the darrow enigma-第4部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　II

　　　　　　　　Silence　is　the　only　tender　Death　can　make　to　Mystery。


The　look　of　pain　and　astonishment　upon　my　face　said　plainly　enough
to　Gwen：

〃Your　father　is　dead。〃　　I　could　not　speak。　　In　the　presence　of　her
great　affliction　we　all　stood　silent；　and　with　bowed　heads。　　I　had
thought　Darrow's　attack　the　result　of　an　overwrought　mental　condition
which　would　speedily　readjust　itself；　and　had　so　counted　upon　his
daughter's　influence　as　all　but　certain　to　immediately　result　in　a
temporary　cure。　　When；　therefore；　I　found　him　dead　without　any
apparent　cause；　I　was；　for　the　time　being；　too　dazed　to　think；　much
less　to　act；　and　I　think　the　other　gentlemen　were　quite　as　much
incapacitated　as　I。　　My　first　thought；　when　I　recovered　so　that　I
could　think；　was　of　Gwen。　　I　felt　sure　her　reason　must　give　way　under
the　strain；　and　I　thought　of　going　nearer　to　her　in　case　she　should
fall；　but　refrained　when　I　noticed　that　Maitland　had　noiselessly
glided　within　easy　reach　of　her。　　To　move　seemed　impossible　to　me。
Such　a　sudden　transition　from　warm；　vigorous　life　to　cold；　impassive
death　seems　to　chill　the　dynamic　rivers　of　being　into　a　horrible
winter；　static　and　eternal。　　Though　death　puts　all　things　in　the
past　tense；　even　we　physicians　cannot　but　be　strangely　moved　when
the　soul　thus　hastily　deserts　the　body　without　the　usual　farewell　of
an　illness。

Contrary　to　my　expectations　Gwen　did　not　faint。　　For　a　long　time；
　…　it　may　not　have　been　more　than　twenty　minutes；　but　it　seemed；
under　the　peculiar　circumstances；　at　least　an　hour；　…　she　remained
perfectly　impassive。　　She　neither　changed　colour　nor　exhibited　any
other　sign　of　emotion。　　She　stood　gazing　quietly；　tenderly；　at　her
father's　body　as　if　he　were　asleep　and　she　were　watching　for　some
indication　of　his　awakening。　　Then　a　puzzled　expression　came　over
her　countenance。　　There　was　no　trace　of　sorrow　in　it；　only　the　look
of　perplexity。　　I　decided　to　break　the　gruesome　silence；　but　the
thought　of　how　my　own　voice　would　sound　in　that　awe…inspired
stillness　frightened　me。　　Gwen　herself　was　the　first　to　speak。　　She
looked　up　with　the　same　impassive　countenance；　from　which　now　the
perplexed　look　had　fled；　and　said　simply：

〃Gentlemen；　what　is　to　be　done？〃　　Her　voice　was　firm　and　sane；　…　that
it　was　pitched　lower　than　usual　and　had　a　suggestion　of　intensity　in
it；　was　perfectly　natural。　　I　thought　she　did　not　realise　her　loss
and　said：　〃He　has　gone　past　recall。〃　　〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　〃I　know
that；　but　should　we　not　send　for　an　officer？〃　　〃An　officer！〃　I
exclaimed。　　〃Is　it　possible　you　entertain　a　doubt　that　your　father's
death　resulted　from　natural　causes？〃　　She　looked　at　me　a　moment
fixedly；　and　then　said　deliberately：　〃My　father　was　murdered！〃　　I
was　so　surprised　and　pained　that；　for　a　moment；　I　could　not　reply；
and　no　one　else　sought　to　break　the　silence。

