the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第5章
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the apparent absurdity of my position； yet I know my father was murdered。
The wound which caused his death has escaped your notice； but … 〃
〃My dear Miss Darrow；〃 I interrupted； 〃there is no wound； you may be
sure of that！〃 For the first time since Darrow's death Maitland spoke。
〃If you will look at the throat a little more closely； you will see what may
be a wound；〃 he said； and went on quietly with his examinations。 He was
right； there was a minute abrasion visible。 The girl's quick observation had
detected what had escaped me； convinced as I was that there was nothing
to be found by a scrutiny however close。
Gwen now transferred her attention to Maitland； and asked： 〃Had not
one of us better go for an officer？〃 Maitland； whose power of
concentration is so remarkable as on some occasions to render him utterly
oblivious of his surroundings； did not notice the question and Browne
replied to it for him。 〃I should be only too happy to fetch an officer for
you； if you wish；〃 he said。 Have you ever noticed how acute the mind is
for trifles and slight incongruities when under the severe tension of such a
shock as we had experienced？ Such attacks； threatening to invade and
forever subjugate our happiness； seem to have the effect of so completely
manning the ramparts of our intellect the nothing； however trivial； escapes
observation。 Gwen's father； her only near relative； lay cold before her； …
his death； from her standpoint； the most painful of mysteries； … and yet
the incongruity of Browne's 〃only too happy 〃 did not escape her； as was
evident by the quick glance and sudden relaxation of the mouth into the
faintest semblance of a smile。 All this was momentary and； I doubt not；
half unconscious。 She replied gravely：
〃I would indeed be obliged if you would do so。〃
Maitland； who had now finished his examination； noticed that Browne
was about to depart。 When the artist would have passed him on his way
to the hall door； he placed his hand upon that gentleman's shoulder； saying：
〃Pardon me； sir； but I would strongly urge that you do not leave the
room！〃
Browne paused。 Both men stood like excited animals at gaze。
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CHAPTER III
Nothing is so full of possibilities as the seemingly impossible。
Maitland's request that Browne should not leave the room seemed to
us all a veritable thunderbolt。 It impressed me at the time as being a
thinly veneered command； and I remember fearing lest the artist should be
injudicious enough to disregard it。 If he could have seen his own face for
the next few moments； he would have had a lesson in expression which
years of portrait work may fail to teach him。 At length the rapidly
changing kaleidoscope of his mind seemed to settle； to group its varied
imaginings about a definite idea； … the idea that he had been all but openly
accused； in the presence of Miss Darrow； of being instrumental in her
father's death。 For a moment； as he faced Maitland； whom he instinctively
felt to be a rival； he looked so dark and sinister that one could easily have
believed him capable of almost any crime。
Gwen was no less surprised than the rest of us at Maitland's
interference； but she did not permit it to show in her voice as she said
quietly： 〃Mr。 Browne has consented to go for an officer。〃 As I felt sure
she must have thought Maitland already knew this； as anyone else must
have heard what had passed； I looked upon her remark as a polite way of
saying：
〃I am mistress here。〃
Maitland apparently so regarded it； for he replied quickly： 〃I hope you
will not think me officious； or unmindful of your right to dictate in a
matter so peculiarly your own affair。 My only desire is to help you。 Mr。
Browne's departure would still further complicate a case already far to
difficult of solution。 My legal training has given me some little
experience in these matters； and I only wish that you may have the benefit
thereof。 It is now nearly three…quarters of an hour since your father's
death； and； I assure you； time at this particular juncture may be of the
utmost importance。 Not a moment should be wasted in needless
discussion。 If you will consent to despatch a servant to the police station I
will； in due time； explain to you why I have taken the liberty of being so
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insistent on this point。〃
He had hardly ceased speaking before Gwen rang for a servant。 She
