the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第19章
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The Darrow Enigma
habit of thoroughness as the experiments of chemistry。 When one learns
that even a grain of dust will； in some cases； vitiate everything； he acquires
a new conception of the term 'clean' and is likely to be thorough in
washing his apparatus。 From this the habit grows upon him and widens
its application until it embraces all his actions。〃
This remark did not surprise me as it would have a few weeks before；
for I had come to learn that Gwen was liable at any time to suddenly
evince a very unfeminine depth of observation and firmness of
philosophical grasp。
Maitland had been gone just six weeks to a day when we received
from him the first news having any particular bearing upon the matter
which had taken him abroad。 I give this communication in his own
words； omitting only a few personal observations which I do not feel
justified in disclosing； and which； moreover； are not necessary to the
completeness of this narrative：
MY DEAR DOCTOR：
I have at last something to report bearing upon the case that brought
me here； and perhaps I can best relate it by simply telling you what my
movements have been since my arrival。 My first errand was to Malabar
Hill。 I thought it wise to possess myself； so far as possible； of facts
proving the authenticity of Mr。 Darrow's narrative。 I found without
difficulty the banyan tree which had been the trysting…place； and close by
it the little cave with its mysterious well； … everything in fact precisely as
related； even to the 〃Farsees'〃 garden or cemetery； with its 〃Tower of
Silence；〃 or 〃Dakhma；〃 as it is called by the natives。 The cave and the
banyan are among the many attractions of what is now Herr Blaschek's
villa。 This gentleman； with true German hospitality； asked me to spend a
few days with him； and I was only too glad to accept his invitation； as I
believed his knowledge of Bombay might be of great service to me。 In
this I did not mistake。 I told him I wished to ascertain the whereabouts of
a Rama Ragobah； who had been something between a rishi and a fakir；
and he directed me at once to a fakir named Parinama who； he said； would
be able to locate my man； if he were still alive and in Bombay。
You can imagine how agreeably surprised I was to find that Parinama
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knew Ragobah well。 I had anticipated some considerable difficulty in
learning the latter's whereabouts； and here was a man who could=20 … for
a sufficient consideration … tell me much； if not all； about him。 I secured
an interpreter； paid Parinama my money； and proceeded to catechise him。
I give you my questions and his answers just as I jotted them down in my
notebook：
Q。 What is Ragobah's full name？
A。 Rama Ragobah。 =20
Q。 How long have you known him？
A。 Thirty…five year。
Q。 Has he always lived in Bombay？ A。 No； Sahib；
Q。 Where else？
A。 For a good many year he have travel all the time。
Q。 Is he in Bombay now？
A。 No； Sahib。
Q。 Where is he？
A。 Over the sea； Sahib。
Q。 Do you know where？
A。 He sail for America； New York。
Q。 When？
A。 About eleven week ago。
Q。 Do you know for what he undertook this journey？
A。 Some personal affair of long time ago which he wish to settle … the
same which make him so many year travel through India。
Q。 Was he in search of someone？
A。 Yes； Sahib。
Q。 Some Indian woman？
A。 No； Sahib。
Q。 Some other woman； then？
A。 No； Sahib。
Q。 A man； then； an Englishman；
A。 Yes； Sahib。
Q。 What kind of a man is this Ragobah？
A。 He very big man。
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Q。 What is his disposition？ Is he generally liked？
A。 No。 His temper bad。 He cruel； revengeful； overbearing； and
selfish。 He most hated by those who best know him。
Q。 He is a friend of yours； you say？
A。 I say no such thing！ Do you think I sell secret of friend？ I have
great reason for hating him； or I not now be earning your money。
Q。 Ah！ I see。 What did you say he wanted of this Englishman？
A。 I no say； Sahib。
Q。 You said some personal affair of long standing； I believe。
A。 Yes； Sahib。
Q。 Do you know its nature？
A。 No； I not know it； but I have not much doubt about it； Sahib。
Q。 What do you think； then？
A。 I think there but one passion strong enough in Ragobah to make
plain his hunt like dog for last twenty year。 Such persevere mean strong
motive； and as I have good reason to remember how quick he forget a
