the darrow enigma-µÚ11²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
everything¡¡else¡£¡¨
¡¨That¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡possible£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡known¡¡people¡¡to¡¡be
monomaniacs¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡go¡¡nowhere¡¡without¡¡a
glass¡¡of¡¡it¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡also¡¡a¡¡well¡authenticated¡¡case
of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡was¡¡as¡¡sane¡¡as¡¡you¡¡or¡¡I¡¡until¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡words¡¡'real
estate¡£'¡¡¡¡One¡¡day¡¡while¡¡quietly¡¡carving¡¡the¡¡meat¡¡at¡¡a¡¡dinner¡¡to
which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡invited¡¡several¡¡guests£»¡¡a¡¡gentleman¡¡opposite¡¡him
inadvertently¡¡spoke¡¡the¡¡fatal¡¡words£»¡¡when£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word¡¡of¡¡warning£»
he¡¡sprang¡¡at¡¡him¡¡across¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡using¡¡the¡¡carving¡knife¡¡with¡¡all
the¡¡fury¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡violent¡¡maniac£»¡¡and¡¡yet£»¡¡under¡¡all¡¡other
conditions£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡perfectly¡¡rational¡£¡¨
¡¨If£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Maitland£»¡¡continuing¡¡his¡¡remarks¡¡as¡¡if
unaware¡¡of¡¡our¡¡interruption£»¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Darrow's¡¡suspicions¡¡had¡¡any
foundation¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡certain¡¡they¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡directed
against¡¡some¡¡specific¡¡person¡¡or¡¡persons¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡so£»¡¡why¡¡did¡¡he¡¡not¡¡name
them¡¡£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but£»¡¡stay¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡do¡¡we¡¡know¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not£¿¡¡¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡proceed
with¡¡our¡¡examination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡papers£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡began¡¡perusing¡¡the
insurance¡¡policies¡£¡¡¡¡Neither¡¡Gwen¡¡nor¡¡I¡¡spoke¡¡till¡¡he¡¡had¡¡finished
and¡¡thrown¡¡them¡¡down£»¡¡when¡¡we¡¡both¡¡turned¡¡expectantly¡¡toward¡¡him¡£
¡¨All¡¡in¡¡Osborne's¡¡favour¡¡so¡¡far£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Principal¡¡to¡¡be¡¡held¡¡in
trust¡¡by¡¡Miss¡¡Darrow¡¡under¡¡the¡¡terms¡¡of¡¡a¡¡will¡¡which¡¡we¡¡have¡¡yet¡¡to
find£»¡¡the¡¡income£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡discharge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trust£»¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Miss
Darrow¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡for¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡Gwen¡¡the¡¡sealed¡¡envelope
addressed¡¡to¡¡her¡£
She¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡seal¡¡with¡¡much¡¡agitation¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Shall¡¡I¡¡read¡¡it¡¡aloud£¿¡¨
she¡¡asked¡£
We¡¡signified¡¡our¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡read¡¡as¡¡follows£º
MY¡¡DEAR¡¡GWEN£º
My¡¡forebodings¡¡have¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡you¡¡strange¡¡and¡¡uncalled¡¡for£»¡¡but¡¡when
this¡¡comes¡¡to¡¡your¡¡hand¡¡you¡¡will¡¡know¡¡whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡they¡¡were
groundless¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡one¡¡episode¡¡in¡¡my¡¡career¡¡which¡¡shook¡¡the¡¡structure
of¡¡my¡¡being¡¡to¡¡its¡¡foundation¡¡stone£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡been¡¡carefully¡¡kept
in¡¡ignorance¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡necessary¡¡that¡¡you¡¡should¡¡know¡¡it¡¡when¡¡I¡¡am
gone£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡accordingly¡¡committed¡¡it¡¡to¡¡this¡¡paper£»¡¡which¡¡will
then¡¡fall¡¡into¡¡your¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡early¡¡life£»¡¡until¡¡two¡¡years¡¡after¡¡I
married¡¡your¡¡mother£»¡¡was¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡India£»¡¡the¡¡adult¡¡portion¡¡thereof
being¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡service¡¡of¡¡the¡¡East¡¡India¡¡Company¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡charge
of¡¡a¡¡department¡¡in¡¡their¡¡depot¡¡at¡¡Bombay¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡Naples¡£
Add¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beauties¡¡of¡¡that¡¡city¡¡the¡¡interesting¡¡and¡¡motley
population¡¡of¡¡Cairo¡¡and¡¡you¡¡can¡¡form¡¡some¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡attractions¡¡of
Bombay¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡very¡¡happy¡¡there¡¡until¡¡the¡¡occurrence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡event¡¡I
am¡¡about¡¡to¡¡narrate¡£
One¡¡morning£»¡¡my¡¡duties¡¡calling¡¡me¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wharves£»¡¡my¡¡attention
was¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡young¡¡girl¡¡dancing¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡flags¡¡by¡¡the¡¡water's
