Royal, where Bennett Addenbrooke
insisted on playing host at an extravagant luncheon. I remember that
he took his whack of champagne with the nervous freedom of a man at
high pressure, and have no doubt I kept him in countenance by an equal
indulgence; but Raffles, ever an exemplar in such matters, was more
abstemious even than his wont, and very poor company to boot. I can
see him now, his eyes in his plate--thinking--thinking. I can see the
solicitor glancing from him to me in an apprehension of which I did my
best to disabuse him by reassuring looks. At the close Raffles
apologized for his preoccupation, called for an A.B.C. time-table, and
announced his intention of catching the 3.2 to Esher.

"You must excuse me, Mr. Addenbrooke," said he, "but I have my own
idea, and for the moment I should much prefer to keep it to myself. It
may end in fizzle, so I would rather not speak about it to either of
you just yet. But speak to Sir Bernard I must, so will you write me
one line to him on your card? Of course, if you wish, you must come
down with me and hear what I say; but I really don't see much point in
it."

And as usual Raffles had his way, though Bennett Addenbrooke showed
some temper when he was gone, and I myself shared his annoyance to no
small extent. I could only tell him that it was in the nature of
Raffles to be self-willed and secretive, but that no man of my
acquaintance had half his audacity and determination; that I for my
part would trust him through and through, and let him gang his own gait
every time. More I dared not say, even to remove those chill
misgivings with which I knew that the lawyer went his way.

That day I saw no more of Raffles, but a telegram reached me when I was
dressing for dinner:

"Be in your rooms to-morrow from noon and keep rest of day clear,
Raffles."

It had been sent off from Waterloo at 6.42.

So Raffles was back in town; at an earlier stage of our relations I
should have hunted him up then and there, but now I knew better. His
telegram meant that he had no desire for my society that night or the
following forenoon; that when he wanted me I should see him soon enough.

And see him I did, towards one o'clock next day. I was watching for him
from my window in Mount Street, when he drove up furiously in a hansom,
and jumped out without a word to the man. I met him next minute at the
lift gates, and he fairly pushed me back into my rooms.

"Five minutes, B