the darrow enigma-第18章

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to　Malabar　Hill　to　see；　for　I　felt　certain　he　would　come　if　he　got
your　note；　and；　sure　enough；　he　was　there　even　ahead　of　time。　　I　was
obliged　to　forego　the　pleasure　of　bringing　him　to　you　on　account　of
two　most　unfortunate　accidents。　　As　you　see　I　hurt　my　foot；　and　poor
Darrow　Sahib　slipped　and　fell　headlong　into　the　well　in　the　little
cave。　　As　it　has　no　bottom　I　could　not；　of　course；　get　the　Sahib　out；
and　so　was　obliged　to　return；　as　best　I　could；　alone。〃　　As　he
finished　this　heartless　lie；　every　word　of　which　he　knew　was　a
poisoned　dart；　Lona　fell　fainting　upon　the　floor。　　Kandia　raised　her
gently；　expecting　to　find　her　dead；　but　was　able　at　length　to　revive
her。　　The　first　words　she　said　were　directed　to　Ragobah　in　a　voice
devoid　of　passion　or　reproach；　…　of　everything　in　fact　save　an
unutterable　weariness。

〃I　am　ill；〃　she　said；　〃will　you　permit　Nana　to　get　me　some　medicine
which　has　helped　me　in　similar　attacks？〃　　Ragobah's　reply　was
directed　to　Kandia。

〃You　may　do　as　the　Sahibah　bids　you；〃　was　all　he　said。

Kandia　turned　to　Lona　for　instructions　and　she　said　to　him；　〃Get　me
half　an　ounce　of　…　stay；　there　are　several　ingredients　…　I　had　better
write　them　down。〃　　She　wrote　upon　a　little　slip　of　paper；　naming
aloud　the　ingredients　and　quantities　as　she　did　so；　and　then　asked
Kandia　to　move　her　chair　to　an　open　window　before　he　left。　　When　he
had　done　so；　she　passed　him　the　note；　saying；　〃Please　get　it　as
quickly　as　possible。〃　　As　he　took　the　paper　she　seized　his　hand　for
a　moment　and　pressed　it　firmly。　　He　noticed　this　at　the　time；　but
its　significance　did　not　dawn　upon　him　until　he　had　nearly　reached
his　destination；　when；　all　at　once；　he　realised　with　a　pang　that　the
momentary　pressure　of　the　hand　and　the　mute　gratitude　which　shone
from　the　eyes　were　meant　as　a　farewell。　　His　first　impulse　was　to
hurriedly　retrace　his　steps；　but　before　he　had　acted　upon　it；　the
thought　occurred　to　him　that　she　intended　to　poison　herself　with　the
drugs　he　was　about　to　procure。　　If　this　were　the　case；　there　was　no
great　need　of　hurry。　　Then　he　began　to　recall　to　mind　the　names　of
the　drugs　she　had　mentioned　as　she　wrote　and　to　reflect　that　not
one　of　them　was　poisonous。　　With　this　new　light　all　his　former
uneasiness　returned。　　He　strove　to　reassure　himself　with　the　thought
that　she　might；　in　order　to　mislead　Ragobah；　have　spoken　the　name
of　a　harmless　drug　while　she　wrote　down　that　of　a　poisonous　one。
It　was　easy　to　settle　this　question；　and　he　determined　to　do　so　at
the　next　light。　　He　unfolded　the　paper；　expecting　to　see　a
prescription；　but　read　instead　these　words：

〃To　MORO　SCINDIA；

〃My　Dear　Cousin：　Death　has　relieved　you　of　the　task　I　imposed　upon
you。　　John　Darrow's　body　is　in　the　well　in　the　cave　on　Malabar　Hill；
where；　before　this　reaches　you；　my　body　will　have　also　gone　to　meet
it。　　To　this　fragment　of　paper；　then；　must　I　confide　the　debt　of
gratitude　I　owe　to　you　and　to　him　who　will　bear　it　to　you；　Nana
Kandia。　　Good…bye。　　If　I　had　had　two　hearts；　I　should　have　given
you　one。　　Do　not　mourn　me；　but　rather　rejoice　that　my　struggle　and
its　agony　are　over。　　John　has　already　gone　…　one　tomb　shall　inclose
both　our　bodies　…　how　could　it　have　been　better？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃LONA。〃

No　sooner　had　Kandia　grasped　the　import　of　this　letter　than　he
rushed　with　all　speed　to　Malabar　Hill；　but　he　was　too　late；　for
scarcely　had　he　left　the　house　upon　Lona's　errand　before　she　had
sprung　out　of　the　window　by　which　he　had　placed　her。　　Ragobah's
wound　prevented　his　following　her；　and　when　he　had　summoned　others
to　pursue　her；　the　darkness　had　closed　about　her　form　and　none
knew　the　way　she　had　taken。　　At　the　edge　of　the　fatal　well　Kandia
found　a　piece　of　paper　beneath　a　stone　and　on　it　these　words：

