The
clothes, on the other hand, were new to me, though older and more
pestiferous in themselves than most worn by Raffles for professional
purposes. And at first, as I say, I was far from sure whether it
was Raffles at all.; but I remembered the crash that cut short our
talk over the telephone; and this inanimate heap of rags was lying
directly underneath a wall instrument, with the receiver dangling
over him.
"Think you know him?" asked the sallow secretary, as I stooped and
peered with my heart in my boots.
"Good Lord, no! I only wanted to see if he was dead," I explained,
having satisfied myself that it was really Raffles, and that Raffles
was really insensible. "But what on earth has happened?" I asked
in my turn.
"That's what I want to know," whined the person in sequins, who had
contributed various ejaculations unworthy of report, and finally
subsided behind an ostentatious fan.
"I should judge," observed the secretary, "that it's for Mr. Maguire
to say, or not to say, just as he darn pleases."
But the celebrated Barney stood upon a Persian hearth-rug, beaming
upon us all.
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