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expecting to see a prescription； but read instead these words：
〃To MORO SCINDIA；
〃My Dear Cousin： Death has relieved you of the task I imposed upon
you。 John Darrow's body is in the well in the cave on Malabar Hill；
where； before this reaches you； my body will have also gone to meet it。
To this fragment of paper； then； must I confide the debt of gratitude I owe
to you and to him who will bear it to you； Nana Kandia。 Good…bye。 If I
had had two hearts； I should have given you one。 Do not mourn me； but
rather rejoice that my struggle and its agony are over。 John has already
gone … one tomb shall inclose both our bodies … how could it have been
better？ 〃LONA。〃
No sooner had Kandia grasped the import of this letter than he rushed
with all speed to Malabar Hill； but he was too late； for scarcely had he left
the house upon Lona's errand before she had sprung out of the window by
which he had placed her。 Ragobah's wound prevented his following her；
and when he had summoned others to pursue her； the darkness had closed
about her form and none knew the way she had taken。 At the edge of the
fatal well Kandia found a piece of paper beneath a stone and on it these
words：
〃Farewell； Moro and Nana； the only beings on earth I regret to leave！
… Lona。〃
The body was never recovered。 The news of his wife's death； and the
knowledge that he was the cause of it； produced an effect upon Ragobah
from which he never recovered。 More than twenty years have passed
since then； yet from that day to this he has never been known to smile。
Long before his mangled limb had healed it became evident to all who
knew him that he had henceforth but one purpose in life； … revenge； and
that nothing save death could turn him from his purpose； so long as his
rival lived。 The knowledge of this made my search for Darrow Sahib
more than ever difficult from the fact that it must be prosecuted secretly。
I could only learn that he had left Bombay for the interior； nothing more。
My inquiries in all the Indian cities proved fruitless； and in many instances；
I was informed that Ragobah had instituted a search for the same man。 I
think； in spite of my precautions； some of my agents ultimately told
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Ragobah of my efforts； for I found myself so closely watched by men in
his interests that I was at length compelled to give up the personal conduct
of the search； and to continue it through a deputy； unknown to him。 All
my endeavours to find the Sahib were； as you are already aware； fruitless；
and； until I met you； I had no doubt Ragobah's efforts were equally
unproductive。 You have now all the information I can offer upon the
subject。 If I can be of any further service to you； you need not hesitate to
command me。
As he said this he rose to depart and I promised to keep him informed
of what occurred。 I have nothing now to do but to await； with such
patience as I can command； the arrival of the Dalmatia。 It does not seem to
me altogether probable that Ragobah will return upon this boat； but if he
should I shall have him arrested the moment he sets foot on shore。 If he
escape the net that has been woven about him； I shall be a convert to
Eastern occultism and no mistake。 I trust Miss Darrow is well and
hopeful。 I know she will religiously keep the promise she made； for she
is one of those women who fully understand the nature of a covenant； and
I am easier； therefore； than I otherwise could be regarding her condition。
Give her my kind regards and tell her that she may expect news of
importance by my next communication。 It is very late； so good…bye； until
the arrival of the Dalmatia。 Your friend；GEORGE MAITLAND。
This letter was delivered one morning when Gwen； my sister Alice；
and I were at breakfast。 As I broke the seal I noticed that both ladies put
down their knives and forks and ceased to eat。 A glance at Gwen's eager
face convinced me that she had no appetite for anything but my letter； and
I accordingly read it aloud。 When I came to the last part of it； where
Maitland referred to her； a flush； of pride I thought at the time； overspread
her face； and when I had finished she said with some show of excitement；
〃If Mr。 Maitland succeed in bringing Ragobah to justice I … I shall owe him
a debt of gratitude I can never repay！ It all seems like a romance； only so
frightfully real。 We may expect another letter in a few days； may we not？
And Mr。 Maitland； when may we expect him？〃
I replied that I thought we might reasonably expect news of
importance within five or six days； and that； so far as Maitland's return
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The Darrow Enigma
was concerned； I did not look for it for as many weeks； as he would
doubtless have to cope with the law's delay there； as he would if here； and
to comply with many tedious formalities before the government would
allow Ragobah to be brought to this country for trial。 The only reply
Gwen vouchsafed to this statement was a long…drawn unconscious sigh；
which I interpreted as meaning； 〃Will it never end！〃
CHAPTER II
He who shakes the tree of Vengeance but harvests apples of
Sodom in whose fruit of ashes he becomes buried； for the wage of the
sinner is death。
There was no doubt of Ragobah's guilt in any of our minds； so that
action at our end of the line seemed entirely useless； and nothing was left
us but to quietly await whatever developments Maitland should disclose。
We were not kept long in suspense； for in less than a week his next letter
arrived。 I broke its seal in the presence of Gwen and my sister who； if
possible； were even more excited than I myself。 Is it to be wondered at？
Here was the letter which was to tell us whether or not the murderer of
John Darrow had been caught。 We felt that if Ragobah had returned to
India； according to his expressed intention； there could be no doubt upon