the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第33章
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explanation of one of the peculiarities of my plaster cast。 The long nail
on the left little finger may have served its function at the gaming table。
If so； however； it would seem to indicate that our man is left…handed；
while； as we have already seen； the writing upon the library slips would
indicate that he is ambidextrous。 We need not； therefore； I reasoned； be
surprised if we find that both little fingers have long nails。 I at once
acted upon these thoughts and began a search of the gambling resorts of
this city。 In order not to excite suspicion I played a little in each place；
watching my opportunity to engage the proprietor in conversation。 In
every case I followed the same formula。 Did he remember the gentleman
who used to come there？ Foreigner； … spoke French； a little under
medium height； had a sort of halt in his walk； bit his finger nails； etc。； etc。
I met with no encouragement in the down…town places； though the
proprietor of one of the Hayward Place 'dives' had an idea such a man had
been there； but only once or twice and he was not sure he could place him。
I then went up to the South End and on Decatur Street found a man who
promptly responded to my inquiries： 'Gad！ that's Henri Cazot fast enough；
in all but the height and gait。 Dick there； he'll tell you all about him。 He
owes him a little debt of honour of about a hundred plunks。 He gave him
his note for it； and Dick carries it around with him； not because he thinks
he'll ever get it； but he likes the writing。 M。 Henri Cazot！ eh； Dick？'
and he burst into a coarse laugh。 I turned to Dick for further information。
He had already produced a much…crumpled paper and was smoothing it
out upon the table。
〃'There's the article；' he said； bringing his hand down emphatically
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upon it。 'The cuss was hard up。 Luck had gone agin him and he had
lost every cent he had。 Jem Macey was a…dealin' and Cazot didn't seem
to grasp that fact； but kept bettin' heavy。 You see； young feller； ye ain't
over likely to win at cards when yer playin' agin the dealer。 Cazot didn't
know this and I wouldn't tell him； for he was rather fly with the cards
himself when he wan't watched too close。 Well； he struck me for a loan；
said his little girl was hungry and he hadn't a cent to buy bread。 Gad； but
he looked wild though！ I always thought he was more'n half loony。
Well； as I had helped to fleece him I lent him a hundred and took this here
note。 That's the last I ever see of M。 Henri Cazot；' and he handed the paper
to me。 I glanced at the signature。 It was the same hand that had written
'Weltz' and 'Rizzi' upon the library slips。 There was that unmistakable z
and the peculiar r which had just attracted my attention！ It required
considerable effort on my part to so restrain my feelings as not to appear
especially interested in what I had learned。 I think； however； I succeeded；
as they freely answered my questions regarding Cazot and the daughter of
whom he had spoken。 They knew nothing further； they said； than what
they had told me。
〃'It was a year ago come next month that I lent him the money；' my
informant continued。 He pocketed it； hurried out； and that is the last I
have ever seen or heard of him。 Shouldn't wonder if he'd blown his
brains out long ago。 He used to have a mighty desperate look at times。
He was one of them Monte Carlo fellers； I reckon。'
〃That's all I have been able to learn thus far。 It isn't very much； but it
shows we are on the right track。 By the way； Doc； I'm going to change
that ad to…morrow； offering treatment by letter。 Perhaps our man is too
shy to apply in person。 At all events we'll give the other method a trial。〃
CHAPTER III
When we least expect it the Ideal meets us in the street of the
Commonplace and locks arms with us。 Nevermore shall we choose
our paths uninfluenced。 A new leaven has entered our personality to
dominate and direct it。
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The new advertisement duly appeared and on the next day； which was
Wednesday … I remember it because it was my hospital day … I received
several written answers； and among them； one in which I felt confident I
recognised the peculiar z*'s and r*'s of Weltz and Rizzi。
I took it at once to Maitland。 He glanced at it a moment and then
impulsively grasped my hand。 〃By Jove； Doc！〃 he exclaimed； 〃if this
crafty fox doesn't scent the hound； we shall soon run him to earth。 You see
he has given no address and signs a new name。 We are to write to Carl
Cazenove； General Delivery； Boston。 Good！ we will do so at once； and
I will then arrange with the postal authorities to notify me when they
deliver the letter。 Of course this will necessitate a continuous watch；
perhaps for several days； of the general delivery window。 It is hardly
likely our crafty friend will himself call for the letter； so it will be
imperative that someone be constantly on hand to shadow whomsoever he
may send as a substitute。 May I depend on your assistance in this
matter？〃
〃I will stand by you till we see the thing through；〃 I said； 〃though I
have to live in the Post Office a month。〃
Well； I wrote and mailed the decoy letter and Maitland explained the
situation to the postal authorities； who furnished us a comfortable place
inside and near the general delivery window。 They promised to notify us
when anyone called for our letter。 Our vigil was not a very long one。
On Thursday afternoon the postal clerk signalled to us that Carl
Cazenove's mail had been asked for； and； while he was consuming as
much time as possible in finding our letter； Maitland and I quietly stepped
out into the corridor。 The sight that met our gaze was one for which we
had not been at all prepared。 There at the window stood a beautiful
young girl just on the verge of womanhood。 Her frank blue eyes met mine
with the utmost candour as I passed by her so that she should be between
Maitland and me； and thus unable to elude us； whichever way she turned
upon leaving the window。 We had previously planned how we should
shadow our quarry； one on each side of the street in order not to attract
attention； but these tactics seemed to be entirely unnecessary； for the
young lady did not have the slightest suspicion that anyone could be in the
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least interested in her movements。 She walked leisurely along； stopping
now occasionally to gaze at the shop windows and never once turning to
look back。 She did not even conceal the letter； but held it in her hand
with her porte…monnaie； and I could see that the address was uppermost。
A strange sensation came over me as I dogged her steps。 I felt as an
assassin must feel who tracks his victim into some lonely spot where he
may dare to strike him。 It was useless for me to tell myself that I was
on the side of justice and engaged in an honourable errand。 A single
glance at the girl's delicate face； as frank and open as the morning light；
brought the hot blush of shame to my cheek。 In following her I dimly
felt that； in some way； I was seeking to associate her with evil； which
seemed little less than sacrilege。 I could do nothing； however； but keep
on； so I followed her through Devonshire Street； to New Washington and
thence down Hanover Street almost to the ferry。 Here she turned into an
alleyway and； waiting for Maitland to come up； we both saw her enter a
house at its farther end。
George glanced hastily up at the house and then said； as he seized me
impatiently by the arm： 〃It's a tenement house； come on； the chase is not
up yet； we； too； must go in！〃
So in we went。 The young lady had disappeared； but as we entered
we heard a door close on the floor above； and felt sure we knew where she
had gone。 We mounted the stairs as noiselessly as possible and listened
in the hall。 We could distinguish a woman's voice and occasionally that
of a man； but we could not hear what passed between them。 On our
right there was a door partly ajar。 Maitland pushed it open； and looked in。
The room was empty and unfurnished； with the exception of a dilapidated
stove which stood against the partition separating this room from the one
the young lady had entered。 Maitland beckoned to me and I followed
him into the room。 There was a key on the inside of the door which he
noiselessly turned in the lock。 He then began to investigate the premises。
Three other rooms communicated with the one of which we had taken
possession； forming； evidently； a suite which had been let for
housekeeping。 Everything was in ill…repair； as is the case with most of
the cheap tenements in this locality。 The previous tenant had not thought
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it necessary to clean the apartments when quitting them； … for altruism
does not flourish at the North End； … but had been content to leave all the
dirt for the
