my part was in no mood to look at it
in that light. Underneath were the names of the plutocrats who had
subscribed for this national gewgaw, and I fell to wondering where
their L8,000 came in, while Raffles devoured his two-penny guide-book
as greedily as a school-girl with a zeal for culture.

"Those are scenes from the martyrdom of St. Agnes," said he ...
"'translucent on relief ... one of the finest specimens of its kind.'
I should think it was! Bunny, you Philistine, why can't you admire the
thing for its own sake? It would be worth having only to live up to!
There never was such rich enamelling on such thin gold; and what a good
scheme to hang the lid up over it, so that you can see how thin it is.
I wonder if we could lift it, Bunny, by hook or crook?"

"You'd better try, sir," said a dry voice at his elbow.

The madman seemed to think we had the room to ourselves. I knew
better, but, like another madman, had let him ramble on unchecked. And
here was a stolid constable confronting us, in the short tunic that
they wear in summer, his whistle on its chain, but no truncheon at his
side. Heavens! how I see him now: a man of medium size, with a
broad, good-humored, perspiring face, and a limp moustache. He looked
sternly at Raffles, and Raffles looked merrily at him.

"Going to run me in, officer?" said he. "That WOULD be a joke--my hat!"

"I didn't say as I was, sir," replied the policeman. "But that's queer
talk for a gentleman like you, sir, in the British Museum!" And he
wagged his helmet at my invalid, who had taken his airing in
frock-coat and top-hat, the more readily to assume his present part.

"What!" cried Raffles, "simply saying to my friend that I'd like to
lift the gold cup? Why, so I should, officer, so I should! I don't
mind who hears me say so. It's one of the most beautiful things I ever
saw in all my life."

The constable's face had already relaxed, and now a grin peeped under
the limp moustache. "I daresay there's many as feels like that, sir,"
said he.

"Exactly; and I say what I feel, that's all," said Raffles airily.
"But seriously, officer, is a valuable thing like this quite safe in a
case like that?"

"Safe enough as long as I'm here," replied the other, between grim jest
and stout earnest. Raffles studied his face; he was still watching
Raffles; and I kept an eye on them both without putting in my word.

"You appear to be single-handed," observed Raffles. "Is