the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第12章
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not finish her sentence。 The futility of gentleness … the realisation that
her father was forever past all need of tenderness； fell like a shroud about
her soul。 The awakening I had dreaded had come。 Her hand fell from
the chair； she staggered； and would have fallen to the floor had not
Maitland caught her in his arms。
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The Darrow Enigma
THE EPISODE OF THE SEALED
DOCUMENT
CHAPTER 1
Father of all surveyors； Time drags his chain of rust through
every life； and only Love … unaging God of the Ages … immeasurable；
keeps his untarnished youth。
Maitland carried the unconscious girl into the study； and for some time
we busied ourselves in bringing her to herself。 When this task was
accomplished we did not feel like immediately putting any further tax
upon her strength。 Maitland insisted that she should rest while he and I
ransacked the desk； and； ever mindful of her promise to obey his
instructions； she yielded without remonstrance。 Our search revealed the
insurance policies； and a sealed envelope bearing the inscription： 〃To Miss
Gwen Darrow； to be opened after the death of John Darrow；〃 and three
newspapers with articles marked in blue pencil。 I read the first aloud。 It
ran as follows：
I have reason to believe an attempt will sooner or later be made upon
my life； and that the utmost cunning will be employed to lead the
authorities astray。 The search for the assassin will be long； expensive；
and discouraging … just such a task as is never successfully completed
without some strong personal incentive。 This I propose to supply in
advance。 My death will place in my daughter's hands a fund of fifty
thousand dollars； to be held in trust by her； and delivered； in the event of
my being murdered； to such person or persons as shall secure evidence
leading to the conviction of the murderer。 （Signed） JOHN HINTON
DARROW。
I glanced at the other two papers … the marked article was the same in
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each。 〃I wonder what your friend Osborne would say to that；〃 I said to
Maitland。
〃How old are the papers？〃 he replied。
〃March l5th； … only a little over a month；〃 I answered。
〃Let me see them； please；〃 he said。 〃Hum！ All of the same date；
and each in the paid part of the paper！ It is clear Mr。 Darrow inserted
these singular notices himself。 I will tell you what Osborne will say
when he learns of these articles。 He will say they strengthen his theory；
that no sane man would publish such a thing； except as a weak attempt to
deceive the insurance companies。 As for the money all being paid to the
discoverer of the assassin； instead of to his daughter； he will simply
dispose of that by saying： 'No assassin； no reward； and the fund remains
intact。' If now； the other papers permit Miss Darrow to use the interest of
this fund while holding the principal in trust； we do not at present know
enough of this matter to successfully refute Osborne's reasoning。 This
mystery seems to grow darker rather than lighter。 The one thing upon
which we seem continually to get evidence is the question of sanity。 If
Mr。 Darrow's suspicions were directed against no one in particular； then it
is clear his dreams； and all the rest of his fears for that matter； had a purely
subjective origin； which is to say that upon this one subject； at least； he
was of unsound mind。〃
〃I cannot think so；〃 Gwen interrupted。 〃He was so rational in
everything else。〃
〃That is quite possible；〃 I replied。 〃I have known people to be
monomaniacs upon the subject of water； and to go nowhere without a
glass of it in their hands。 There is also a well…authenticated case of a man
who was as sane as you or I until he heard the words 'real estate。' One
day while quietly carving the meat at a dinner to which he had invited
several guests； a gentleman opposite him inadvertently spoke the fatal
words； when； without a word of warning； he sprang at him across the table；
using the carving…knife with all the fury of the most violent maniac； and
yet； under all other conditions； he was perfectly rational。〃
〃If； on the other hand；〃 said Maitland； continuing his remarks as if
unaware of our interruption； 〃Mr。 Darrow's suspicions had any foundation
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in fact； it is almost certain they must have been directed against some
specific person or persons。 If so； why did he not name them ？ … but；
stay … how do we know that he did not？ Let us proceed with our
examination of the papers；〃 and he began perusing the insurance policies。
Neither Gwen nor I spoke till he had finished and thrown them down；
when we both turned expectantly toward him。
〃All in Osborne's favour so far；〃 he said。 〃Principal to be held in trust
by Miss Darrow under the terms of a will which we have yet to find； the
income； until the discharge of the trust； to go to Miss Darrow。 Now for
this；〃 and he passed Gwen the sealed envelope addressed to her。
She broke the seal with much agitation。 〃Shall I read it aloud？〃 she
asked。
We signified our desire to hear it； and she read as follows：
MY DEAR GWEN：
My forebodings have seemed to you strange and uncalled for； but
when this comes to your hand you will know whether or not they were
groundless。 Of one episode in my career which shook the structure of
my being to its foundation stone； you have been carefully kept in
ignorance。 It is necessary that you should know it when I am gone； and I
have accordingly committed it to this paper； which will then fall into your
hands。 My early life； until two years after I married your mother； was
spent in India； the adult portion thereof being devoted to the service of the
East India Company。 I had charge of a department in their depot at
Bombay。 You have seen Naples。 Add to the beauties of that city the
interesting and motley population of Cairo and you can form some idea of
the attractions of Bombay。 I was very happy there until the occurrence of
the event I am about to narrate。
One morning； my duties calling me to one of the wharves； my
attention was attracted by a young girl dancing upon the flags by the
water's edge。 The ordinary bayadere is so common an object in India as
to attract but little notice from anyone of refined tastes； but this girl；
judging from the chaste beauty of her movements； was of a very different
type。 As my curiosity drew me nearer to her she turned her face toward
me； and in that instant I knew my hour had come。
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Though many years her senior she was still my first love； … the one
great passion of my life。
I do not attempt to describe her ineffable loveliness； for； like the
beauty of a flower； it was incapable of analysis。 Nothing that I could
write would give you any adequate idea of this girl's seraphic face； for she
was like unto no one you have ever seen in this cold Western world。 I
watched in a wild； nervous transport； I know not how long … time and
space had no part in this new ecstasy of mine！ I could think of nothing； do
nothing … only feel； … feel the hot blood deluge my brain only to fall back
in scalding torrents upon my heart with a pain that was exquisite pleasure。
Suddenly she changed her step and executed a quick backward
movement toward the water； stopping just as her heels touched the curb at
the edge of the wharf； then forward； and again a quick return to the
backward movement； but this time she mistook the distance； her heels
struck the curb forcibly； and she was precipitated backward into the water。
For a moment I stood as one petrified； unable to reason； much less to act；
then the excited voices of the crowd recalled me。 They had thrown a rope
into the water and were waiting for her to come to the surface and grasp it。
The wall from which she had fallen must have been at least fifteen feet
above the water； which was littered with broken spars； pieces of timber；
and other odd bits of wood。 It seemed as if she would never come to the
surface； and when at length she did； she did not attempt to seize the rope
thrown to her； but sank without a movement。 The truth flashed upon me
in an instant。 She had struck her head against some of the floating drift
and was unconscious！ Something must be done at once。 I seized the
rope and sprang in after her； taking good care to avoid obstructions； and
although； as you know； I never learned to swim； I succeeded in reaching
her； and we were drawn up together。 I bore her in my arms into one of
the storerooms close by； and； laying her upon a bale of cotton； used such
restoratives as could be quickly procured。
I was kneeling by her； my arm under her neck； in the act of raising her
head； when she opened her eyes； and fastened them； full of wonderment；
upon my face。 A moment more； her memory returning to her； she made a
little movement； as
