The Ides of March

       Table of Contents

      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