Maitland；　as　if　Gwen's　last　remark　had　given　rise　to　a　sudden
determination；　glided　to　the　body。　　He　examined　the　throat；　raised
the　right　hand　and　looked　at　the　fingers：　then　he　stepped　back　a
little　and　wrote　something　in　his　note…book。　　This　done；　he　tried
the　folding　doors　and　found　them　locked　on　the　inside；　then　the　two
windows　on　the　south　side　of　the　room；　which　he　also　found　fastened。
He　opened　the　hall　door　slightly　and　the　hinges　creaked　noisily；　of
all　of　which　he　made　a　note。　　Then　taking　a　rule　from　his　pocket　he
went　to　the　east　window；　and　measured　the　opening；　and　then　the
distance　between　this　window　and　the　chair　in　which　the　old　gentleman
had　sat；　recording　his　results　as　before。　　His　next　act　astonished
me　not　a　little　and　had　the　effect　of　recalling　me　to　my　senses。
With　his　penknife　he　cut　a　circle　in　the　carpet　around　each　leg　of
the　chair　on　which　the　body　rested。　　He　continued　his　examinations
with　quiet　thoroughness；　but　I　ceased　now　to　follow　him　closely；
since　I　had　begun　to　feel　the　necessity　of　convincing　Gwen　of　her
error；　and　was　casting　about　for　the　best　way　to　do　so。

〃My　dear　Miss　Darrow；〃　I　said　at　length；　〃you　attach　too　much
importance　to　the　last　words　of　your　father；　who；　it　is　clear；　was
not　in　his　right　mind。　　You　must　know　that　he　has；　for　some　months；
had　periods　of　temporary　aberration；　and　that　all　his　delusions
have　been　of　a　sanguinary　nature。　　Try　to　think　calmly；〃　I　said；
perceiving　from　her　expression　that　I　had　not　shaken　her　conviction
in　the　least。　　〃Your　father　said　he　had　been　stabbed。　　You　must　see
that　such　a　thing　is　physically　impossible。　　Had　all　the　doors　and
windows　been　open；　no　object　so　large　as　a　man　could　possibly　have
entered　or　left　the　room　without　our　observing　him；　but　the　windows
were　closed　and　fastened；　with　the　exception　of　the　east　window；
which；　as　you　may　see　for　yourself；　is　open　some　six　inches　or　so；
in　which　position　it　is　secured　by　the　spring　fastening。　　The　folding
doors　are　locked　on　the　inside　and　the　only　possible　means　of
entrance；　therefore；　would　have　been　by　the　hall　door。　　Directly　in
front　of　that；　between　it　and　your　father；　sat　Mr。　Maitland　and
myself。　　You　see　by　my　chair　that　I　was　less　than　two　feet　from　the
door。　　It　is　inconceivable　that；　in　that　half…light；　anyone　could
have　used　that　entrance　and　escaped　observation。　　Do　you　not　see
how　untenable　your　idea　is？　　　Had　your　father　been　stabbed　he　would
have　bled；　but　I　am　as　certain　as　though　I　had　made　a　thorough
examination　that　there　is　not　so　much　as　a　scratch　anywhere　upon　his
body。〃　　Gwen　heard　me　through　in　silence　and　then　said　wearily；　in
a　voice　which　had　now　neither　intensity　nor　elasticity；　〃I　understand
fully　the　apparent　absurdity　of　my　position；　yet　I　know　my　father
was　murdered。　　The　wound　which　caused　his　death　has　escaped　your
notice；　but　…　〃

〃My　dear　Miss　Darrow；〃　I　interrupted；　〃there　is　no　wound；　you　may
be　sure　of　that！〃　　For　the　first　time　since　Darrow's　death　Maitland
spoke。　　〃If　you　will　look　at　the　throat　a　little　more　closely；　you
will　see　what　may　be　a　wound；〃　he　said；　and　went　on　quietly　with　his
examinations。　　He　was　right；　there　was　a　minute　abrasion　visible。
The　girl's　quick　observation　had　detected　what　had　escaped　me；
convinced　as　I　was　that　there　was　nothing　to　be　found　by　a　scrutiny
however　close。

