Part 30 (2/2)
I had learnt over the years to seldom question the requests of Sherlock Holmes, and as the constable shoved Manders ahead of him as he himself leapt for the door, I slammed it in their faces and stood firmly in their way
Manders turned to the constable ”What are we going to do?” he deht, his cape flapping; then, with an exhaled breath, he stopped and sh his whiskers He turned to face Holrow by two feet ”When did you know?” he asked in a suttural London tone of the bobby
”Almost as soon as I arrived in Kent,” conceded Hol turn of events
”There is no Inspector Leach, is there?”
”Only up here” Hol his te on!” I deies, Dr Watson,” said the police I'd want to do is cause you any further distress”
The constable re with the tiara, on the table ”Stole this froo,” he went on, ”back when those kinds of japes were all the rage”
The policely, they came away in his hands, and seconds later I was astonished to findbefore AJ Raffles ”I told you we'd be renewing our acquaintance very soon” He suard!”
”Guilty as charged,” said Raffles as, without invitation, he dropped down into an ar on his forehead
”I ratulate you, Mr Raffles An audacious scheme Doomed to failure, but audacious all the same”
”From you, Mr Holmes, I take that as a compliment”
”Not a coraciously to this
”How could you?” I asked,to bubble over ”Poor Jauest!”
”Elizabeth will have her trinket back, no real harm done And you must admit, it livened up a rather tedious weekend”
The impudence of the miscreant quite stunnedforward and eyeing the tiara, ”this was not the prize”
”Then as?” I de roo himself immensely as he sat opposite Raffles in his own armchair
”I suppose my sche”
”Aren't you interested in how I did it?”
”I fear an honest answer to that question may cause offence,” said Holmes At a look froment of ivy leaf cut by the heel of a boot below Watson's as as a fla around of a country house at night, but I'm sure your Mr Manders could turn the events into solanced over at Manders, as still cuffed He gave me a wan s for him as Holmes and Raffles continued their conversation
”One question,” began Hol”
”If you were so desperate to make my acquaintance, why not just make an appointment?”
Raffles smiled that easy, relaxed smile ”Where would the fun be in that?”
Hol for fun had rarely occurred to hi, what, may I ask, are your conclusions?”
”It's beenYou do not disappoint”
Holive e, won't you?”
”Go ahead,” said Raffles a like two fellows in a gentlemen's club ”What happens now?”
”Now?” countered Holo”
”What?” I exploded
”What?” exclaimed Manders
”To mirror the sentiments of our associates,” said Raffles, ”do explain Please”
”I know of you, Mr Raffles You are a thief, but you have a reputation A reputation that interests ain”
”But Hole of apoplexy
”In this case,” Holmes continued, ”I do not see that much harm has been done Certainly noa policeape as he listened to the conversation
”This is unexpected,” said Raffles, rising to his feet ”You are a fascinating and complex individual, Mr Holmes” Mr AJ Raffles faced my friend Sherlock Holmes ”Tell me, are you a Gentle to forced metaphors a tedious pursuit Especially when they relate to cricket”
”Just the answer I was expecting”
”Hol you” I blurted ”He is a criminal”
”Yes I aht to book But for now, I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and distress I have caused you I do hope ill e contradiction in a policeman's uniform, and made once more for the door, and, on this occasion, freedom I felt quite powerless to prevent his departure, as if in the grip of some wider narrative of which I was but a s, Bunny,” he said to his associate as he opened the door ”We'll see ourselves out” With a brief nod to Holmes, he vanished
Manders held out his still-cuffed hands in supplication to Holise,” said Holmes dismissively, ”I appear to have hed out loud as the poor fellow's face fell yet again ”Bunny!” Raffles shouted froetically, then shuffled out through the door after his co roo I wandered over and closed the door, standing with er ”Hol round to find hiht, you have let a coo They have cooes unpunished for good reason, Watson”
”What does that even mean?”
”It means,” said Holmes, after some consideration, ”that there is lar There are, I feel, further games to be played”