the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第44节
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reply； but quietly led me into his camera obscura that I might see for
myself。 She was sitting at the table in the centre of the room； with her
face buried in her hands。 I watched her for a long time； and the only
movement I could discern was that occasioned ever and anon by a
convulsive catching of her breath。 The pet monkey was nowhere to be
seen。 〃They took her father away early this morning；〃 Maitland said；
〃and； after the first shock； she sank into this condition。 She has not
moved since。 When I see the despair her father's arrest has occasioned I
am almost tempted to rejoice that I had no hand in it； and yet … well； there's
no great harm without some small good … no one will say now that John
Darrow took his own life； eh？ What do you think our friends； Osborne
and Allen； will say now？ They were so sure their theory was the only
tenable one。 Ah； well！ we should ever hold ourselves in readiness=20
for surprises。〃
〃And for emergencies too；〃 I continued； 〃and this strikes me as being
very like one。 That young woman needs attention； if I am any judge of
appearances； and I'm going in there。〃 〃No use； Doc；〃 Maitland replied；
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〃the door is locked； and she either cannot or will not open it。 I knocked
there for an hour； hoping to be able to comfort her。 It's no use for you to
try； she won't open the door。〃 〃Won't； eh！ then I'll go through it！〃 I
exclaimed； in a tone that so amazed Maitland that he seized me by the
shoulders and gazed fixedly into my face。 〃It's all right； George；〃 I said；
answering his look。 〃I'm going in there； and I'm not going to be at all
delicate about my entrance either。〃
He looked at me a little doubtfully； but I could see that； on the whole；
he was pleased with my decision。 I went into the hall and knocked
loudly on the door。 There was no response。 I kicked it till I must have
been heard all over the house； but still there was no response。 It was now
clear I should not enter by invitation； so I went up four or five stairs of the
flight opposite the door and from that position sprang against it。 I am not；
if you remember； a heavy man； but momentum is MV and I made up in the
'V' what I lacked in the 'M。' The door opened inwardly； and I tore it from
its hinges and precipitated both myself and it into the centre of the
apartment。 As I look back upon this incident I regard it as the most
precipitous thing I ever did in the way of a professional visit。 If the
young lady started at all； she did so before I had gathered myself together
sufficiently to notice it。 I spoke to her； but she gave no evidence of
hearing me。 I raised her head。 Her eyes were wide open and stared full
at me； yet in such a blank way that I knew she did not hear me。 The
contraction of the brows； the knotted appearance of the forehead； and the
rigor of the face told me she was under an all…but…breaking tension。
There were tear…stains from tears which long since had ceased to flow。
The fire of fever had dried them up。 I regarded her case as far more
desperate than Gwen's and determined to lose no time in taking charge of
it。 It seemed to me so like sacrilege to touch her without an explanation
that； though I knew she could not understand me； I said to her； as I took
her in my arms。 〃You are ill； and I must take you away from here。〃
She was just blossoming into womanhood and her form had that
exquisite roundness and grace which it is the particular function of fashion
to annihilate。 If I held her closely； I think all bachelors will agree that it
was because this very roundness made her heavy； if I did not put her down
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immediately I reached Maitland's room； it is because； as a doctor of
medicine； I have my own ideas as to how a couch should be fixed before a
patient is laid upon it。 Maitland may say what he pleases； but I know how
important these things are in sickness； and you know； quick as he is in
most things； George has moments when his head is so much in the clouds
that he doesn't know what he is doing； and moves as if he were in a dream
set to dirge music。 He kept telling me to 〃put her on the couch！ … put her
on the couch！〃 To this day； he fondly believes that when I finally did
release her； it was as the result of his advice； rather than because he had at
last made a suitable bed for her。
I sent Maitland for some medicine； which I knew would relax the
tension she was under and make it possible for her to sleep。 When I had
administered this； Maitland and I talked the matter over and we decided to
take her at once to my house； where； with Gwen； she could share the
watchful care of my sister Alice。 This we did； though I was not without
some misgivings as to Gwen's attitude in the matter when she should
recover sufficiently to know of it。 I expressed my doubts to Maitland and
he replied： 〃Give yourself no uneasiness on that score； Miss Darrow is too
womanly to visit the sins of a guilty father upon an unoffending daughter；
and； besides； this man； … it seems that his real name is Latour； not
Cazenove； …=20 has a right to be judged innocent until his guilt is proved。〃
I found this to be sage counsel； for； when Gwen was able to understand
what I had done； she exhibited no antipathy toward the new member of
our household； but； on the contrary； became exceedingly interested in her。
I was especially glad of this； not only on account of Miss Latour； the
suspect's daughter； but also because the one thing Gwen needed above all
others was something to challenge her interest。 She had again relapsed
into the old； state of passive endurance； wherein nothing seemed to reach
her consciousness。 Her actions appeared to flow more from her nerve…
centres than from her mind。 She moved like an automaton。 There is
scarcely any condition of which I am more fearful than this。 The patient
becomes wax in one's hands。 She will do anything without a murmur； or
as willingly refrain from anything。 She simply is indifferent to life and
all that therein is。 Is it any wonder； then； that I rejoiced to see Gwen
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interest herself in poor Jeannette？ It was a long time； however； before
Jeannette repaid this interest with anything more than a dreamy； far…off
gaze； that refused to focus itself upon anything。 As time wore on；
however； I noticed with relief that there was a faint expression of wonder
in her look； and； as this daily grew stronger； I knew she was beginning to
realise her novel surroundings and to ask herself if she were still dreaming。
Yet she did not speak； she seemed to fear the sound of her own voice and
to determine to solve； unaided； the mystery confronting her。 I requested
that no one question her or make any attempt to induce her to break
silence； for I knew the time would come when she would do so of her own
free will。 As it happened； her first words were spoken to me； and； as my
writing this recalls the event； a thrill of pleasurable pain passes through me。
You may think this foolish； the more so； indeed； when you learn that
nothing was said to warrant such a feeling； but I must urge upon you not to
let your satisfied heart set itself up as judge in bachelor regions。
I had been mixing some medicine for her and was holding the cup to
her lips that she might drink the draught。 She laid
