Well, to be on the safe side, I lay low there all the
afternoon, hearing nothing in the least suspicious, and only
wishing I had a window to look through instead of that beastly
skylight. However, the coast seemed clear enough, and thus far
it was my mere idea that he would follow me; there was nothing to
show he had. So at last I marched out in my proper rig--almost
straight into old Baird's arms!"
"What on earth did you do?"
"Walked past him as though I had never set eyes on him in my
life, and didn't then; took a hansom in the King's Road, and
drove like the deuce to Clapham Junction; rushed on to the
nearest platform, without a ticket, jumped into the first train I
saw, got out at Twickenham, walked full tilt back to Richmond,
took the District to Charing Cross, and here I am! Ready for a
tub and a change, and the best dinner the club can give us. I
came to you first, because I thought you might be getting
anxious. Come round with me, and I won't keep you long."
"You're certain you've given him the slip?" I said, as we put on
our hats.
"Certain enough; but we can make assurance doubly sure," said
Raffles, and went to my window, where he stood for a moment or
two looking down into the street.
"All right?" I asked him.
"All right," said he; and we went downstairs forthwith, and so to
the Albany arm-in-arm.
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