the darrow enigma(´ïÂÞÖ®ÃÔ)-µÚ17½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡led¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡false¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡act¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡swift¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡52¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡53¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Darrow¡¡Enigma¡¡
vengeance¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡hot¡¡¡¡¡¡Eastern¡¡¡¡¡¡blood£»¡¡¡¡¡¡flashed¡¡¡¡¡¡momentarily¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
mind£»¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡explained¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡her¡¡nestling¡¡in¡¡my¡¡arms¡£¡¡
I¡¡reached¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡embrace¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡struck¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡and¡¡fled£¡¡¡
For¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡stood¡¡still¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡it¡¡would¡¡never¡¡start£»¡¡
but¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡soon¡¡¡¡¡¡began¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡throb¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡lead£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡blood¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
pumped¡¡was¡¡cold£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡had¡¡closed¡¡in¡¡upon¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡elasticity¡¡of¡¡
my¡¡¡¡¡¡life£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡ineffable¡¡¡¡¡¡resiliency¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡soul¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡makes¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡
beasts¡¡of¡¡burden£»¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡forever¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡An¡¡automaton£»¡¡informed¡¡only¡¡with¡¡
the¡¡material¡¡life£»¡¡remained£»¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡followed¡¡that¡¡fleeting¡¡figure¡¡down¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡hill¡£¡¡¡¡More¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡twenty¡¡¡¡¡¡years¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡unrewarded¡¡
chase¡¡continues£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡facts¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡call¡¡your¡¡attention£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡to¡¡their¡¡effects¡£¡¡
A¡¡flutter¡¡of¡¡white¡¡muslin¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moonlit¡¡distance¡¡was¡¡all¡¡that¡¡was¡¡visible¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡retreating¡¡girl¡¡when¡¡I¡¡started¡¡mechanically£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡any¡¡particular¡¡
purpose¡¡in¡¡view£»¡¡in¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡path¡¡lay¡¡by¡¡the¡¡banyan¡¡tree¡¡under¡¡
which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡often¡¡¡¡¡¡sat£»¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡root¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡changed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡a¡¡
writhing¡¡¡¡¡¡serpent¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡threaded¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡stepped¡¡
from¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡trunk¡¡and¡¡disputed¡¡my¡¡passage¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡gigantic¡¡form¡¡was¡¡
silhouetted¡¡against¡¡the¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡forming¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡little¡¡cave¡£¡¡
The¡¡bright¡¡moonlight¡¡did¡¡what¡¡it¡¡could¡¡to¡¡illumine¡¡that¡¡sinister¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡
was¡¡Rama¡¡Ragobah£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡fully¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡minute¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡silently¡¡face¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡
each¡¡expecting¡¡the¡¡assault¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Ragobah¡¡who¡¡spoke¡¡first¡£¡¡
¡¨She¡¡is¡¡mine£»¡¡body¡¡and¡¡soul£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡English¡¡cur¡¡may¡¡find¡¡a¡¡mate¡¡in¡¡his¡¡
own¡¡kennel£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡bent¡¡toward¡¡me¡¡and¡¡hissed¡¡these¡¡words¡¡in¡¡my¡¡very¡¡face¡£¡¡
His¡¡hot¡¡breath¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡poison¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡made¡¡me¡¡beside¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡
he¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡take¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡his¡¡physical¡¡superiority¡¡and¡¡attack¡¡me£»¡¡by¡¡
the¡¡narrow¡¡watch¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡walking¡stick¡¡I¡¡still¡¡carried¡¡in¡¡
my¡¡right¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡expected¡¡I¡¡would¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡with¡¡this£»¡¡but¡¡
my¡¡constant¡¡practice¡¡at¡¡boxing¡¡had¡¡made¡¡my¡¡fists¡¡the¡¡more¡¡natural¡¡weapon¡£¡¡
I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡enraged¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡notice¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡close¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡use¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡stick¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
advantage¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡simply¡¡¡¡acted¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡whatever¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡attitude¡¡
was¡¡such£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡hissed¡¡his¡¡venom¡¡into¡¡my¡¡face£»¡¡as¡¡to¡¡enable¡¡me¡¡to¡¡give¡¡
him¡¡a¡¡powerful¡¡¡¨upper¡¡cut¡¨¡¡under¡¡the¡¡jaw¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡so¡¡much¡¡lighter¡¡
than¡¡he£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡effective¡¡blow¡¡I¡¡could¡¡deliver£»¡¡yet£»¡¡although¡¡it¡¡took¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡53¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡54¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Darrow¡¡Enigma¡¡
