Sentence structure whatsits

[elaby]

Okay, so I have to confess that sometimes Hornung's writing makes me go "??". I think it's partially that Raffles uses a lot of cricket slang, and that Bunny's narration tends to be kind of on the colloquial side, but sometimes I think I'm just not following it sentence-structure-wise. So I thought I'd ask my lovely f'listies for some help!

This is from the story "The Spoils of Sacrilege". I've put this under a cut in case you don't want to be spoiled, but it's not a very long bit. Just two sentences, and only spoilery in the general setup of the story.


Here it is:

For once I must lead, and Raffles follow, whether he liked it or not. He saw that himself; and I think he liked it better than he liked me for the desecration in view; but I had hardened my heart, and his feelings were too fine for actual remonstrance on such a point.

Okay, here's what I get out of it: Bunny has to be in charge for this job, and Raffles knows it. However, Raffles likes Bunny being in charge more than he approves of Bunny's plan for this job ("desecration," I think, refers to the job because he's planning to burgle the house he grew up in). Bunny had hardened his heart toward the negative morality of his plan, but Raffles is too... something... to scold him for it. What that something is I'm not quite sure how to put into words. Too tactful, maybe, knowing Bunny well enough to know what would hurt him?

Help, f'list! Do you think I've interpreted this right? I've come across things like this countless times in reading these stories, but this is the only one I actually remembered well enough to go find again, heh.

Comments

[janeturenne.livejournal.com]

Yep, I think you've got it right; Raffles likes Bunny taking the lead, but doesn't think that this particular job is in the spirit of the Game and thinks less of Bunny in some sense for that. The Rafflesian thieving Game, that is, not the Holmesian Game. Granted, it has taken me approximately eighteen reads to come to that conclusion. That is a sincerely convoluted sentence. Where was this man's editor??? No beta I know would let ME get away with such syntax.

[violetjimjams.livejournal.com]

Maybe Doyle played Beta and let that sentence pass because his wife was mad at him and he needed Bro-In-Law to put in some good words on his behalf.

And the expense of BIL's story.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

The Rafflesian thieving Game, that is, not the Holmesian Game.

OMG, I <3 you XD

Where was this man's editor??? No beta I know would let ME get away with such syntax.</i< I TELL YOU. And it's kind of rampant! Maybe not quite that bad, but certainly not infrequent.