the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第10节
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〃And that condition is？〃 she said quickly。 〃That you follow my
directions and permit me to order your movements in all things； so long as
the case remains in my hands； if at any time I seek to abuse your faith； you
are as free to discharge me as if I were a paid detective。〃 Gwen looked
searchingly at him； then； extending her hand to him； she said impulsively：
〃You are very kind； I accept the condition。 What shall I do？〃
I tried to catch Maitland's eye to tell him what he should counsel her；
but a man with his ability to observe conditions and grasp situations can
very well do without prompting。 〃First；〃 he said； 〃you must return home
with the Doctor and spend the rest of the night with his sister； I shall stay
here until morning； and second； I desire that you use your utmost
endeavour to keep the incidents of this evening out of your mind。 You
cannot； of course； forget your loss； unless you sleep；〃 … and he gave me a
look which said： 〃I depend on you to see to that；〃 … 〃but you must not
continually re…enact the scene in imagination； In the morning the Doctor
will come here to bring me my camera； microscope； and a few things I
shall require 〃 … and he passed me a list he had written。 〃If you have slept
well you can be of considerable service； and may accompany him … if not；
you must remain quietly at his house。〃 With this he turned to me； and said：
〃She is making a condenser of herself； Doctor； and will soon break
through the insulation。 Sparks will be dangerous … you must secure the
brush effect。〃 He spoke quickly； and used electrical terms； that she might
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not understand him； but either he failed of his purpose； or the observation
she immediately made was a strange coincidence。 I believe she
understood； for； while young women educated by their mothers are usually
ignorant upon all the more masculine subjects； those who have long been
their father's companions are ever prone to startle one with the most
unexpected flashes of intelligence。 〃I am in rather a high state of tension
now；〃 she said； turning calmly to Maitland； 〃but when alone the
expression which has been denied me here will afford relief。〃 Maitland
glanced at her quickly； and then at me； and I knew he was wondering if
she had understood。 Then he said： 〃It is getting late。 I shall expect you to
sleep well and to come in the morning。 Please say to the servants as you
go that I shall stay here all night； and that no one must enter without
permission。 Good…night。〃 She held out her hand to him； but made no
reply； then she fervently kissed her father's lips； and together we left the
chamber of death。
CHAPTER IV
Death speaks with the tongue of Memory； and his ashen hand
reaches out of the great unknown to seize and hold fast our plighted
souls。
What Maitland's reason was for spending the night with the dead body
of Darrow； or how he busied himself until morning； I do not know。
Perhaps he desired to make sure that everything remained untouched； or； it
may be； that he chose。 this method of preventing Gwen from performing
a vigil by the body。 I thought this latter view very probable at the time；
as I had been singularly impressed with the remarkable foresight my
friend had displayed in so quickly and adroitly getting Gwen away from
everything connected with her father's sad and mysterious death。
Arriving at my house my sister took an early opportunity to urge upon
Gwen a glass of wine； in which I had placed a generous sedative。 The
terrible tension soon began to relax； and in less than half an hour she was
sleeping quietly。 I dreaded the moment when she should awake and the
memory of all that had happened should descend like an avalanche upon
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her。 I told my sister that this would be a critical moment； cautioning her
to stay by Gwen and to give her； immediately upon her arising； a draught I
had prepared for the purpose of somewhat deadening her sensibilities。 I
arose early； and went to Maitland's laboratory to collect the things he
desired。 When I returned Gwen was awake； and to my intense
gratification in even a better condition than I had dared to hope。
It was quite late when we reached her house； and Maitland had
evidently been at work several hours。 He looked sharply at Gwen when
she entered； and seemed much pleased at her condition。 〃You have
obeyed my instructions； I see； and slept；〃 he said； as he gave her his hand。
〃Yes；〃 she replied； 〃I was very tired； and the doctor's cordial quite
overcame me；〃 and she cast an inquiring glance at the network of white
string which Maitland had stretched across the carpet； dividing it into
squares like an immense checker…board。 In reply to her questioning look；
he said： 〃French detectives are the most thorough in the world； and I am
about to make use of their method of instituting an exhaustive search。
Each one of the squares formed by these intersecting strings is numbered；
and represents one square foot of carpet； the numbers running from one to
two hundred and eighty…eight。 Every inch of every one of these squares I
shall examine under a microscope； and anything found which can be of
any possible interest will be carefully preserved； and its exact location
accurately marked upon this chart I have prepared； which； as you will see；
has the same number of squares as the room； the area of each square being
reduced from one square foot to one square inch。 You will note that I
have already marked the location of all doors； windows； and furniture。
The weapon； if there be one； may be very minute； but if it be on the floor
we may be assured the microscope will find it。 The walls of the room；
especially any shelving projections； and the furniture； I shall examine with
equal thoroughness； though I have now some additional reasons for
believing the weapon is not here。〃
〃Have you discovered anything new？〃 Gwen exclaimed； unable to
control the excitement caused by this last remark。 〃You must pardon
me；〃 Maitland rejoined； 〃if I ask you and the Doctor a question before
replying。〃 She nodded assent； and he continued： 〃I wish to know if you
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agree with me that we shall be more likely to arrive at a solution of the
problem before us if we keep our own counsel than if we take the officers
of the law； or； for that matter； anyone else； into our confidence。 You
undoubtedly noticed how carefully M。 Godin kept his own counsel。
Official methods； and the hasty generalisations which form a part thereof …
to say nothing of the petty rivalries and the passion for notoriety … can do
much to hinder our own work； and； I believe； nothing to help it。 What
say you？〃 〃That we keep our work to ourselves；〃 Gwen quickly rejoined；
and I signified that I was of the same opinion。 〃Then；〃 Maitland
continued； 〃I may say this in answer to your question。 I have ascertained
something which may bear upon the case in hand。 You will remember
that part of the gravel for redressing the croquet ground was dumped under
the east window there。 The painters； I learn； finished painting that side of
the house yesterday forenoon before the gravel was removed and placed
upon the ground； so that any footprints they may have made in it while
about their work were obliterated。 As you see； there was loose gravel left
under the window to the depth of about two inches。