edge¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡ordinary¡¡bayadere¡¡is¡¡so¡¡common¡¡an¡¡object¡¡in¡¡India¡¡as¡¡to
attract¡¡but¡¡little¡¡notice¡¡from¡¡anyone¡¡of¡¡refined¡¡tastes£»¡¡but¡¡this
girl£»¡¡judging¡¡from¡¡the¡¡chaste¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡her¡¡movements£»¡¡was¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very
different¡¡type¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡my¡¡curiosity¡¡drew¡¡me¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡her¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡her
face¡¡toward¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡that¡¡instant¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡my¡¡hour¡¡had¡¡come¡£
Though¡¡many¡¡years¡¡her¡¡senior¡¡she¡¡was¡¡still¡¡my¡¡first¡¡love£»¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡one
great¡¡passion¡¡of¡¡my¡¡life¡£
I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡describe¡¡her¡¡ineffable¡¡loveliness£»¡¡for£»¡¡like¡¡the
beauty¡¡of¡¡a¡¡flower£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡incapable¡¡of¡¡analysis¡£¡¡¡¡Nothing¡¡that¡¡I
could¡¡write¡¡would¡¡give¡¡you¡¡any¡¡adequate¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡this¡¡girl's¡¡seraphic
face£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡was¡¡like¡¡unto¡¡no¡¡one¡¡you¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡this¡¡cold
Western¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wild£»¡¡nervous¡¡transport£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡not
how¡¡long¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡and¡¡space¡¡had¡¡no¡¡part¡¡in¡¡this¡¡new¡¡ecstasy¡¡of¡¡mine£¡
I¡¡could¡¡think¡¡of¡¡nothing£»¡¡do¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡feel£»¡¡¡¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡hot
blood¡¡deluge¡¡my¡¡brain¡¡only¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡back¡¡in¡¡scalding¡¡torrents¡¡upon
my¡¡heart¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pain¡¡that¡¡was¡¡exquisite¡¡pleasure¡£
Suddenly¡¡she¡¡changed¡¡her¡¡step¡¡and¡¡executed¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡backward¡¡movement
toward¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡stopping¡¡just¡¡as¡¡her¡¡heels¡¡touched¡¡the¡¡curb¡¡at¡¡the
edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wharf£»¡¡then¡¡forward£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the
backward¡¡movement£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡time¡¡she¡¡mistook¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡her¡¡heels
struck¡¡the¡¡curb¡¡forcibly£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡precipitated¡¡backward¡¡into¡¡the
water¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡as¡¡one¡¡petrified£»¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡reason£»
much¡¡less¡¡to¡¡act£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡excited¡¡voices¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡recalled¡¡me¡£
They¡¡had¡¡thrown¡¡a¡¡rope¡¡into¡¡the¡¡water¡¡and¡¡were¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡her¡¡to
come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡and¡¡grasp¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wall¡¡from¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡fallen
must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡at¡¡least¡¡fifteen¡¡feet¡¡above¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡which¡¡was
littered¡¡with¡¡broken¡¡spars£»¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡timber£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡odd¡¡bits¡¡of
wood¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would¡¡never¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface£»¡¡and¡¡when
at¡¡length¡¡she¡¡did£»¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡thrown¡¡to
her£»¡¡but¡¡sank¡¡without¡¡a¡¡movement¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡truth¡¡flashed¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡in¡¡an
instant¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡struck¡¡her¡¡head¡¡against¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡floating¡¡drift
and¡¡was¡¡unconscious£¡¡¡¡¡Something¡¡must¡¡be¡¡done¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡seized¡¡the
rope¡¡and¡¡sprang¡¡in¡¡after¡¡her£»¡¡taking¡¡good¡¡care¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡obstructions£»
and¡¡although£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡I¡¡never¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡swim£»¡¡I¡¡succeeded¡¡in
reaching¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡were¡¡drawn¡¡up¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡bore¡¡her¡¡in¡¡my¡¡arms
into¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡storerooms¡¡close¡¡by£»¡¡and£»¡¡laying¡¡her¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡bale¡¡of
cotton£»¡¡used¡¡such¡¡restoratives¡¡as¡¡could¡¡be¡¡quickly¡¡procured¡£
