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him right。 Even had I brained him； the fault had been his； not mine。 And it was a characteristic； an inveterate fault； that galled me for all。 my anguish： to trust and yet distrust me to the end； to race through England in the night； to spy upon me at his work … to do it himself after all。！
〃Is he dead？〃 wheezed the asthmatic coolly。
〃Not he；〃 I answered； with an indignation that I dared not show。
〃You must have hit him pretty hard；〃 pursued young Medlicott； 〃but I suppose it was a case of getting first knock。 And a good job you got it； if this was his；〃 he added； picking up the murderous little life…preserver which poor Raffles had provided for his own destruction。
〃Look here；〃 I answered； sitting back on my heels。 〃He isn't dead； Mr。 Medlicott； and I don't know how long he'll be as much as stunned。 He's a powerful brute； and you're not fit to lend a hand。 But that policeman of yours can't be far away。 Do you think you could struggle out and look for him？〃
〃I suppose I am a bit better than I was；〃 he replied doubtfully。 〃The excitement seems to have done me good。 If you like to leave me on guard with my revolver； I'll undertake that he doesn't escape me。〃
I shook my head with an impatient smile。
〃I should never hear the last of it；〃 said I。 〃No； in that case all。 I can do is to handcuff the fellow and wait till morning if he won't go quietly； and he'll be a fool if he does； while there's a fighting chance。〃
Young Medlicott glanced upstairs from his post on the threshold。 I refrained from watching him too keenly； but I knew what was in his mind。
〃I'll go；〃 he said hurriedly。 〃I'll go as I am； before my mother is disturbed and frightened out of her life。 I owe you something； too； not only for what you've done for me； but for what I was fool enough to think about you at the first blush。 It's entirely through you that I feel as fit as I do for the moment。 So I'll take your tip； and go just as I am； before my poor old pipes strike up another tune。〃
I scarcely looked up until the good fellow had turned his back upon the final tableau of watchful officer and prostrate prisoner and gone out wheezing into the night。 But I was at the door to hear the last of him down the path and round the corner of the house。 And when I rushed back into the room； there was Raffles sitting cross…legged on the floor； and slowly shaking his broken head as he stanched the blood。
〃Et tu； Bunny！〃 he groaned。 〃Mine own familiar friend！〃
〃Then you weren't even stunned！〃 I exclaimed。 〃Thank God for that！〃
〃Of course I was stunned；〃 he murmured； 〃and no thanks to you that I wasn't brained。 Not to know me in the kit you've seen scores of times！ You never looked at me； Bunny； you didn't give me time to open my mouth。 I was going to let you run me in so prettily！ We'd have walked off arm…in…arm； now it's as tight a place as ever we were in； though you did get rid of old blow…pipes rather nicely。 But we shall have the devil's own run for our money！〃
Raffles had picked himself up between his mutterings； and I had followed him to the door into the garden； where he stood busy with the key in the dark； having blown out his lantern and handed it to me。 But though I followed Raffles； as my nature must； I was far too embittered to answer him again。 And so it was for some minutes that might furnish forth a thrilling page； but not a novel one to those who know their Raffles and put up with me。 Suffice it that we left a locked door behind us； and the key on the garden wall； which was the first of half a dozen that we scaled before dropping into a lane that led to a foot…bridge higher up the backwater。 And when we paused upon the foot…bridge； the houses along the bank were still in peace and darkness。
Knowing my Raffles as I did； I was not surprised when he dived under one end of this bridge； and came up with his Inverness cape and opera hat； which he had hidden there on his way to the house。 The thick socks were peeled from his patent…leathers； the ragged trousers stripped from an evening pair； bloodstains and Newgate fringe removed at the water's edge； and the whole sepulchre whited in less time than the thing takes to tell。 Nor was that enough for Raffles； but he must alter me as well； by wearing my overcoat under his cape； and putting his Zingari scarf about my neck。
〃And now；〃 said he； 〃you may be glad to hear there's a 3：12 from Surbiton； which we could catch on all。 fours。 If you like we'll go separately； but I don't think there's the slightest danger now； and I begin to wonder what's happening to old blow…pipes。〃
So； indeed； did I； and with no small concern； until I read of his adventures （and our own） in the newspapers。 It seemed that he had made a gallant spurt into the road； and there paid the penalty of his rashness by a sudden incapacity to move another inch。 It had eventually taken him twenty minutes to creep back to locked doors； and another ten to ring up the inmates。 His description of my personal appearance； as reported in the papers； is the only thing that reconciles me to the thought of his sufferings during that half…hour。
But at the time I had other thoughts； and they lay too deep for idle words； for to me also it was a bitter hour。 I had not only failed in my self…sought task； I had nearly killed my comrade into the bargain。 I had meant well by friend and foe in turn； and I had ended in doing execrably by both。 It was not all。 my fault； but I knew how much my weakness had contributed to the sum。 And I must walk with the man whose fault it was； who had travelled two hundred miles to obtain this last proof of my weakness； to bring it home to me； and to make our intimacy intolerable from that hour。 I must walk with him to Surbiton； but I need not talk； all。 through Thames Ditton I had ignored his sallies； nor yet when he ran his arm through mine； on the river front； when we were nearly there； would I break the seal my pride had set upon my lips。
〃Come； Bunny；〃 he said at last； 〃I have been the one to suffer most； when all。's said and done； and I'll be the first to say that I deserved it。 You've broken my head； my hair's all。 glued up in my gore； and what yarn I'm to put up at Manchester； or how I shall take the field at all。； I really don't know。 Yet I don't blame you； Bunny； and I do blame myself。 Isn't it rather hard luck if I am to go unforgiven into the bargain？ I admit that I made a mistake； but； my dear fellow； I made it entirely for your sake。〃
〃For my sake！〃 I echoed bitterly。
Raffles was more generous； he ignored my tone。
〃I was miserable about you … frankly … miserable！〃 he went on。 〃I couldn't get it out of my head that somehow you would be laid by the heels。 It was not your pluck that I distrusted； my dear fellow； but it was your very pluck that made me tremble for you。 I couldn't get you out of my head。 I went in when runs were wanted； but I give you my word that I was more anxious about you； and no doubt that's why I helped to put on some runs。 Didn't you see it in the paper； Bunny？ It's the innings of my life； so far。〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃I saw that you were in at close of play。 But I don't believe it was you … I believe you have a doubl