# A. J. Raffles — A Thief in the Night character guide

> A. J. Raffles in A Thief in the Night by E. W. Hornung.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Raffles, the Raffles, old Raffles, the hearty Raffles, the great Raffles, sped Raffles

**First appearance:** 0000-out-of-paradise

## Snapshot

A first-class cricketer who burgles by night, Raffles charms his way through London society while treating crime as a gentleman's sport.

## Who they are

Raffles moves easily between Lord's cricket ground and locked Mayfair bedrooms, and he is the one who talks Bunny into every scheme. His pleasure lies less in the loot than in the performance: he savors dining among criminologists who suspect him, and he plans his moves with the deliberation of a man who has thought everything through in advance. That cool nerve and appetite for risk drive the early adventures and set the uneasy terms of his friendship with Bunny.

## In the story

### [Out of Paradise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/out-of-paradise)

Raffles orchestrates the burglary, manipulating Bunny with false information about the target house.

### [The Chest of Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/the-chest-of-silver)

Describes his bank strongroom burglary, his deception of Bunny, and his plan to leave the Albany for redecorating.

### [The Rest Cure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/the-rest-cure)

Has been hiding in a rented house on Campden Hill, taking a 'Rest Cure' and reading criminology. He follows cabs for exercise and plans a provincial tour under an alias.

### [The Criminologists' Club](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/the-criminologists-club)

Describes his solo burglary of Lord Thornaby's dressing room during the Criminologists' Club dinner, including his planning and execution.

### [The Field of Phillipi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/the-field-of-phillipi)

Leads Bunny on a nostalgic nighttime escapade through their old school, manipulates Nasmyth into donating, and orchestrates the anonymous donation.

### [A Bad Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/a-bad-night)

Selected for the English Test Match at Old Trafford, but secretly returns to East Molesey to oversee the burglary; is struck by Bunny and later reconciles.

### [A Trap to Catch a Cracksman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/a-trap-to-catch-a-cracksman)

Trapped in Maguire's burglar trap; telephones Bunny for help.

### [The Spoils of Sacrilege](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/the-spoils-of-sacrilege)

Plans and executes the burglary with Bunny; takes the diamond tiara and emerald necklace despite Bunny's scruples.

### [The Raffles Relics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/the-raffles-relics)

Reveals he hid in the chest at Scotland Yard to steal the Raffles Relics; explains the chest's secret side door; expresses desire to see the Black Museum and gauge police suspicion; hints at ending his criminal life.

### [The Last Word](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/chapters/the-last-word)

Revealed to have secretly confessed to Bunny's former fiancée that he was the other man in the Palace Gardens burglary, sacrificing his own reputation to clear Bunny.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/characters/raffles
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_thief_in_the_night_se/characters