the darrow enigma-µÚ19ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
day¡¡of¡¡April¡¡with¡¡a¡¡broken¡¡screw£¡
Imagine¡¡my¡¡amazement£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡net¡¡of¡¡circumstantial¡¡evidence¡¡wound
around¡¡Ragobah¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡such¡¡as¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡no¡¡possibility¡¡of
escape£»¡¡and¡¡yet£»¡¡the¡¡very¡¡first¡¡effort¡¡made¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡it¡¡tighter¡¡about
him¡¡had¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡his¡¡walking£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡ease£»¡¡right¡¡through
its¡¡meshes£¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡gainsaying¡¡such¡¡an¡¡alibi£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡am£»
therefore£»¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡acknowledge¡¡that¡¡Rama¡¡Ragobah¡¡could¡¡not£»¡¡by¡¡any
possibility£»¡¡have¡¡murdered¡¡John¡¡Darrow¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡he¡¡may¡¡have¡¡planned
the¡¡deed¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡have¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡be¡¡present¡¡at¡¡its¡¡execution
is¡¡quite¡¡possible£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡may¡¡at¡¡once¡¡dismiss¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡his¡¡having
personally¡¡committed¡¡the¡¡act¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡immediately¡¡appreciate¡¡that
nearly¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evidence¡¡which¡¡we¡¡secured¡¡against¡¡Ragobah¡¡was
directed¡¡against¡¡him¡¡as¡¡the¡¡assassin£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡of¡¡little¡¡or¡¡no¡¡use¡¡to
prove¡¡his¡¡complicity¡¡in¡¡an¡¡affair¡¡committed¡¡by¡¡another¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡his
hatred¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Darrow¡¡we¡¡have£»¡¡I¡¡believe£»¡¡a¡¡sufficient¡¡motive¡¡for
the¡¡act£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡evidence¡¡have¡¡we¡¡to¡¡support¡¡the¡¡theory¡¡that¡¡the
murder¡¡was¡¡committed¡¡by¡¡anyone¡¡acting¡¡in¡¡his¡¡interests£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡must
confess¡¡my¡¡inability¡¡to¡¡detect£»¡¡at¡¡present¡¡writing£»¡¡the¡¡slightest
evidence¡¡that¡¡Ragobah¡¡acted¡¡through¡¡an¡¡accomplice¡£¡¡¡¡So£»¡¡here¡¡the
matter¡¡rests¡£
I¡¡may¡¡state¡¡in¡¡closing¡¡that¡¡Ragobah¡¡has¡¡requested¡¡the¡¡¡¨pleasure¡¨
£¨sic£©¡¡of¡¡a¡¡private¡¡interview¡¡with¡¡me¡¡on¡¡Malabar¡¡Hill¡¡to¡morrow
night¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bare¡¡possibility¡¡he¡¡may¡¡let¡¡fall¡¡something
which¡¡may¡¡shed¡¡some¡¡light¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡accomplice¡¡hypothesis£»¡¡I¡¡have
agreed¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡him¡¡at¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡little¡¡cave¡¡at¡¡nine
o'clock¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡has¡¡requested¡¡that¡¡I¡¡come¡¡£¨alone¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡do¡¡so£»
but£»¡¡lest¡¡you¡¡fear¡¡for¡¡my¡¡safety£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡assure¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡know
very¡¡well¡¡the¡¡unscrupulous¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡with¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to
deal¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡take¡¡good¡¡care¡¡not¡¡to¡¡afford¡¡him¡¡any
opportunity¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡me¡¡unawares¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡hear¡¡from¡¡me¡¡again
after¡¡I¡¡meet¡¡Ragobah¡£
Remember¡¡me¡¡kindly¡¡to¡¡Miss¡¡Darrow¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡failure¡¡of¡¡my¡¡enterprise
will£»¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡be¡¡a¡¡bitter¡¡disappointment¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡must¡¡temper
this¡¡acknowledgment¡¡of¡¡it¡¡with¡¡such¡¡a¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡ultimate¡¡success¡¡as
you¡¡may¡¡enjoy¡£¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡her¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡cease¡¡my¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡solve
this¡¡mystery¡¡so¡¡long¡¡as¡¡I¡¡am¡¡able¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡clue£»¡¡however¡¡slight£»
