the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第20节
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that demon crushed out the life of my fragile lotus…flower。 He will work
his will upon me； but if his cunning enable him to escape the gallows； my
soul； if there be a conscious hereafter； will never rest in peace。
Remember this； my dear child； and your promise； that God may bless you
even as I bless you。
It was some time after Gwen had finished this interesting document
before any of us spoke。 The narrative； and the peculiar circumstances
under which it had been read； deeply impressed us。 At length Maitland
said in a subdued voice； as if he feared to break some spell：
〃The Indian girl's letter； let us find that； and also the will。〃
Gwen went to the drawer in which her father kept his private papers；
and soon produced them both。 Maitland glanced hastily at the letter； and
said： 〃You have already heard its contents〃； then turning to Gwen； he said：
〃I will keep it with your permission。 Now for the will。〃 It was handed
to him； and his face fell as he read it。 In a moment he turned to us； and
said： 〃The interest on the insurance money is to go to Miss Darrow； the
entire principal to be held in trust and paid to the person bringing the
assassin to justice； unless said person shall wed Miss Darrow； in which
case half of the fund shall go to the husband； and the other half to the wife
in her own right。 The balance of the estate； which； by the way； is
considerable； despite the reports given to Osborne； is to go to Miss Darrow。
This is all the will contains having any bearing upon the case in hand。 Let
us proceed with the rest of the papers。〃 We made a long and diligent
search； but nothing of importance came to light。 When we had finished
Maitland said：
〃Our friend Osborne would say the document we have just perused
made strongly for his theory； and was simply another fabrication to blind
the eyes of the insurance company。 That's what comes of wedding one's
self to a theory founded on imperfect data。〃
〃And what do you think？〃 Gwen inquired。
〃That Rama Ragobah has small hands and feet；〃 he replied。 〃That his
left foot has met with an injury； and is probably deformed； that most likely
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he is lame in the left leg； that he had the motive for which we have been
looking； that he may or may not have the habit of biting his nails； that he
is crafty； and that if he were to do murder it is almost certain his methods
would be novel and surprising； as well as extremely difficult to fathom … in
short； that suspicion points unmistakably to Rama Ragobah。 That is
easily said； but to bring the deed home to him is quite another thing。 I
shall analyse the poison of the wound and microscopically examine the
nature of the abrasion this afternoon。 To…night I take the midnight train
for New York。 To…morrow I shall sail for Bombay； via London and the
Continent。 I will keep you informed of my address。 While I am away I
would ask that you close the house here； leaving everything just as it is
now dismiss the servants； and take up your abode with the Doctor and his
sister。〃 He rose to go as he said this； and then continued； as he turned to
me： 〃I shall depend upon you to look after Miss Darrow's immediate
interests in my absence。〃 I knew this meant that I was to guard her
health； not permitting her to be much by herself； and I readily acquiesced。
The look of amazement which had at first overspread Gwen's face at
the mention of this precipitate departure gave place to one of modest
concern； as she said softly to Maitland： 〃Is it necessary that you should
encounter the dangers of such a journey； to say nothing； of the time and
inconvenience it will cost？〃 He looked down at her quickly； and then
said reassuringly： 〃Do you know one is； by actual statistics； safer in an
English railway carriage than when walking the crowded streets of
London？ I am daily subjecting myself to laboratory dangers which； I
believe； are graver than any I am likely to meet between here and Bombay；
or； for that matter； even at Bombay in the presence of our recent
acquaintance Ragobah。〃
〃I deeply appreciate；〃 she replied； 〃the generous sacrifice you would
make in my interests … hut Bombay is such a long way … and 〃
〃If suspicion directed me to the North Pole；〃 he interrupted； 〃I should
start with equal alacrity；〃 and he held out his hand to her to bid her
farewell。 She took it in a way that bespoke a world of gratitude； if
nothing more。 He retained the small hand； while he said： 〃Have you
forgotten； my friend； your promise to your father？ Do you not see in what
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terrible relations it may place you？ How important； then； that no effort
should be spared to prevent you from becoming indebted to one unmanly
enough to take advantage of your position。 I shall use every means
within my power to myself discover your father's murderer； and you may
comfort yourself with the assurance that； if successful； I shall make no
demand of any kind whatsoever upon your gratitude。 I think you
understand me。〃
As he said this Gwen looked him full in the face。 A little nervous
tremor seized the corners of her mouth； and the tears sprang to her eyes。
〃Good…bye〃 was all she could say before she was compelled to turn aside
to conceal her emotion。
Maitland； observing her agitation； said to her tenderly： 〃Your gratitude
for the little that I have already done is reward； more than ample； for all I
shall ever be able to do。 Good…bye；〃 and he left the room。
Oh； man with your microscope！ How is it that you find the smallest
speck of dust； yet miss the mountain？ Does the time seem too short？ It
would not if you realised that events； not clocks； were the real measure
thereof。
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THE EPISODE OF RAMA
RAGOBAH
CHAPTER I
Life is but a poor accountant when it leaves the Future to
balance its entries long years after the parties to the transactions are
but a handful of insolvent dust。 When； in such wise； the chiefest
item of one side of the sheet fails to explain itself to the other； the
tragic is attained。
On the day following Maitland's departure On for New York； Mr。
Darrow was buried。 The Osborne theory seemed to be universally
accepted； and many women who had never seen Mr。 Darrow during his
life attended his funeral； curious to see what sort of a person this suicide
might be。 Gwen bore the ordeal with a fortitude which spoke volumes
for her strength of character； and I took good care； when it was all over；
that she should not be left alone。 In compliance with Maitland's request；
whose will； since her promise to him； was law to her； she prepared to close
the house and take up her abode with us。
It was on the night of the funeral； just after the lamps were lighted； that
an event occurred which made a deep impression upon Gwen； though
neither she nor I fully appreciated its significance till weeks afterward。
Gwen； who was to close the house on the morrow； was going from
room to room collecting such little things as she wished to take with her。
The servants had been dismissed and she was entirely alone in the house。
She had gathered the things she had collected in a little heap upon the
sitting…room table； preparatory to doing them up。 She could think of but
one thing more which
