the darrow enigma-第6章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　theory　of　exclusive　opportunity。〃

〃Theory　of　exclusive　opportunity；〃　repeated　Gwen；　as　a　puzzled　look
overspread　her　countenance。　　〃I　…　I　fear　I　do　not　quite　understand
what　you　mean。〃

〃Pardon　me；　Miss　Darrow；　for　not　making　my　meaning　clearer　to　you；〃
said　Maitland　with　a　deferential　inclination　of　the　head。　　〃The
theory　of　exclusive　opportunity；　to　state　it　plainly　in　this　case；
means　simply　this：　if　Mr。　Darrow　were　murdered；　some　one　of　us　five；
we　being　the　only　ones　having　an　opportunity　to　do　the　deed；　must
be　the　assassin。　　Whether　this　view　be　taken；　or　that　of　suicide；　it
becomes　of　paramount　importance　to　find　the　weapon。　　Do　you　not　now
see　why　I　objected　to　having　anyone　leave　the　room？　　If；　as　appears
likely　from　my　search；　the　weapon　is　not　to　be　found；　and　if；　as　I
feel　reasonably　certain；　either　the　suicide　or　the　murder　theory　be
substantiated；　then；　anyone　who　left　the　room　before　official　search
was　made　would　be　held　to　have　taken　the　weapon　with　him　and　disposed
of　it；　because　his　would　have　been　the　exclusive　opportunity　of　so
doing。　　Someone　must　have　disposed　of　it；　and　no　one　else　had　a
chance　to　do　so；　that　would　be　the　way　it　would　be　stated。　　But；
since　no　one　of　us　has　left　the　room；　a　thorough　search　both　of　it
and　of　our　persons；　must　convince　the　officers　that　we；　at　least；
are　not　responsible　for　the　fact　that　the　weapon　is　not　forthcoming。〃

Maitland　paused　and　looked　at　Browne　as　if　he　expected　him　to　speak；
but　that　gentleman　only　shut　his　square　jaws　the　more　firmly　together
and　held　his　peace；　…　at　least　in　so　far　as　words　were　concerned。
If　looks；　like　actions；　〃speak　louder　than　words；〃　this　black　visage
with　its　two　points　of　fire　made　eloquent　discourse。　　I　charged　all
this　display　of　malice　to　jealousy。　　It　is　not　altogether　pleasant
to　be　placed　at　a　disadvantage　before　the　one　being　whose　good
opinion　one　prizes　above　all　things　else；　…　that　is　to　say；　I　have
read　that　such　is　the　case。　　I　do　not　consider　my　own　views　upon
such　matters　expert　testimony。　　In　all　affairs　of　the　heart　my
opinions　cease　to　have　weight　at　exactly　the　point　where　that　organ
ceases　to　be　a　pump。

Even　Gwen；　I　think；　noticed　Browne's　determined　silence；　for　she
said　to　Maitland：

〃I　am　very　grateful　that　your　forethought　prevented　me　from　causing
Mr。　Browne　even　temporary　annoyance　by　making　him　my　messenger。〃

She　paused　a　moment　and　then　continued：

〃You　were　speaking　of　the　officers'　theories。　　When　they　have
convinced　themselves　that　no　one　of　us　has　removed　the　weapon；　what
then？〃

〃In　my　opinion；〃　said　Maitland；　〃they　will　ultimately　fall　back　upon
the　suicide　theory；　but　they　must　find　the　weapon　here　before　they
can　substantiate　it；　for　if　it　be　not　here　someone　must　have　taken
it　away　and　that　someone　could　have　only　been　the　one　who　used　it
　…　the　assassin；　in　short　…　but　here　are　the　officers。　　Let　each　one
of　us　insist　upon　being　searched。　　They　can　send　to　the　station　for
a　woman　to　search　you；〃　he　said　in　an　undertone　to　Gwen　and　then
added：　〃I　trust　you　will　pardon　my　suggesting　a　course　which；　in
your　case；　seems　so　utterly　unnecessary；　but；　believe　me；　there　are
urgent　reasons　for　it　which　I　can　explain　later。　　If　we　would　hope
to　solve　this　mystery；　everything　depends　upon　absolute　thoroughness
at　this　juncture。〃

〃I　should　evince　but　poor　appreciation；〃　Gwen　replied；　〃of　the
ability　you　have　already　shown　should　I　fail　to　follow　your　slightest
suggestion。　　It　is　all　I　can　offer　you　by　way　of　thanks　for　the
kind　interest　you　have　taken。〃

