obey him. I see you through in my own way, or not at
all. I come and go as I like, and with whom I like, without your
interference; you stay here and lie just as low as you know how, be as
wise as your word, and leave the whole thing to me. If you won't--if
you're fool enough not to trust me--there's the door. Go out and say
what you like, and be damned to you!"

Crawshay slapped his thigh.

"That's talking!" said he. "Lord love yer, I know where I am when you
talk like that. I'll trust yer. I know a man when he gets his tongue
between his teeth; you're all right. I don't say so much about this
other gent, though I saw him along with you on the job that time in the
provinces; but if he's a pal of yours, Mr. Raffles, he'll be all right
too. I only hope you gents ain't too stony--"

And he touched his pockets with a rueful face.

"I only went for their togs," said he. "You never struck two such
stony-broke cusses in yer life!"

"That's all right," said Raffles. "We'll see you through properly.
Leave it to us, and you sit tight."

"Rightum!" said Crawshay. "And I'll have a sleep time you're gone.
But no sperrits--no, thank'ee--not yet! Once let me loose on the lush,
and, Lord love yer, I'm a gone coon!"

Raffles got his overcoat, a long, light driving-coat, I remember, and
even as he put it on our fugitive was dozing in the chair; we left him
murmuring incoherently, with the gas out, and his bare feet toasting.

"Not such a bad chap, that professor," said Raffles on the stairs; "a
real genius in his way, too, though his methods are a little elementary
for my taste. But technique isn't everything; to get out of Dartmoor
and into the Albany in the same twenty-four hours is a whole that
justifies its parts. Good Lord!"

We had passed a man in the foggy courtyard, and Raffles had nipped my
arm.

"Who was it?"

"The last man we want to see! I hope to heaven he didn't hear me!"

"But who is he, Raffles?"

"Our old friend Mackenzie, from the Yard!"

I stood still with horror.

"Do you think he's on Crawshay's track?"

"I don't know. I'll find out."

And before I could remonstrate he had wheeled me round; when I found my
voice he merely laughed, and whispered that the bold course was the
safe one every time.

"But it's madness--"

"Not it. Shut up! Is that YOU, Mr. Mackenzie?"

The detective turned about and scrutinized us keenly; and through the
gaslit mist I noticed that his hair was g