him¡¡off¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡disable¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡placing¡¡it¡¡
as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡intended£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡had¡¡only¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡rendering¡¡him¡¡demoniacal¡£¡¡
In¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡he¡¡was¡¡again¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡unsheathing¡¡a¡¡long¡¡knife¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
knew¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡meant¡¡¡¡¡¡death¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡able¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡close¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
useless¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡call¡¡for¡¡help£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days¡¡this¡¡part¡¡of¡¡Malabar¡¡Hill¡¡
was¡¡as¡¡deserted¡¡as¡¡a¡¡wilderness¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡the¡¡very¡¡spot¡¡on¡¡which¡¡we¡¡stood¡¡
is¡¡highly¡¡cultivated£»¡¡and¡¡forms¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Blasehek¡¡villa¡£¡¡
There£»¡¡early¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eighties£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡guest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hospitable¡¡Herr¡¡Blasehek£»¡¡
Professor¡¡Ernst¡¡Haeckel¡¡botanised¡¡a¡¡week£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Ceylon¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡
in¡¡¡¡¡¡response¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡cry¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡intended¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡victim£»¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡assassin¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡
frustrated¡¡by¡¡assistance¡¡from¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡bungalows£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡which¡¡
I¡¡write£»¡¡the¡¡victim£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡wise£»¡¡saved¡¡his¡¡breath¡¡for¡¡the¡¡struggle¡¡which¡¡
he¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡must¡¡make¡¡unaided¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ragobah¡¡paused£»¡¡and¡¡coolly¡¡bared¡¡his¡¡right¡¡arm¡¡to¡¡the¡¡elbow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡
was¡¡a¡¡studied¡¡deliberation¡¡in¡¡his¡¡movements£»¡¡which¡¡said¡¡only¡¡too¡¡plainly£º¡¡
¡¨There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡hurry¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡killing¡¡¡¡you£»¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡cannot¡¡¡¡¡¡escape¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡grasped¡¡¡¡my¡¡
stick¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡firmly¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡hope£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡awaited¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡onslaught¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡early¡¡
military¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡drill¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stood¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stead£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡owe¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡£¡¡
Without¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡knowledge¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡derived¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡use¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
broadsword£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡all¡¡but¡¡certain¡¡to¡¡have¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡
him¡¡a¡¡downward¡¡blow¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡just¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡expecting£»¡¡
and¡¡it¡¡would¡¡have¡¡cost¡¡me¡¡my¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡had¡¡only¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡up¡¡
his¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡arm¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡catch¡¡the¡¡¡¡blow£»¡¡¡¡while¡¡with¡¡his¡¡right¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡¡he¡¡plunged¡¡¡¡the¡¡
knife¡¡into¡¡my¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡experience¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡me¡¡how¡¡much¡¡easier¡¡it¡¡is¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡protect¡¡¡¡¡¡one's¡¡¡¡¡¡self¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡cutting¡¡¡¡¡¡blow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡thrust£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
determined¡¡to¡¡adopt¡¡this¡¡latter¡¡means¡¡of¡¡assault¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ragobah¡¡advanced¡¡upon¡¡
me¡¡slowly£»¡¡much¡¡as¡¡a¡¡cat¡¡steals¡¡upon¡¡an¡¡unsuspecting¡¡bird¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡raised¡¡my¡¡
stick¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡strike¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡instinctively¡¡¡¡threw¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡arm£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
advanced¡¡upon¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡opportunity¡¡had¡¡come£»¡¡I¡¡lowered¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡my¡¡
cane¡¡to¡¡the¡¡level¡¡of¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡vigorous¡¡lunge¡¡forward£»¡¡throwing¡¡
my¡¡whole¡¡weight¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡thrust¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡nearly¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡tell£»¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡
my¡¡stick¡¡caught¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡socket¡¡of¡¡the¡¡left¡¡eye£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡he¡¡sprang¡¡forward£»¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hurled¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡backward£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡blinded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stupefied¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
