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！
mouth。 My enemy was dead； beyond the power of injury； and my hands
were unstained by his blood。
〃I then determined to kill his daughter。 It was the night of my
enemy's burial。 The Sahibah was alone in the house and was intending to
leave it that night。 I knew she would see that everything was securely
fastened before she went away； and so； when I opened one of the windows；
I was sure she would come to close it。 Crouching down outside I awaited
her approach； intending to spring up and stab her while she was pulling the
window down。 Everything happened as I planned … what ails the Sahib？
I did not kill her！ No； at the last moment something … never mind what …
stayed my arm！ The death of an innocent girl did not promise me any
lasting satisfaction and I gave up the idea； returned to New York； and re…
embarked for Bombay as innocent in act as when I left it。 My life had
been a failure and I had no desire to prolong it。 When you arrested me
on the charge of murder； nothing would have given me greater pleasure
than to have been able to plead guilty。
〃You already know why I so hated Darrow。 He robbed me of the
only woman I ever loved。 Maddened by jealousy； I told her I had thrown
him into the well in the cave here。 It was a lie； but she believed it； and
fled from me； and in a few minutes had thrown herself into that bottomless
hole。 See； Sahib；〃 he said； entering the cave and pointing down the dark
shaft； … 〃that is the road she took in order that her bones might rest with his；
and； after all； they are thousands of miles apart。 It's not the triumph I
94
… Page 95…
The Darrow Enigma
planned； but it's all I have！ And this is why I brought you here； that you
may take back to my enemy's family the knowledge that in death I am
triumphant。 Tell them；〃 he said； rising to his full height； 〃that while the
carcass of the English cur rots in a foreign land； Rama Ragobah's bones lie
mingled with those of his beautiful Lona！〃 … My blood was up； and I
rushed fiercely at him。 With the quickness of a cat he dodged me； spat
in my face as I turned； and； with a horrible laugh； sprang headlong into the
well。 Down deeper and deeper sank the laugh … then it died away … then a
faint plash … and all was silent。 Rama Ragobah was gone！ For fully
ten minutes I stood dazed and irresolute and then returned mechanically to
the house。 I at first thought of informing the authorities of the whole affair；
but； when I realised how hard it would be for me to prove my innocence
were I charged with Ragobah's murder； I decided to keep the secret of the
well。
I shudder when I think of Miss Darrow's narrow escape。 Did you
suspect who her assailant really was？ I wonder you have written me
nothing about it； but suppose you thought it would only needlessly alarm
me。 If you had known it was our friend Ragobah； you would doubtless
have felt it imperative that I should know of it； … so I conclude from your
silence that you did not discover his identity。
I need not； of course； tell you； my dear Doctor； that we have reached
the end of our Indian clue； and that I deem it wise； all things considered；
for me to get out of India just as soon as possible。 If this letter is in any
way delayed； you need not be surprised if I have the pleasure of relating
its contents in person。 Remember me to Miss Darrow and tell her how
sorry I am that； thus far； I have been unable to be of any real service to her。
As I shall see you so soon I need write nothing further。 Kind regards to
Miss Alice。 Ever yours；GEORGE MAITLAND。
When I had finished reading this letter I looked up at Gwen； expecting
to see that its news had depressed her。 I must confess； however； that I
could not detect any such effect。 On the contrary； she seemed to be in
much better spirits than when I began reading。 〃According to this letter；
then；〃 she said； addressing me somewhat excitedly； 〃we may … 〃 but she let
fall her eyes and did not complete her sentence。 My sister bestowed
95
… Page 96…
The Darrow Enigma
upon her one of those glances described in the vernacular of woman as
〃knowing〃 and then said to me： 〃We may expect Mr。 Maitland at any time；
it seems。〃 〃Yes；〃 I replied； 〃he will lose no time in getting here。 He
undoubtedly feels much chagrined at his failure and will now be more than
ever determined to see the affair through to a successful conclusion。 He
is in the position of a hound that has lost its scent； and is eager to return to
its point of departure for a fresh start。 I fancy it will be no easy task to
discover a new clue； and I shall watch Maitland's work in this direction
with a great deal of curiosity。〃 Gwen did not speak； but she listened to our
conversation with a nearer approach to a healthy interest than I had known
her to display on any other occasion since her father's death。 I regarded
this as a good omen。 Her condition； since that sad occurrence； had
worried me a good deal。 She seemed to have lost her hold on life and to
exist in a state of wearied listlessness。 Nothing seemed to impress her
and she would at times forget； in the midst of a sentence； what she had
intended to say when she began it！ Her elasticity was gone and every
effort a visible burden to her。 I knew the consciousness of her loss was
as a dull； heavy weight bearing her down； and I knew； too； that she could
not marshal her will to resist it； … that； in fact； she really didn't care； so
tired was she of it all。 Experience had taught me how the dull； heavy
ache of a great loss will press upon the consciousness with the regular；
persistent； relentless throb of a loaded wheel and eat out one's life with the
slow certainty of a cancer。 This I knew to have been Gwen's state since
her father's death； and all my attempts to bring about a healthful reaction
had hitherto been futile。 It is not to be wondered at； therefore； that even
the transient interest she had