the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第30节
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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 family the knowledge that in death I am
triumphant。 Tell them；〃 he said； rising to his full height； 〃that while the
carcass of the English cur rots in a foreign land； Rama Ragobah's bones lie
mingled with those of his beautiful Lona！〃 … My blood was up； and I
rushed fiercely at him。 With the quickness of a cat he dodged me； spat
in my face as I turned； and； with a horrible laugh； sprang headlong into the
well。 Down deeper and deeper sank the laugh … then it died away … then a
faint plash … and all was silent。 Rama Ragobah was gone！ For fully
ten minutes I stood dazed and irresolute and then returned mechanically to
the house。 I at first thought of informing the authorities of the whole affair；
but； when I realised how hard it would be for me to prove my innocence
were I charged with Ragobah's murder； I decided to keep the secret of the
well。
I shudder when I think of Miss Darrow's narrow escape。 Did you
suspect who her assailant really was？ I wonder you have written me
nothing about it； but suppose you thought it would only needlessly alarm
me。 If you had known it was our friend Ragobah； you would doubtless
have felt it imperative that I should know of it； … so I conclude from your
silence that you did not discover his identity。
I need not； of course； tell you； my dear Doctor； that we have reached
the end of our Indian clue； and that I deem it wise； all things considered；
for me to get out of India just as soon as possible。 If this letter is in any
way delayed； you need not be surprised if I have the pleasure of relating
its contents in person。 Remember me to Miss Darrow and tell her how
sorry I am that； thus far； I have been unable to be of any real service to her。
As I shall see you so soon I need write nothing further。 Kind regards to
Miss Alice。 Ever yours；GEORGE MAITLAND。
When I had finished reading this letter I looked up at Gwen； expecting
to see that its news had depressed her。 I must confess； however； that I
could not detect any such effect。 On the contrary； she seemed to be in
much better spirits than when I began reading。 〃According to this letter；
then；〃 she said； addressing me somewhat excitedly； 〃we may … 〃 but she let
fall her eyes and did not complete her sentence。 My sister bestowed
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upon her one of those glances described in the vernacular of woman as
〃knowing〃 and then said to me： 〃We may expect Mr。 Maitland at any time；
it seems。〃 〃Yes；〃 I replied； 〃he will lose no time in getting here。 He
undoubtedly feels much chagrined at his failure and will now be more than
ever determined to see the affair through to a successful conclusion。 He
is in the position of a hound that has lost its scent； and is eager to return to
its point of departure for a fresh start。 I fancy it will be no easy task to
discover a new clue； and I shall watch Maitland's work in this direction
with a great deal of curiosity。〃 Gwen did not speak； but she listened to our
conversation with a nearer approach to a healthy interest than I had known
her to display on any other occasion since her father's death。 I regarded
this as a good omen。 Her condition； since that sad occurrence； had
worried me a good deal。 She seemed to have lost her hold on life and to
exist in a state of wearied listlessness。 Nothing seemed to impress her
and she would at times forget； in the midst of a sentence； what she had
intended to say when she began it！ Her elasticity was gone and every
effort a visible burden to her。 I knew the consciousness of her loss was
as a dull； heavy weight bearing her down； and I knew； too； that she could
not marshal her will to resist it； … that； in fact； she really didn't care； so
tired was she of it all。 Experience had taught me how the dull； heavy
ache of a great loss will press upon the consciousness with the regular；
persistent； relentless throb of a loaded wheel and eat out one's life with the
slow certainty of a cancer。 This I knew to have been Gwen's state since
her father's death； and all my attempts to bring about a healthful reaction
had hitherto been futile。 It is not to be wondered at； therefore； that even
the transient interest she had evinced was hailed by me with delight as the
beginning of that healthful reaction for which I had so long sought。
When a human bark in the full tide of life is suddenly dashed upon the
rocks of despair the wreckage is strewn far and wide； and it is with no
little difficulty that enough can be rescued to serve in the rebuilding of
even the smallest of craft。 The thought； therefore； that Gwen's
intellectual flotsam was beginning at length to swirl about a definite object
in a way to facilitate the rescue of her faculties was to me a decidedly
reassuring one； and I noted with pleasure that the state of excited
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expectancy which she had tried in vain to conceal did not wane； but waxed
stronger as the days went by。
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THE EPISODE OF THE
PARALLEL READERS
CHAPTER I
The events of the present are all strung upon the thread of the
past； and in telling over this chronological rosary； it not infrequently
happens that strange； unlike beads follow each other between our
questioning fingers。
It was nearly a week after his letter before Maitland arrived。 He sent
us no further word； but walked in one evening as we were talking about
him。 He came upon us so suddenly that we were all taken aback and；
for a moment； I felt somewhat alarmed about Gwen。 She had started up
quickly when the servant had mentioned Maitland's name and pressed her
hand convulsively upon her heart； while her face and neck became of a
deep crimson colour。 I was saying to myself that this was a common
effect of sudden surprise； when I saw her clutch quickly at the back of her
chair； as if to steady herself。 A moment later she sank into her seat。 Her
face was now as pale as ashes； and I felt I had good reason to be alarmed。
I think she was conscious of my scrutiny； for she turned her face from me
and remained motionless。 The movement told me she was trying to
regain command of her faculties and I forbore to interfere in the struggle；
though I watched her with some solicitude。=20 My fears were at once
dispelled； however； when Maitland entered； for Gwen was the first to
welcome him。 She extended her hand with much of her old
impulsiveness； saying： 〃I have so much for which to thank you … 〃 but
Maitland interrupted her。 〃Indeed； I regret to say；〃 he rejoined； 〃that I
have been unable thus far to be of any real service to you。 The Ragobah
clue was a miserable failure； though we may do ourselves the justice to
admit that we had no alternative but to follow it to the end。 I confess I
have never been more disappointed than in the outcome of this affair。？〃
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〃My dear fellow；〃 I said； 〃we all have much to be thankful for in your safe
return； let us not forget that。〃 Maitland laughed： 〃That reminds me；〃 he
said； 〃of the man who passed the hat at a coloured camp…meeting。 When
asked how much he had col
