"
"So it would," I agreed.
"Then will you trust me to hit on something - if possible before
morning - in any case by the time it s wanted? I won't fail you,
Bunny. You must see how I can never, never fail you after to-night!"
That settled it. I gripped his hand without another word, and
remained on guard over the three sleepers while Raffles stole
upstairs. I have since learned that there were servants at the
top of the house, and in the basement a man, who actually heard
some of our proceedings! But he was mercifully too accustomed to
nocturnal orgies, and those of a far more uproarious character, to
appear unless summoned to the scene. I believe he heard Raffles
leave. But no secret was made of his exit: he let himself out
and told me afterward that the first person he encountered in the
street was the constable on the beat. Raffles wished him
good-morning, as well he might; for he had been upstairs to wash
his face and hands; and in the prize-fighter's great hat and fur
coat he might have marched round Scotland Yard itself, in spite of
his having the gold brick from Sacramento in one pocket, the silver
statuette of Maguire in the other, and round his waist the
jewelled belt presented to that worthy by the State of Nevada.
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