ways pay a visit to
the drawing-room, and fill my waistcoat pocket from the card-tray. It
is an immense help in any little temporary impersonation. On Thursday
night I sent up the card of a powerful writer connected with a powerful
paper; if Lord Ernest had known him in the flesh I should have been
obliged to confess to a journalistic ruse; luckily he didn't--and I had
been sent by my editor to get the interview for next morning. What
could be better--for the alternative profession?"

I inquired what the interview had brought forth.

"Everything," said Raffles. "Lord Ernest has been a wanderer these
twenty years. Texas, Fiji, Australia. I suspect him of wives and
families in all three. But his manners are a liberal education. He
gave me some beautiful whiskey, and forgot all about his fad. He is
strong and subtle, but I talked him off his guard. He is going to the
Kirkleathams' to-night--I saw the card stuck up. I stuck some wax into
his keyhole as he was switching off the lights."

And, with an eye upon the waiters, Raffles showed me a skeleton key,
newly twisted and filed; but my share of the extra pint (I am afraid
no fair share) had made me dense. I looked from the key to Raffles
with puckered forehead--for I happened to catch sight of it in the
mirror behind him.

"The Dowager Lady Kirkleatham," he whispered, "has diamonds as big as
beans, and likes to have 'em all on--and goes to bed early--and happens
to be in town!"

And now I saw.

"The villain means to get them from her!"

"And I mean to get them from the villain," said Raffles; "or, rather,
your share and mine."

"Will he consent to a partnership?"

"We shall have him at our mercy. He daren't refuse."

Raffles's plan was to gain access to Lord Ernest's rooms before
midnight; there we were to lie in wait for the aristocratic rascal, and
if I left all details to Raffles, and simply stood by in case of a
rumpus, I should be playing my part and earning my share. It was a
part that I had played before, not always with a good grace, though
there had never been any question about the share. But to-night I was
nothing loath. I had had just champagne enough--how Raffles knew my
measure!--and I was ready and eager for anything. Indeed, I did not
wish to wait for the coffee, which was to be especially strong by
order of Raffles. But on that he insisted, and it was between ten and
eleven when at last we were in our cab.

"It would be fat