Part 28 (1/2)
”The Gentleland,” continued our hostess, as if no further explanation was required
”I sense you're er man, Dr Watson?” enquired Raffles, and realisation dawned
”Ah, the cricket match”
”Arthur is quite the star spin bowler,” explained Elizabeth ”The Gentleive the local side a bit of a thrashi+ng”
Raffles grinned ”Let's not be too hasty” He looked around the roo A fellow dressed in similar attire to Raffles wandered over fro in rapt fascination at a portrait of one of Ja about hiinally shorter than Raffles, his hair parted in an approxiroomed style, but thinner and unkempt
”Hullo,” he said, nodding
Raffles made the introductions ”Bunny Manders, John Watson”
”Pleasure,” I said, shaking hands with the newcomer
”Bunny tends to knock around with me, old school pal and all that”
”Hmm,” was all Manders seemed able to muster
For a moment, it seemed an awful, aard silence was about to expand around us, none of us knowing quite what to say I saw Manders positively breathe a sigh of relief when the gong for dinner finally sounded
”Well, there we are,” said Raffles
”Indeed,” I joined
”Yes, I' a hand to his ested Elizabeth, expertly covering the chap's socialwith the other guests
Dinner was a convivial affair, and with the fortification of a glass of excellent red, I began to relax and enjoy the company of those around me I was seated up with Ja lady whose father was so in the overseas trade business
Elizabeth held court further down the table, Mr Raffles seated to one side, Bunny Manders opposite Every so often, Raffles would glance in ement I smiled aardly back, and continued my conversation
Dinner over and done with in painless fashi+on, there were the usual post-repast rituals to be observed, and I alass of brandy However out of practice I ithin the social ed a juncture to retire that was neither too early to be considered rude, nor too late to outstay one's welcoo to their own bed
I awoke feeling surprisingly refreshed, sunshi+ne bisecting the roo with it the promise of a fine day Even the prospect of an afternoon of cricket couldn't dampen my spirits, and I must confess at this point to a curiosity over this Raffles fellow He see to talk some more with him over the course of the weekend
At breakfast I found Raffles's associate, Manders, casting a lone figure as he picked unenthusiastically at some kippers I joined hiht I had dismissed him as a harmless buffoon, I divined he was possessed of a sharp wit, albeit with an outlook on life that leant towards the bleak But he was affable company, and we found we held so hi craft and technique, such as we both possessed
I found h with Manders for most of the day, and he was happy to accompany me on a turn or two around the cricket pitch that afternoon
”Oh, he's very good,” he said of Raffles, who I spied for the first ti the Gentlemen out onto the field for the first of the afternoon's play Manders entered into a garbled explanation of the status of the Gentleas of the so-called Players, but it was lost on me, as I suspect it was hinorance of the rules-I understood theth of time each match took to play out With a smile I recalled Holmes' succinct essay on the subject, of feords and strictly not for print, and deterame
On the basis of the afternoon's play, the reputation of Raffles as a spin boas quite correct He took six wickets in quick succession, keeping the enthusiastic local side to a minimum of runs, which were then matched in short order as the Gentleman went in to bat Raffles himself added a hefty number to the total
”That was quite the perfor le the end of play
”Too kind, Dr Watson,” said Raffles, as relaxed as ever ”Cricket is as much founded on luck as it is skill There arefor this evening's festivities?”
”Oh yes, wouldn'tWould we, Bunny?”
”What?” said Manders, who had reverted to the ill-at-ease fellow I had ht in the presence of his friend ”Oh yes Wouldn't miss it”
”I'm afraid, Dr Watson, I shan't be able to let you off the hook lint in his eyes
”Whatever do youto know at least a little of your adventures with Mr Sherlock Hol with a weak s”
”Excellent!” exclaimed Raffles ”One's life is so dull We all need vicarious pleasure from time to time Eh, Bunny?” At that, he slapped his coh and splutter into his lemonade
And discuss we did
Much of that Saturday evening has been lost to theevents that would soon overtake the of entertainment provided by James and Elizabeth was punctuated by a not-unpleasant conversation with Mr Raffles on th on the case of ”The Sign of Four”, which he declared a favourite and had reread many ti the giant rat of Sumatra It still chilled me to this day, but I was happy to recount it with little coaxing
Rafflesaderer, a tedious ive er you have found yourself in”
”I believe Holmes would have it that my colourful style ations”
The evening was soon over, a pleasant soiree of good coood food, and I now felt foolish for any apprehension preceding ly early, with a promise to renew our acquaintance in London, and it was only then I realised the unfortunate Manders had been absent forshort of an hour in the company of James and Elizabeth, who had been such excellent hosts, and I vowed to myself I would make more effort in the future to see the my way up the wide staircase
Within a few minutes I was nestled oncethe sleep of the innocent
”John”
I felt a hand shakingin my ear ”John, wake up!”
I openeda la in around the curtain edges ”James?” I mumbled, disorientated It felt just minutes since I had fallen asleep ”What is it?” And then I was bolt upright in bed, fearing the worst ”Elizabeth?”