the darrow enigma-第34节
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tell me all you know about it。〃
I then confided to him what I had heard and ended by asking him
what he proposed to do。
〃Do？〃 he replied。 〃There is but one thing I can do； which makes
the choice decidedly easy；〃 and he set his jaws together with a
determined expression； the meaning of which I knew full well。
〃I shall camp right here；〃 he said； 〃 till I learn all I wish to
know of our neighbours yonder。 I have already provided myself with
instruments which will enable me to note every movement they make；
indeed to photograph them； if necessary； and to hear and record
every word they utter。 You look surprised； but it is easily done。
I will place my lenses there at the chink through which you were
gazing and bring the image down into my camera obscura by a prism
arranged for total internal reflection。 As for the hearing； that
is easier yet。 I will carefully work away the plaster on this
side to…night till I get through to the paper covering their wall。
This I will leave intact to use as a diaphragm。 I have then only
to fasten my carbon to it； and； behold； we have a microphone or
telephone … whichever you choose to call it。 All I have to look
out for is that I get it high enough to avoid the danger of the
paper being accidentally broken from the other side； and that I
work quietly while removing the plaster。 I shall； of course； cover
it with a bit of black felt to prevent our light from showing； and
to deaden any sounds from this side。 This will enable us to hear
all that goes on in the other room； but this may not be enough。
We may need a phonographic record of what transpires。
〃The device whereby I secure this at such a distance is an invention
of my own which； for patent reasons … I might almost say 'patent
patent reasons' … I will ask you to kindly keep to yourself。 To the
diaphragm there I fasten this bit of burnished silver。 Upon this I
concentrate a pencil of light which； when reflected； acts
photographically upon a sensitised moving tape in this little box；
and perfectly registers the minutest movement of the receiving
diaphragm。 How I develop； etch； and reproduce this record； and
transform it into a record of the ordinary type； you will see in
due time … and will kindly keep secret for the present。 You had
better go now and send me the things on this list； as soon as
possible；〃 and he passed me a paper； continuing：
〃We will not despair yet。 Our clever rival may not be ready to
prove his case so quickly as we。 At all events； when he comes again
I shall be in a condition to ascertain how far he has progressed。 I
have some things I must settle before I can ask for an arrest； and
I am not at all sure that M。 Godin is in any better condition in
this regard than I am。 By Jove！ I'd give something to know how
that wizard has gotten so far without so much as a single sign
to indicate that he had even moved in the matter。 I say； Doc； it
beats me； blessed if it doesn't！ Please say to Miss Darrow that I
am at work upon a promising clue…promising for someone； anyway … and
may not see her for some time yet。〃
I did as he requested； and； if I am any judge of feminine
indications； my message did not yield Gwen unmixed pleasure； still；
she said nothing to warrant such a supposition on my part。 I
visited Maitland every day to learn what he might wish me to bring
him； and also to carry him his mail； for he had determined to remain
constantly on the watch at his new quarters。
I have thus far； in the narration of these incidents been perfectly
candid both as regards my friends and myself； and； therefore； that
I may continue in like manner to the end； I shall suppress certain
qualms which are urging me to silence； and confess myself guilty of
some things of which you will； perhaps； think I may well be ashamed。
Be that as it may； you shall have the whole truth； however it may
affect your opinion of me。 One reason why I went to Maitland's new
quarters so often； and stayed there so long； was because I was always
permitted to relieve him of his watch。 With a telephone receiver
strapped to my right ear； and my eyes fastened upon the screen of
the camera obscura； I would sit by the hour prying into the affairs
of the two people in the next room。 I tried for a number of days
to ease my conscience by telling myself that I was labouring in
the cause of justice； and was not a common eavesdropper。 This
permitted me to retain a sort of quasi self…respect for a day or two
till my honesty rallied itself； and forced me to realise and to
