empty, and I wouldn't put it past the colonel to have told them
exactly how long he was going to be away. He's pretty particular:
look at the strips of paper to keep the dust off his precious books!"

"Is he a colonel?" I asked, perceiving that Raffles referred to the
absentee householder.

"Of sappers," he replied, "and a V.C. into the bargain, confound him!
Got it at Rorke's Drift; prison governor or inspector ever since;
favorite recreation, what do you think? Revolver shooting! You can
read all. about him in his own Who's Who. A devil of a chap to tackle,
Bunny, when he's at home!"

"And where is he now?" I asked uneasily. And do you know he isn't
on his way home?"

"Switzerland," replied Raffles, chuckling; "he wrote one too many
labels, and was considerate enough to leave it behind for our
guidance. Well, no one ever comes back from Switzerland at the
beginning of September, you know; and nobody ever thinks of coming
back before the servants. When they turn up they won't get in. I
keep the latch jammed, but the servants will think it's jammed
itself, and while they're gone for the locksmith we shall walk out
like gentlemen - if we haven't done so already."

"As you walked in, I suppose?"

Raffles shook his head in the dim light to which my sight was
growing inured.