I¡¡was¡¡kneeling¡¡by¡¡her£»¡¡my¡¡arm¡¡under¡¡her¡¡neck£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡act¡¡of¡¡raising
her¡¡head£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡opened¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡fastened¡¡them£»¡¡full¡¡of
wonderment£»¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡moment¡¡more£»¡¡her¡¡memory¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡her£»
she¡¡made¡¡a¡¡little¡¡movement£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡free¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡excited
then¡¡to¡¡heed¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡support¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not
repeat¡¡the¡¡movement£»¡¡but¡¡half¡¡closed¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡back
resignedly¡¡against¡¡my¡¡arm¡£¡¡¡¡If£»¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡these¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡could
be¡¡expanded¡¡into¡¡an¡¡eternity£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡my¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡heaven¡£¡¡¡¡She
was¡¡recovering¡¡rapidly¡¡now¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡raised¡¡herself¡¡into¡¡a¡¡sitting
posture£»¡¡saying£»¡¡in¡¡very¡¡good¡¡English£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡can¡¡stand¡¡now£»
Sahib¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡my¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡assisted¡¡her¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡Her
hand¡¡closed¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡sleeve¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡see¡¡how¡¡wet¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡glancing
at¡¡my¡¡dripping¡¡garments£»¡¡she¡¡said¡¡simply£º¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the
water£»¡¡Sahib£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡you¡¡I¡¡owe¡¡my¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡forget
your¡¡kindness¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡raised¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡my¡¡face¡¡and¡¡met¡¡my¡¡gaze¡¡for
a¡¡moment£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡spoke¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡are¡¡told¡¡that¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡is¡¡incapable¡¡of
any¡¡expression¡¡save¡¡that¡¡lent¡¡it¡¡by¡¡the¡¡lids¡¡and¡¡brow£»¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡the
eyeball¡¡itself£»¡¡apart¡¡from¡¡its¡¡direction£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡changes¡¡of¡¡the
pupil¡¡resulting¡¡from¡¡variations¡¡in¡¡the¡¡intensity¡¡of¡¡light£»¡¡can
carry¡¡no¡¡message¡¡whatsoever¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡may¡¡be¡¡so£»¡¡but£»¡¡without¡¡any
noticeable¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡met¡¡mine£»¡¡I¡¡learned¡¡with
ineffable¡¡delight¡¡that¡¡this¡¡young¡¡girl's¡¡soul¡¡and¡¡mine¡¡were¡¡threaded
upon¡¡the¡¡same¡¡cord¡¡of¡¡destiny¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡emotion¡¡so¡¡overpowered¡¡me¡¡that
I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡speak£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡my¡¡self¡possession¡¡returned¡¡the¡¡young
girl¡¡had¡¡vanished¡£
¡·From¡¡the¡¡height¡¡of¡¡bliss¡¡I¡¡now¡¡plunged¡¡into¡¡the¡¡abyss¡¡of¡¡despair¡£
I¡¡had¡¡let¡¡her¡¡go¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡even¡¡know¡¡her¡¡name¡£¡¡¡¡I
had¡¡caught¡¡her¡¡to¡¡myself¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡only¡¡to¡¡suffer¡¡her¡¡to¡¡drown
herself¡¡among¡¡the¡¡half¡million¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡Bombay¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡must¡¡she
think¡¡of¡¡me£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡wharfinger¡¡if¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never
seen¡¡her¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡my¡¡other¡¡inquiries¡¡proved¡¡equally¡¡fruitless¡£
I¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡I¡¡loved¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡hardiy¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡hope
she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡correctly¡¡interpret¡¡my¡¡boorish¡¡conduct¡£¡¡¡¡I
could¡¡think¡¡of¡¡but¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡her¡¡name£»
neither¡¡did¡¡she¡¡know¡¡mine£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡if¡¡she¡¡desired¡¡a¡¡further
acquaintance£»¡¡she£»¡¡like¡¡myself£»¡¡must¡¡rely¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡meeting¡£
If¡¡she¡¡had¡¡detected¡¡my¡¡admiration¡¡for¡¡her¡¡she¡¡must¡¡know¡¡that¡¡I¡¡too
would¡¡strive¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡her¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Where¡¡would¡¡she¡¡be¡¡most¡¡likely¡¡to
expect¡¡me¡¡to¡¡look¡¡for¡¡her£¿¡¡¡¡Clearly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place¡¡we¡¡had¡¡met
