaby House,
Park Lane, to meet the members of the Criminologists' Club. That
in itself was a disturbing compliment: judge then of my dismay on
learning that Raffles had been invited too!
"They have got it into their heads," said he, "that the gladiatorial
element is the curse of most modern sport. They tremble especially
for the professional gladiator. And they want to know whether my
experience tallies with their theory."
"So they say!"
"They quote the case of a league player, sus per coll., and any
number of suicides. It really is rather in my public line."
"In yours, if you like, but not in mine," said I. "No, Raffles,
they've got their eye on us both, and mean to put us under the
microscope, or they never would have pitched on me."
Raffles smiled on my perturbation.
"I almost wish you were right, Bunny! It would be even better fun
than I mean to make it as it is.
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