the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第41节
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least interested in her movements。 She walked leisurely along； stopping
now occasionally to gaze at the shop windows and never once turning to
look back。 She did not even conceal the letter； but held it in her hand
with her porte…monnaie； and I could see that the address was uppermost。
A strange sensation came over me as I dogged her steps。 I felt as an
assassin must feel who tracks his victim into some lonely spot where he
may dare to strike him。 It was useless for me to tell myself that I was
on the side of justice and engaged in an honourable errand。 A single
glance at the girl's delicate face； as frank and open as the morning light；
brought the hot blush of shame to my cheek。 In following her I dimly
felt that； in some way； I was seeking to associate her with evil； which
seemed little less than sacrilege。 I could do nothing； however； but keep
on； so I followed her through Devonshire Street； to New Washington and
thence down Hanover Street almost to the ferry。 Here she turned into an
alleyway and； waiting for Maitland to come up； we both saw her enter a
house at its farther end。
George glanced hastily up at the house and then said； as he seized me
impatiently by the arm： 〃It's a tenement house； come on； the chase is not
up yet； we； too； must go in！〃
So in we went。 The young lady had disappeared； but as we entered
we heard a door close on the floor above； and felt sure we knew where she
had gone。 We mounted the stairs as noiselessly as possible and listened
in the hall。 We could distinguish a woman's voice and occasionally that
of a man； but we could not hear what passed between them。 On our
right there was a door partly ajar。 Maitland pushed it open； and looked in。
The room was empty and unfurnished； with the exception of a dilapidated
stove which stood against the partition separating this room from the one
the young lady had entered。 Maitland beckoned to me and I followed
him into the room。 There was a key on the inside of the door which he
noiselessly turned in the lock。 He then began to investigate the premises。
Three other rooms communicated with the one of which we had taken
possession； forming； evidently； a suite which had been let for
housekeeping。 Everything was in ill…repair； as is the case with most of
the cheap tenements in this locality。 The previous tenant had not thought
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it necessary to clean the apartments when quitting them； … for altruism
does not flourish at the North End； … but had been content to leave all the
dirt for the next occupant。
When we had finished reconnoitering we returned to the room we first
entered； which apparently was the kitchen。 We could still hear the voices；
but not distinctly。 〃Do you stay here； Doc；〃 whispered Maitland； 〃while I
get into some old clothes and hunt up the landlord of this place。 I'm
going to rent these rooms long enough to acquaint myself with my
neighbours on the other side of the wall。 I'll be back soon。 Don't let any
man leave that room without your knowing where he goes。〃 With this he
left me and I soon found a way to busy myself in his absence。 In the wall
above the stove； where the pipe passed through the partition into our
neighbour's apartment； there was a chink large enough to permit me； when
mounted upon the stove； to overlook the greater part of the adjacent room。
I availed myself of this privilege； though not without those same twinges
of conscience which I had felt some minutes before when following the
young lady。 The apartment was poorly furnished； and yet； despite this
scantiness of appointment； there was unmistakable evidence of refinement。
Everything visible in the room was scrupulously neat and the few pictures
that adorned the walls； while they were inexpensive half…tones； were yet
reproductions of masterpieces。 In the centre of the room stood a small；
deal table； on the opposite side of which sat the man who had answered
my letter。
At one end of the table； poised upon the back of a chair； sat a small
Capucin monkey of the Weeper or Sai species。 He watched the man with
that sober； judicial air which is by no means confined exclusively to
supreme benches。 I； too； observed the man carefully。 He was tall and
spare。 He must have measured nearly six feet in height and could not； I
think； have weighed over one hundred and fifty pounds。 His face was
pinched and careworn； but this effect was more than redeemed by a pair of
full； black eyes having a depth and penetration I have never seen equalled；
albeit there was； ever and anon； a suggestion of wildness which somewhat
marred their deep； contemplative beauty。 The brows and the carriage of
the head at once bespoke the scholar。 While thus I watched him； the
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young girl came from a corner of the room I could not overlook and laid
my letter before him。 She stood behind his chair as he opened it；
smoothing his hair caressingly and； every now and then； kissing him
gently。 He paused with the open letter before him； reached up both arms；
drew her down to him； kissed her passionately； sighed； and picked up the
letter again。 I took pains that no act； word； or look should escape me。
This show of affection surprised me； and I remember the thought flashed
through my mind； 〃What inconsistent beings we all are！ Here is a man
apparently capable of a causeless and cold…blooded assassination of a
harmless old man。 You would say such a murderer must be hopelessly
selfish and brutal； amenable to none of the better sentiments of mankind；
and yet it needs but a casual glance to see how his whole life is bound up
in the young girl before him。〃
While this was passing through my mind the man had glanced through
my letter and thrown it upon the table with an exclamation of disgust。
〃Bah！ he has had the effrontery；〃 he said petulantly； 〃to send me what he
calls a new mode of treatment and it is in every essential that of Broadbent；
well known for more than a quarter of a century。 New indeed！ I shall
never find a doctor who has any scientific acumen。 I may as well
abandon the search now。 Mon Dieu！ and they call medicine a science！
Bah！〃 and with a frown he dropped his head despondently upon his hand。
The young girl passed her hand gently； soothingly； over his forehead and
did not speak for nearly a minute。
〃You are not feeling well to…night； father；〃 she said at length。 〃M。
Godin has been here during my absence。〃
〃M。 Godin！〃 I exclaimed half aloud； catching at the stovepipe lest I
should fall from the stove。 〃So our rival is hot upon the scent； … probably
even ahead of us。 How on earth … 〃 But I did not finish the exclamation。
My seizure of the pipe upon my side of the partition had produced an
audible vibration of that portion extending over the heads of my
neighbours。 The young girl's quick ear had detected the sound and she
had ceased speaking and fastened her eyes suspiciously upon the aperture
through which I was gazing。 It seemed to me as if she must see me； yet I
dared not move。 After a little she seemed reassured and continued： 〃I
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knew he had been here。 You are always this way after his visits。 Why；
of late； does he always come when I am away？〃 The question seemed
innocent enough； yet the man to whom it was addressed turned crimson
and then as pale as ashes。 When he spoke the effor