kindness； I know he not moved by friendship； Sahib。
Q 。His motive then is …=20
A。 Revenge。
Q。 Have you any idea why he cherishes this malice？
A。 I think it because some old love affair； some rival in his wife's love。
Q。 Indeed！ Then he has been married？
A。 Yes； Sahib。
Q。 Where shall I find his wife？
A。 All that is left of her is in the bottomless well in the cave on
Malabar Hill。
Q。 Did Ragobah kill her？
A。 No； that is； not with his own hand。
Q。 How long ago did she die？
A。 More than twenty year； Sahib。
Q。 Are any of her relatives living？
A。 Her husband； Sahib； and a cousin； that is all。
Q。 Is there anyone else who could tell me of this woman？
A。 Moro Scindia could； but he not do it。
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Q。 Why？ Is he Ragobah's friend？
A。 Ragobah has no friends； Sahib。
Q。 Why； then？
A。 He under oath to tell what was told him only to one person。 He
has keep his secret out of every year for more as twenty year； and can no
be expect to tell to you； Sahib。
Q。 Can you bring this man to me？ You will both be well paid for
your time； of course。
A。 I bring him； Sahib； but I not make him speak。
Q。 Let me see you both； then； to…night at eight； at Herr Blaschek's villa
on Malabar Hill。 Ask for Mr。 Maitland。
A。 We be there。 Anything more； Sahib？
Q。 Yes。 When is Ragobah expected to return？
A。 He write that he think he return on the Dalmatia。 She due next
day after to…morrow。
Q。 Has Ragobah any physical peculiarities？
A。 His hands and feet they very small for man so big and strong。
Q。 Anything else？
A。 His left leg been hurt。 The foot very bad shape； and the whole leg
some bad； and； … what you call … halt when he walk。
Q。 Has he the habit of biting his finger nails？
A。 I not know he has； Sahib。
This completed the list of questions which I had desired to ask him； so；
after once more receiving his assurance that he would meet me in the
evening with his friend Scindia； I left him。 As you know； I am not wont
to draw conclusions until all the evidence is in； but I must confess that；
looking at the whole matter from start to finish； there seems to have fallen
upon Ragobah a net of circumstantial evidence so strong； and with a mesh
of detail so minute； that it does not seem possible a mosquito could escape
from it。 Look at it a moment from this standpoint。 Ragobah alone； so far
as we know； has a motive for the murder。 His victim has related the feud
existing between them and foretold； with an air of the utmost assurance；
just such an outcome thereof。 Add to this that this man leaves India on a
mission which those about him do not hesitate to pronounce one of
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vengeance； at just such a time as would enable him to reach Boston just a
little before the commission of the murder； that this mission is the
culmination of twenty years of unremitting search for revenge； that this
malignity is supposed to be directed against some rival in his wife's
affections； and the chain of circumstantial evidence possesses； so far as it
extends； no weak link。 Then； too； Ragobah has very small hands； a
deformed left foot； and a limping gait； …=20 everything almost which we
had already predicted of the assassin。 So sure am I that Ragobah is the
guilty man that I shall ask for his arrest upon his arrival day after to…
morrow should he return then； a thing which； I regret to say； does not
impress me as altogether likely。 Should he not come I shall cable you to
institute a search for your end of the line。 The next thing in order which I
have to relate is my interview with Moro Scindia。 I had engaged an
interpreter； but was able to dismiss him as my guest spoke English with
more ease and fluency than he； being an intelligent and well…to…do member
of the Vaisya caste。 I thought it wise to see the venerable Scindia alone；
and accordingly sent Parinama out of the room with the interpreter。 As
before； I give you what passed between us as I jotted it down in my
notebook。
Q。 You are a friend of Rama Ragobah； are you not？
A。 No； Sahib； he has no friends。
Q。 You speak as if you disliked him。
A。 It is not Mono Scindia's habit to play the hypocrite。 I have good
reason to hate him。
Q。 You would not； then； had he committed a crime； assist him to
escape justice？
A。 I would track him like a bloodhound to the ends of the earth。
Q。 You knew Ragobah's wife？
A。 She was my cousin； Sahib。
Q。 Were your relations friendly？
A
