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obey him. I see you through in my own way, or not at all. I come and go as I like, and with whom I like, without your interference; you stay here and lie just as low as you know how, be as wise as your word, and leave the whole thing to me. If you won't--if you're fool enough not to trust me--there's the door. Go out and say what you like, and be damned to you!" Crawshay slapped his thigh. "That's talking!" said he. "Lord love yer, I know where I am when you talk like that. I'll trust yer. I know a man when he gets his tongue between his teeth; you're all right. I don't say so much about this other gent, though I saw him along with you on the job that time in the provinces; but if he's a pal of yours, Mr. Raffles, he'll be all right too. I only hope you gents ain't too stony--" And he touched his pockets with a rueful face. "I only went for their togs," said he. "You never struck two such stony-broke cusses in yer life!" "That's all right," said Raffles. "We'll see you through properly. Leave it to us, and you sit tight." "Rightum!" said Crawshay. "And I'll have a sleep time you're gone. But no sperrits--no, thank'ee--not yet! Once let me loose on the lush, and, Lord love yer, I'm a gone coon!" Raffles got his overcoat, a long, light driving-coat, I remember, and even as he put it on our fugitive was dozing in the chair; we left him murmuring incoherently, with the gas out, and his bare feet toasting. "Not such a bad chap, that professor," said Raffles on the stairs; "a real genius in his way, too, though his methods are a little elementary for my taste. But technique isn't everything; to get out of Dartmoor and into the Albany in the same twenty-four hours is a whole that justifies its parts. Good Lord!" We had passed a man in the foggy courtyard, and Raffles had nipped my arm. "Who was it?" "The last man we want to see! I hope to heaven he didn't hear me!" "But who is he, Raffles?" "Our old friend Mackenzie, from the Yard!" I stood still with horror. "Do you think he's on Crawshay's track?" "I don't know. I'll find out." And before I could remonstrate he had wheeled me round; when I found my voice he merely laughed, and whispered that the bold course was the safe one every time. "But it's madness--" "Not it. Shut up! Is that YOU, Mr. Mackenzie?" The detective turned about and scrutinized us keenly; and through the gaslit mist I noticed that his hair was g
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