the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第10章
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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
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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
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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
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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。〃
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〃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 anything that he could not do well。〃
〃I mean