The　return　of　Officer　Barker；　accompanied　by　three　other　men；　now
changed　the　tide　of　conversation。　　Maitland　advanced　and　shook　hands
with　one　whom　he　introduced　as　Mr。　Osborne；　and　this　gentleman　in
turn　introduced　his　brother　officer；　a　Mr。　Allen；　and　；　a
special　detective。

Osborne　impressed　me　as　a　man　of　only　mediocre　ability；　thoroughly
imbued　with　the　idea　that　he　is　exceptionally　clever。　　He　spoke
loudly　and；　I　thought；　a　bit　ostentatiously；　yet　withal　in　a　manner
so　frank　and　hearty　that　I　could　not　help　liking　the　fellow。

；　on　the　contrary；　seemed　retiring　almost　to　the　point　of
self…abnegation。　　He　said　but　little；　apparently　preferring　to　keep
in　the　background；　where　he　could　record　his　own　observations　in
his　note…book　without　too　frequent　interruption。　　His　manner　was
polished　in　the　extreme；　and　so　frank　withal　that　he　seemed　to　me
like　a　man　of　glass　through　whom　every　thought　shone　unhindered。
I　wondered　how　one　who　seemed　powerless　to　conceal　his　own　emotions
should　possess　a　detective's　ability　to　thread　his　way　through　the
dark　and　hidden　duplicity　of　crime。　　When　he　spoke　it　was　in　a　low；
velvety；　and　soothing　voice；　that　fell　upon　the　ear　with　an
irresistible　charm。　　When　Osborne　would　make　some　thoughtless
remark　fraught　with　bitterness　for　Gwen；　such　an　expression　of　pain
would　flit　across　's　fine　face　as　one　occasionally　sees
in　those　highly　organised　and　sympathetic　natures；　　…　usually　found
among　women　if　a　doctor's　experience　may　be　trusted；　…　which　catch
the　throb　of　another's　hurt；　even　as　adjacent　strings　strive　to
sing　each　other's　songs。

　seemed　to　me　more　priest　than　detective。　　His　clean…shaven
face；　its　beautifully　chiselled　features　suffused　with　that　peculiar
pallor　which　borrows　the　transparency　of　marble；　the　large；　limpid
brown　eyes　and　the　delicate；　kindly　mouth　…　all　these；　combined　with
a　faultless　manner　and　a　carriage　suggestive　of　power　in　reserve；
so　fascinated　me　that　I　found　myself　watching　him　continually。　　I
remember　saying　to　myself：　〃What　a　rival　he　would　make　in　a　woman's
affections！〃

At　just　that　time　he　was　looking　at　Gwen　with　tender；　solicitous
sympathy　written　in　every　feature；　and　that　doubtless　suggested　my
thought。

Mr。　Allen　was　even　more　ordinary　than　Mr。　Osborne　in　manner　and
appearance。　　I　do　not　presume　to　judge　his　real　merits；　for　I　did
not　notice　him　sufficiently　to　properly　portray　him　to　you；　even
if　I　had　the　gift　of　description；　which　I　think　you　will　admit　I
have　not。　　He　lives　in　my　memory　only　as　a　something　tall；　spare；
coarse　of　texture；　red；　hairy；　and　redolent　of　poor　tobacco。

How　different　men　are！　　（Of　course　women　are　all　alike！）　While
Osborne；　like　a　good…natured　bumble…bee；　was　buzzing　noisily　about；
as　though　all　the　world　were　his　clover…blossom；　and　Allen；　so　far
as　I　know；　was　doing　nothing；　；　alert　and　keen　despite　his
gentleness　and　a　modesty　which　kept　him　for　the　most　part
unobtrusively　in　the　shadow　of　his　chosen　corner；　was　writing
rapidly　in　a　note…book　and　speaking　no　word。　　It　seemed　as　if
nothing　escaped　him。　　　Clearly　he　was　there　to　enlighten　himself
rather　than　others。　　At　length；　pausing　to　make　a　measurement；
he　noticed　my　gaze　and　said　to　me　in　an　undertone；　as　he　glanced
solicitously　at　Gwen　lest　she　should　hear：

〃Pardon　me；　but　did　any　of　you　observe　anything；　at　or　about　the
time　of　Mr。　Darrow's　death；　which　impressed　you　as　singular；　…　any
noise；　any　shadow；　any　draught　or　change　of　temperature；　say　a
rushing　or　I　might　say　swishing　sound；　…　anything；　in　fact；　that
would　seem　to　you　as　at　all　unusual？〃

〃Nothing　whatever；〃　I　replied。　　〃Everything　seemed　perfectly　normal
and　commonplace。〃