to¡¡follow¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡present¡¡I¡¡am¡¡all¡¡at¡¡sea£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡looks¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡should
have¡¡to¡¡go¡¡clear¡¡back¡¡and¡¡start¡¡all¡¡over¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Ragobah£»¡¡as¡¡a
point¡¡of¡¡departure£»¡¡has¡¡not¡¡proved¡¡a¡¡success¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡my¡¡kind¡¡regards
to¡¡you¡¡all£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡remain£»¡¡cordially¡¡yours£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡GEORGE¡¡MAITLAND¡£
I¡¡read¡¡this¡¡through¡¡aloud£»¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡some¡¡parts
of¡¡it¡¡were¡¡intended¡¡only¡¡for¡¡my¡¡perusal¡£¡¡¡¡Gwen¡¡did¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡until
some¡¡minutes¡¡after¡¡I¡¡had¡¡finished£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡only¡¡to¡¡express¡¡a¡¡fear
that£»¡¡despite¡¡his¡¡caution£»¡¡harm¡¡might¡¡come¡¡to¡¡Maitland¡¡at¡¡his
interview¡¡with¡¡Ragobah¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡far¡¡less¡¡disappointed¡¡at
Maitland's¡¡failure¡¡to¡¡convict¡¡Ragobah¡¡than¡¡she¡¡was¡¡fearful¡¡for¡¡her
friend's¡¡personal¡¡safety¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡restless¡¡and¡¡ill¡¡at¡¡ease¡¡for¡¡the
next¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡days¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡Maitland's
next¡¡letter¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡came¡¡during¡¡my¡¡absence¡¡on¡¡a¡¡professional¡¡call£»
and¡¡when¡¡I¡¡returned¡¡home¡¡she¡¡met¡¡me¡¡with¡¡it¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡with¡¡an
expression¡¡of¡¡relief¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡countenance¡¡so¡¡plain¡¡as¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be
misconstrued¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sitting¡room£»¡¡where¡¡my¡¡sister¡¡was
awaiting¡¡the¡¡news£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡read¡¡as¡¡follows£º
MY¡¡DEAR¡¡DOCTOR£º
I¡¡kept¡¡my¡¡appointment¡¡last¡¡night¡¡with¡¡Rama¡¡Ragobah¡¡and£»¡¡although
nothing¡¡transpired¡¡at¡¡all¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡me¡¡in¡¡locating¡¡Mr¡£
Darrow's¡¡assassin£»¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡interview£»¡¡though¡¡short£»¡¡was¡¡interesting
and¡¡worth¡¡narrating¡£¡¡¡¡Promptly¡¡at¡¡nine¡¡o'clock¡¡I¡¡was¡¡at¡¡my¡¡post¡¡by
the¡¡little¡¡cave¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡still¡¡staying¡¡with¡¡Herr¡¡Blaschek¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡I
had¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡rods¡¡to¡¡travel£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡quit¡¡the¡¡house¡¡until¡¡within
five¡¡minutes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time¡¡appointed¡¡for¡¡our¡¡meeting¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡stepped
out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡I¡¡noticed¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡form¡¡glide¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡tree£»
about¡¡a¡¡rod¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡sure¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Ragobah£»
yet¡¡I¡¡had¡¡little¡¡doubt¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡trifle¡¡taken¡¡aback¡¡at¡¡the
moment£»¡¡and¡¡instinctively¡¡placed¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡revolver¡¡and
grasped¡¡my¡¡cane¡¡more¡¡firmly¡£¡¡¡¡Should¡¡occasion¡¡require¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡counted
upon¡¡this¡¡cane¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡revolver£»¡¡for£»¡¡innocent¡¡and
inoffensive¡¡as¡¡it¡¡looked£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡most¡¡deadly¡¡execution¡£
I¡¡had¡¡chosen¡¡it¡¡in¡¡preference¡¡to¡¡many¡¡other¡¡more¡¡pretentious¡¡weapons
which¡¡had¡¡suggested¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡consisted¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small£»
flexible¡¡steel¡¡wire¡¡hardly¡¡bigger¡¡than¡¡the¡¡blade¡¡of¡¡a¡¡foil£»
surmounted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡good¡sized¡¡lead¡¡ball£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡a
closely¡¡woven¡¡fabric¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡grasping¡¡the¡¡cane¡¡by¡¡its¡¡lower¡¡end¡¡a
