



Produced by Judith Boss.  HTML version by Al Haines.









THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN


BY

E. W. HORNUNG



  TO
  A. C. D.
  THIS FORM OF FLATTERY





THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN



CONTENTS

  THE IDES OF MARCH
  A COSTUME PIECE
  GENTLEMEN AND PLAYERS
  LE PREMIER PAS
  WILFUL MURDER
  NINE POINTS OF THE LAW
  THE RETURN MATCH
  THE GIFT OF THE EMPEROR




THE IDES OF MARCH

I

It was half-past twelve when I returned to the Albany as a last
desperate resort.  The scene of my disaster was much as I had left it.
The baccarat-counters still strewed the table, with the empty glasses
and the loaded ash-trays.  A window had been opened to let the smoke
out, and was letting in the fog instead.  Raffles himself had merely
discarded his dining jacket for one of his innumerable blazers.  Yet he
arched his eyebrows as though I had dragged him from his bed.

"Forgotten something?" said he, when he saw me on his mat.

"No," said I, pushing past him without ceremony.  And I led the way
into his room with an impudence amazing to myself.

"Not come back for your revenge, have you?  Because I'm afraid I can't
give it to you single-handed.  I was sorry myself that the others--"

We were face to face by his fireside, and I cut him short.

"Raffles," said I, "you may well be surprised at my coming back in this
way and at this hour.  I hardly know