f a
second. So she had begun pestering him already! It is wonderful how
acute any fool can be in the affairs of his friend.

But Raffles resumed his walk without a syllable, and I retreated to
safer ground.

"So you sent her to Earl's Court," I mused aloud; and at last he smiled.

"You'll be interested to hear, Bunny," said he, "that I am now living
in Seven Dials, and Bill Sikes couldn't hold a farthing dip to me.
Bless you, she had my old police record at her fingers' ends, but it
was fit to frame compared with the one I gave her. I had sunk as low
as they dig. I divided my nights between the open parks and a thieves'
kitchen in Seven Dials. If I was decently dressed it was because I had
stolen the suit down the Thames Valley beat the night before last. I
was on my way back when first that sleepy square, and then her open
window, proved too much for me. You should have heard me beg her to
let me push on to the devil in my own way; there I spread myself, for
I meant every word; but I swore the final stage would be a six-foot
drop."

"You did lay it on," said I.

"It was necessary, and that had its effect. She let me go. But at the
last moment she said she didn't believe I was so black as I painted
myself, and then there was the balcony scene you missed."

So that was all. I could not help telling him that he had got out of
it better than he deserved for ever getting in. Next moment I
regretted the remark.

"If I have got out of it," said Raffles, doubtfully. "We are
dreadfully near neighbors, and I can't move in a minute, with old
Theobald taking a grave view of my case. I suppose I had better lie
low, and thank the gods again for putting her off the scent for the
time being."

No doubt our conversation was carried beyond this point, but it
certainly was not many minutes later, nor had we left the subject, when
the electric bell thrilled us both to a sudden silence.

"The doctor?" I queried, hope fighting with my horror.

"It was a single ring."

"The last post?"

"You know he knocks, and it's long past his time."

The electric bell rang again, but now as though it never would stop.

"You go, Bunny," said Raffles, with decision. His eyes were sparkling.
His smile was firm.

"What am I to say?"

"If it's the lady let her in."

It was the lady, still in her evening cloak, with her fine dark head
half-hidden by the hood, and an engaging contempt of appearances upon
her angry face.