〃Farewell；　Moro　and　Nana；　the　only　beings　on　earth　I　regret　to
leave！
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…　Lona。〃

The　body　was　never　recovered。　　The　news　of　his　wife's　death；　and
the　knowledge　that　he　was　the　cause　of　it；　produced　an　effect　upon
Ragobah　from　which　he　never　recovered。　　More　than　twenty　years　have
passed　since　then；　yet　from　that　day　to　this　he　has　never　been　known
to　smile。　　Long　before　his　mangled　limb　had　healed　it　became　evident
to　all　who　knew　him　that　he　had　henceforth　but　one　purpose　in　life；
…　revenge；　and　that　nothing　save　death　could　turn　him　from　his
purpose；　so　long　as　his　rival　lived。　　The　knowledge　of　this　made　my
search　for　Darrow　Sahib　more　than　ever　difficult　from　the　fact　that
it　must　be　prosecuted　secretly。　　I　could　only　learn　that　he　had
left　Bombay　for　the　interior；　nothing　more。　　My　inquiries　in　all
the　Indian　cities　proved　fruitless；　and　in　many　instances；　I　was
informed　that　Ragobah　had　instituted　a　search　for　the　same　man。　　I
think；　in　spite　of　my　precautions；　some　of　my　agents　ultimately
told　Ragobah　of　my　efforts；　for　I　found　myself　so　closely　watched
by　men　in　his　interests　that　I　was　at　length　compelled　to　give　up
the　personal　conduct　of　the　search；　and　to　continue　it　through　a
deputy；　unknown　to　him。　　　All　my　endeavours　to　find　the　Sahib　were；
as　you　are　already　aware；　fruitless；　and；　until　I　met　you；　I　had
no　doubt　Ragobah's　efforts　were　equally　unproductive。　　You　have　now
all　the　information　I　can　offer　upon　the　subject。　　If　I　can　be　of
any　further　service　to　you；　you　need　not　hesitate　to　command　me。

As　he　said　this　he　rose　to　depart　and　I　promised　to　keep　him
informed　of　what　occurred。　　I　have　nothing　now　to　do　but　to　await；
with　such　patience　as　I　can　command；　the　arrival　of　the　Dalmatia。
It　does　not　seem　to　me　altogether　probable　that　Ragobah　will　return
upon　this　boat；　but　if　he　should　I　shall　have　him　arrested　the
moment　he　sets　foot　on　shore。　　If　he　escape　the　net　that　has　been
woven　about　him；　I　shall　be　a　convert　to　Eastern　occultism　and　no
mistake。　　I　trust　Miss　Darrow　is　well　and　hopeful。　　I　know　she
will　religiously　keep　the　promise　she　made；　for　she　is　one　of　those
women　who　fully　understand　the　nature　of　a　covenant；　and　I　am
easier；　therefore；　than　I　otherwise　could　be　regarding　her　condition。
Give　her　my　kind　regards　and　tell　her　that　she　may　expect　news　of
importance　by　my　next　communication。　　It　is　very　late；　so　good…bye；
until　the　arrival　of　the　Dalmatia。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Your　friend；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　GEORGE　MAITLAND。

This　letter　was　delivered　one　morning　when　Gwen；　my　sister　Alice；
and　I　were　at　breakfast。　　As　I　broke　the　seal　I　noticed　that　both
ladies　put　down　their　knives　and　forks　and　ceased　to　eat。　　A　glance
at　Gwen's　eager　face　convinced　me　that　she　had　no　appetite　for
anything　but　my　letter；　and　I　accordingly　read　it　aloud。　　When　I
came　to　the　last　part　of　it；　where　Maitland　referred　to　her；　a　flush；
of　pride　I　thought　at　the　time；　overspread　her　face；　and　when　I　had
finished　she　said　with　some　show　of　excitement；　〃If　Mr。　Maitland
succeed　in　bringing　Ragobah　to　justice　I　…　I　shall　owe　him　a　debt
of　gratitude　I　can　never　repay！　　It　all　seems　like　a　romance；　only　so
frightfully　real。　　We　may　expect　another　letter　in　a　few　days；　may
we　not？　　And　Mr。　Maitland；　when　may　we　expect　him？〃

