"There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of," he said. "Good gracious, man, have you no pluck at all? I declare when I look at you that I could kick you as one does a cowardly cur."
But Carrington was impervious3 to insult. His face was ghastly, and the strong glare of the electric lights showed the beads4 of moisture upon his forehead.
"It is all very well for you," he growled5. "The greater the danger the better you seem to like it."
"There isn't any danger," Anstruther protested. "Didn't you tell me that the police had no special orders as far as the bank was concerned? And everybody knows you have two night watchmen. Besides--oh, I have no patience with you!"
Anstruther turned away from the other, and began to fumble6 with the lock of a small black bag which he carried in his hand. He signified to Carrington that the latter should lead the way to the vaults7 below. Carrington produced a bunch of keys from his pocket. Anstruther sneered9 openly.
"Oh, that's it," he said. "Going to make it all smooth for us, are you? Of all the fools I ever came across! Why not go outside and tell everybody what we are going to do? Those are all patent shove locks, which the most expert thief could never pick, and you are going to tell the police later on that they have been opened with an ordinary key. Don't forget that you have got to face the police later on, and endure a cross-examination that will test your nerve to the uttermost. We are going to blow those locks up, and these are dynamite10 cartridges11 to do it."
Carrington's face was almost comic in its dismay. His ghastly, sweat-bedabbled face fairly quivered. But he made no further protest; he bent13 before the sway of Anstruther's master mind.
"I don't wish to interfere14 with you," he stammered15. "But the infernal noise which is likely to----"
Anstruther kicked his companion aside.
"We either do it or we don't do it," he said. "It doesn't matter a rap one way or the other to me. Now which is it to be?"
Carrington hesitated no longer. He simply submitted himself entirely17 to the hands of his companion. In a dazed, fascinated kind of way he watched Anstruther insinuate18 a dynamite cartridge12 of minute proportions into the lock of the door. Then Anstruther drew Carrington back as far as possible, and the tiny fuse began to work. There was just a tiny spurt19 of blue flame, followed by a muffled20 shock, and the door fell slowly back.
"There," Anstruther cried triumphantly21. "What do you think of that? Do you suppose that noise was heard outside? Now come on; let us serve them all alike."
The sound of their footsteps came to the ears of those watching in the counting house, and at frequent intervals22 the sullen23 explosions could be heard. Seymour rose to his feet, and whispered to his companions to follow. They crept cautiously along the flagged stairway until they reached the vault8 in which the two strong rooms were situated24. A couple of electric lights gave sufficient illumination for the purpose of the amateur burglars, who were now busily engaged on the locks of the strong room. This was altogether a different business to blowing in the lock of an ordinary door, for the entrance to the strong room was secured with six bolts, all of which would have to be destroyed.
It was possible to find a secure hiding-place in the thick darkness outside the radius25 of the two electric lights. It was an interesting moment, and even Seymour was conscious of a sensation of excitement.
"Stand back," Anstruther said. "Everything is ready. You had better lie down on your face, as I am using six charges now instead of one. If they all go off together the thing will be accomplished26 to our mutual27 satisfaction."
The hint was not lost upon the listeners. There was a moment of intense excitement, and then came a dull, heavy roar, that seemed to shake the building almost to its foundations. Almost before the reverberations had died away, the huge door of the strong room swayed with a zigzag28 motion, and came smashing on the floor.
"There," Anstruther cried triumphantly. "What do you think of that, my friend? I flatter myself that that is a real workmanlike job. All you have to do now is to keep a stiff upper lip, and give the police all the information they require. Anything of value inside?"
"Not very much, I am afraid," Carrington responded. "A fair amount of old family plate, and perhaps twenty or thirty thousand pounds' worth of securities. I suppose we had better leave all that there; look better, don't you think?"
"Leave your head there," Anstruther sneered. "Now I put it to you, as a man supposed to be possessed29 of sense--would any thief leave a single item of value behind?"
Anstruther asked the question with a contemptuous curl of his lip. He was wiping his hands now on a piece of greasy30 cotton waste in which the dynamite cartridges had been wrapped to prevent contact.
"This is going to be a unique sort of burglary," he continued. "Trot31 out what you've got in the way of plate, and I'll take my pick of it as a kind of fee in reward for my night's service. If there is one soft place in my heart, it is for antique silver. Take your time--we are not in the least likely to be interrupted."
With his coat off and his shirt sleeves turned up, Carrington set to work in earnest. Once he had plunged32 headlong into the business, he seemed to have lost all his nervousness and hesitation33. One after the other the great wooden cases were turned out and examined by Anstruther as eagerly as a schoolboy pores over something new in the way of a bird's nest. Presently he held aloft a magnificent specimen34 of a silver dish. It was perfectly35 plain: fine old hammered silver, bearing a quaint36 design around the edge.
"Benvenuto Cellini for a million," he cried. "Dish and ewer37, together with a set of the finest posset cups I've ever seen. How much over ten thousand pounds would this fetch at Christie's? Well, I'm very sorry for the late owner, but exceedingly pleased so far as I am concerned. I'll take this for my fee, Carrington."