〃Hum！　　Strange！〃　he　said；　and　returned　to　his　notes。

I　felt　sure　　had　had　a　theory　and　that　my　testimony　had　not
strengthened　it；　but　he　did　not　volunteer　any　information；　neither
did　he　take　part　in　the　conversation　of　his　companions；　and　so　my
curiosity　remained　ungratified。　　It　was　clear　that　's　methods
were　very　different　from　those　of　Osborne　and　Allen。

I　need　not　weary　you　by　further　narrating　what　occurred　at　this
official　examination。　　Suffice　it　to　say　that；　with　one　or　two　minor
exceptions；　Osborne　and　Allen　followed　the　precise　course　of
reasoning　prophesied　by　Maitland；　and；　as　for　；　he
courteously；　but　firmly；　held　his　peace。　　The　two　officers　did　not；
however；　lean　as　strongly　to　the　theory　that　death　resulted　from
natural　causes　as　Maitland　had　anticipated；　and；　I　think；　this
surprised
him。　　He　had　already　told　them　that　he　expected　to　be　able　to　show
death　to　have　resulted　from　poison　hypodermically　applied；　and；　as
I　overheard　a　remark　made　by　Osborne　to　Allen；　I　readily　understood
their　speedy　abandonment　of　their　natural…death　theory。　　They　were
engaged　in　verifying　Maitland's　measurement　of　the　east　side　of　the
room　when　Osborne　said　softly　to　his　companion：　〃He　has　figured　in
several　of　my　cases　as　a　chemical　expert；　and　when　he　expresses　an
opinion　on　a　matter　it's　about　the　same　as　proved。　　He's　not　the
kind　that　jumps　in　the　dark。　　He's　a　lawyer　as　well　as　chemist　and
knows　what's　evidence；　so　I　reckon　we'd　better　see　if　we　can　make
anything　out　of　the　suicide　and　murder　theories。〃

Maitland　had　asked　them　to　send　to　the　station　for　a　woman　to　search
Gwen　and　she　had　just　arrived。　　We　all　requested　that　a　most
thorough　examination　should　now　be　made　to　assure　the　officers　that
no　one　of　us　possessed　the　missing　weapon。　　This　done；　the　officers
and　　departed　for　the　night；　assuring　Gwen　that　there　was
nothing　further　to　be　done　till　morning；　and　Osborne；　doubtless　with
a　view　to　consoling　her；　said：　〃It　may　be　a　relief　to　you；　miss；
to　know　that　there　is　scarcely　a　doubt　that　your　father　took　his
own　life。〃　　This　had　an　effect　upon　Gwen　very　different　from　that
which　had　been　intended。　　Her　face　contracted；　and　it　was　plain　to
see　she　was　beginning　to　think　everyone　was　determined　to　force　a
falsehood　upon　her。　　Herne　and　Browne　also　prepared　to　take　their
leave。　　A　glance　from　Maitland　told　me　he　wished　me　to　remain　with
him　a　moment　after　the　others　had　departed；　and　I　accordingly　did　so。

When　we　were　alone　with　Gwen　he　said　to　her：　〃I　think　I　understand
your　feeling　with　regard　to　Mr。　Osborne's　remark；　as　well　as　your
conviction　that　it　does　not　represent　the　truth。　　I　foresaw　they
would　come　to　this　conclusion；　and　know　very　well　the　pains　they
will　take　to　prove　their　hypothesis。〃　　〃Can　nothing　be　done？〃　she
asked　beseechingly。　　〃It　is　that　of　which　I　wish　to　speak；〃　he
replied。　　〃If　you　have　sufficient　confidence　in　me　to　place　the
case　in　my　hands；　I　will　do　everything　in　my　power　to　establish
the　truth；　…　on　one　condition；〃　and　he　glanced　at　her　face；　now
pale　and　rigid　from　her　long…continued　effort　of　self…control。
〃And　that　condition　is？〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃That　you　follow　my
directions　and　permit　me　to　order　your　movements　in　all　things；　so
long　as　the　case　remains　in　my　hands；　if　at　any　time　I　seek　to
abuse　your　faith；　you　are　as　free　to　discharge　me　as　if　I　were　a
paid　detective。〃　　Gwen　looked　searchingly　at　him；　then；　extending
her　hand　to　him；　she　said　impulsively：　〃You　are　very　kind；　I
accept　the　condition。　　What　shall　I　do？〃

I　tried　to　catch　Maitland's　eye　to　tell　him　what　he　should　counsel
her；　but　a　man　with　his　ability　to　observe　conditions　and　grasp
situations　can　very　well　do　without　prompting。　　〃First；〃　he　said；
〃you　must　return　home　with　the　Doctor　and　spend　the　rest　of　the
night　with　his　sister；　I　shall　stay　here　until　morning；　and　second；
I　desire　that　you　use　your　utmost　endeavour　to　keep　the　incidents
of　this　ev