the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第13节
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the door had closed behind Osborne and his companion； 'and I beg you
will remember that in doing so； however personal my inquiries may seem；
they have but one object in view … the solution of this mystery。〃 〃I have
already had good proof of your singleness of purpose；〃 she replied。
〃Only too gladly will I give you any information in my possession。 Until
this assassin is found； and my father's good name freed from the obloquy
which has been cast upon it； my existence will be but a blank； … yes； worse；
it will be an unceasing torment； for I know my father's spirit … if the dead
have power to return to this earth … can never rest with this weight of
shame upon it。〃 As she spoke these words the depth of grief she had
hitherto so well concealed became visible for a moment； and her whole
frame shook as the expression of her emotion reacted upon her。 The next
instant she regained her old composure； and said calmly：
〃You see I have every reason to shed whatever light I can upon this
dark subject。〃
〃Please； then； to answer my questions methodically； and do not permit
yourself to reason why I have asked them。 What was your father's age？〃
〃Sixty…two。〃
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〃Did he drink？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did he play cards？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Poker？〃
〃Yes； and several other games。〃
〃Was he as fond of them as of croquet？〃
〃No； nothing pleased him as croquet did … nothing； unless it were
chess。〃
〃Hum！ Do you play chess？〃
〃Yes； I played a good deal with father。〃
〃What kind of a game did he play？〃
〃I do not understand you。 He played a good game； my father did not
enjoy doing anything that he could not do well。〃
〃I mean to ask if his positions were steadily sustained … or if； on the
other hand； his manoeuvres were swift； and what you might call brilliant。〃
〃I think you would call them brilliant。〃
〃Hum！ How old are you？〃
〃Twenty…two。〃
〃Tell me your relations with your father。〃
〃We were most constant companions。 My mother … she and my father
… they were not altogether companionable … in short； they were ill…mated；
and； being wise enough to find it out； and having no desire to longer
embitter each other's lives； they agreed to separate when I was only four。
They parted without the slightest ill…feeling； and I remained with father。
He was very fond of me； and would permit no one else to teach me。 At
seven I was drawing and painting under his guidance。 At eight the violin
was put into my hands and my studies in voice began。 In the meantime
father was most careful not to neglect my physical training； he taught me
the use of Indian clubs； and how to walk easily。 At eight I could walk
four miles an hour without fatigue。 The neighbours used to urge that I be
put to school； but my father would reply … many a time I have heard him
say it … 'a child's brain is like a flower that blossoms in perceptions and
goes to seed in abstractions。 Correct concepts are the raw material of
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reason。 Every desk in your school is an intellectual loom which is
expected to weave a sound fabric out of rotten raw material。 While your
children are wasting their fibre in memorising the antique errors of
classical thought my child is being fitted to perceive new truths for
herself。' It is needless to say his friends considered these views altogether
too radical。 But for all that I was never sent to school。 My father's
library was always at my disposal； and I was taught how to use it。 We
were constantly together； and grew so into each other's lives that 〃 … but
her voice failed her； and her eyes moistened。 Maitland； though he
apparently did not notice her emotion； so busy was he in making notes；
quickly put a question which diverted her attention。
〃Your father seemed last night to have a presentiment of some
impending calamity。 Was this a common experience？〃
〃Of late； yes。 He has told me some six or seven times of dreaming
the same dreams … a dream in which some assassin struck him out of the
darkness。〃 〃Did you at any of these times notice anything which might
now lead you to believe this fancied repetition was the result of any
mental malady？〃
〃No。〃
〃Was his description of the dreams always the same？〃
〃No； never were they twice alike； save in the one particular of the
unseen assassin。〃
〃Hum！； Did the impression of these dreams remain long with him？〃
〃He never recovered from it； and each dream only accentuated his
assurance that the experience was prophetic。 When once I tried to
dissuade him from this view； he said to me： 'Gwen； it is useless； I am
making no mistake。 When I am gone you will know why I am now so
sure … I cannot tell you now； it would only ' … here he stopped short； and；
turning abruptly to me； said with a fierceness entirely alien to his
disposition： 'Hatred is foreign to my nature； but I hate that man with a
perfect hell of loathing！ Have I been a kind father to you； Gwen？ If so；
promise me ' … and he seized me by the wrist … ' promise me if I'm
murdered … I may as well say when I'm murdered … you will look upon the
man who brings my assassin to justice … the thought that he may escape is
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damning … as your dearest friend on earth！ You will deny him nothing。
You will learn later that I have taken care to reward him。 My child； you
will owe this man a debt you can never repay； for he will have enabled
your father's soul to find repose。 I dreamed last night that I came back
from the dead； and heard my avenger ask you to be his wife。 You refused；
and at your ingratitude my restless soul returned to torment everlasting。
Swear to me； Gwen； that you'll deny him nothing； nothing； nothing！' I
promised him； and he seemed much reassured。 'I am satisfied；' he said；
'and now can die in peace； for you are an anomaly； Gwen； … a woman who
fully knows the nature of a covenant；' and he put his arm about me； and
drew me to him。 His fierceness had subsided as quickly as it had
appeared； and he was now all tenderness。〃
Maitland； who appeared somewhat agitated by her recital； said to her：
〃After the exaction of such a promise you have； of course； no doubt that
your father was the victim of a mental malady … at least； at such times as
those of which you speak？〃
Gwen replied deliberately： 〃Indeed； I have grave doubts。 My father
was possessed by a strange conviction； but I never saw anything which
impressed me as indicating an unsound mind。 I am； of course； scarcely
fitted to judge in such matters。〃
Maitland's face darkened as he asked： 〃You would not have me infer
that you would consider your promise in any sense binding？〃
〃And why not？〃 she ejaculated in astonishment。
〃Because；〃 he continued； 〃the request is so unnatural as to be in itself
sufficient evidence that it was not made by a man in his right mind。〃
〃I cannot agree with you as to my father's condition；〃 Gwen replied
firmly； 〃 yet you may be right； I only know that I； at least； was in my right
mind； and that I promised。 If it cost me my life to keep that pledge； I
shall not hesitate a moment。 Have you forgotten that my father's last
words were； 'remember your promise'？〃 She glanced up at Maitland as
she said this； and started a little as she saw the expression of pain upon his
