Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from The Amateur Cracksman, by E. W. Hornung
"The trick," said Raffles. "I intended writing to you as soon as I got
back to my rooms, to ask you to look me up to-morrow afternoon; then I
was going to unfold my plan of campaign, and take you straight into
action then and there. There's nothing like putting the nervous
players in first; it's the sitting with their pads on that upsets their
applecart; that was another of my reasons for being so confoundedly
close. You must try to forgive me. I couldn't help remembering how
well you played up last trip, without any time to weaken on it
beforehand. All I want is for you to be as cool and smart to-morrow
night as you were then; though, by Jove, there's no comparison between
the two cases!"
"I thought you would find it so."
"You were right. I have. Mind you, I don't say this will be the
tougher job all round; we shall probably get in without any difficulty
at all; it's the getting out again that may flummox us. That's the
worst of an irregular household!" cried Raffles, with quite a burst of
virtuous indignation. "I assure you, Bunny, I spent the whole of
Monday night in the shrubbery of the garden next door, looking over the
wall, and, if you'll believe me, somebody was about all night long! I
don't mean the Kaffirs. I don't believe they ever get to bed at
all--poor devils! No, I mean Rosenthall himself, and that pasty-faced
beast Purvis. They were up and drinking from midnight, when they came
in, to broad daylight, when I cleared out. Even then I left them sober
enough to slang each other. By the way, they very nearly came to blows
in the garden, within a few yards of me, and I heard something that
might come in useful and make Rosenthall shoot crooked at a critical
moment. You know what an I. D. B. is?"
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Amateur Cracksman by E. W. Hornung
Context of the Source
The Amateur Cracksman (1899) is a collection of short stories by E. W. Hornung, featuring the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles and his loyal accomplice (and narrator), Harry "Bunny" Manders. The stories are set in late Victorian England and blend elements of crime fiction, adventure, and dark humor, often subverting the moral expectations of the time.
Raffles is a charming, aristocratic criminal—a former cricket star who uses his wit, social connections, and audacity to pull off daring burglaries. Bunny, the narrator, is a struggling journalist who becomes Raffles’ reluctant but devoted partner. Their dynamic is central to the stories, with Raffles often manipulating Bunny into dangerous situations while maintaining an air of charismatic authority.
This excerpt comes from one of their heist discussions, where Raffles outlines a plan while reflecting on past successes and the challenges ahead.
Themes in the Excerpt
The Thrill of Crime & Psychological Manipulation
- Raffles treats burglary like a sport, comparing it to cricket (a recurring motif in the stories). His language—"putting the nervous players in first," "cool and smart," "flummox us"—frames crime as a game of skill and nerves.
- He psychologically prepares Bunny by downplaying the danger ("we shall probably get in without any difficulty") while hinting at real risks ("it's the getting out again that may flummox us").
- His selective honesty—admitting he was "confoundedly close" (secretive) but justifying it—shows his manipulative charm.
Class & Moral Ambiguity
- Raffles is a gentleman thief, and his targets are often wealthy, corrupt individuals (like Rosenthall and Purvis in this excerpt). This allows Hornung to critique Victorian hypocrisy—Raffles steals from the rich, but his own morality is questionable.
- His indignation at an "irregular household" (where servants and owners stay up all night drinking) is ironic, given that he is a criminal himself. His moralizing ("poor devils!" about the servants) is performative, reinforcing his self-image as a roguish but honorable figure.
The Unreliable Narrator & Power Dynamics
- Bunny is both participant and audience, meaning the reader experiences Raffles’ persuasive rhetoric through his eyes.
- Raffles flatters Bunny ("how well you played up last trip") while withholding full information ("I couldn’t help remembering…").
- The asymmetry in their relationship is clear: Raffles is the mastermind, Bunny the follower, yet Bunny’s narration makes Raffles seem heroic rather than exploitative.
The Glamorization of Crime
- The adventurous tone ("spent the whole of Monday night in the shrubbery") makes burglary seem exciting rather than sordid.
- Raffles’ casual mention of eavesdropping ("they very nearly came to blows") and his confidence in using blackmail-like information ("make Rosenthall shoot crooked") highlight his amoral pragmatism.
Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices
Dialogue as Character Revelation
- Raffles’ speech is fast-paced, colloquial, and full of sports metaphors ("players," "pads," "applecart"), reinforcing his cricketing background and his treatment of crime as a game.
