the darrow enigma-第6部分

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the　liberty　to　cut　the　carpet　to　mark　the　positions　of　our　chairs。
In　view　of　all　these　facts　what　must　they　conclude？　　Simply　this：
no　one　entered　the　room；　did　the　deed；　and　then　left　it；　at　least
not　without　being　observed。〃　　〃But　surely；〃　I　ventured　to　suggest；
〃you　do　not　think　they　will　presume　to　question　the　testimony　of
all　of　us　that　no　one　was　observed。〃

〃That　is　all　negative　evidence；〃　he　replied；　〃and　does　not
conclusively　prove　that　another　might　not　have　observed　what　we
failed　to　detect。　　However；　it　is　all　so　self…evident　that　they
will　not　question　it。　　I　know　so　well　their　methods　of　reasoning
that　I　am　already　prepared　to　refute　their　conclusions　at　every
point；　without；　I　regret　to　say；　being　myself　able　to　solve　the
mystery；　though　I　may　say　in　passing　that　I　purposely　am　refraining
from　formulating　any　theory　whatever　until　I　have　ascertained
everything　which　it　is　possible　to　learn　in　the　matter。　　In　this　way
I　hope　to　avoid　the　error　into　which　the　detective　is　so　prone　to
fall。　　Once　you　set　up　an　hypothesis　you　unconsciously；　and　in　spite
of　yourself；　accentuate　unduly　the　importance　of　all　data　making
toward　that　hypothesis；　while；　on　the　other　hand　you　either　utterly
neglect；　misconstrue；　or　fail　to　fully　appreciate；　the　evidence
oppugnant　to　your　theory。　　In　chemical　research　I　gather　the　material
for　an　entire　series　of　experiments　before　performing　any；　so　that
the　first　few　shall　not；　either　by　satisfying　or　discouraging　me；
cause　me　to　leave　the　bush　half　beaten。

〃Let　us　see　how；　from　the　officers'　standpoint；　the　murder　hypothesis
now　stands。　　No　assassin；　it　will　be　clear　to　them；　could　have
entered　or　left　this　room　unobserved。　　If；　therefore；　a　man　did　enter
the　room　and　kill　our　friend；　we；　all　of　us；　must　be　his　accomplices。〃
This　remark　drew　some　sort　of　exclamatory　protest　from　every　other
person　in　the　room　save　Browne。

〃Ah；　that　is　probably　the　true　solution；〃　said　the　artist　with
ill…concealed　disgust。

This　remark　and　the　tone　in　which　it　was　uttered　would　have　been
discourteous　under　any　circumstances；　at　this　particular　time　and　in
the　painful　situation　in　which　we　all　found　ourselves　it　was　boorish
almost　beyond　endurance。

There　was　nothing　in　Maitland's　manner　to　indicate　that　he　had　heard
Browne's　remark；　as　he　quietly　continued：

〃You　see　this　cold…blooded　view；　the　mere　statement　of　which　causes
you　all　to　shudder；　…　the　more　so　because　one　of　our　number　is　the
daughter　of　the　dead　man；　…　is　not　to　be　entertained　a　moment　and
is　only　mentioned　to　show　the　logical　chain　which　will　force　the
officers　into　the　certain　conviction　that　no　assassin　did　enter　or
leave　this　room。　What；　then；　remains　of　their　theory？　　Two
possibilities。　　First；　the　murderer　may　have　done　the　deed　without
entering。　　If　so；　it　is　clear　that　he　must　have　made　use　of　the
partly…opened　window。　　This　seems　so　likely　that　they　will　seize
upon　it　with　avidity。　　At　first　they　will　suggest　that　the　assassin
reached　in　at　the　window　and　struck　his　victim　as　he　sat　by　it。
This；　they　will　urge；　accounts　for　our　not　finding　the　weapon；　and
they　will　be　so　sure　that　this　is　the　correct　solution　of　the
problem　that　I　shall　probably　have　to　point　out　to　them　its　patent
absurdity。　　This　illustrates　the　danger　of　forming　an　hypothesis
from　imperfect　data。　　Remind　them　that　Mr。　Darrow　did　not　sit　by
the　window；　but　eight　feet　three　and　one…half　inches　from　it；　in
almost　the　exact　centre　of　the　room；　and　their　theory　falls　to　the
ground；　only　to　be　hastily　replaced；　as　a　drowning　man　catches　at　a
straw；　by　a　slightly　varied　theory。　　If　the　victim　sat　that　distance
from　the　window；　they　will　inform　us；　it　is　clear　the　murderous
implement　must　have　been　thrown　or　shot　at　him　by　the　assassin。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　Mr。　Herne；　〃though　I　had　not　thought　of　that　theory
it　seems　to　me　so　plausible；　now　that　you　mention　it；　that　I　think
the　officers　will　show　rare　acumen　if　they　adopt　it。　　Very　properly
may　they　hold　that　some　projectile　might　have　been　shot　through　the
partly　opened　window　and　none　of　us　have　detected　the　act。〃

