the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第51节
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he had been stabbed； but quickly regained his self…control as Maitland
continued： 〃Here is the volume in question。 You will please note the
thumb…mark in the margin of page 469。 There is but one thumb in the
world that could have made that mark； and that is the thumb you have seen
register itself upon this letter。 It is also the thumb that made this paint
smutch upon this slip of glass。〃
All eyes were turned upon M。 Godin。 He was very pale； yet his jaw
was firmly set and something akin to a defiant smile played about his
handsome mouth。 To say that the audience was amazed is to convey no
adequate idea of their real condition。 We felt prepared for anything。 I
almost feared lest some sudden turn in the case might cast suspicion upon
myself； or even Maitland。 Without apparently noticing M。 Godin's
discomfiture； George continued：
〃M。 Godin has testified that he sometimes plays cards； but only for a
small stake … just enough； he says； to make it interesting。 I shall show
you that he is a professional gambler as well as a detective。
〃The morning after the murder was committed I made a most careful
examination of the premises； particularly of the grounds near the eastern
window。 As the result of my observations； I informed Miss Darrow that I
had reason to believe that her father had been murdered by a person who
had some good motive for concealing his footprints； and who also had a
halting gait。 The weight of this person I was able to estimate at not far
from one hundred and thirty…five pounds； and his height as about five feet
and five inches。 I also stated it as my opinion that the person who did the
deed had the habit of biting his finger nails； and a particular reason for
sparing the nail of the little finger and permitting it to grow to an abnormal
length。 This was not guesswork on my part； for in the soft soil beneath
the eastern window I found a perfect impression of a closed hand。 Here
is the cast of that hand。 Look well at it。 Notice the wart upon the upper
joint of the thumb； and the crook in the third finger where it has evidently
been broken。 M。 Godin says he never entered the yard of the Darrow
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estate； except on the night of the murder in company with Messrs。
Osborne and Allen； and that then he merely passed up and down the front
walk on his way to and from the house； yet the paint…mark on this slip of
glass was made by his thumb； and the glass itself was cut by me from the
eastern window of the Darrow house … the window through which the
murder was committed。 This plaster cast was taken from an impression
in the soil beneath the same window on the morning after the murder。
The hand is the hand of M。 Godin。 You will note that one of this
gentleman's feet is deformed and that he habitually halts in his walk。〃
We all glanced at M。 Godin to verify these assertions； but that
gentleman folded his arms in a way to conceal his hands and thrust his feet
out of sight beneath the chair in front of him； while he smiled at us with
the utmost apparent good nature。 He would be game to the last； there
was no doubt of that。
Maitland recalled our attention by saying：
〃Officer； you will please arrest M。 Godin！〃
An excited whisper was heard from every corner； and many were the
half…audible comments that were broken off by the imperative fall of the
crier's gavel。 So tense had been the strain that it was some time before
complete order could be restored。 When it was again quiet Maitland
continued：
〃Your Honour and Gentlemen of the Jury： We will rest our case here
for to…day。 To…morrow； or rather on Monday； we shall show the strange
influence which M。 Godin exercised over M。 Latour； as well as M。
Latour's reasons for his confession。 We shall endeavour to make clear to
you how M。 Latour was actually led to believe he had murdered John
Darrow； and how he was bribed to confess a crime=20 committed by
another。 Of the hypnotic power of M。 Godin over M。 Latour I have
indisputable proof； though we shall see that M。 Godin by no means relied
wholly upon this power。 We shall show you also that sufficient time
elapsed to enable M。 Godin； by great skill and celerity； to make away with
the evidences of his guilt in time to enable him to be present with Messrs。
Osborne and Allen at the examination。 In short； we shall unravel before
you a crime which； for cleverness of conception and adroitness of
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execution； has never been equalled in the history of this community。〃
Maitland having thus concluded his remarks by dropping into a
courteous plural in deference to Mr。 Jenkins； the court adjourned until
Monday； and I left Gwen in Maitland's charge while I hurried home；
fearful lest I should not be the first to bring to Jeannette the glad news of
her father's innocence； for I had not the slightest doubt of Maitland's
ability to prove conclusively all he had undertaken。
I need not describe to you my interview with Jeannette。 There are
things concerning it which； even at this late day； when their roseate hue
glows but dimly in the blue retrospect of the past； … it would seem
sacrilege for me to mention to another。 Believe me； I am perfectly aware
of your inquisitive nature； and I know that this omission may nettle you。
Charge it all up； then； to the perversity of a bachelor in the throes of his
first； last； and only love experience。 You must see that such things
cannot be conveyed to another with anything like their real significance。
Were I to say I was carried beyond myself by her protestations of gratitude
until； in a delirium of joy； I seized her in my arms and covered her with
kisses； do you for a moment fancy you could appreciate my feelings？ Do
you imagine that the little tingle of sympathy which you might experience
were I to say that； instead of pushing me from her； I felt her clasp tighten
about me； … would tell you anything of the great torrent of hot blood that
deluged my heart as she lay there in my arms； quivering ecstatically at
every kiss？ No！ a thousand times no！ Therefore have I thought best
to say nothing about it。 Our love can keep its own secrets。 … But alas！ this
was long ago； and as I sit here alone writing this to you； I cannot but
wonder； with a heavy sense of ever…present longing； where on this great
earth Jeannette … 'my Jeannette；' I have learned to call her … is now。 You
see a bachelor's love…affair is a serious thing； and years cannot always
efface it。 But to return to the past：
Jeannette； I think； was not more pleased than Gwen at the turn affairs
had taken。 Indeed； so exuberant was Gwen in her quiet way that I
marvelled much at the change in her； so much； indeed； that finally I
determined to question Alice about it。
〃I can understand；〃 I said to her； 〃why Gwen； on account of her
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sympathy and love for Jeannette； should be glad that M。 Latour is likely to
be acquitted。 I can also appreciate the distaste she may have felt at the
prospect of having to deal with M。 Godin under the terms of her father's
will； but even both of these considerations seem to me insufficient to
account for her present almost ecstatic condition。 There is an
immediateness to her joy which could hardly result from mere release
from a future disagreeable possibility。 How do you account for it； sis？〃
Ali
