The Amateur Cracksman · Chapter
Nine Points of the Law explained
Raffles and Bunny respond to a mysterious advertisement offering a large reward for a delicate mission involving risk.
What happens
Raffles and Bunny respond to a mysterious advertisement offering a large reward for a delicate mission involving risk. They meet with solicitor Bennett Addenbrooke, who reveals that Sir Bernard Debenham's son has stolen a priceless Velasquez painting and sold it to the Hon. J. M. Craggs. Raffles and Bunny are hired to recover the painting. Later, Bunny dines with Craggs, who shows him the painting stored in an iron map-case. After Raffles fails to steal it, Bunny returns alone, chloroforms Craggs, and takes the painting himself.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Identity
Raffles uses the alias 'Glasspool' to conceal his identity, and the entire plot revolves around the theft and recovery of a painting under false pretenses.
Risk and Adventure
The advertisement explicitly offers a reward for those willing to run a certain risk, and Bunny undertakes a dangerous solo burglary.
Wealth and Greed
The two-thousand-pound reward, the priceless Velasquez, and Craggs's boastful pride in his acquisition all highlight the theme of wealth and greed.
Characters to notice
- A. J. Raffles
Responds to the advertisement under the alias Glasspool, negotiates with Addenbrooke, and later fails to steal the painting from Craggs.
- Bunny
Accompanies Raffles to the solicitor, dines with Craggs, and ultimately succeeds in stealing the painting by chloroforming Craggs.
- Bennett Addenbrooke
The solicitor who placed the advertisement; hires Raffles and Bunny to recover the stolen Velasquez.
- J. M. Craggs
The Queensland legislator who bought the stolen painting; Bunny chloroforms him to retrieve it.
- Sir Bernard Debenham
The eccentric owner of the stolen Velasquez; his son sold the painting to Craggs.
Key passages
“Two thousand pounds reward —The above sum may be earned by anyone qualified to undertake delicate mission and prepared to run certain risk.—Apply by telegram, Security, London.”
A reward of £2,000 is offered to anyone suitable for a sensitive task that involves some danger; respond by telegram to the address 'Security' in London.
The advertisement that sets the plot in motion.
“I want two thousand pounds as much as any man.”
Raffles admits he is as eager for the money as anyone else.
Raffles's motivation for responding to the advertisement.
“I have seen you take far too many wickets to make any mistake!”
Addenbrooke recognizes Raffles from his cricket fame, not fooled by the alias.
Addenbrooke sees through Raffles's disguise.
“Worth fifty thousand pounds, my boy—and I got it for five!”
Craggs boasts that the painting is worth £50,000 but he paid only £5.
Craggs's pride in his bargain purchase of the stolen Velasquez.
“I saturated my handkerchief with the chloroform I had brought, and laid it gently over his mouth. Two or three stertorous breaths, and the man was a log.”
Bunny uses chloroform to render Craggs unconscious, then takes the keys to steal the painting.
Bunny's successful burglary after Raffles's failure.