That's all. I shall
touch, Bunny - I'm not on the make to-night. There's no risk in
it either. If I am caught I shall simply sham champagne and stand
the racket; it would be an obvious frolic after what happened at
that meeting. And they will catch me, if I stand talking here: you
run away back to bed - unless you're quite determined to 'give old
Brutus the tip!'
Now we had barely been a minute whispering where we stood, and the
whole street was still as silent as the tomb. To me there seemed
least danger in discussing the matter quietly on the spot. But
even as he gave me my dismissal Raffles turned and caught the sill
above him, first with one hand and then with the other. His legs
swung like a pendulum as he drew himself up with one arm, then
shifted the position of the other hand, and very gradually worked
himself waist-high with the sill. But the sill was too narrow for
him; that was as far as he could get unaided; and it was as much as
I could bear to see of a feat which in itself might have hardened
my conscience and softened my heart. But I had identified his
doggerel verse at last.
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