despatch, I had rather an uncomfortable half-hour, but that was
all. just then. I had my candle, I had matches, and lots to read.
It was quite nice in that strong-room until a very unpleasant
incident occurred."

"Do tell me, my dear fellow!"

"I must have another Sullivan - thank you - and a match. The
unpleasant incident was steps outside and a key in the lock! I
was disporting myself on the lid of the trunk at the time. I had
barely time to knock out my light and slip down behind it. Luckily
it was only another box of sorts; a jewel-case, to be more precise;
you shall see the contents in a moment. The Easter exodus has done
me even better than I dared to hope."

His words reminded me of the Pall Mall Gazette, which I had brought
in my pocket from the Turkish bath. I fished it out, all. wrinkled
and bloated by the heat of the hottest room, and handed it to Raffles
with my thumb upon the leaded paragraphs.

"Delightful!" said he when he had read them. "More thieves than one,
and the coal-cellar of all. places as a way in! I certainly tried to
give it that appearance. I left enough candle-grease there to make
those coals burn bravely. But it looked up into a blind backyard,
Bunny, and a boy of eight couldn't have squeezed through the trap.
Long may that theory keep them happy at Scotland Yard!"

"But what about the fellow you knocked out?" I asked. "That was not
like you, Raffles."