The Raffles Relics by E.W. Hornung
Raffles and Bunny, in December 1899, read a magazine article revealing that Scotland Yard's Black Museum now displays the "Raffles Relics" — items recovered after Raffles's supposed death. Raffles, delighted by this evidence of his own fame, insists on visiting the museum to see the exhibit himself, despite the obvious danger and Bunny's objections. Bunny secures an admission card from his editor at a newspaper, and though Raffles suggests Bunny go alone, they end up going together. At Scotland Yard, a callow, tall-collared clerk guides them through the museum, mixing up facts about famous criminals like Charles Peace. The clerk shows them relics from an American swindle involving duplicate cigarette boxes, then leads them to the Raffles Relics themselves: a centre-bit, a bottle of rock-oil, a revolver, an empty cartridge that once held a stolen pearl, gimlets and wedges, a rope-ladder, a telescope walking-stick, a life-preserver stained with Bunny's blood, a mysterious velvet bag (once used for muffling key-filing), and a photograph of Raffles in cricket flannels. The clerk recounts garbled, inaccurate versions of Raffles's exploits and dismisses Bunny himself as a worthless "rotter" of no interest, all while Bunny stands by in disguise, biting back his indignation. The visit turns perilous when Inspector Druce, who handled the Chalk Farm case, enters the museum with companions. Raffles, sensing danger, quietly slips away from Bunny's side without a word, using the moment's distraction. Bunny, left alone, covers for his friend's disappearance by lying to the clerk and lingers to avoid suspicion, even tipping the clerk before leaving. Bunny searches for Raffles at the station and elsewhere, then returns to their home near Ham Common, tormented by fear that Raffles has been captured. He waits up all night, eventually falling asleep by the fire. Raffles finally returns near dawn, having walked three hours from Scotland Yard. He reveals that he never left the building at all: he hid inside the old iron-clamped chest itself, exploiting a secret side-door mechanism he had installed years earlier (unknown even to Bunny), and eavesdropped on Druce and the clerk from within. Raffles confesses he used the opportunity to steal back all of the actual Raffles Relics, substituting similar-looking decoy items from the museum's other exhibits so the theft would go unnoticed for weeks. The genuine relics — revolver, life-preserver, rope-ladder, walking-stick, velvet bag, and the rest — now sit on the lodging-house table. Raffles proposes this may fittingly be his last crime, a "crime of sentiment," though he won't promise to resist temptation again. The narrative closes with Bunny reflecting, from later years, that Raffles's words proved prophetic — the two men entered the tumultuous weeks that preceded the war events reshaping the empire, and this episode remained one of Bunny's most vivid memories of Raffles.
By E.W. Hornung · First published 1905 · Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Adventure · 8,129 words
First lines
It was in one of the magazines for December, 1899, that an article appeared which afforded our minds a brief respite from the then consuming excitement of the war in South Africa. These were the days when Raffles really had white hair, and when he and I were nearing the end of our surreptitious second innings, as professional cracksmen of the deadliest dye. Piccadilly and the Albany knew us no more. But we still operated, as the spirit tempted us, from our latest and most idyllic base, on the borders of Ham Common. Recreation was our greatest want; and though we had both descended to the humble bicycle, a lot of reading was forced upon us in the winter evenings. Thus the war came as a boon to us both. It not only provided us with an honest interest in life, but gave point and zest to innumerable spins across Richmond Park, to the nearest paper shop; and it was from such an expedition that I returned with inflammatory matter unconnected with the war.
What this Textopian page supports
The Raffles Relics is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.W. Hornung, dated 1905 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.W. Hornung
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, Thriller, Historical Fiction
- Length: 8,129 words
- Structure: 1 section, 155 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Crime Fiction — The plot revolves around Raffles and Bunny's criminal exploits, focusing on theft and deception.
- Mystery — The narrative includes elements of suspense and investigation, particularly surrounding the Raffles Relics.
- Adventure — The characters engage in daring escapades, including a visit to Scotland Yard and the exploration of the Black Museum.
- Thriller — The story contains tension and danger, particularly with the potential for Raffles to be recognized.
Tags
mystery · adventure · crime · detective · heist · suspense · thriller · historical · fiction · London · treasure · intrigue