My friend Bunny Manders sent me the beginning of "The Return Match" and Crawshay, the thief of "Gentlemen and Players" is back.
"Don't be too sure. You remember the fellow we saw in the inn? The florid, over-dressed chap who I told you was one of the cleverest thieves in town?"
"I remember him. Crawshay his name turned out to be."
"Well, it was certainly the name he was convicted under, so Crawshay let it be. You needn't waste any pity on HIM, old chap; he escaped from Dartmoor yesterday afternoon."
"Well done!"
This man ran away from gaol, stole somebody's else clothes and went looking for Raffles, amazing!
What do you think of that, Bunny?"
"He is certainly a sportsman," said I, reaching for the paper.
"He's more," said Raffles, "he's an artist, and I envy him. The curate, of all men! Beautiful—beautiful!
I wouldn't say "beautiful" but I understand the feeling.
As a matter of fact, I know he did, for he wrote and told me so before his trial."
"He wrote to you! And you never told me!"
The old shrug answered the old grievance.
"What was the good, my dear fellow? It would only have worried you."
Bunny, your jealousy is showing~ and now the have to deal with a blackmailer! But at least Raffles' mind is already working on a way to leave Crawshay to another place.
You're a fool, Mr. Crawshay, though you have broken Dartmoor; you've got to listen to a better man, and obey him.
Raffles knows how to gain the trust of a fellow craftsman and, maybe, he has a card trump card. Just look at him! He's looks so confident! and handsome