- His abrupt shifts in tone—from playful ("By Jove") to serious ("somebody was about all night long")—keep the reader (and Bunny) off-balance, mirroring his unpredictable nature.
Irony & Hypocrisy
- Raffles criticizes the "irregular household" while being a thief himself—a dramatic irony that underscores his self-justifying morality.
- His outrage at Rosenthall and Purvis’ drunken behavior is hypritical, given that he is planning to rob them.
Foreshadowing & Suspense
- The mention of "getting out again" hints at future complications, building tension.
- The mysterious "I. D. B." (likely a slang term or code—possibly "Illicit Diamond Buyer" or a racial slur of the time) suggests hidden leverage Raffles might use, adding intrigue.
Cricket as a Metaphor for Crime
- Raffles’ sports analogies ("nervous players," "cool and smart") frame burglary as a test of skill and nerve, not morality.
- The idea of "putting the nervous players in first" implies that hesitation is the real danger—a philosophy that justifies his ruthless efficiency.
Bunny as the Reader’s Proxy
- Bunny’s minimal responses ("I thought you would find it so") make him a passive observer, allowing the reader to focus on Raffles’ charisma.
- His lack of protest suggests complicity, making the reader complicit as well in the glamour of crime.
Significance of the Excerpt
Raffles as a Proto-Antihero
- Before figures like Arsène Lupin or the Saint, Raffles was one of the first sympathetic criminal protagonists in literature.
- His charm, wit, and aristocratic manner make him likable despite his crimes, challenging Victorian moral expectations.
Subversion of Detective Fiction Tropes
- Unlike Sherlock Holmes (created by Hornung’s brother-in-law, Arthur Conan Doyle), Raffles is the criminal, not the detective.
- The stories invert the traditional hero-villain dynamic, making the thief the protagonist and the wealthy his prey.
Exploration of Loyalty & Exploitation
- The unequal relationship between Raffles and Bunny raises questions about manipulation and devotion.
- Bunny’s willingness to follow Raffles—despite the dangers—highlights the allure of adventure and the power of charismatic leadership.
Social Commentary on Victorian Hypocrisy
- Raffles’ targets are often corrupt, wealthy men, allowing Hornung to critique class privilege.
- The glamorization of crime in a highly moralistic era was provocative, making the stories both entertaining and subversive.
Line-by-Line Breakdown (Key Moments)
"The trick... I intended writing to you..."
- Raffles reveals his secrecy but frames it as strategy, not deceit.
- His plan to "unfold my plan of campaign" treats the heist like a military operation, adding gravitas.
"There's nothing like putting the nervous players in first..."
- Sports metaphor—he sees Bunny as a player who might falter if given too much time to think.
- "Upsets their applecart" (a phrase meaning to ruin plans) suggests that overthinking leads to failure.
"You must try to forgive me."
- False humility—he acknowledges his secrecy but doesn’t apologize, justifying it as necessary.
"I don't say this will be the tougher job all round..."
- Downplays danger to keep Bunny confident, but the contradiction ("getting out again that may flummox us") hints at real risk.
"It's the worst of an irregular household!"
- Irony—he criticizes disorder while being a criminal intruder.
- His indignation is performative, making him seem morally superior to his targets.
"I spent the whole of Monday night in the shrubbery..."
- Adventurous tone—makes surveillance sound romantic rather than creepy.
- His observation of Rosenthall and Purvis shows his methodical nature and willingness to exploit weaknesses.
"You know what an I. D. B. is?"
- Unresolved mystery—leaves the reader (and Bunny) curious, adding suspense.
- Possible meanings:
- "Illicit Diamond Buyer" (given the era’s diamond trade scandals).
- "Indian Dark Bastard" (a racist term, reflecting Victorian attitudes).
- "International Diamond Broker" (a neutral but secretive figure).
Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters
This passage captures the essence of Raffles’ character—charming, manipulative, and morally ambiguous. It also sets up the heist’s tension, blending humor, suspense, and social critique. Hornung’s use of dialogue, irony, and sports metaphors makes the crime feel like a game, inviting the reader to root for the thief—a radical idea in Victorian literature.
The excerpt also foreshadows complications (the "irregular household," the mysterious "I. D. B.") while reinforcing the power dynamic between Raffles and Bunny. Ultimately, it’s a masterclass in character-driven crime fiction, where the real theft isn’t just jewels—it’s the reader’s moral compass.