the darrow enigma-第15章

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Kong。　　From　Aden　I　received　the　following：

MY　DEAR　DOCTOR：

We　have　just　been　through　the　Red　Sea；　and　I　know　now　the　real　origin
of　the　Calvinistic　hell。　　Imagine　it！　　A　cloudless　sky；　the　sun
beating　down　with　an　intolerable　fierceness；　not　a　breath　stirring；
and　the　thermometer　registering　120　degrees　F。　in　the　shade！　　It
seemed　as　though　reason　must　desert　us。　　The　constant　motion　of　the
punkas　in　the　saloons；　and　an　unlimited　supply　of　ice…water　was　all
that　saved　us。　　Sleep　was　hardly　to　be　thought　of；　for　at　no　time
during　the　night　did　the　mercury　drop　below　100=B0　F。　　Apart　from　the
oppressive　heat　referred　to；　the　entire　voyage　has　been　exceedingly
pleasant。　　I　have　not　solved　the　atomic…pitch　problems；　as　attendance
at　meals　has　left　me　little　time　for　anything　else。　　They　seem　to
eat　all　the　time　on　these　boats。　　At　8　A。　M。　coffee　and　bread；　at
ten　a　hearty　breakfast　of　meat；　eggs；　curry　and　rice；　vegetables　and
fruit；　at　1　P。　M。　a　luncheon；　called　〃tiffin；〃　of　cold　meats；　bread
and　butter；　potatoes；　and　tea；　at　five　o'clock　a　regular　dinner　of
soups；　meats　with　relishes；　farinaceous　dishes；　dessert；　fruits；　and
coffee；　and　lastly；　at　8　P。　M。；　the　evening　meal　of　tea；　bread　and
butter；　and　other　light　dishes。　　Five　meals　a　day；　and　there　are　some
English　people　who　fill　up　the　gaps　between　them　by　constantly
munching　nuts　and　sweets！　　Verily；　if　specialisation　of　function
means　anything；　some　of　these　people　will　soon　become　huge　gastric
balloons　with　a　little　wart　on　top　representing　the　atrophied　brain
structure。　　They　run　their　engines　of　digestion　wholly　on　the
high…pressure　system。

After　eight　days'　voyage　on　the　Indian　Ocean　we　shall　be　in　Bombay。
I　must　close　now；　for　there　is　really　nothing　to　say；　and；　besides；
I　am　wanted　on　deck。　　My　engagement　is　with　a　Rev。　Mr。　Barrows；
who　is　bound　as　missionary　to　Hong　Kong。　　This　worthy　Methodist
gentleman　is　very　much　exercised　because　I　insist　that　potentiality
is　necessity　and　rebut　his　arguments　on　free…will。　　He　got　quite
excited　yesterday；　and　said　to　me　severely：　〃Do　you　mean　to　say；
young　man；　that　I　can't　do　as　I　please？〃　　I　must　say　I　don't　think
his　warmth　was　much　allayed　by　my　replying：　〃I　certainly　mean　to
say　you　can't　please　as　you　please。　　You　may　eat　sugar　because
you　prefer　it　to　vinegar；　but　you　can't　prefer　it　just　because　you
will　to　do　so。〃　　He　has　probably　got　some　new　arguments　now　and　is
anxious　to　try　their　effect；　so；　with　kind　regards　to　Miss　Darrow
…　I　trust　she　is　well　…　I　remain；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cordially　your　friend；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　GEORGE　MAITLAND。

P。　　S。　　（Like　a　woman　I　always　write　a　postscript。）　You　shall　hear
again　from　me　as　soon　as　I　reach　Bombay。

This　last　promise　was　religiously　kept；　though　his　letter　was　short
and　merely　announced　his　safe　arrival　early　that　morning。　　He　closed
by　saying：　〃I　have　not　yet　breakfasted；　preferring　to　do　so　on　land；
and　I　feel　that　I　can　do　justice　to　whatever　is　set　before　me。　　I
intend；　as　soon　as　I　have　taken　the　edge　off　my　appetite；　to　set　out
immediately　for　Malabar　Hill；　as　I　believe　that　to　be　our　proper
starting…point。　　I　inclose　a　little　sketch　I　made　of　Bombay　as　we
came　up　its　harbour；　thinking　it　may　interest　Miss　Darrow。　　Kindly
give　it　to　her　with　my　regards。　　You　will　note　that　there　are　two
tongues　of　land　in　the　picture。　　On　the　eastern　side　is　the　suburb
of　Calaba；　and　on　the　western　our　Malabar　Hill。　　Good…bye　until　I
have　something　of　interest　to　report。〃

I　gave　the　sketch　to　Gwen；　and　she　seemed　greatly　pleased　with　it。

〃Are　you　aware；〃　she　said　to　me　that　Mr。　Maitland　draws　with　rare
precision？〃

〃I　am　fully　persuaded；〃　I　rejoined；　〃that　he　does　not　do　anything
which　he　cannot　do　well。〃

