the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第27节
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his face； contorted with pain and fiendish malevolence； was horrible to
look upon。
〃Our trusty friend here；〃 he said； addressing his wife and pointing to
Kandia； 〃could not conveniently post your letter this morning； my dear； so
I did it myself。〃 Lona's face turned ashen pale； but she made no reply。
〃I thought；〃 he continued in his sweetest accents and with the same
demoniac sarcasm； 〃that you would be anxious to know if the Sahib
received it； … our mail service is so lax of late； … so I went tonight to
Malabar Hill to see； for I felt certain he would come if he got your note；
and； sure enough； he was there even ahead of time。 I was obliged to
forego the pleasure of bringing him to you on account of two most
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unfortunate accidents。 As you see I hurt my foot； and poor Darrow Sahib
slipped and fell headlong into the well in the little cave。 As it has no
bottom I could not； of course； get the Sahib out； and so was obliged to
return； as best I could； alone。〃 As he finished this heartless lie； every
word of which he knew was a poisoned dart； Lona fell fainting upon the
floor。 Kandia raised her gently； expecting to find her dead； but was able
at length to revive her。 The first words she said were directed to
Ragobah in a voice devoid of passion or reproach； … of everything in fact
save an unutterable weariness。
〃I am ill；〃 she said； 〃will you permit Nana to get me some medicine
which has helped me in similar attacks？〃 Ragobah's reply was directed
to Kandia。
〃You may do as the Sahibah bids you；〃 was all he said。
Kandia turned to Lona for instructions and she said to him； 〃Get me
half an ounce of … stay； there are several ingredients … I had better write
them down。〃 She wrote upon a little slip of paper； naming aloud the
ingredients and quantities as she did so； and then asked Kandia to move
her chair to an open window before he left。 When he had done so； she
passed him the note； saying； 〃Please get it as quickly as possible。〃 As he
took the paper she seized his hand for a moment and pressed it firmly。
He noticed this at the time； but its significance did not dawn upon him
until he had nearly reached his destination； when； all at once； he realised
with a pang that the momentary pressure of the hand and the mute
gratitude which shone from the eyes were meant as a farewell。 His first
impulse was to hurriedly retrace his steps； but before he had acted upon it；
the thought occurred to him that she intended to poison herself with the
drugs he was about to procure。 If this were the case； there was no great
need of hurry。 Then he began to recall to mind the names of the drugs
she had mentioned as she wrote and to reflect that not one of them was
poisonous。 With this new light all his former uneasiness returned。 He
strove to reassure himself with the thought that she might； in order to
mislead Ragobah； have spoken the name of a harmless drug while she
wrote down that of a poisonous one。 It was easy to settle this question； and
he determined to do so at the next light。 He unfolded the paper；
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expecting to see a prescription； but read instead these words：
〃To MORO SCINDIA；
〃My Dear Cousin： Death has relieved you of the task I imposed upon
you。 John Darrow's body is in the well in the cave on Malabar Hill；
where； before this reaches you； my body will have also gone to meet it。
To this fragment of paper； then； must I confide the debt of gratitude I owe
to you and to him who will bear it to you； Nana Kandia。 Good…bye。 If I
had had two hearts； I should have given you one。 Do not mourn me； but
rather rejoice that my struggle and its agony are over。 John has already
gone … one tomb shall inclose both our bodies … how could it have been
better？ 〃LONA。〃
No sooner had Kandia grasped the import of this letter than he rushed
with all speed to Malabar Hill； but he was too late； for scarcely had he left
the house upon Lona's errand before she had sprung out of the window by
which he had placed her。 Ragobah's wound prevented his following her；
and when he had summoned others to pursue her； the darkness had closed
about her form and none knew the way she had taken。 At the edge of the
fatal well Kandia found a piece of paper beneath a stone and on it these
words：
〃Farewell； Moro and Nana； the only beings on earth I regret to leave！
… Lona。〃
The body was never recovered。 The news of his wife's death； and the
knowledge that he was the cause of it； produced an effect upon Ragobah
from which he never recovered。 More than twenty years have passed
since then； yet from that day to this he has never been known to smile。
Long before his mangled limb had healed it became evident to all who
knew him that he had henceforth but one purpose in life； … revenge； and
that nothing save death could turn him from his purpose； so long as his
rival lived。 The knowledge of this made my search for Darrow Sahib
more than ever difficult from the fact that it must be prosecuted secretly。
I could only learn that he had left Bombay for the interior； nothing more。
My inquiries in all the Indian cities proved fruitless； and in many instances；
I was informed that Ragobah had instituted a search for the same man。 I
think； in spite of my precautions； some of my agents ultimately told
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Ragobah of my efforts； for I found myself so closely watched by men in
his interests that I was at length compelled to give up the personal conduct
of the search； and to continue it through a deputy； unknown to him。 All
my endeavours to find the Sahib were； as you are already aware； fruitless；
and； until I met you； I had no doubt Ragobah's efforts were equally
unproductive。 You have now all the information I can offer upon the
subject。 If I can be of any further service to you； you need not hesitate to
command me。
As he said this he rose to depart and I promised to keep him informed
of what occurred。 I have nothing now to do but to await； with such
patience as I can command； the arrival of the Dalmatia。 It does not seem to
me altogether probable that Ragobah will return upon this boat； but if he
should I shall have him arrested the moment he sets foot on shore。 If he
escape the net that has been woven about him； I shall be a convert to
Eastern occultism and no mistake。 I trust Miss Darrow is well and
hopeful。 I know she will religiously keep the promise she made； for she
is one of those women who fully understand the nature of a covenant； and
I am easier； therefore； than I otherwise could be regarding her condition。
Give her my kind regards and tell her that she may expect news of
importance by my next communication。 It is very late； so good…bye； until
the arrival of the Dalmatia。 Your friend；GEORGE MAITLAND。
This letter was delivered one morning when Gwen； my sister Alice；
and I were at breakfast。 As I broke the seal I noticed that both ladies put
down their knives and forks and ceased to eat。 A glance at Gwen's eager
face convinced me that she had no appetite for anything but my letter； and
I accordingly read it aloud。 When I came to the last part of it； where
Maitland referred to her； a flush； of pride I thought at the time； overspread
her face； and when I had finished she said with some show of excitement；
〃If Mr。 Maitland succeed in bringing Ragobah to justice I … I shall owe him
a debt of gratitude I can never repay！
