t
would be a more serious matter for me than for my charge. I should
lose my place. No, he had never done such a thing before, and I would
answer for it that he never should again.

I saw myself conducting Raffles back to his chair, with a firm hand and
a stern tongue. I heard him thanking me in whispers on the way home.
It would be the first tight place I had ever got him out of, and I was
quite anxious for him to get into it, so sure was I of every move. My
whole position had altered in the few seconds that it took me to follow
this illuminating train of ideas; it was now so strong that I could
watch Raffles without much anxiety. And he was worth watching.

He had stepped boldly but softly to the front door, and there he was
still waiting, ready to ring if the door opened or a face appeared in
the area, and doubtless to pretend that he had rung already. But he
had not to ring at all; and suddenly I saw his foot in the letter-box,
his left hand on the lintel overhead. It was thrilling, even to a
hardened accomplice with an explanation up his sleeve! A tight grip
with that left hand of his, as he leant backward with all his weight
upon those five fingers; a right arm stretched outward and upward to
its last inch; and the base of the low, projecting balcony was safely
caught.

I looked down and took breath. The maid was removing the crumbs in the
lighted room, and the square was empty as before. What a blessing it
was the end of the season! Many of the houses remained in darkness. I
looked up again, and Raffles was drawing his left leg over the balcony
railing. In another moment he had disappeared through one of the
French windows which opened upon the balcony, and in yet another he had
switched on the electric light within. This was bad enough, for now I,
at least, could see everything he did; but the crowning folly was still
to come. There was no point in it; the mad thing was done for my
benefit, as I knew at once and he afterward confessed; but the lunatic
reappeared on the balcony, bowing like a mountebank--in his crape mask!

I set off with the empty chair, but I came back. I could not desert
old Raffles, even when I would, but must try to explain away his mask
as well, if he had not the sense to take it off in time. It would be
difficult, but burglaries are not usually committed from a bath-chair,
and for the rest I put my faith in Dr. Theobald. Meanwhile Raffles had
at least withdrawn