〃I　believe　there　is　nothing；〃　she　continued；　〃which　so　conduces　to
the　habit　of　thoroughness　as　the　experiments　of　chemistry。　　When　one
learns　that　even　a　grain　of　dust　will；　in　some　cases；　vitiate
everything；　he　acquires　a　new　conception　of　the　term　'clean'　and　is
likely　to　be　thorough　in　washing　his　apparatus。　　From　this　the　habit
grows　upon　him　and　widens　its　application　until　it　embraces　all　his
actions。〃

This　remark　did　not　surprise　me　as　it　would　have　a　few　weeks　before；
for　I　had　come　to　learn　that　Gwen　was　liable　at　any　time　to　suddenly
evince　a　very　unfeminine　depth　of　observation　and　firmness　of
philosophical　grasp。

Maitland　had　been　gone　just　six　weeks　to　a　day　when　we　received　from
him　the　first　news　having　any　particular　bearing　upon　the　matter
which　had　taken　him　abroad。　　I　give　this　communication　in　his　own
words；　omitting　only　a　few　personal　observations　which　I　do　not　feel
justified　in　disclosing；　and　which；　moreover；　are　not　necessary　to
the　completeness　of　this　narrative：

MY　DEAR　DOCTOR：

I　have　at　last　something　to　report　bearing　upon　the　case　that　brought
me　here；　and　perhaps　I　can　best　relate　it　by　simply　telling　you　what
my　movements　have　been　since　my　arrival。　　My　first　errand　was　to
Malabar　Hill。　　I　thought　it　wise　to　possess　myself；　so　far　as
possible；　of　facts　proving　the　authenticity　of　Mr。　Darrow's　narrative。
I　found　without　difficulty　the　banyan　tree　which　had　been　the
trysting…place；　and　close　by　it　the　little　cave　with　its　mysterious
well；　…　everything　in　fact　precisely　as　related；　even　to　the
〃Farsees'〃　garden　or　cemetery；　with　its　〃Tower　of　Silence；〃　or
〃Dakhma；〃　as　it　is　called　by　the　natives。　　The　cave　and　the　banyan
are　among　the　many　attractions　of　what　is　now　Herr　Blaschek's　villa。
This　gentleman；　with　true　German　hospitality；　asked　me　to　spend　a
few　days　with　him；　and　I　was　only　too　glad　to　accept　his　invitation；
as　I　believed　his　knowledge　of　Bombay　might　be　of　great　service　to
me。　　In　this　I　did　not　mistake。　　I　told　him　I　wished　to　ascertain　the
whereabouts　of　a　Rama　Ragobah；　who　had　been　something　between　a　rishi
and　a　fakir；　and　he　directed　me　at　once　to　a　fakir　named　Parinama
who；　he　said；　would　be　able　to　locate　my　man；　if　he　were　still　alive
and　in　Bombay。

You　can　imagine　how　agreeably　surprised　I　was　to　find　that　Parinama
knew　Ragobah　well。　　I　had　anticipated　some　considerable　difficulty
in　learning　the　latter's　whereabouts；　and　here　was　a　man　who　could=20
…　for　a　sufficient　consideration　…　tell　me　much；　if　not　all；　about
him。　　　I　secured　an　interpreter；　paid　Parinama　my　money；　and
proceeded　to　catechise　him。　　　I　give　you　my　questions　and　his　answers
just　as　I　jotted　them　down　in　my　notebook：

Q。　What　is　Ragobah's　full　name？

A。　Rama　Ragobah。　=20

Q。　How　long　have　you　known　him？

A。　Thirty…five　year。

Q。　Has　he　always　lived　in　Bombay？

A。　No；　Sahib；

Q。　Where　else？

A。　For　a　good　many　year　he　have　travel　all　the　time。

Q。　Is　he　in　Bombay　now？

A。　No；　Sahib。

Q。　Where　is　he？

A。　Over　the　sea；　Sahib。

Q。　Do　you　know　where？

A。　He　sail　for　America；　New　York。

Q。　When？

A。　About　eleven　week　ago。

Q。　Do　you　know　for　what　he　undertook　this　journey？

A。　Some　personal　affair　of　long　time　ago　which　he　wish　to　settle　…　the
same　which　make　him　so　many　year　travel　through　India。

Q。　Was　he　in　search　of　someone？

A。　Yes；　Sahib。

Q。　Some　Indian　woman？

A。　No；　Sahib。

Q。　Some　other　woman；　then？

A。　No；　Sahib。

Q。　A　man；　then；　an　Englishman；

A。　Yes；　Sahib。

Q。　What　kind　of　a　man　is　this　Ragobah？

A。　He　very　big　man。

Q。　What　is　his　disposition？　　Is　he　generally　liked？

A。　No。　　His　temper　bad。　　He　cruel；　revengeful；　overbearing；　and
selfish。　　He　most　hated　by　those　who　best　know　him。

