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The Darrow Enigma
had spoken with such intensity； such dramatic fervour； that I was
completely swept away by his eloquence； so much so； indeed； that it did
not even occur to me to ask myself why he should have burst out in this
peculiar strain。 I have given you the incident in order that you may see
the strange moods into which Maitland occasionally relapsed … at least； at
that time。 After a quick glance at me he continued； in a quieter vein： 〃All
of us men of science have felt something； however little； of this； and I
believe； as a class； scientists transcend all other men in their respect for
absolute truth。〃 He cast another one of his searching glances at me； and
said quickly： 〃This is precisely why I am going to confide in you and rely
upon your assistance in a matter； the successful termination of which
would please me as much as the discovery of an absolute standard of
measurement。〃
He then made the confession which I have already given you； and
ended by asking me to secure him an introduction to Miss Darrow。 I
cheerfully promised to bring this about at the first opportunity。 He asked
me if I thought； on account of his having met her so frequently； she would
be likely to think it was all a 〃put up job。〃
〃I do not know；〃 I replied。 〃Miss Darrow is a singularly close
observer。 On the whole I think you had better reach her through her
father。 Do you play croquet？〃 He replied that he was considered
something of an expert in that line。 That； then； was surely the best way。
John Darrow was known in the neighbourhood as a 〃crank〃 on the subject
of croquet。 He had spent many hundreds of dollars on his grounds。 His
wickets were fastened to hard pine planks； and these were then carefully
buried two feet deep。 The surface of the ground； he was wont to descant；
must be of a particular sort of gravel； sifted just so； and rolled to a nicety。
The balls must be of hard rubber； and have just one…eighth inch clearance
in passing through the wickets； with the exception of the two wires
forming the 〃cage；〃 where it was imperative that this clearance should be
reduced to one…sixteenth of an inch … but I need not state more to show
how he came to be considered a 〃crank〃 upon the subject。
It was easy enough to bring Maitland and Darrow together。 〃My
friend is himself much interested in the game； he heard of your superb
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The Darrow Enigma
ground； may he be permitted to examine it closely？〃 Darrow was all
attention。 He would be delighted to show it。 Suppose they make a
practical test of it by playing a game。 This they did and Maitland played
superbly； but he was hardly a match for the old gentleman； who sought to
palliate his defeat by saying： 〃You play an excellent game； sir； but I am a
trifle too much for you on my own ground。 Now； if you can spare the
time； I should like to witness a game between you and my daughter； I
think you will be pretty evenly matched。〃
If he could spare the time！ I laughed outright at the idea。 Why； with
the prospect of meeting Gwen Darrow before him； an absolute unit of
measure； with a snail's pace； would have made good its escape from him。
As it is a trick of poor humanity to refuse when offered the very thing one
has been madly scheming to obtain； I hastened to accept Darrow's
invitation for my friend； and to assure him on my own responsibility； that
time was just then hanging heavily on Maitland's hands。 Well； the game
was played； but Maitland was so unnerved by the girl's presence that he
played execrably； so poorly； indeed； that the always polite Darrow
remarked： 〃You must charge your easy victory； Gwen； to your opponent's
gallantry； not to his lack of skill； for I assure you he gave me a much
harder rub。〃 The young lady cast a quick glance at Maitland； which said
so plainly that she preferred a fair field and no favour that he hastened to
say： 〃Your father puts too high an estimate upon my play。 I did my best
to win； but … but I was a little nervous； I see； however； that you would have
defeated me though I had been in my best form。〃 Gwen gave him one of
those short； searching looks； so peculiarly her own； which seem to read；
with mathematical certainty； one's innermost thoughts； … and the poor
fellow blushed to the tips of his ears。 … But he was no boy； this Maitland；
and betrayed no other sign of the tempest that was raging within him。
His utterance remained as usual； deliberate and incisive； and I thought this
perplexed the young lady。 Before leaving； both Maitland and I were
invited to become parties to a six…handed game to be played the following
week； after the grounds had been redressed with gravel。
Maitland looked forward to this second meeting with Miss Darrow
with an eagerness which made every hour seem interminably long； and he
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The Darrow Enigma
was in such a flutter of expectancy that I was sure if
〃We live 。 。 。 in thoughts； not breaths； In feelings； not in figures on
a dial We should count time by heart…throbs；〃
he must have passed through a period as long as that separating the
Siege of Troy from the 〃late unpleasantness。〃 The afternoon came at last；
however。 The party consisted； besides Darrow and his daughter；
Maitland and myself； of two young gentlemen with whom personally I had
but a slight acquaintance； although I knew them somewhat by reputation。
The younger one； Clinton Browne； is a young artist whose landscapes
were beginning to attract wide attention in Boston； and the elder； Charles
Herne； a Western gentleman of some literary attainments； but
comparatively unknown here in the East。 There is nothing about Mr。
Herne that would challenge more than passing attention。