In less than five minutes I put them back, after winding the picture
about my body beneath my Inverness cape. I took some whiskey and
soda-water before I went.
The train was easily caught--so easily that I trembled for ten minutes
in my first-class smoking carriage--in terror of every footstep on the
platform, in unreasonable terror till the end. Then at last I sat back
and lit a cigarette, and the lights of Waterloo reeled out behind.
Some men were returning from the theatre. I can recall their
conversation even now. They were disappointed with the piece they had
seen. It was one of the later Savoy operas, and they spoke wistfully of
the days of "Pinafore" and "Patience." One of them hummed a stave, and
there was an argument as to whether the air was out of "Patience" or
the "Mikado." They all got out at Surbiton, and I was alone with my
triumph for a few intoxicating minutes. To think that I had succeeded
where Raffles had failed!
Of all our adventures this was the first in which I had played a
commanding part; and, of them all, this was infinitely the least
discreditable. It left me without a conscientious qualm; I had but
robbed a robber, when all was said. And I had done it myself,
single-handed--ipse egomet!
I pictured Raffles, his surprise, his delight. He would think a little
more of me in future. And that future, it should be different. We had
two thousand pounds apiece--surely enough to start afresh as honest
men--and all through me!
In a glow I sprang out at Esher, and took the one belated cab that was
waiting under the bridge. In a perfect fever I beheld Broom Hall, with
the lower story still lit up, and saw the front door open as I climbed
the steps.
"Thought it was you," said Raffles cheerily. "It's all right. There's
a bed for you. Sir Bernard's sitting up to shake your hand."
His good spirits disappointed me. But I knew the man: he was one of
those who wear their brightest smile in the blackest hour. I knew him
too well by this time to be deceived.
"I've got it!" I cried in his ear. "I've got it!"
"Got what?" he asked me, stepping back.
"The picture!"
"WHAT?"
"The picture. He showed it me. You had to go without it; I saw that.
So I determined to have it. And here it is."
"Let's see," said Raffles grimly.
I threw off my cape and unwound the canvas from about my body. While I
was doing so an untidy old gentleman made his appearance in the hall,
and stood looking on with raised eyebrows.
"Looks pretty fresh for an Old Master, doesn't she?" said Raffles.
His tone was strange. I could only suppose that he was jealous of my
success.
"So Craggs said. I hardly looked at it myself."
"Well, look now--look closely. By Jove, I must have faked her better
than I thought!"
"It's a copy!" I cried.
"It's THE copy," he answered. "It's the copy I've been tearing all
over the country to procure. It's the copy I faked back and front, so
that, on your own showing, it imposed upon Craggs, and might have made
him happy for life. And you go and rob him of that!"