the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第29节
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professional call； and when I returned home she met me with it at the door
with an expression of relief upon her countenance so plain as not to be
misconstrued。 We went into the sitting…room； where my sister was
awaiting the news； and I read as follows：
MY DEAR DOCTOR：
I kept my appointment last night with Rama Ragobah and； although
nothing transpired at all likely to assist me in locating Mr。 Darrow's
assassin； yet the interview； though short； was interesting and worth
narrating。 Promptly at nine o'clock I was at my post by the little cave。 I
am still staying with Herr Blaschek and； as I had but a few rods to travel； I
did not quit the house until within five minutes of the time appointed for
our meeting。 As I stepped out into the darkness I noticed a tall form glide
behind a tree； about a rod away from the door。 I could not be sure it was
Ragobah； yet I had little doubt of it。 I was a trifle taken aback at the
moment； and instinctively placed my hand upon my revolver and grasped
my cane more firmly。 Should occasion require it； I counted upon this
cane quite as much as upon my revolver； for； innocent and inoffensive as it
looked； it was capable of most deadly execution。 I had chosen it in
preference to many other more pretentious weapons which had suggested
themselves to me。 It consisted of a small； flexible steel wire hardly
bigger than the blade of a foil； surmounted by a good…sized lead ball； and
the whole covered with a closely woven fabric。 By grasping the cane by
its lower end a tremendously heavy blow could be struck with the ball； and；
if an attempt were made to shield the head by throwing up the arm； it was
almost certain to fail of its object since the flexibility of the wire permitted
it to bend about an obstruction until its loaded end was brought home。
You will perhaps think that； since I did not make use of this weapon； I
need not have troubled myself to describe it。 Perhaps that is so； but； let
me assure you； when I saw Ragobah； for it was he； glide behind that tree；
and reflected how capable he was of every kind of treachery； I wouldn't
have parted with that cane for its weight in gold。 The Indian had pledged
me to come alone and had promised to do likewise； but I felt any tree
might conceal one of his minions； hired to assassinate me while he
engaged my attention。 All this； of course； did not in the least affect my
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decision。 I had promised to go alone； and Miss Darrow's interests
required … that I should keep my covenant。 I should have done so； even
though I had known Ragobah meant to betray me。 I may as well；
however； tell you at once that my suspicions wronged the fellow。 He had
evidently taken his station behind a tree to satisfy himself； without
exposure； that I meant to keep my promise and come alone。
When I reached the cave I found him awaiting me。 How he was able
to get there before me passes my comprehension； but there he was。 He did
not waste time； but addressed me at once； and； as my memory is excellent
and our interview was short； I am able to give you an accurate report of
what passed between us。 I copy it here just as I entered it in my
notebook； immediately upon my return to the house。
〃You naturally wish to know；〃 Ragobah began； 〃why I have sought this
interview。 That is easily explained。 You have done me the honour；
Sahib； for I feel it is such； to suspect me of the murder of John Darrow。
You have come here from America to fasten the crime upon me； and； from
the bottom of my heart； I regret your failure to do so。 I would give
everything I possess on earth； and would gladly suffer a life of torment； to
be able truthfully to say： 'I； Rama Ragobah； killed John Darrow。' But
despite all my efforts； I； wretch that I am； am innocent！ For more than
twenty years I have had but one purpose； … one thought； … and that was to
track down and slay John Darrow。 This desire consumed me。 It led me
all over India in vain search for him。 For nineteen years… I laboured
incessantly； without discovering so much as a trace of him。 When he
fled Bombay his belongings went inland； so I was told。 I believed the
story and felt sure I should one day find him on Indian soil。 Years passed
and I did not find him。 It was but a few months ago that I discovered
his ruse and learned his whereabouts。 I could scarcely contain myself for
joy。 My life…work was at last to be completed。 Nothing now remained
but to plan his destruction。 This； however； was not so easy a thing to do；
since； in order to make my revenge complete； I must disclose my identity
before killing him。 At length I decided upon a plan。 I would come
upon him at night； when asleep； gag him and bind him to his bed。 Then
he should learn the name of his doomsman； and the horrible nature of the
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death that awaited him。〃
Ragobah paused here as if overcome by his disappointment； and I said；
〃And how did you intend to kill him？〃 He gave a throaty chuckle； as he
replied： 〃It was all so very pretty！ I had only to saturate the bedclothes
with oil and set fire to them。 I should have lighted them at his feet and
watched the flames creep upward toward his head till safety compelled my
retreat。 It was for this purpose I went to New York。 You already know
the fatal delay I incurred。 When I landed I made all haste to the home of
Darrow Sahib； in Dorchester； only to learn that he had killed himself a few
days before my arrival。 The morsel for which I had striven and hungered
for twenty long years was whipped from my hand； even as I raised it to my
mouth。 My enemy was dead； beyond the power of injury； and my hands
were unstained by his blood。
〃I then determined to kill his daughter。 It was the night of my
enemy's burial。 The Sahibah was alone in the house and was intending to
leave it that night。 I knew she would see that everything was securely
fastened before she went away； and so； when I opened one of the windows；
I was sure she would come to close it。 Crouching down outside I awaited
her approach； intending to spring up and stab her while she was pulling the
window down。 Everything happened as I planned … what ails the Sahib？
I did not kill her！ No； at the last moment something … never mind what …
stayed my arm！ The death of an innocent girl did not promise me any
lasting satisfaction and I gave up the idea； returned to New York； and re…
embarked for Bombay as innocent in act as when I left it。 My life had
been a failure and I had no desire to prolong it。 When you arrested me
on the charge of murder； nothing would have given me greater pleasure
than to have been able to plead guilty。
〃You already know why I so hated Darrow。 He robbed me of the
only woman I ever loved。 Maddened by jealousy； I told her I had thrown
him into the well in the cave here。 It was a lie； but she believed it； and
fled from me； and in a few minutes had thrown herself into that bottomless
hole。 See； Sahib；〃 he said； entering the cave and pointing down the dark
shaft； … 〃that is the road she took in order that her bones might rest with his；
and； after all； they are thousands of miles apart。 It's not the triumph I
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planned； but it's all I have！ And this is why I brought you here； that you
may take back to my enemy's f