I　replied　that　I　thought　we　might　reasonably　expect　news　of
importance　within　five　or　six　days；　and　that；　so　far　as　Maitland's
return　was　concerned；　I　did　not　look　for　it　for　as　many　weeks；　as
he　would　doubtless　have　to　cope　with　the　law's　delay　there；　as　he
would　if　here；　and　to　comply　with　many　tedious　formalities　before
the　government　would　allow　Ragobah　to　be　brought　to　this　country　for
trial。　　The　only　reply　Gwen　vouchsafed　to　this　statement　was　a
long…drawn　unconscious　sigh；　which　I　interpreted　as　meaning；　〃Will
it　never　end！〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　II


　　　He　who　shakes　the　tree　of　Vengeance　but　harvests　apples　of　Sodom
　　　in　whose　fruit　of　ashes　he　becomes　buried；　for　the　wage　of　the
　　　sinner　is　death。

There　was　no　doubt　of　Ragobah's　guilt　in　any　of　our　minds；　so　that
action　at　our　end　of　the　line　seemed　entirely　useless；　and　nothing
was　left　us　but　to　quietly　await　whatever　developments　Maitland
should　disclose。　　We　were　not　kept　long　in　suspense；　for　in　less　than
a　week　his　next　letter　arrived。　　I　broke　its　seal　in　the　presence　of
Gwen　and　my　sister　who；　if　possible；　were　even　more　excited　than　I
myself。　　Is　it　to　be　wondered　at？　　Here　was　the　letter　which　was　to
tell　us　whether　or　not　the　murderer　of　John　Darrow　had　been　caught。
We　felt　that　if　Ragobah　had　returned　to　India；　according　to　his
expressed　intention；　there　could　be　no　doubt　upon　this　point。　　But
had　he　so　returned？　　I　read　as　follows：

MY　DEAR　DOCTOR：

The　Dalmatia　arrived　as　expected　on　Thursday；　and　on　her　came　Ragobah。
I　had　him　arrested　as　he　stepped　from　the　boat。　　When　examined　he
did　not　seem　in　the　least　disconcerted　at　the　charges　I　preferred
against　him。　　　This　did　not　surprise　me；　however；　as　I　had　expected
that　a　man　who　could　roll　his　naked　body　over　the　burning　sands　from
Mabaj　an　to　the　Ganges；　and　who　could　rise　from　the　Vaisyan　to　the
Brahman　caste；　…　albeit　he　fell　again；　…　would　not　be　likely　to　betray
his　cause　by　exhibiting　either　fear　or　excitement。　　He　acknowledged
his　acquaintance　with　Mr。　Darrow　and　the　ill…feeling　existing　between
them。　　　When　charged　with　his　murder　at　Dorchester　on　the　night　of　the
22d　of　April　he　coolly　asked　if　I　were　aware　when　and　how　he　had　left
India。　　I　had　not　neglected　to　look　this　matter　up　and　told　him　he　had
left　on　the　same　steamer　which　had　brought　him　back　…　the　Dalmatia　…=20
which　should　have　arrived　at　New　York　on　the　21st　of　April；　thus
leaving　him　ample　time　to　get　to　Boston　before　the　night　of　the　22d。
To　this　he　replied　with　the　utmost　assurance。　　（I　give　you　the　exact
gist　of　what　he　said。　　Since　I　was　not　able　to　immediately　commit　his
language　to　writing；　you　will；　of　course；　hardiy　expect　me　to　remember
those　peculiar　Oriental　idioms　which　an　Indian；　however　great　his
command　of　English；　never　drops。　　What　I　say　here　is；　of　course；　true
of　all　conversations　I　put　before　you　except　such　as　I　practically
reported。）　…　But　to　return　to　our　muttons。　　As　I　was　saying；　he
replied　with　the　utmost　assurance：


〃The　Sahib　is　right。　　I　did　sail　upon　the　Dalmatia；　due　at　New　York
on　the　21st　of　April。　　This　steamer；　as　you　are　perhaps　aware；　is
propelled　by　twin　screws。　　On　the　trip　in　question　she　broke　one
of　her　propellers　in　mid…Atlantic　and　in　consequence；　arrived　in　New
York　on　the　24th　of　April；　three　days　late；　without　the　transference
of　any　of　her　passengers　to　other　boats。　　If　you　will　take　the
trouble　to　at　once　verify　this　statement　at　the　steamship　office；
you　will　be　able　to　relieve　me　of　the　annoyance　of　　further　detention。〃

All　this　was　said　with　a　rare　command　of　language　and　a　cold；　cynical
politeness　which　cut　like　a　knife。　　I　at　first　thought　it　was　merely
a　ruse　to　gain　time；　but　the　steamship　officials　substantiated　every
word　uttered　by　Ragobah　relative　to　their　vessel。　　The　Dalmatia　had
steamed　into　New　York　at　eleven　o'clock　on　the　morning　of　the　24th
day　of　April　with　a　broken　screw！

Imagine　my　amazement！　　The　net　of　circumstantial