one that had the pot shots was the very brute I
drove out of the bank at Coburg, with a bullet in him!"'

"I knew it!"

"Of course you did, Bunny; so did I, down in that strong-room; but old
Ewbank didn't, and I thought he was never going to speak again.

"'You're delirious,' he says at last. 'Who in blazes do you think you
are?'

"'The new manager.'

"'The new manager's in bed and asleep upstairs.'

"'When did he arrive?'

"'This evening.'

"'Call himself Raffles?'

"'Yes.'

"'Well, I'm damned!' whispered the real man. 'I thought it was just
revenge, but now I see what it was. My dear sir, the man upstairs is
an imposter--if he's upstairs still! He must be one of the gang. He's
going to rob the bank--if he hasn't done so already!'

"'If he hasn't done so already,' muttered Ewbank after him; 'if he's
upstairs still! By God, if he is, I'm sorry for him!'

"His tone was quiet enough, but about the nastiest I ever heard. I
tell you, Bunny, I was glad I'd brought that revolver. It looked as
though it must be mine against his, muzzle to muzzle.

"'Better have a look down here, first,' said the new manager.

"'While he gets through his window? No, no, he's not down here.'

"'It's easy to have a look.'

"Bunny, if you ask me what was the most thrilling moment of my infamous
career, I say it was that moment. There I stood at the bottom of those
narrow stone stairs, inside the strong-room, with the door a good foot
open, and I didn't know whether it would creak or not. The light was
coming nearer--and I didn't know! I had to chance it. And it didn't
creak a bit; it was far too solid and well-hung; and I couldn't have
banged it if I tried, it was too heavy; and it fitted so close that I
felt and heard the air squeeze out in my face. Every shred of light
went out, except the streak underneath, and it brightened. How I
blessed that door!

"'No, he's not down THERE,' I heard, as though through cotton-wool;
then the streak went out too, and in a few seconds I ventured to open
once more, and was in time to hear them creeping to my room.

"Well, now there was not a fifth of a second to be lost; but I'm proud
to say I came up those stairs on my toes and fingers, and out of that
bank (they'd gone and left the door open) just as gingerly as though my
time had been my own. I didn't even forget to put on the hat that the
doctor's mare was eating her oats out of, as well as she could with a
bit, or it