the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第8章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 29…
The Darrow Enigma
and commonplace。〃
〃Hum！ Strange！〃 he said； and returned to his notes。
I felt sure had had a theory and that my testimony had not
strengthened it； but he did not volunteer any information； neither did he
take part in the conversation of his companions； and so my curiosity
remained ungratified。 It was clear that 's methods were very different
from those of Osborne and Allen。
I need not weary you by further narrating what occurred at this official
examination。 Suffice it to say that； with one or two minor exceptions；
Osborne and Allen followed the precise course of reasoning prophesied by
Maitland； and； as for ； he courteously； but firmly； held his peace。 The
two officers did not； however； lean as strongly to the theory that death
resulted from natural causes as Maitland had anticipated； and； I think； this
surprised him。 He had already told them that he expected to be able to
show death to have resulted from poison hypodermically applied； and； as I
overheard a remark made by Osborne to Allen； I readily understood their
speedy abandonment of their natural…death theory。 They were engaged in
verifying Maitland's measurement of the east side of the room when
Osborne said softly to his companion： 〃He has figured in several of my
cases as a chemical expert； and when he expresses an opinion on a matter
it's about the same as proved。 He's not the kind that jumps in the dark。
He's a lawyer as well as chemist and knows what's evidence； so I reckon
we'd better see if we can make anything out of the suicide and murder
theories。〃
Maitland had asked them to send to the station for a woman to search
Gwen and she had just arrived。 We all requested that a most thorough
examination should now be made to assure the officers that no one of us
possessed the missing weapon。 This done； the officers and departed for
the night； assuring Gwen that there was nothing further to be done till
morning； and Osborne； doubtless with a view to consoling her； said： 〃It
may be a relief to you； miss； to know that there is scarcely a doubt that
your father took his own life。〃 This had an effect upon Gwen very
different from that which had been intended。 Her face contracted； and it
was plain to see she was beginning to think everyone was determined to
29
… Page 30…
The Darrow Enigma
force a falsehood upon her。 Herne and Browne also prepared to take
their leave。 A glance from Maitland told me he wished me to remain
with him a moment after the others had departed； and I accordingly did so。
When we were alone with Gwen he said to her： 〃I think I understand
your feeling with regard to Mr。 Osborne's remark； as well as your
conviction that it does not represent the truth。 I foresaw they would
come to this conclusion； and know very well the pains they will take to
prove their hypothesis。〃 〃Can nothing be done？〃 she asked beseechingly。
〃It is that of which I wish to speak；〃 he replied。 〃If you have sufficient
confidence in me to place the case in my hands； I will do everything in my
power to establish the truth； … on one condition；〃 and he glanced at her
face； now pale and rigid from her long…continued effort of self…control。
〃And that condition is？〃 she said quickly。 〃That you follow my
directions and permit me to order your movements in all things； so long as
the case remains in my hands； if at any time I seek to abuse your faith； you
are as free to discharge me as if I were a paid detective。〃 Gwen looked
searchingly at him； then； extending her hand to him； she said impulsively：
〃You are very kind； I accept the condition。 What shall I do？〃
I tried to catch Maitland's eye to tell him what he should counsel her；
but a man with his ability to observe conditions and grasp situations can
very well do without prompting。 〃First；〃 he said； 〃you must return home
with the Doctor and spend the rest of the night with his sister； I shall stay
here until morning； and second； I desire that you use your utmost
endeavour to keep the incidents of this evening out of your mind。 You
cannot； of course； forget your loss； unless you sleep；〃 … and he gave me a
look which said： 〃I depend on you to see to that；〃 … 〃but you must not
continually re…enact the scene in imagination； In the morning the Doctor
will come here to bring me my camera； microscope； and a few things I
shall require 〃 … and he passed me a list he had written。 〃If you have slept
well you can be of considerable service； and may accompany him … if not；
you must remain quietly at his house。〃 With this he turned to me； and said：
〃She is making a condenser of herself； Doctor； and will soon break
through the insulation。 Sparks will be dangerous … you must secure the
brush effect。〃 He spoke quickly； and used electrical terms； that she might
30
… Page 31…
The Darrow Enigma
not understand him； but either he failed of his purpose； or the observation
she immediately made was a strange coincidence。 I believe she
understood； for； while young women educated by their mothers are usually
ignorant upon all the more masculine subjects； those who have long been
their father's companions are ever prone to startle one with the most
unexpected flashes of intelligence。 〃I am in rather a high state of tension
now；〃 she said； turning calmly to Maitland； 〃but when alone the
expression which has been denied me here will afford relief。〃 Maitland
glanced at her quickly； and then at me； and I knew he was wondering if
she had understood。 Then he said： 〃It is getting late。 I shall expect you to
sleep well and to come in the morning。 Please say to the servants as you
go that I shall stay here all night； and that no one must enter without
permission。 Good…night。〃 She held out her hand to him； but made no
reply； then she fervently kissed her father's lips； and together we left the
chamber of death。
CHAPTER IV
Death speaks with the tongue of Memory； and his ashen hand
reaches out of the great unknown to seize and hold fast our plighted
souls。
What Maitland's reason was for spending the night with the dead body
of Darrow； or how he busied himself until morning； I do not know。
Perhaps he desired to make sure that everything remained untouched； or； it
may be； that he chose。 this method of preventing Gwen from performing
a vigil by the body。 I thought this latter view very probable at the time；
as I had been singularly impressed with the remarkable foresight my
friend had displayed in so quickly and adroitly getting Gwen away from
everything connected with her father's sad and mysterious death。
Arriving at my house my sister took an early opportunity to urge upon
Gwen a glass of wine； in which I had placed a generous sedative。 The
terrible tension soon began to relax； and in less than half an hour she was
sleeping quietly。 I dreaded the moment when she should awake and the
memory of all that had happened should descend like an avalanche upon
31
… Page 32…
The Darrow Enigma
her。 I told my sister that this would be a critical moment； cautioning her
to stay by Gwen and to give her； immediately upon her arising； a draught I
had prepared for the purpose of somewhat deadening her sensibilities。 I
arose early； and went to Maitland's laboratory to collect the things he
desired。 When I returned Gwen was awake； and to my intense
gratification in even a better condition than I had dared to hope。
It was quite late when we reached her house； and Maitland had
evidently been at work several hours。 He looked sharply at Gwen when
she entered； and seemed much pleased at her condition。 〃You have
obeyed my instructions； I see； and slept；〃 he said； as he gave her his hand。
〃Yes；〃 she replied； 〃I was very tired； and the doctor's cordial quite
overcame me；〃 and she cast an inquiring glance at the network of white
string which Maitland had stretched across the carpet； dividing it into
squares like an immense checker…board。 In reply to her questioning look；
he said： 〃French detectives are the most thorough in the world； and I am
about to make use of their method of instituting an exhaustive search。
Each one of the squares formed by these intersecting strings is numbered；
and represents one square foot of carpet； the numbers running from one to
two hundred and eighty…eight。 Every inch of every one of these squares I
shall examine under a microscope； and anything found which can be of
any possible interest will be carefully preserved； and its exact location
accurately marked upon this chart I have prepared； which； as you will see；
has the same number of squares as the room； the area of each square being
reduced from one square foot to one square inch。 You will note that I
have already marked the location of all doors； windows； and furniture。
The weapon； if there be one； may be very minute； but if it be on the floor
we may be assured the microscope will find it。 The walls of the room；
especially any shelving projections； and the furniture； I shall examine with
equal thoroughness； though
