,' not 'The Swiss Family Robinson.' And now, my dear
Friday, if you will kindly take off those boots, we can explore the
island before we turn in for the night."

The stairs were very steep and narrow, and they creaked alarmingly as
Raffles led the way up, with the single candle in the crown of the
colonel's hat. He blew it out before we reached the half-landing,
where a naked window stared upon the backs of the houses in the next
road, but lit it again at the drawing-room door. I just peeped in upon
a semi-grand swathed in white and a row of water colors mounted in
gold. An excellent bathroom broke our journey to the second floor.

"I'll have one to-night," said I, taking heart of a luxury unknown in
my last sordid sanctuary.

"You'll do no such thing," snapped Raffles. "Have the goodness to
remember that our island is one of a group inhabited by hostile tribes.
You can fill the bath quietly if you try, but it empties under the
study window, and makes the very devil of a noise about it. No, Bunny,
I bale out every drop and pour it away through the scullery sink, so
you will kindly consult me before you turn a tap. Here's your room;
hold the light outside while I draw the curtains; it's the old chap's
dressing-room. Now you can bring the glim. How's that for a jolly
wardrobe? And look at his coats on their cross-trees inside: dapper
old dog, shouldn't you say? Mark the boots on the shelf above, and the
little brass rail for his ties! Didn't I tell you he was particular?
And wouldn't he simply love to catch us at his kit?"

"Let's only hope it would give him an apoplexy," said I shuddering.

"I shouldn't build on it," replied Raffles. "That's a big man's
trouble, and neither you nor I could get into the old chap's clothes.
But come into the best bedroom, Bunny. You won't think me selfish if I
don't give it up to you? Look at this, my boy, look at this! It's the
only one I use in all the house."

I had followed him into a good room, with ample windows closely
curtained, and he had switched on the light in a hanging lamp at the
bedside. The rays fell from a thick green funnel in a plateful of
strong light upon a table deep in books. I noticed several volumes of
the "Invasion of the Crimea."

"That's where I rest the body and exercise the brain," said Raffles. "I
have long wanted to read my Kinglake from A to Z, and I manage about a
volume a night. There's a style for you, Bunny! I love the
punctilio