Gwen　now　transferred　her　attention　to　Maitland；　and　asked：　〃Had　not
one　of　us　better　go　for　an　officer？〃　　Maitland；　whose　power　of
concentration　is　so　remarkable　as　on　some　occasions　to　render　him
utterly　oblivious　of　his　surroundings；　did　not　notice　the　question
and　Browne　replied　to　it　for　him。　　〃I　should　be　only　too　happy　to
fetch　an　officer　for　you；　if　you　wish；〃　he　said。　　Have　you　ever
noticed　how　acute　the　mind　is　for　trifles　and　slight　incongruities
when　under　the　severe　tension　of　such　a　shock　as　we　had　experienced？
Such　attacks；　threatening　to　invade　and　forever　subjugate　our
happiness；　seem　to　have　the　effect　of　so　completely　manning　the
ramparts　of　our　intellect　the　nothing；　however　trivial；　escapes
observation。　　Gwen's　father；　her　only　near　relative；　lay　cold　before
her；　…　his　death；　from　her　standpoint；　the　most　painful　of　mysteries；
　…　and　yet　the　incongruity　of　Browne's　〃only　too　happy　〃　did　not
escape　her；　as　was　evident　by　the　quick　glance　and　sudden　relaxation
of　the　mouth　into　the　faintest　semblance　of　a　smile。　　All　this　was
momentary　and；　I　doubt　not；　half　unconscious。　　She　replied　gravely：

〃I　would　indeed　be　obliged　if　you　would　do　so。〃

Maitland；　who　had　now　finished　his　examination；　noticed　that　Browne
was　about　to　depart。　　When　the　artist　would　have　passed　him　on　his
way　to　the　hall　door；　he　placed　his　hand　upon　that　gentleman's
shoulder；　saying：　〃Pardon　me；　sir；　but　I　would　strongly　urge　that
you　do　not　leave　the　room！〃

Browne　paused。　　Both　men　stood　like　excited　animals　at　gaze。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　III

　Nothing　is　so　full　of　possibilities　as　the　seemingly　impossible。

Maitland's　request　that　Browne　should　not　leave　the　room　seemed　to
us　all　a　veritable　thunderbolt。　　It　impressed　me　at　the　time　as
being　a　thinly　veneered　command；　and　I　remember　fearing　lest　the
artist　should　be　injudicious　enough　to　disregard　it。　　If　he　could
have　seen　his　own　face　for　the　next　few　moments；　he　would　have　had
a　lesson　in　expression　which　years　of　portrait　work　may　fail　to
teach　him。　　At　length　the　rapidly　changing　kaleidoscope　of　his　mind
seemed　to　settle；　to　group　its　varied　imaginings　about　a　definite
idea；　…　the　idea　that　he　had　been　all　but　openly　accused；　in　the
presence　of　Miss　Darrow；　of　being　instrumental　in　her　father's　death。
For　a　moment；　as　he　faced　Maitland；　whom　he　instinctively　felt　to　be
a　rival；　he　looked　so　dark　and　sinister　that　one　could　easily　have
believed　him　capable　of　almost　any　crime。

Gwen　was　no　less　surprised　than　the　rest　of　us　at　Maitland's
interference；　but　she　did　not　permit　it　to　show　in　her　voice　as　she
said　quietly：　〃Mr。　Browne　has　consented　to　go　for　an　officer。〃　　As
I　felt　sure　she　must　have　thought　Maitland　already　knew　this；　as
anyone　else　must　have　heard　what　had　passed；　I　looked　upon　her
remark　as　a　polite　way　of　saying：

〃I　am　mistress　here。〃

Maitland　apparently　so　regarded　it；　for　he　replied　quickly：　〃I　hope
you　will　not　think　me　officious；　or　unmindful　of　your　right　to
dictate　in　a　matter　so　peculiarly　your　own　affair。　　My　only　desire
is　to　help　you。　　Mr。　Browne's　departure　would　still　further
complicate　a　case　already　far　to　difficult　of　solution。　　My　legal
training　has　given　me　some　little　experience　in　these　matters；　and
I　only　wish　that　you　may　have　the　benefit　thereof。　　It　is　now　nearly
three…quarters　of　an　hour　since　your　father's　death；　and；　I　assure
you；　time　at　this　particular　juncture　may　be　of　the　utmost
importance。　　Not　a　moment　should　be　wasted　in　needless　discussion。
If　you　will　consent　to　despatch　a　servant　to　the　police　station
I　will；　in　due　time；　explain　to　you　why　I　have　taken　the　liberty　of
being　so　insistent　on　this　point。〃

He　had　hardly　ceased　speaking　before　Gwen　rang　for　a　servant。　　She
hurriedly　told　him　what　had　transpired　and　sent　him　to　the　nearest
police　station。　　As　this　was　but　a　few　rods　away　and　the　messenger
was　fleet　of　foot；　an　officer　was　soon　upo