The two dived into the strong room again, where they appeared to be overhauling38 other boxes of treasure. The gleams of the electric light fell upon the service of plate which Anstruther had so greatly admired. By its side, in strange contrast, laid a piece of cotton waste with which Anstruther had wiped his hands a minute or two before. Without a word of warning to his companions, Seymour darted39 across the floor of the vault; and, seizing the cotton waste, proceeded to rub it vigorously over the surface of the service of plate which Anstruther had marked down for his own.
His conduct was so unexpected and so peculiar40, that Jack41 and Rigby could only look at one another in astonishment42. They did not know in the least what to make of this extraordinary man?uvre on the part of their colleague. But there was evidently much method in his madness; he was not in the least likely to run the risk of detection to gratify an apparently43 meaningless whim44. He was back again an instant later, and Jack could hear him chuckling45 to himself as if he had accomplished something quite out of the common. He seemed to feel that some explanation was necessary.
"I dare say you thought that peculiar," he said; "but you will understand all in good time. I didn't go out of my way to spoil everything for the mere16 sake of playing amateur housemaid."
Apparently the task which Anstruther and Carrington had set themselves was finished by this time, for they came out of the strong room empty handed. All the same, their figures appeared to be pretty bulky, and doubtless their pockets were well filled with illicit46 gain.
"But you don't mean to carry that stuff home," Carrington protested. "Well known as you are, it would be an act of criminal folly47 to carry that plate through the streets at this time of the morning. As to myself----"
"But have you no private safe of your own?" Anstruther asked. "The same remark you made to me just now applies to you. Is there anything more to wait for?"
Carrington disappeared within the strong room again for a last look round, followed by Anstruther. They had no sooner disappeared than Seymour was on his feet again, making hurriedly for the stairway leading to the counting house. He had not been gone many seconds before there came stumbling noisily down the stairs the form of one of the night watchmen, rubbing his eyes drowsily48, and asking what was going on. It was quite evident to Rigby and Jack that Seymour had deliberately49 aroused the sleeping man for some subtle purpose of his own. The man cried out again to know what all this meant, and Carrington and Anstruther came darting50 from the strong room.
"By heaven! He has come to his senses," Anstruther muttered. "I thought that dose was quite strong enough. I am very sorry, but seeing that he has learned so much----"
There was murder in Anstruther's eyes, and Carrington saw it. Still dazed and stupid from the result of the drug, the watchman was gazing about him like a man just emerging from a heavy bout1 of intoxication51. It was evident that he did not recognize his employer, though senses and reason were fast coming back to him. As he staggered towards the strong room door a murderous look crept into Anstruther's eyes again, and something bright gleamed in his hand. Carrington hastened forward.
"No, no," he cried hoarsely52. "I will have none of that, I have gone too far already. I could bear with imprisonment53, but the mere thought of a noose54 round my neck----"
He almost staggered up to the dazed watchman, and shook him violently. The latter seemed to comprehend at length.
"Wake up, Gregory," Carrington stammered. "There has been a burglary here. I had occasion to come down to the bank for something, and found that the premises55 had been broken into. Go for the police."
Anstruther studied the watchman's features with broody, malignant56 eyes. His quick brain was working rapidly. It was quite evident that the watchman had not yet fully57 grasped the situation. It would be some time before he could find a policeman and give him a fairly coherent account of what had happened.
"Not a moment to be lost," he cried. "Let us go up-stairs at once to your room and lock all this stuff up in your private safe. No one will think of looking for it there. Now don't say you haven't got the key with you."
Carrington nodded breathlessly, and immediately Anstruther began to pack up the Cellini service of plate which had so greatly fascinated him.
"Come on at once," he said. "Let us get this stuff in hiding, and then we can face the police."
They had only to don their coats again and make their way as soon as possible to Carrington's private room. As they passed up the stairs Seymour signed to his companions to follow.
They were only just in time, for as they emerged into the alley58 the watchman was returning with the constable59. They squeezed close against the wall, securing the friendly cover of the darkness, and a moment later they were in Gresham Street.
"What is to be done next?" Rigby said.
"I think that is pretty obvious," Seymour chuckled60. "So far as I can see this is a nice little job for Inspector61 Bates."
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1
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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3
impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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4
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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5
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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6
fumble
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| vi.笨拙地用手摸、弄、接等，摸索 | |
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7
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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9
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
dynamite
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| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
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11
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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12
cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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13
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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14
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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15
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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18
insinuate
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| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
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19
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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20
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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21
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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23
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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24
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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radius
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| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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28
zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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29
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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31
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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32
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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33
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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36
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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37
ewer
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| n.大口水罐 | |
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38
overhauling
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| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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39
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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40
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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41
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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42
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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43
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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44
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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45
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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46
illicit
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| adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的 | |
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47
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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48
drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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49
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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50
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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51
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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52
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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53
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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54
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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55
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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56
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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57
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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58
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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59
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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60
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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