the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第23章
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is one of those women who fully understand the nature of a covenant； and
I am easier； therefore； than I otherwise could be regarding her condition。
Give her my kind regards and tell her that she may expect news of
importance by my next communication。 It is very late； so good…bye； until
the arrival of the Dalmatia。 Your friend；GEORGE MAITLAND。
This letter was delivered one morning when Gwen； my sister Alice；
and I were at breakfast。 As I broke the seal I noticed that both ladies put
down their knives and forks and ceased to eat。 A glance at Gwen's eager
face convinced me that she had no appetite for anything but my letter； and
I accordingly read it aloud。 When I came to the last part of it； where
Maitland referred to her； a flush； of pride I thought at the time； overspread
her face； and when I had finished she said with some show of excitement；
〃If Mr。 Maitland succeed in bringing Ragobah to justice I … I shall owe him
a debt of gratitude I can never repay！ It all seems like a romance； only so
frightfully real。 We may expect another letter in a few days； may we not？
And Mr。 Maitland； when may we expect him？〃
I replied that I thought we might reasonably expect news of
importance within five or six days； and that； so far as Maitland's return
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was concerned； I did not look for it for as many weeks； as he would
doubtless have to cope with the law's delay there； as he would if here； and
to comply with many tedious formalities before the government would
allow Ragobah to be brought to this country for trial。 The only reply
Gwen vouchsafed to this statement was a long…drawn unconscious sigh；
which I interpreted as meaning； 〃Will it never end！〃
CHAPTER II
He who shakes the tree of Vengeance but harvests apples of
Sodom in whose fruit of ashes he becomes buried； for the wage of the
sinner is death。
There was no doubt of Ragobah's guilt in any of our minds； so that
action at our end of the line seemed entirely useless； and nothing was left
us but to quietly await whatever developments Maitland should disclose。
We were not kept long in suspense； for in less than a week his next letter
arrived。 I broke its seal in the presence of Gwen and my sister who； if
possible； were even more excited than I myself。 Is it to be wondered at？
Here was the letter which was to tell us whether or not the murderer of
John Darrow had been caught。 We felt that if Ragobah had returned to
India； according to his expressed intention； there could be no doubt upon
this point。 But had he so returned？ I read as follows：
MY DEAR DOCTOR：
The Dalmatia arrived as expected on Thursday； and on her came
Ragobah。 I had him arrested as he stepped from the boat。 When
examined he did not seem in the least disconcerted at the charges I
preferred against him。 This did not surprise me； however； as I had
expected that a man who could roll his naked body over the burning sands
from Mabaj an to the Ganges； and who could rise from the Vaisyan to the
Brahman caste； … albeit he fell again； … would not be likely to betray his
cause by exhibiting either fear or excitement。 He acknowledged his
acquaintance with Mr。 Darrow and the ill…feeling existing between them。
When charged with his murder at Dorchester on the night of the 22d of
April he coolly asked if I were aware when and how he had left India。 I
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had not neglected to look this matter up and told him he had left on the
same steamer which had brought him back … the Dalmatia …=20 which
should have arrived at New York on the 21st of April； thus leaving him
ample time to get to Boston before the night of the 22d。 To this he replied
with the utmost assurance。 （I give you the exact gist of what he said。
Since I was not able to immediately commit his language to writing； you
will； of course； hardiy expect me to remember those peculiar Oriental
idioms which an Indian； however great his command of English； never
drops。 What I say here is； of course； true of all conversations I put before
you except such as I practically reported。） … But to return to our muttons。
As I was saying； he replied with the utmost assurance：
〃The Sahib is right。 I did sail upon the Dalmatia； due at New York
on the 21st of April。 This steamer； as you are perhaps aware； is propelled
by twin screws。 On the trip in question she broke one of her propellers in
mid…Atlantic and in consequence； arrived in New York on the 24th of April；
three days late； without the transference of any of her passengers to other
boats。 If you will take the trouble to at once verify this statement at the
steamship office； you will be able to relieve me of the annoyance of
further detention。〃
All this was said with a rare command of language and a cold； cynical
politeness which cut like a knife。 I at first thought it was merely a ruse to
gain time； but the steamship officials substantiated every word uttered by
Ragobah relative to their vessel。 The Dalmatia had steamed into New
York at eleven o'clock on the morning of the 24th day of April with a
broken screw！
Imagine my amazement！ The net of circumstantial evidence wound
around Ragobah seemed to be such as to leave no possibility of escape；
and yet； the very first effort made to draw it tighter about him had resulted
in his walking； with the utmost ease； right through its meshes！ There is
no gainsaying such an alibi； and I am； therefore； forced to acknowledge
that Rama Ragobah could not； by any possibility； have murdered John
Darrow。 That he may have planned the deed and that he may have
intended to be present at its execution is quite possible； but we may at
once dismiss the idea of his having personally committed the act。 You
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will immediately appreciate that nearly all of the evidence which we
secured against Ragobah was directed against him as the assassin； and is
of little or no use to prove his complicity in an affair committed by another。
In his hatred of Mr。 Darrow we have； I believe； a sufficient motive for the
act； but what evidence have we to support the theory that the murder was
committed by anyone acting in his interests？ I must confess my inability
to detect； at present writing； the slightest evidence that Ragobah acted
through an accomplice。 So； here the matter rests。
I may state in closing that Ragobah has requested the 〃pleasure〃 （sic）
of a private interview with me on Malabar Hill to…morrow night。 As
there is a bare possibility he may let fall something which may shed some
light upon the accomplice hypothesis； I have agreed to meet him at the
entrance to the little cave at nine o'clock。 He has requested that I come
（alone and I shall do so； but； lest you fear for my safety； let me assure you
that I know very well the unscrupulous nature of the man with whom I am
to deal and that I shall take good care not to afford him any opportunity to
catch me unawares。 You will hear from me again after I meet Ragobah。
Remember me kindly to Miss Darrow。 The failure of my enterprise
will； I know； be a bitter disappointment to her； and you must temper this
acknowledgment of it with such a hope of ultimate success as you may
enjoy。 Tell her I shall never cease my efforts to solve this mystery so
long as I am able to find a clue； however slight； to follow。 At present I
am all at sea； and it looks as if I should have to go clear back and start all
over again。 Ragobah； as a point of departure； has not proved a success。
With my kind regards to you all； I remain； cordially yours；
GEORGE MAITLAND。
I read this through aloud； despite the fact that I knew some parts of it
were intended only for my perusal。 Gwen did not speak until some
minutes after I had finished； and then only to express a fear that； despite
his caution； harm might come to Maitland at his interview with Ragobah。
She seemed to be far less disappointed at Maitland's failure to convict
Ragobah than she was fearful for her friend's personal safety。 She was
restless and ill at ease for the next two or three days … in fact； until the
arrival of Maitland's next letter。 This came during my absence on a
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professional call； and when I returned home she met me with it at the door
with an expression of relief upon her countenance so plain as not to be
misconstrued。 We went into the sitting…room； where my sister was
awaiting the news； and I read as follows：
MY DEAR DOCTOR：
I kept my appointment last night with Rama Ragobah and； although
nothing transpired at all likely to assist me in locating Mr。 Darrow's
assassin； yet the interview； though short； was interesting and worth
narrating。 Promptly at nine o'clock I was at my post by the little cave。 I
am still staying with Herr Blaschek and； as I had but a few rods to travel； I
did not quit the house until within five minutes of the time appointed for
our meeting。 As I stepped out into the d
