the darrow enigma-第8章

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marked　peculiarity；　since　such　pains　had　been　taken　to　conceal　the
footprints。　　Then　the　cast　of　the　hand　here　encourages　speculation。
Fingers　long；　slim；　and　delicate；　save　at　the　nails；　where；　with　the
exception　of　the　little　finger；　are　to　be　found　unmistakable　signs
of　the　habit　of　biting　the　nails；　…　see；　here　are　the　hang…nails；
　…　but；　strange　to　say；　the　nail　of　the　little　finger　has　been
spared；　and　suffered　to　grow　to　an　unusual　length。　　I　ask　myself　why
this　particular　nail　has　been　so　favoured；　and　can　only　answer；
'because　it　has　some　peculiar　use。'　　It　is　clear　this　is　not　the　hand
of　a　manual　labourer；　the　joints　are　too　small；　the　fingers　too
delicate；　the　texture　of　the　skin；　which　is　clearly　visible；　much　too
fine　…　in　short；　wouldn't　it　pass　anywhere　for　a　woman's　hand？　　Say　a
woman　who　bit　her　nails。　　If　it　were　really　such　there　would　be　a
pair　of　feminine　feet　also　to　be　concealed；　and　boards　would　do　it
very　nicely　…　but　this　is　all　guesswork；　and　must　not　be　allowed　to
affect　any　subsequent　conclusions。　　If　you　will　excuse　me　a　few
minutes　I　will　use　the　microscope　a　little　on　the　sill　of　the　east
window　before　we　are　interrupted　by　our　friends　the　officers；　who
will　be　sure　to　be　here　soon。〃

While　Maitland　was　thus　engaged　I　did　all　in　my　power　to　distract
Gwen's　attention；　as　much　as　possible；　from　her　father's　body。
Whenever　she　regarded　it；　the　same　intense　and　set　expression
overspread　her　countenance　as　that　which　at　first　had　alarmed　me。
I　was　glad　when　Maitland　returned　from　the　window　and　began　mixing
some　of　the　chemicals　I　had　brought　him；　for　Gwen　invariably
followed　all　his　movements；　as　if　her　very　existence　depended　upon
her　letting　nothing　escape　her。　　Maitland；　who　had　asked　me　for　a
prescription　blank；　now　dipped　it　in　the　chemicals　he　had　mixed
and；　this　accomplished；　put　the　paper　in　his　microscope　box　to　dry。

〃I　have　something　here；〃　；he　said；　〃which　I　desire　to　photograph
quite　as　much　as　this　room　and　some　of　its　larger　objects；〃　and　he
pinned　a　tiny；　crumpled　mass　against　the　wall；　and　made　an　exposure
of　it　in　that　condition。　　〃Do　you　know　what　this　is？〃　he　said；　as
he　carefully　smoothed　it　out　for　another　picture。　　〃I　haven't　the
slightest　idea；〃　I　said。　　〃It　is　plain　enough　under　the　microscope；〃
he　continued；　placing　it　upon　the　slide；　and　adjusting　the　focus。
〃Would　you　like　to　examine　it；　Miss　Darrow？〃　　Gwen　had　scarcely　put
her　eye　to　the　instrument　before　she　exclaimed：　〃Why；　it's　a　piece
of　thin　outside　bark　from　a　twig　of　alder。〃　　Maitland's　face　was　a
study。。。　　〃Would　you　mind　telling　me；〃　he　said　deliberately；　〃how
you　found　that　out　so　quickly？〃　　She　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then
said　methodically；　pointing　toward　the　water；　〃I　know　the　alder　well
…　our　boat　is　moored　near　a　clump　of　them。〃　　〃You　are　a　keen
observer；〃　he　replied；　as　he　took　the　prepared　paper　from　his　box
and　spread　the　film　of　bark　upon　it　to　take　a　blue　print　of　it。
〃There　is　one　other　object　upon　the　sill　which；　unfortunately；　I
cannot　take　away　with　me；〃　he　continued；　〃but　shall　have　to　content
myself　with　photographing。　　I　refer　to　a　sinuous　line　made　in　the
paint；　while　green；　and　looking　as　if　a　short　piece　of　rope；　or；
more　properly；　rubber　tubing；　since　there　is　no　rope…like　texture
visible；　had　been　dropped　upon　it；　and　hastily　removed　…　but　see；
here　are　Osborne　and　Allen　looking　for　all　the　world　as　if　they
were　prepared　to　demonstrate　a　fourth　dimension　of　space。　　Now　we
shall　see　the　suicide　theory　proved　…　to　their　own　satisfaction；　at
least。　　But；　whatever　they　say；　don't　forget　we　are　to　keep　our　own
work　to　ourselves。〃