Q。　He　is　a　friend　of　yours；　you　say？

A。　I　say　no　such　thing！　　Do　you　think　I　sell　secret　of　friend？　　I
have　great　reason　for　hating　him；　or　I　not　now　be　earning　your　money。

Q。　Ah！　　I　see。　　What　did　you　say　he　wanted　of　this　Englishman？

A。　I　no　say；　Sahib。

Q。　You　said　some　personal　affair　of　long　standing；　I　believe。

A。　Yes；　Sahib。

Q。　Do　you　know　its　nature？

A。　No；　I　not　know　it；　but　I　have　not　much　doubt　about　it；　Sahib。

Q。　What　do　you　think；　then？

A。　I　think　there　but　one　passion　strong　enough　in　Ragobah　to　make
plain　his　hunt　like　dog　for　last　twenty　year。　　Such　persevere　mean
strong　motive；　and　as　I　have　good　reason　to　remember　how　quick　he
forget　a　kindness；　I　know　he　not　moved　by　friendship；　Sahib。

Q　。His　motive　then　is　…=20

A。　Revenge。

Q。　Have　you　any　idea　why　he　cherishes　this　malice？

A。　I　think　it　because　some　old　love　affair；　some　rival　in　his　wife's
love。

Q。　Indeed！　　Then　he　has　been　married？

A。　Yes；　Sahib。

Q。　Where　shall　I　find　his　wife？

A。　All　that　is　left　of　her　is　in　the　bottomless　well　in　the　cave　on
Malabar　Hill。

Q。　Did　Ragobah　kill　her？

A。　No；　that　is；　not　with　his　own　hand。

Q。　How　long　ago　did　she　die？

A。　More　than　twenty　year；　Sahib。

Q。　Are　any　of　her　relatives　living？

A。　Her　husband；　Sahib；　and　a　cousin；　that　is　all。

Q。　Is　there　anyone　else　who　could　tell　me　of　this　woman？

A。　Moro　Scindia　could；　but　he　not　do　it。

Q。　Why？　　Is　he　Ragobah's　friend？

A。　Ragobah　has　no　friends；　Sahib。

Q。　Why；　then？

A。　He　under　oath　to　tell　what　was　told　him　only　to　one　person。　　He
has　keep　his　secret　out　of　every　year　for　more　as　twenty　year；　and
can　no　be　expect　to　tell　to　you；　Sahib。

Q。　Can　you　bring　this　man　to　me？　　You　will　both　be　well　paid　for　your
time；　of　course。

A。　I　bring　him；　Sahib；　but　I　not　make　him　speak。

Q。　Let　me　see　you　both；　then；　to…night　at　eight；　at　Herr　Blaschek's
villa　on　Malabar　Hill。　　Ask　for　Mr。　Maitland。

A。　We　be　there。　　Anything　more；　Sahib？

Q。　Yes。　　When　is　Ragobah　expected　to　return？

A。　He　write　that　he　think　he　return　on　the　Dalmatia。　　She　due　next
day　after　to…morrow。

Q。　Has　Ragobah　any　physical　peculiarities？

A。　His　hands　and　feet　they　very　small　for　man　so　big　and　strong。

Q。　Anything　else？

A。　His　left　leg　been　hurt。　　The　foot　very　bad　shape；　and　the　whole
leg　some　bad；　and；　…　what　you　call　…　halt　when　he　walk。

Q。　Has　he　the　habit　of　biting　his　finger　nails？

A。　I　not　know　he　has；　Sahib。

This　completed　the　list　of　questions　which　I　had　desired　to　ask　him；
so；　after　once　more　receiving　his　assurance　that　he　would　meet　me　in
the　evening　with　his　friend　Scindia；　I　left　him。　　　As　you　know；　I　am
not　wont　to　draw　conclusions　until　all　the　evidence　is　in；　but　I　must
confess　that；　looking　at　the　whole　matter　from　start　to　finish；　there
seems　to　have　fallen　upon　Ragobah　a　net　of　circumstantial　evidence
so　strong；　and　with　a　mesh　of　detail　so　minute；　that　it　does　not　seem
possible　a　mosquito　could　escape　from　it。　　Look　at　it　a　moment　from
this　standpoint。　Ragobah　alone；　so　far　as　we　know；　has　a　motive　for
the　murder。　　His　victim　has　related　the　feud　existing　between　them
and　foretold；　with　an　air　of　the　utmost　assurance；　just　such　an
outcome　thereof。　　Add　to　this　that　this　man　leaves　India　on　a　mission
which　those　about　him　do　not　hesitate　to　pronounce　one　of　vengeance；
at　just　such　a　time　as　would　enable　him　to　reach　Boston　just　a　little
before　the　commission　of　the　murder；　that　this　mission　is　the
culmination　of　twenty　years　of　unremitting　search　for　revenge；　that
this　malignity　is　supposed　to　be　directed　against　some　rival　in　his
wife's　affections；　and　the　chain　of　circumstantial　evidence
po