before£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡of¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡might¡¡naturally¡¡think¡¡my
duties¡¡called¡¡me¡¡there¡¡daily¡¡at¡¡that¡¡hour¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡be¡¡there
at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡£
I¡¡arrived¡¡to¡¡find¡¡her¡¡there¡¡before¡¡me£»¡¡anxiously¡¡peering¡¡at¡¡the
passers¡by¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡certainly¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡was¡¡ecstasy
in¡¡the¡¡thought£¡
It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡necessary£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡child£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡describe¡¡the
details¡¡of¡¡our¡¡love¡making£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡present¡¡purpose¡¡is¡¡not¡¡merely¡¡to
interest¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡rather¡¡to¡¡acquaint¡¡you¡¡with¡¡certain¡¡occurrences
which¡¡I¡¡now¡¡deem¡¡it¡¡wise¡¡you¡¡should¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡Time¡¡only¡¡intensified¡¡our
love¡¡for¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡several¡¡months¡¡all¡¡went¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡One
serious¡¡obstacle¡¡to¡¡our¡¡union¡¡presented¡¡itself£»¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡of¡¡caste¡£
Her¡¡people£»¡¡Lona¡¡said£»¡¡would¡¡never¡¡permit¡¡her¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡outside¡¡her
own¡¡station¡¡in¡¡life£»¡¡besides¡¡which¡¡there¡¡was¡¡another¡¡ground¡¡upon
which¡¡we¡¡might¡¡be¡¡equally¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡their¡¡opposition¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡already
chosen¡¡for¡¡her¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡betrothed¡¡to¡¡Rama¡¡Ragobah¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡of¡¡this
man¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡chiefly¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡birth¡¡he¡¡was¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡Vaisya
caste¡¡as¡¡Lona¡£¡¡¡¡Early¡¡in¡¡life¡¡his¡¡lot¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡among¡¡fakirs¡¡and
he¡¡had¡¡acquired¡¡all¡¡their¡¡secrets¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡did¡¡not¡¡satisfy¡¡his
ambitions£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡be¡¡numbered¡¡among¡¡the¡¡rishis¡¡or¡¡adepts£»
and¡¡subjected¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡most¡¡horrible¡¡asceticism¡¡to¡¡qualify
himself¡¡for¡¡adeptship¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡indifference¡¡to¡¡physical¡¡pain¡¡was¡¡truly
marvellous¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡rolled¡¡his¡¡naked¡¡body¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Ganges¡¡over
hundreds¡¡of¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡burning¡¡sands£¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡held¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡clinched
until¡¡the¡¡nails¡¡had¡¡worn¡¡through¡¡the¡¡palm¡¡and¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the
hand¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡maintained¡¡for¡¡weeks¡¡a¡¡slow¡¡fire¡¡upon¡¡the
top¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡keeping¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡burned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡skull¡£
When¡¡he¡¡came¡¡wooing¡¡Lona£»¡¡his¡¡rigid¡¡asceticism¡¡had¡¡much¡¡relaxed£»¡¡but
he¡¡would¡¡still¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡amuse¡¡her¡¡by¡¡driving¡¡knives¡¡into¡¡his¡¡body
until¡¡she¡¡would¡¡sicken¡¡at¡¡the¡¡blood£»¡¡a¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡affairs¡¡which£»
she¡¡said£»¡¡afforded¡¡him¡¡great¡¡enjoyment¡£¡¡¡¡Ragobah¡¡was¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of
gigantic¡¡build¡¡and¡¡immense¡¡physical¡¡strength¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡features¡¡were
heavy¡¡and¡¡forbidding¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡are¡¡familiar¡¡with¡¡pictures¡¡of¡¡Nana¡¡Sahib¡£
If¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡known¡¡this¡¡fiend¡¡to¡¡have¡¡died¡¡while¡¡beset¡¡in¡¡a¡¡swamp£»
I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡mistaken¡¡Ragobah¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡to¡¡such¡¡a¡¡being¡¡that
Lona¡¡was¡¡betrothed¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡loathing¡¡her¡¡parents¡¡knew¡¡she
felt¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡told¡¡me¡¡all¡¡this¡¡one¡¡night¡¡at¡¡our¡¡accustomed
tryst¡¡on¡¡Malabar¡¡Hill¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡chosen¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡here¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of
the¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡¡and¡¡the¡¡seclusion¡¡it¡¡offered¡£¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡on
bright¡¡moonlit¡¡nights£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡and¡¡the¡¡city¡¡below¡¡m