the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第26节
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must！' With this he strode frantically from the room； leaving me more
dead than alive。 As he disclosed his fiendish secret something about my
heart kept tightening with every word till； at length； it seemed as if it must
burst； so terrible was the pressure。 I could not breathe。 My lungs
seemed filled with molten lead。 How long this agony continued I do not
know； for the thread of consciousness broke under its terrible tension and I
fell senseless upon the floor。
〃When I recovered from my swoon the inexpressible horror of my
situation again descended upon my spirit like a snuffer upon a candle。 I
was Ragobah's wife； his slave； his tool； as powerless to resist his will as if
I were one of his limbs。 All was now clear。 The long sleep； crowded with
unremembered dreams； represented the period when I was under
Ragobah's control； … the horrible night on Malabar Hill being one of them；
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… and the waking moments； those periods when my feeble； overridden
consciousness flickered back to dimly light for a time the gloom of this
intellectual night。 There was no hope for me。 Already had I been so
dominated by his will and inspired by his malice as to attempt the life of
my lover。 What might I not be made to do in future？ As I thought of
this； Ragobah's last threat rang with a sinister warning upon my ears till it
seemed as if it would drive me into madness。 The suspicion grew to be a
certainty from which there was but one means of escape … death … and I
determined at once to embrace it before I could be made the instrument for
the infliction of further injury upon my lover。 I seized a little dagger
which in my normal moments I always kept concealed about me； and was
about to plunge it into my bosom when I was smitten by the thought； … and
it cut me as the steel could not have done； … that Darrow Sahib would
never know the truth； and that his love for me would be forever buried
beneath a mass of black misgivings。 The certainty of this conviction
paralysed my will； and my arm dropped nervelessly at my side。 It would
be a simple matter； I thought； to find some way of confiding my story to
you and pledging you to explain everything to Darrow Sahib； after which I
could die in peace； if not without regret。 But it was not so easy to
communicate with you as I had expected。 Days passed before I had a
chance to make the attempt； and the only result of it was to show me how
closely I was watched。 If Ragobah were absent； there was always
someone in his employ who made it his business to acquaint himself with
my every movement。 I dare not take the time to tell you how I succeeded
in obtaining this interview further than to say that I was able to win to my
cause the man who bore my message to you … a servant in whom Ragobah
has the utmost confidence。 When my husband departed this morning
Kandia was left in charge of me； and so your visit was made possible。
〃You are now acquainted with the trust I would impose upon you：
swear to me； Moro； that you will make this explanation for me to John
Darrow and to no other human being！ Swear it by the love you once said
you bore me！〃 She sank back exhausted and awaited my response。 For a
moment I dared not trust myself to speak； yet something must be said。
As I noted her impatience I replied： 〃Lona； you have lifted a great weight
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from my heart and placed a lesser one upon it。 Forgive me that I have ever
doubted you。 Even as you have been true to yourself； I swear by the love
I still bear you to deliver your message to Darrow Sahib and to no other
human being。 I shall commit your words at once to writing that nothing
may be lost through the failure of my memory。〃
She reached her hand out feebly to me； and never shall I forget the
look of gratitude which accompanied its tremulous pressure as she
murmured： 〃After John； Moro； you are dearest。 I shall not try to thank
you。 May the ineffable peace which you bring my aching heart return a
thousand…fold into your own。 Farewell。 Ragobah may return at any
moment。 Let us not needlessly imperil your safety。 Once more good…
bye。 The dew…drop now may freely fall into the shining sea。〃 Poor
distraught child！ She had tried to adopt her lover's religion without
abandoning her own。 I bent over and kissed her。 It was my first and last
kiss and she gave it with a sweet sadness； the memory of which； through
all these years； has dwelt in the better part of me； like a fragrance in the
vesture of the soul。 One long； lingering look and I departed； never to see
again this woman I had so fondly； so hopelessly loved。
You now know the exact nature of the covenant I have felt constrained
to violate。 I have told you her story in her own words。 I wrote it out
immediately after my interview with her and have read it so many times；
during the last twenty years； that I have committed it to memory。 The
recollection of that last meeting； of her kiss and her grateful look has been
throughout all these long； weary years the one verdant spot in the desert of
my life。
＇Moro Scindia paused here； as one who had reached the end of his
narrative； and I continued my interrogations。＇
Q。 Although you never again saw your cousin you must； I think； have
heard something of her fate。
A I learned of it through Nana Kandia； the servant who had secretly
embraced Lona's cause； and who had borne her message to me。 It seems
that； after my interview with her； my cousin was seized with a consuming
desire to see her English lover once more before her death； so she devised
a plan by which； with Kandia's help； Darrow Sahib was to be secretly
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conducted to her under cover of night。 She wrote a letter asking him； as
a last request； to meet her messenger on Malabar Hill； and instructing him
how to make himself known。 This she gave to Kandia to post early in the
morning of the day upon which their plan was to be put into execution。
As he was about leaving the house Ragobah called him into his chamber
and demanded to know what was taking him forth so early in the morning。
Kandia saw at once that the purpose of his errand had been discovered；
and determined to meet the issue bravely。 〃I was going to post a letter；
Sahib；〃 he replied quietly。 〃Let me see it！〃 Ragobah roared。 〃I have no
right to do so；〃 Kandia replied； springing toward the door。 But be was not
quick enough for the wary Ragobah； who felled him to the floor with a
chair before he had reached the threshold。 When he returned to
consciousness he found his assailant； who had skilfully opened the letter；
standing over him perusing it in malicious glee。 When he had finished
reading he carefully resealed it and placed it in his pocket。 Then he
called two of his servants and gave Kandia into their charge with orders to
gag him； to bind him hand and foot； and； as they valued their lives； not to
permit him to leave the room till he ordered it。
What occurred between that time and the return of Ragobah； wounded
and furious； late in the evening； we can only surmise。 He doubtless
posted the letter； and went himself to meet Darrow Sahib on Malabar Hill。
When he returned home he hobbled into his wife's apartment and then
ordered Kandia to be sent to him。 His left leg was badly crushed and
his face； contorted with pain and fiendish malevolence； was horrible to
look upon。
〃Our trusty friend here；〃 he