The　two　officers　were　alone。　　　had　apparently　decided　to　work
by　himself。　　This　did　not　in　the　least　surprise　me；　since　I　could
easily　see　that　he　had　nothing　to　gain　by　working　with　these　two
officers。

〃We've　solved　the　matter；〃　was　the　first　thing　Osborne　said　after
passing　the　time　of　day。　　〃Indeed？〃　replied　Maitland　in　a　tone　which
was　decidedly　ambiguous；　〃you　make　it　suicide；　I　suppose？〃　　〃That's
just　what　we　make　it；〃　returned　the　other。　　〃We　hadn't　much　doubt　of
it　last　night；　but　there　were　some　things；　such　as　the　motive；　for
example；　not　quite　clear　to　us；　but　it　is　all　as　plain　as　daylight
now。〃

〃And　what　says　？〃　asked　Maitland。

Mr。　Osborne　burst　into　a　loud　guffaw。

〃Oho；　but　that's　good！　　What　says　？　　I　say；　Allen；　Maitland
wants　to　know　what　'Frenchy'　says；〃　and　the　pair　laughed　boisterously。
〃It's　plain　enough　you　don't　know　；〃　he　continued；　addressing
Maitland。　　〃He's　tighter　'n　any　champagne　bottle　you　ever　saw。　　The
corkscrew　ain't　invented　that　'11　draw　a　word　out　of　。　　You
saw　him　making　notes　here　last　night。　　Well；　the　chances　are　that　if
this　were　a　murder　case；　which　it　isn't；　you'd　see　no　more　of　M。
Godin　till　he　bobbed　up　some　day；　perhaps　on　the　other　side　of　the
earth；　with　a　pair　of　twisters　on　the　culprit。　　He's　a　'wiz；'　is　M。
Godin。　　What　does　he　think？　　He　knows　what　he　thinks；　and　he's　the
only　individual　on　the　planet　that　enjoys　that　distinction。　　I　say；
Allen；　do　you　pump　'Frenchy'　for　the　gentleman's　enlightenment；〃　and
again　the　pair　laughed　long　and　heartily。

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Maitland；　〃since　we　can't　have　's　views
we　shall　have　to　content　ourselves　with　those　of　your　more　confiding
selves。　　Let's　hear　all　about　the　suicide　theory。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Osborne　in　an　undertone；　〃you　had　better　ask　Miss
Darrow　to　withdraw　for　a　few　moments；　as　there　are　some　details
likely　to　pain　her。〃　　This　suggestion　was　intended　only　for　Maitland；
but　the　officer；　used　to　talking　in　the　open　air；　spoke　so　loudly
that　we　all　overheard　him。　　〃I　thank　you　for　your　consideration；〃
Gwen　said　to　him；　〃but　I　would　much　prefer　to　remain。　　There　can　be
nothing　connected　with　this　matter　which　I　cannot　bear　to　hear；　or
should　not　know。　　Pray　proceed。〃

Osborne；　anxious　to　narrate　his　triumph；　needed　no　further　urging。
〃We　felt　sure；〃　he　began；　〃that　it　was　a　case　of　suicide；　but　were
perplexed　to　know　why　Mr。　Darrow　should　wish　to　make　it　appear　a
murder。　　Of　course；　we　thought　he　might　wish　to　spare　his　daughter
the　shame　such　an　act　would　visit　upon　her；　but　when　this　was
exchanged　for　the　horrible　notoriety　of　murder；　the　motive　didn't
seem　quite　sufficient；　so　we　looked　for　a　stronger　one　…　and　found
it。〃　　〃Ah！　　you　are　getting　interesting；〃　Maitland　observed。

