the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第27章
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perform certain minor duties which； through oversight； had not been set
down as part of his work when he was engaged。 So far as she knew no
altercation had taken place and there were no hard feelings on either side。
Sam Lee had bade her good…bye and had seemed sorry to leave；
notwithstanding which； however； he refused； with true Chinese pertinacity；
to assume the new duties。 She did not think it likely that either of these
Chinamen had been instrumental in her father's death； yet she agreed with
Maitland that it would be a point gained to be assured of this fact。
Maitland accordingly determined to depart at once for San Francisco； and
the next day he was off。
We received no letters from him during his absence and were；
accordingly； unable to tell when he expected to get back。 Since his return
from India Gwen had given evidence of a reviving interest in life； but now
that he was again away； she relapsed into her old listless condition； from
which we found it impossible to arouse her。 Alice； who did her utmost to
please her； was at her wit's end。 She could never tell which of two
alternatives Gwen preferred； since that young lady would invariably
express herself satisfied with either and did not seem to realise why she
should be expected to have any choice in the matter。 Alice was quite at a
loss to understand this state of affairs； until I told her that Gwen was in a
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condition of semi…torpor in which even the effort of choice seemed an
unwarrantable outlay。 She simply did not care what happened。 She felt
nothing； save a sense of fatigue； and even what she saw was viewed as
from afar； … and seemed to her a drama in which she took no other part
than that of an idle； tired； and listless spectator。 Clearly she was losing her
hold on life。 I told Alice we must do our utmost to arouse her； to
stimulate her will； to awaken her interest； and we tried many things in
vain。
Maitland had been gone； I think； about three weeks when my sister
and I hit upon a plan which we thought might have the desired effect upon
Gwen。 Before her father's death she had been one of the most active
members of a Young People's Club which devoted every Wednesday
evening to the study of Shakespeare。 She had attended none of its
meetings since her bereavement； but Alice and I soon persuaded her to
accompany us on the following week and I succeeded； by a little quiet
wire…pulling； in getting her appointed to take charge of the following
meeting； which was to be devoted to the study of 〃Antony and Cleopatra。〃
When informed of the task which had been imposed upon her Gwen was
for declining the honour at once； and the most Alice and I were able to do
was to get her to promise to think it over a day or so before she refused。
The next morning Maitland walked in upon us。 He had found both of
Mr。 Darrow's former servants and satisfied himself that they were in San
Francisco on the night of the murder。 So that ended my Chinese clue。
While Alice and Gwen were discussing the matter； I took occasion to draw
Maitland aside； and told him of Gwen's appointment to take charge of the
Cleopatra night； and how necessary it was to her health that she should be
aroused from her torpor。 It doesn't take long for Maitland to see a thing；
and before I had whispered a dozen sentences he had completely grasped
the situation。 He crossed the room； drew a chair up beside Gwen； and sat
down。 〃Miss Darrow；〃 he began； 〃I am afraid you will have a poor opinion
of me as a detective。 This is the second time I have failed。 I feel that I
should remind you again of our compact； at least； that part of it which
permits you to dispense with my services whenever you shall see fit to do
so； and； at the same time； to relieve you from your obligation to let me
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order your actions。 I tell you frankly it will be necessary for you to
discharge me； if you would be rid of me； for； unless you do so； or I find
the assassin； I shall never cease my search so long as I have the strength
and means to conduct it。 What do you say？ Have I not proved my
uselessness？〃 This was said in a tentative； half…jesting tone。 Gwen
answered it very seriously。
〃You have done for me；〃 she said； in the deep； vibrating tones of her
rich contralto voice； 〃all that human intelligence could suggest。 You
have examined the evidence and conducted the whole affair with a
thoroughness which I never could have obtained elsewhere。 That your
search has been unavailing is due； not to any fault of yours； but rather to
the consummate skill of the assassin； who； I think； we may conclude； is no
ordinary criminal。 I do not know much of the abilities of Messrs。
Osborne and Allen； but I understand that M。 Godin has the reputation of
being the cleverest detective in America。 I cannot learn that he has
made any progress whatsoever in the solution of this terrible mystery。 I
do not feel； therefore； that you have any right to reproach yourself。 Such
hope as I have that my father's murderer may ever be brought to justice
rests in your efforts； else I should feel bound to relieve you of a task；
which； though self…imposed； is； none the less； onerous and ill…paid。 Do
not consider me altogether selfish if I ask that you still continue the search；
and that I … that I still be held to my covenant。 I am aware that I can
never fully repay the kindness I am asking of you； but … 〃
Maitland did not wait for her to finish。 〃Let us not speak of that；〃 he
said。 〃It is enough to know that you are still satisfied with my； thus far；
unsuccessful efforts in your behalf。 There is nothing affords me keener
pleasure than to struggle with and solve an intricate problem； whether it be
in algebra； geometry； or the mathematics of crime； and then … well； even if
I succeed； I shall quit the work your debtor。〃
He had spoken this last impulsively； and when he had finished he
remained silent； as if surprised and a bit nettled at his own failure to
control himself。 Gwen made no reply； not even raising her eyes； but I
noticed that her=20fingers at once busied themselves with the entirely
uncalled…for labour of readjusting the tidy upon the arm of her chair； and I
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thought that； if appearances were to be trusted； she was very happy and
contented at the change she had made in the bit of lacework beneath her
hands。 With singular good sense； with which she was always surprising
me； Alice now introduced the subject of the Young People's Club； and
mentioned incidentally that Gwen was to have charge of the next meeting。
Before Gwen had time to inform Maitland that she intended to decline this
honour； he congratulated her upon it； and rendered her withdrawal difficult
by saying： 〃I feel that I should thank you； Miss Darrow； for the faithful
way in which you fulfil the spirit of your agreement to permit me to order
your actions。 I know； if you consulted your own desires； you would
probably decline the honour conferred upon you； and that in accepting it；
you are influenced by the knowledge that you are pursuing just the course
I most wish you to follow。 Verily； you make my office of tyrant over you
a perfect sinecure。 I had expected you to chafe a little under restraint； but；
instead； I find you voluntarily yielding to my unexpressed desires。〃
Gwen made no reply； but we heard no more of her resignation。 She
applied herself at once to the preparation of her paper upon 〃Antony and
Cleopatra。〃 Maitland； who； like all vigorous； healthy； and informed
intellects； was an ardent admirer of Shakespeare； found time to call on
Gwen and to discuss the play with her。 This seemed to please her very
much； and I am sure his interest in the play was abnormal。 He confessed
to me that every morning； as he awoke； the first thing which flashed into
his mind； even before he had full possession of his senses； was these
words of Antony：
〃I am dying； Egypt； dying。〃
He professed himself utterly unable to account for this； and asked me
what I thought was the cause of it。 He furthermore suddenly decided that
he would ask Gwen to propose his name for membership at the next
meeting of the Young People's Club。 I hastily indorsed this resolution；
for I had a vague sort of feeling that it would please Gwen。
The 〃Antony and Cleopatra〃 night at length arrived。 We all attended
the meeting and listened to a very able paper upon the play。 One of the
most marked traits of Gwen's character is that whatever she does she does
thoroughly； and this was fully exemplified on the night in question。
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Maitland was very much impressed by some verse Gwen had written for
the occasion； and a copy of which he succeeded in procuring from her。 I
think； from certain remarks he made； that it was the broad and somewhat
unfeminine charity expressed in the verse which most astonished and
attracted him； but of this； after what I have said；