admit that I was； to all intents and purposes； a common Paul Pry；
performing a disreputable act for the gratification it gave me。 I
determined I would at least be honest with myself … and this was my
verdict。 You will； perhaps； fancy that when I arrived at this
decision I at once mended my ways and resigned my seat of observation
to Maitland's entirely professional care。 This； doubtless； I should
have done； if we fallible human beings governed our conduct by our
knowledge of what is right and proper。 Inasmuch； however； as desires
and emotions are the determining factors of human conduct； I did
nothing of the sort。 I simply watched there day after day； with
ever…increasing avidity； until at length I got to be impatient of
the duties that took me away； and more than half inclined to neglect
them。
I shall gain nothing by attempting to make you believe it was the
man in the neighbouring room that interested me； so I shall not
essay it。 I confess； with a feeling of guilt because I am not
more ashamed of it … that it was the young lady who attracted me。
You will； I trust； assume I had enough interest in her father to
palliate my conduct in a measure。 Be generous in your judgment。
How do you know you will not be in the same predicament？ Think
of it！ A young woman beautiful beyond my feeble powers of
description； her eyes of a heavenly blue； her luxuriant hair like
a mass of spun gold； her complexion matched to the tint and
transparency of the blush rose … and such a throat！ From it came
a voice as musical as the unguided waters when Winter rushes down
the hills in search of Spring。 Never you mind； that's the way I
felt about it； and； if you had been in my place； you'd have been
just as bad as I； come； now； you know you would。 Suppose I was a
bachelor； and almost old enough to be her father。 Does that help
matters any？ Is the heart less hungry because it has been starved？
Just look at your history。 When nuns have relapsed from
other…worldliness to this…worldliness how have they been？ I'll
tell you。 They have been just a round baker's dozen times worse
than they would have been if they had never undertaken to cheat
Nature。 Look at the thing fairly。 I don't expect to dodge any
blame that I deserve； yet I do want all the palliating circumstances
duly noted。 Many months have passed since then； and yet the thought
of that sweet girl sends a thrill all over me。 I wonder where she
is now？ I feel that we shall meet again some time； and perhaps you
will see her yourself。 If so； you will see that I couldn't be
expected to withstand any such temptation。
On these visits Maitland and I talked but very little； and while I
was spying nothing of interest occurred … i。 e。； nothing of interest
to him … or； if it did； things of interest to me prevented my
observing it。 On several occasions he alluded vaguely to things he
had learned which he said he should not divulge even to me until the
proper time came。
Things went on in this way for about two weeks。 I visited Maitland
daily； and daily the little lady in the next room wove her spell
around me。 If； as I am inclined to believe； thinking a great deal
of a person is much the same thing as thinking of a person a great
deal； I must have adored her。
One night； about a fortnight after Maitland's change of abode； I
found Alice in a terrible state of excitement upon my arrival home。
She met me at the door； and said Gwen needed my attention at once。
I did not stop to hear further particulars； but hastened to the
sitting…room； where Gwen lay upon the lounge。 She was in a stupor
from which it seemed impossible to arouse her。 In vain I tried to
attract her attention。 Her fixed； staring eyes looked through
me as if I had been glass。 I saw she had received a severe shock；
and so； after giving her some medicine； I took Alice aside and asked
her what had happened。 She said that Gwen and she had been sitting
sewing by the window all the afternoon； and talking about Maitland's
recent discoveries。 At about five o'clock the Evening Herald was
brought in as usual。 She； Alice； had picked it up to glance over
the news； when； in the column headed 〃Latest；〃 she had seen the
heading： 〃The Darrow Mystery Solved！〃 This she had read aloud；
without thinking of the shock the unexpected announcement might give
Gwen； when the sudden pallor that had overspread the young woman's
face had brought her to her senses； and she had paused。 Her
companion； however； had seized the paper when she had hesitated and；
in a fever of excitement； had read in a half…audible voice：
John Darrow was murdered。 … The assassin's inability to p
