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replying： 〃I certainly mean to say you can't please as you please。 You
may eat sugar because you prefer it to vinegar； but you can't prefer it just
because you will to do so。〃 He has probably got some new arguments
now and is anxious to try their effect； so； with kind regards to Miss
Darrow … I trust she is well … I remain； Cordially your friend；
GEORGE MAITLAND。
P。 S。 （Like a woman I always write a postscript。） You shall hear
again from me as soon as I reach Bombay。
This last promise was religiously kept； though his letter was short and
merely announced his safe arrival early that morning。 He closed by
saying： 〃I have not yet breakfasted； preferring to do so on land； and I feel
that I can do justice to whatever is set before me。 I intend； as soon as I
have taken the edge off my appetite； to set out immediately for Malabar
Hill； as I believe that to be our proper starting…point。 I inclose a little
sketch I made of Bombay as we came up its harbour； thinking it may
interest Miss Darrow。 Kindly give it to her with my regards。 You will
note that there are two tongues of land in the picture。 On the eastern side
is the suburb of Calaba； and on the western our Malabar Hill。 Good…bye
until I have something of interest to report。〃
I gave the sketch to Gwen； and she seemed greatly pleased with it。
〃Are you aware；〃 she said to me that Mr。 Maitland draws with rare
precision？〃
〃I am fully persuaded；〃 I rejoined； 〃that he does not do anything which
he cannot do well。〃
〃I believe there is nothing；〃 she continued； 〃which so conduces to the
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habit of thoroughness as the experiments of chemistry。 When one learns
that even a grain of dust will； in some cases； vitiate everything； he acquires
a new conception of the term 'clean' and is likely to be thorough in
washing his apparatus。 From this the habit grows upon him and widens
its application until it embraces all his actions。〃
This remark did not surprise me as it would have a few weeks before；
for I had come to learn that Gwen was liable at any time to suddenly
evince a very unfeminine depth of observation and firmness of
philosophical grasp。
Maitland had been gone just six weeks to a day when we received
from him the first news having any particular bearing upon the matter
which had taken him abroad。 I give this communication in his own
words； omitting only a few personal observations which I do not feel
justified in disclosing； and which； moreover； are not necessary to the
completeness of this narrative：
MY DEAR DOCTOR：
I have at last something to report bearing upon the case that brought
me here； and perhaps I can best relate it by simply telling you what my
movements have been since my arrival。 My first errand was to Malabar
Hill。 I thought it wise to possess myself； so far as possible； of facts
proving the authenticity of Mr。 Darrow's narrative。 I found without
difficulty the banyan tree which had been the trysting…place； and close by
it the little cave with its mysterious well； … everything in fact precisely as
related； even to the 〃Farsees'〃 garden or cemetery； with its 〃Tower of
Silence；〃 or 〃Dakhma；〃 as it is called by the natives。 The cave and the
banyan are among the many attractions of what is now Herr Blaschek's
villa。 This gentleman； with true German hospitality； asked me to spend a
few days with him； and I was only too glad to accept his invitation； as I
believed his knowledge of Bombay might be of great service to me。 In
this I did not mistake。 I told him I wished to ascertain the whereabouts of
a Rama Ragobah； who had been something between a rishi and a fakir；
and he directed me at once to a fakir named Parinama who； he said； would
be able to locate my man； if he were still alive and in Bombay。
You can imagine how agreeably surprised I was to find that Parinama
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knew Ragobah well。 I had anticipated some considerable difficulty in
learning the latter's whereabouts； and here was a man who could=20 … for
a sufficient consideration … tell me much； if not all； about him。 I secured
an interpreter； paid Parinama my money； and proceeded to catechise him。
I give you my questions and his answers just as I jotted them down in my
notebook：
Q。 What is Ragobah's full name？
A。 Rama Ragobah。 =20
Q。 How long have you known him？
A。 Thirty…five year。
Q。 Has he always lived in Bombay？ A。 No； Sahib；
Q。 Where else？
A。 For a good many year he have travel all the time。
Q。 Is he in Bombay now？
A。 No； Sahib。
Q。 Where is he？
A。 Over the sea； Sahib。
Q。 Do you know where？
A。 He sail for America； New York。
Q。 When？
A。 About eleven week ago。
Q。 Do you know for what he undertook this journey？
A。 Some personal affair of long time ago which he wish to settle … the
same which make him so many year travel through India。
Q。 Was he in search of someone？
A。 Yes； Sahib。
Q。 Some Indian woman？
A。 No； Sahib。
Q。 Some other woman； then？
A。 No； Sahib。
Q。 A man； then； an Englishman；
A。 Yes； Sahib。
Q。 What kind of a man is this Ragobah？
A。 He very big man。
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Q。 What is his disposition？ Is he generally liked？
A。 No。 His temper bad。 He cruel； revengeful； overbearing； and
selfish。 He most hated by those who best know him。
Q。 He is a friend of yours； you say？
A。 I say no such thing！ Do you think I sell secret of friend？ I have
great reason for hating him； or I not now be earning your money。
Q。 Ah！ I see。 What did you say he wanted of this Englishman？
A。 I no say； Sahib。
Q。 You said some personal affair of long standing； I believe。