recovered¡¡sufficiently¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡himself£»¡¡I¡¡dealt¡¡him¡¡a¡¡blow¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡head¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡54¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡55¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Darrow¡¡Enigma¡¡
that¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡quickly¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡earth¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Without¡¡¡¡¡¡stopping¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡ascertain¡¡
whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡I¡¡had¡¡killed¡¡him£»¡¡I¡¡fled¡¡precipitately¡¡to¡¡my¡¡lodgings£»¡¡hastily¡¡
packed¡¡my¡¡belongings£»¡¡and¡¡set¡¡out¡¡for¡¡Matheron¡¡Station¡¡by¡¡the¡¡same¡¡train¡¡
I¡¡had¡¡so¡¡fondly¡¡believed¡¡would¡¡convey¡¡Lona¡¡and¡¡me¡¡to¡¡our¡¡nuptial¡¡altar¡£¡¡
Words¡¡cannot¡¡describe¡¡the¡¡suffering¡¡I¡¡endured¡¡upon¡¡that¡¡journey¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡
first¡¡time¡¡since¡¡my¡¡terrible¡¡desertion¡¡I¡¡had¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡think£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡
did¡¡think£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡pulse¡¡of¡¡an¡¡overwhelming¡¡pain£»¡¡perpetually¡¡recurring¡¡like¡¡
the¡¡beat¡¡of¡¡a¡¡loaded¡¡wheel£»¡¡can¡¡be¡¡called¡¡thought¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Although¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡
insanity¡¡in¡¡our¡¡family¡¡nearer¡¡than¡¡a¡¡great¡uncle£»¡¡I¡¡marvel¡¡that¡¡I¡¡retained¡¡my¡¡
wits¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡terrible¡¡¡¡¡¡blow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡seriously¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡contemplated¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡suicide£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
probably¡¡should¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡my¡¡life¡¡had¡¡not¡¡my¡¡mental¡¡condition¡¡gradually¡¡
undergone¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡change¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡longer¡¡¡¡¡¡conscious¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡suffering£»¡¡¡¡¡¡nor¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
desire¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡end¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡simply¡¡¡¡¡¡indifferent¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡
whether¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡lived¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡died¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡power¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡loving¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡caring¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡anything¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡
anybody¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡entirely¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡reflect¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡utterly¡¡
indifferent¡¡I¡¡was¡¡even¡¡to¡¡my¡¡own¡¡father¡¡and¡¡mother£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡regard¡¡myself¡¡
as¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡unnatural¡¡¡¡¡¡monster¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡tried¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡conceal¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡lack¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡affection¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
greater¡¡¡¡¡¡attention¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡wishes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡yielded£»¡¡
without¡¡¡¡¡¡remonstrance£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡views¡¡¡¡¡¡regarding¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡marriage£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
which£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while¡¡before£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡made¡¡such¡¡strenuous¡¡objections¡¡as¡¡to¡¡
quite¡¡¡¡¡¡enrage¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡child£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨as¡¡¡¡¡¡often¡¡¡¡¡¡happens¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
such¡¡cases£©¡¡my¡¡father¡¡never¡¡could¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡realise¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡many¡¡
years¡¡¡¡¡¡since¡¡¡¡¡¡attained¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡majority¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡wish£»¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡¡¡¡¡since¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
boyhood£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡marry¡¡your¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡made¡¡use£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡
nearly¡¡forty£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡selfsame¡¡insistent¡¡and¡¡coercive¡¡methods¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡
had¡¡¡¡¡¡sought¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡subdue¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡twenty£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
attained¡¡his¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡from¡¡friends¡¡in¡¡Bombay¡¡that¡¡not¡¡only¡¡had¡¡
Rama¡¡Ragobah¡¡recovered¡¡from¡¡the¡¡blows¡¡I¡¡had¡¡given¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡that£»¡¡shortly¡¡
after¡¡my¡¡encounter¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡married¡¡Lona£»¡¡she¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡had¡¡loved£»¡¡
God¡¡only¡¡¡¡knows¡¡how¡¡¡¡madly£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡all¡¡one¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡whether¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
married¡¡or¡¡single£»¡¡living¡¡or¡¡dead¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡arranged¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡myself¡¡told¡¡
the¡¡lady¡¡that£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡then¡¡understood¡¡my¡¡feelings£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡affection¡¡for¡¡
any¡¡¡¡¡¡person¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡earth£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡pique¡¡¡¡¡¡her