We did not meet a soul. At last I whispered:
"How on earth did you manage it?"
"Purely by luck," said Raffles. "I had the luck to get clear
away through knowing every brick of those back-garden walls, and
the double luck to have these togs with the rest over at Chelsea.
The helmet is one of a collection I made up at Oxford; here it
goes over this wall, and we'd better carry the coat and belt
before we meet a real officer. I got them once for a fancy
ball--ostensibly--and thereby hangs a yarn. I always thought
they might come in useful a second time. My chief crux to-night
was getting rid of the hansom that brought me back. I sent him
off to Scotland Yard with ten bob and a special message to good
old Mackenzie. The whole detective department will be at
Rosenthall's in about half an hour. Of course, I speculated on
our gentleman's hatred of the police--another huge slice of luck.
If you'd got away, well and good; if not, I felt he was the man
to play with his mouse as long as possible. Yes, Bunny, it's been
more of a costume piece than I intended, and we've come out of it
with a good deal less credit. But, by Jove, we're jolly lucky to
have come out of it at all!"
GENTLEMEN AND PLAYERS
Old Raffles may or may not have been an exceptional criminal, but
as a cricketer I dare swear he was unique.
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