Osborne　cast　a　furtive　glance　at　Gwen；　and　then　continued：　〃We
learned　on　inquiry　that　certain　recent　investments　of　Mr。　Darrow's
had　turned　out　badly。　　In　addition　to　this　he　had　been　dealing
somewhat　extensively　in　certain　electric　and　sugar　stocks；　and　when
the　recent　financial　crash　came；　he　found　himself　unable　to　cover
his　margins；　and　was　so　swept　clean　of　everything。　　Nor　is　this　all；
he　had　lost　a　considerable　sum　of　money　in　yet　another　way　…　just
how　my　informant　would　not　disclose　…　and　all　of　these　losses
combined　made　his　speedy　failure　inevitable。　　Under　such　conditions
many　another　man　has　committed　suicide；　unable　to　face　financial
ruin。　　But　this　man　had　a　daughter　to　consider；　and；　as　I　have
already　said；　he　would　wish　to　spare　her　the　disgrace　which　the
taking　of　his　own　life　would　visit　upon　her；　and；　more　than　all；
would　desire　that　she　should　not　be　left　penniless。　　The　creditors
would　make　away　with　his　estate；　and　his　daughter　be　left　a　beggar。
We　could　see　but　one　way　of　his　preventing　this；　and　that　was　to
insure　his　life　in　his　daughter's　favour。　　We　instituted　inquiries
at　the　insurance　offices；　and　found　that　less　than　a　month　ago　he
had　taken　out　policies　in　various　companies　aggregating　nearly
fifty　thousand　dollars；　whereas；　up　to　that　time；　he　had　been
carrying　only　two　thousand　dollars　insurance。　　Why　this　sudden　and
tremendous　increase？　　Clearly　to　provide　for　his　daughter　after
his　act　should　have　deprived　her　of　his　own　watchful　care。　　And　now
we　can　plainly　see　why　he　wished　his　suicide　to　pass　for　murder。
He　had　been　insured　but　a　month；　and　immediate　ruin　stared　him　in
the　face。　　His　death　must　be　consummated　at　once；　and　yet；　by
our　law；　a　man　who　takes　his　life　before　the　payment　of　his　second
annual　insurance　premium　relieves　the　company　issuing　his　policy　of
all　liability　thereunder；　and　robs　his　beneficiary　of　the　fund
intended　for　her。　　Here；　then；　is　a　sufficient　motive；　and　nothing
more　is　required　to　make　the　whole　case　perfectly　clear。　　Of　course；
it　would　be　a　little　more　complete　if　we　could　find　the　weapon；　but
even　without　it；　there　can　be　no　doubt；　in　the　light　of　our　work；
that　John　Darrow　took　his　own　life　with　the　intentions；　and　for　the
purposes；　I　have　already　set　forth。〃

〃Upon　my　soul；　gentlemen；〃　exclaimed　Maitland；　〃you　have　reasoned
that　out　well！　　Did　you　carefully　read　the　copies　of　the　various
policies　when　interrogating　the　companies　insuring　Mr。　Darrow？〃
〃Hardly；〃　Osborne　replied。　　〃We　learned　from　the　officials　all　we
needed　to　know；　and　didn't　waste　any　time　in　gratifying　idle
curiosity。〃　　A　long…drawn　〃hm…m〃　was　the　only　reply　Maitland
vouchsafed　to　this。　　〃We　regret；〃　said　Osborne；　addressing　Gwen；
〃that　our　duty；　which　has　compelled　us　to　establish　the　truth　in
this　matter；　has　been　the　means　of　depriving　you　of　the　insurance
money　which　your　father　intended　for　you。〃　Gwen　bowed；　and　a　slight
enigmatical　smile　played　for　a　moment　about　her　lips；　but　she　made
no　other　reply；　and；　as　neither　Maitland　nor　I　encouraged
conversation；　the　two　officers　wished　us　a　good…morning；　and　left
the　house　without　further　remark。

〃I　wish　to　ask　you　a　few　questions；〃　Maitland　said　to　Gwen　as　soon
as　the　door　had　closed　behind　Osborne　and　his　companion；　'and　I　beg
you　will　remember　that　in　doing　so；　however　personal　my　inquiries
may　seem；　they　have　but　one　object　in　view　…　the　solution　of　this
mystery。〃　　〃I　have　already　had　good　proof　of　your　singleness　of
purpose；〃　she　replied。　　〃Only　too　gladly　will　I　give　you　any
information　in　my　possession。　　Until　this　assassin　is　found；　and　my
father's　good　name　freed　from　the　obloquy　which　has　been　cast　upon
it；　my　existence　will　be　but　a　blank；　…　yes；　worse；　it　will　be　an
unceasing　torment；　for　I　know　my　father's　spirit　…　if　the　dead　have
power　to　return　to　this　earth　…　can　never　rest　with　this　weight　of
shame　upon　it。〃　　As　she　spoke　these　words　the　depth　of　grief　she　had
hitherto　so　well　concealed　became　visible　for　a　moment；　and　her　whole
frame　shook　as　the　expression　of　her　emotion　reacted　upon　her。　　The
next　instant　she　regained　her　old　composure；　and　said　calmly：

〃You　see　I　have　every　reason　to　shed　whatever　light　I　can　upon　this
dark　subject。〃

〃Please；　then；　to　answer　my　questions　methodically；　and　do　not　permit
yourself　to　reason　why　I　have　asked　them。　　What　was　your　father's　age？〃

〃Sixty…two。〃

〃Did　he　drink？〃

〃No。〃

〃Did　he　play　cards？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Poker？〃

〃Yes；　and　several　other　games。〃

〃Was　he　as　fond　of　them　as　of　croquet？〃

〃No；　nothing　pleased　him　as　croquet　did　…　nothing；　unless　it　were
chess。〃

〃Hum！　　Do　you　play　chess？〃

〃Yes；　I　played　a　good　deal　with　father。〃

〃What　kind　of　a　game　did　he　play？〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you。　　He　played　a　good　game；　my　father　did　not
enjoy　doing　anyth