hurriedly told him what had transpired and sent him to the nearest police
station。 As this was but a few rods away and the messenger was fleet of
foot； an officer was soon upon the scene。 〃We were able；〃 he said to us
generally as he entered the room； 〃to catch Medical Examiner Ferris by
'phone at his home in F… Street； and he will be here directly。 In the
meantime I have been sent along merely to see that the body is not moved
before his examination and that everything in the room remains exactly as
it was at the time of the old gentleman's death。 Did I not understand；〃 he
said to Maitland in an undertone； 〃that there is a suspicion of foul play？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied George； 〃that is one explanation which certainly will
have to be considered。〃
〃I thought I heard the Cap'n say 'murder' when he 'phoned in town for
some specials。 They're for detective work on this case； I reckon。 Hello！
That sounds like the Doctor's rig。〃
A moment later the bell rang and Dr。 Ferris entered the room。
〃Ah； Doctor；〃 he said extending his hand to me； 〃what have we here？〃
Before I could answer he had noticed Maitland and advanced to shake
hands with him。
〃Is this indeed so serious as I have been told？〃 he asked； after his
greeting。
〃It seems to me likely；〃 replied Maitland slowly； 〃to develop into the
darkest mystery I have ever known。〃
〃Hum！〃 replied the Examiner。 〃Has the body been moved or the
disposition of its members altered？〃
〃Not since I arrived；〃 replied Officer Barker。
〃And before？〃 queried Dr。 Ferris； turning to Maitland。
〃Everything is absolutely intact。 I have made a few notes and
measurements； but I have disturbed nothing；〃 replied Maitland。
〃Good；〃 said the Examiner。 〃May I see those notes before I go？ You
were on that Parker case and you have； you know； something of a
reputation for thoroughness。 Perhaps you may have noted something that
would escape me。〃
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〃The notes； Doctor； are at your service；〃 George replied。
Dr。 Ferris' examination of the body was very thorough； yet； since it
was made with the rapid precision which comes from extended practice； it
was soon over。 Short as it was； however； it was still an ordeal under
which Gwen suffered keenly； to judge from her manner。
The Examiner then took Maitland aside； looked at his notes； and
conversed earnestly with him in an undertone for several minutes。 I do
not know what passed between them。 When he left； a few moments later；
Officer Barker accompanied him。
As soon as the door closed behind them Gwen turned to Maitland。
〃Did he give you his opinion？〃 she asked with a degree of interest
which surprised me。
〃He will report death as having resulted from causes at present
unknown；〃 rejoined Maitland。
Gwen seemed greatly relieved by this answer； though I confess I was
utterly at a loss to see why she should be。
Observing this change in her manner Maitland approached her； saying：
〃Will you now permit me to explain my seeming rudeness in
interfering with your plan to make Mr。 Browne your messenger； and at the
same time allow me to justify myself in the making of yet another
request？〃
Gwen bowed assent and he proceeded to state the following case as
coolly and accurately as if it were a problem in geometry。
〃Mr。 Darrow；〃 he began； 〃has just died under peculiar circumstances。
Three possible views of the case at once suggest themselves。 First： his
death may have been due to natural causes and his last expressions the
result of an hallucination under which he was labouring。 Second： he may
have committed suicide； as the result； perhaps； of a mania which in that
case would also serve to explain his last words and acts； or； … you will
pardon me； Miss Darrow； … these last appearances may have been
intentionally assumed with a view to deceiving us。 The officers you have
summoned will not be slow in looking for motives for such a deception；
and several possible ones cannot fail at once to suggest themselves to them。
Third： your father may have been murdered and his last expressions a
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more or less accurate description of the real facts of the case。 It seems to
me that these three theories exhaust the possibilities of the case。 Can
anyone suggest anything further？〃 And he paused for a reply。
〃It is clear；〃 replied Mr。 Herne with portly deliberation； 〃that all deaths
must be either natural or unnatural； and equally clear that when unnatural
the agent； if human； must be either the victim himself； or some person
external to him。〃