tremendously¡¡heavy¡¡blow¡¡could¡¡be¡¡struck¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ball£»¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡an
attempt¡¡were¡¡made¡¡to¡¡shield¡¡the¡¡head¡¡by¡¡throwing¡¡up¡¡the¡¡arm£»¡¡it
was¡¡almost¡¡certain¡¡to¡¡fail¡¡of¡¡its¡¡object¡¡since¡¡the¡¡flexibility¡¡of
the¡¡wire¡¡permitted¡¡it¡¡to¡¡bend¡¡about¡¡an¡¡obstruction¡¡until¡¡its¡¡loaded
end¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡home¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡perhaps¡¡think¡¡that£»¡¡since¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not
make¡¡use¡¡of¡¡this¡¡weapon£»¡¡I¡¡need¡¡not¡¡have¡¡troubled¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡describe
it¡£¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡that¡¡is¡¡so£»¡¡but£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡assure¡¡you£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡Ragobah£»
for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡he£»¡¡glide¡¡behind¡¡that¡¡tree£»¡¡and¡¡reflected¡¡how¡¡capable¡¡he
was¡¡of¡¡every¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡treachery£»¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡¡parted¡¡with¡¡that
cane¡¡for¡¡its¡¡weight¡¡in¡¡gold¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Indian¡¡had¡¡pledged¡¡me¡¡to¡¡come
alone¡¡and¡¡had¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡do¡¡likewise£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡any¡¡tree¡¡might
conceal¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡minions£»¡¡hired¡¡to¡¡assassinate¡¡me¡¡while¡¡he¡¡engaged
my¡¡attention¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡this£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡did¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡affect¡¡my
decision¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡go¡¡alone£»¡¡and¡¡Miss¡¡Darrow's¡¡interests
required¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡keep¡¡my¡¡covenant¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡done¡¡so£»
even¡¡though¡¡I¡¡had¡¡known¡¡Ragobah¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡betray¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡may¡¡as¡¡well£»
however£»¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡at¡¡once¡¡that¡¡my¡¡suspicions¡¡wronged¡¡the¡¡fellow¡£
He¡¡had¡¡evidently¡¡taken¡¡his¡¡station¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡to¡¡satisfy¡¡himself£»
without¡¡exposure£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡my¡¡promise¡¡and¡¡come¡¡alone¡£
When¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡I¡¡found¡¡him¡¡awaiting¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡he¡¡was¡¡able
to¡¡get¡¡there¡¡before¡¡me¡¡passes¡¡my¡¡comprehension£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡he¡¡was¡£
He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡waste¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡addressed¡¡me¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡my¡¡memory
is¡¡excellent¡¡and¡¡our¡¡interview¡¡was¡¡short£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡able¡¡to¡¡give¡¡you¡¡an
accurate¡¡report¡¡of¡¡what¡¡passed¡¡between¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡copy¡¡it¡¡here¡¡just¡¡as
I¡¡entered¡¡it¡¡in¡¡my¡¡notebook£»¡¡immediately¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house¡£
¡¨You¡¡naturally¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡Ragobah¡¡began£»¡¡¡¨why¡¡I¡¡have¡¡sought¡¡this
interview¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡is¡¡easily¡¡explained¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡have¡¡done¡¡me¡¡the¡¡honour£»
Sahib£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡it¡¡is¡¡such£»¡¡to¡¡suspect¡¡me¡¡of¡¡the¡¡murder¡¡of¡¡John
Darrow¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡have¡¡come¡¡here¡¡from¡¡America¡¡to¡¡fasten¡¡the¡¡crime¡¡upon
me£»¡¡and£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡my¡¡heart£»¡¡I¡¡regret¡¡your¡¡failure¡¡to¡¡do
so¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡give¡¡everything¡¡I¡¡possess¡¡on¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡gladly
suffer¡¡a¡¡life¡¡of¡¡torment£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡truthfully¡¡to¡¡say£º¡¡'I£»¡¡Rama
Ragobah£»¡¡killed¡¡John¡¡Darrow¡£'¡¡But¡¡despite¡¡all¡¡my¡¡efforts£»¡¡I£»¡¡wretch
that¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¡am¡¡innocent£¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡more¡¡than¡¡twenty¡¡years¡¡I¡¡have¡¡had¡¡but
one¡¡purpose£»¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡thought£»¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡that¡¡was¡¡to¡¡track¡¡down¡¡and¡¡slay
John¡¡Darrow¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡desire¡¡consumed¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡led¡¡me¡¡all¡¡over¡¡India
in¡¡vain¡¡search¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡nineteen¡¡years¡¡¡I¡¡laboured¡¡incessantly£»
without¡¡discovering¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as¡¡a¡¡trace¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡fled¡¡Bombay
his¡¡belongings¡¡went¡¡inland£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡was¡¡told¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡believed¡¡the¡¡story
and¡¡felt¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡should¡¡one¡¡day¡¡find¡¡him¡¡on¡¡Indian¡¡soil¡£¡¡¡¡Years
passed¡¡and¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡find¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡months¡¡ago¡¡that
I¡¡discovered¡¡his¡¡ruse¡¡and¡¡learned¡¡his¡¡whereabouts¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡scarcely
contain¡¡myself¡¡for¡¡joy¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡life¡work¡¡was¡¡at¡¡last¡¡to¡¡be¡¡completed¡£
Nothing¡¡now¡¡remained¡¡but¡¡to¡¡plan¡¡his¡¡destruction¡£¡¡¡¡This£»¡¡however£»
was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡easy¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡since£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡make¡¡my¡¡revenge
complete£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡disclose¡¡my¡¡identity¡¡before¡¡killing¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡At
length¡¡I¡¡decided¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡plan¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡at¡¡night£»¡¡when
asleep£»¡¡gag¡¡him¡¡and¡¡bind¡¡him¡¡to¡¡his¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡should¡¡learn¡¡the
name¡¡of¡¡his¡¡doomsman£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡horrible¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡death¡¡that
awaited¡¡him¡£¡¨
Ragobah¡¡paused¡¡here¡¡as¡¡if¡¡overcome¡¡by¡¡his¡¡disappointment£»¡¡and¡¡I
said£»¡¡¡¨And¡¡how¡¡did¡¡you¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡him£¿¡¨¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡throaty
chuckle£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡replied£º¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡all¡¡so¡¡very¡¡pretty£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡only¡¡to
saturate¡¡the¡¡bedclothes¡¡with¡¡oil¡¡and¡¡set¡¡fire¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡should
have¡¡lighted¡¡them¡¡at¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡flames¡¡creep¡¡upward
toward¡¡his¡¡head¡¡till¡¡safety¡¡compelled¡¡my¡¡retreat¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡for¡¡this
purpose¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡New¡¡York¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡already¡¡know¡¡the¡¡fatal¡¡delay¡¡I
incurred¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡landed¡¡I¡¡made¡¡all¡¡haste¡¡to¡¡the¡¡home¡¡of¡¡Darrow
Sahib£»¡¡in¡¡Dorchester£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡killed¡¡himself¡¡a
few¡¡days¡¡before¡¡my¡¡arrival¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡morsel¡¡for¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡striven¡¡and
hungered¡¡for¡¡twenty¡¡long¡¡years¡¡was¡¡whipped¡¡from¡¡my¡¡hand£»¡¡even¡¡as¡¡I
raised¡¡it¡¡to¡¡my¡¡mouth¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡enemy¡¡was¡¡dead£»¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of
injury£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡unstained¡¡by¡¡his¡¡blood¡£
¡¨I¡¡then¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡his¡¡daughter¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡night¡¡of¡¡my
enemy's¡¡burial¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Sahibah¡¡was¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡was¡¡intending
to¡¡leave¡¡it¡¡that¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡she¡¡would¡¡see¡¡that¡¡everything¡¡was
securely¡¡fastened¡¡before¡¡she¡¡went¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡so£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡opened¡¡one
