tood over me with a smile made of mischief and cunning; but
it was the purest mischief imaginable, the most innocent and comic
cunning.

"They shan't hear us at all, Bunny," said he. "I mean to get out as I
did in the good old nights. I've been spoiling for the chance ever
since I came down. There's not the smallest harm in it now; and if
you'll come with me I'll show you how it used to be done."

"But I know," said I. "Who used to haul up the rope after you, and let
it down again to the minute?"

Raffles looked down on me from lowered lids, over a smile too humorous
to offend.

"My dear good Bunny! And do you suppose that even then I had only one
way of doing a thing? I've had a spare loophole all my life, and when
you're ready I'll show you what it was when I was here. Take off those
boots, and carry your tennis-shoes; slip on another coat; put out your
light; and I'll meet you on the landing in two minutes."

He met me with uplifted finger, and not a syllable; and down-stairs he
led me, stocking soles close against the skirting, two feet to each
particular step. It must have seemed child's play to Raffles; the old
precautions were obviously assumed for my entertainment; but I confess
that to me it was all refreshingly exciting--for once without a risk
of durance if we came to grief! With scarcely a creak we reached the
hall, and could have walked out of the street door without danger or
difficulty. But that would not do for Raffles. He must needs lead me
into the boys' part, through the green baize door. It took a deal of
opening and shutting, but Raffles seemed to enjoy nothing better than
these mock obstacles, and in a few minutes we were resting with sharp
ears in the boys' hall.

"Through these windows?" I whispered, when the clock over the piano
had had matters its own way long enough to make our minds quite easy.

"How else?" whispered Raffles, as he opened the one on whose ledge
our letters used to await us of a morning.

"And then through the quad----"

"And over the gates at the end. No talking, Bunny; there's a dormitory
just overhead; but ours was in front, you remember, and if they had
ever seen me I should have nipped back this way while they were
watching the other."

His finger was on his lips as we got out softly into the starlight. I
remember how the gravel hurt as we left the smooth flagged margin of
the house for the open quad; but the nearer of two long green seats
(whereon you prepar