of¡¡the¡¡windows£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡she¡¡would¡¡come¡¡to¡¡close¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Crouching
down¡¡outside¡¡I¡¡awaited¡¡her¡¡approach£»¡¡intending¡¡to¡¡spring¡¡up¡¡and¡¡stab
her¡¡while¡¡she¡¡was¡¡pulling¡¡the¡¡window¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡Everything¡¡happened¡¡as
I¡¡planned¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡ails¡¡the¡¡Sahib£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡kill¡¡her£¡¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡at¡¡the
last¡¡moment¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡mind¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡stayed¡¡my¡¡arm£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡death
of¡¡an¡¡innocent¡¡girl¡¡did¡¡not¡¡promise¡¡me¡¡any¡¡lasting¡¡satisfaction¡¡and
I¡¡gave¡¡up¡¡the¡¡idea£»¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡and¡¡re¡embarked¡¡for¡¡Bombay
as¡¡innocent¡¡in¡¡act¡¡as¡¡when¡¡I¡¡left¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡life¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡failure
and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡prolong¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡you¡¡arrested¡¡me¡¡on¡¡the
charge¡¡of¡¡murder£»¡¡nothing¡¡would¡¡have¡¡given¡¡me¡¡greater¡¡pleasure¡¡than
to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡plead¡¡guilty¡£
¡¨You¡¡already¡¡know¡¡why¡¡I¡¡so¡¡hated¡¡Darrow¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡robbed¡¡me¡¡of¡¡the¡¡only
woman¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡loved¡£¡¡¡¡Maddened¡¡by¡¡jealousy£»¡¡I¡¡told¡¡her¡¡I¡¡had¡¡thrown
him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡well¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lie£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡believed
it£»¡¡and¡¡fled¡¡from¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡had¡¡thrown¡¡herself¡¡into
that¡¡bottomless¡¡hole¡£¡¡¡¡See£»¡¡Sahib£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡and
pointing¡¡down¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡shaft£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¨that¡¡is¡¡the¡¡road¡¡she¡¡took¡¡in¡¡order
that¡¡her¡¡bones¡¡might¡¡rest¡¡with¡¡his£»¡¡and£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡they¡¡are
thousands¡¡of¡¡miles¡¡apart¡£¡¡¡¡It's¡¡not¡¡the¡¡triumph¡¡I¡¡planned£»¡¡but¡¡it's
all¡¡I¡¡have£¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡this¡¡is¡¡why¡¡I¡¡brought¡¡you¡¡here£»¡¡that¡¡you¡¡may¡¡take
back¡¡to¡¡my¡¡enemy's¡¡family¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡in¡¡death¡¡I¡¡am¡¡triumphant¡£
Tell¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡his¡¡full¡¡height£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡while¡¡the
carcass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡English¡¡cur¡¡rots¡¡in¡¡a¡¡foreign¡¡land£»¡¡Rama¡¡Ragobah's
bones¡¡lie¡¡mingled¡¡with¡¡those¡¡of¡¡his¡¡beautiful¡¡Lona£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡blood
was¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡rushed¡¡fiercely¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡quickness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cat
he¡¡dodged¡¡me£»¡¡spat¡¡in¡¡my¡¡face¡¡as¡¡I¡¡turned£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡horrible
laugh£»¡¡sprang¡¡headlong¡¡into¡¡the¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡Down¡¡deeper¡¡and¡¡deeper¡¡sank
the¡¡laugh¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡it¡¡died¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡plash¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡all¡¡was
silent¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Rama¡¡Ragobah¡¡was¡¡gone£¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡fully¡¡ten¡¡minutes¡¡I¡¡stood
dazed¡¡and¡¡irresolute¡¡and¡¡then¡¡returned¡¡mechanically¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house¡£
I¡¡at¡¡first¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡informing¡¡the¡¡authorities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole
affair£»¡¡but£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡realised¡¡how¡¡hard¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡prove
my¡¡innocence¡¡were¡¡I¡¡charged¡¡with¡¡Ragobah's¡¡murde