〃Ah；　yes；〃　rejoined　Maitland；　〃but　when　I　ask　them　where　this
implement　is　under　this　assumption；　and　remind　them　of　what　I　shall
already　have　told　them；　viz。；　that　Mr。　Darrow　sat　back　to　the　window
as　well　as　over　eight　feet　from　it；　and　sat　in　a　chair；　the　solid
back　of　which　extended；　like　a　protecting　shield；　fully　six　inches
above　the　top　of　his　head；　they　will　find　it　difficult　to　show　how；
unless　projectiles　travel　in　sharp　curves　or　angles；　a　man　in　this
position　could　thus　receive　a　wound　directly　beneath　his　chin；　a
wound　so　slight　as　not　to　penetrate　the　thyroid　cartilage　immediately
under　it。

〃The　abandonment　of　this　hypothesis　will　force　them　to　relinquish
the　idea　that　the　murder　was　committed　from　without。　　What　then
remains？　　Only　the　second　alternative。　　They　must　either　give　up
altogether　the　idea　of　murder；　or　have　recourse　to　what　is　known　as
the　theory　of　exclusive　opportunity。〃

〃Theory　of　exclusive　opportunity；〃　repeated　Gwen；　as　a　puzzled　look
overspread　her　countenance。　　〃I　…　I　fear　I　do　not　quite　understand
what　you　mean。〃

〃Pardon　me；　Miss　Darrow；　for　not　making　my　meaning　clearer　to　you；〃
said　Maitland　with　a　deferential　inclination　of　the　head。　　〃The
theory　of　exclusive　opportunity；　to　state　it　plainly　in　this　case；
means　simply　this：　if　Mr。　Darrow　were　murdered；　some　one　of　us　five；
we　being　the　only　ones　having　an　opportunity　to　do　the　deed；　must
be　the　assassin。　　Whether　this　view　be　taken；　or　that　of　suicide；　it
becomes　of　paramount　importance　to　find　the　weapon。　　Do　you　not　now
see　why　I　objected　to　having　anyone　leave　the　room？　　If；　as　appears
likely　from　my　search；　the　weapon　is　not　to　be　found；　and　if；　as　I
feel　reasonably　certain；　either　the　suicide　or　the　murder　theory　be
substantiated；　then；　anyone　who　left　the　room　before　official　search
was　made　would　be　held　to　have　taken　the　weapon　with　him　and　disposed
of　it；　because　his　would　have　been　the　exclusive　opportunity　of　so
doing。　　Someone　must　have　disposed　of　it；　and　no　one　else　had　a
chance　to　do　so；　that　would　be　the　way　it　would　be　stated。　　But；
since　no　one　of　us　has　left　the　room；　a　thorough　search　both　of　it
and　of　our　persons；　must　convince　the　officers　that　we；　at　least；
are　not　responsible　for　the　fact　that　the　weapon　is　not　forthcoming。〃

Maitland　paused　and　looked　at　Browne　as　if　he　expected　him　to　speak；
but　that　gentleman　only　shut　his　square　jaws　the　more　firmly　together
and　held　his　peace；　…　at　least　in　so　far　as　words　were　concerned。
If　looks；　like　actions；　〃speak　louder　than　words；〃　this　black　visage
with　its　two　points　of　fire　made　eloquent　discourse。　　I　charged　all
this　display　of　malice　to　jealousy。　　It　is　not　altogether　pleasant
to　be　placed　at　a　disadvantage　before　the　one　being　whose　good
opinion　one　prizes　above　all　things　else；　…　that　is　to　say；　I　have
read　that　such　is　the　case。　　I　do　not　consider　my　own　views　upon
such　matters　expert　testimony。　　In　all　affairs　of　the　heart　my
opinions　cease　to　have　weight　at　exactly　the　point　where　that　organ
ceases　to　be　a　pump。

Even　Gwen；　I　think；　noticed　Browne's　determined　silence；　for　she
said　to　Maitland：

〃I　am　very　grateful　that　your　forethought　prevented　me　from　causing
Mr。　Browne　even　temporary　annoyance　by　making　him　my　messenger。〃

She　paused　a　moment　and　then　continued：

〃You　were　speaking　of　the　officers'　theories。　　When　they　have
convinced　themselves　that　no　one　of　us　has　removed　the　weapon；　what
then？〃

〃In　my　opinion；〃　said　Maitland；　〃they　will　ultimately　fall　back　upon
the　suicide　theory；　but　they　must　find　the　weapon　here　before　they
can　substantiate　it；　for　if　it　be　not　here　someone　must　have　taken
it　away　and　that　someone　could　have　only　been　the　one　who　used　it
　…　the　assassin；　in　short　…　but　here　are　the　officers。　　Let　each　one
of　us　insist　upon　being　searched。　　They　can　send　to　the　station　for
a　woman　to　search　you；〃　he　said　in　an　undertone　to　Gwen　and　then
added：　〃I　trust　you　will　pardon　my　suggesting　a　course　which；　in
your　case；　seems　so　utterly　unnecessary；　but；　believe　me；　there　are
urgent　reasons　for　it　which　I　can　explain　later。　　If　we　would　hope
to　solve　this　mystery；　everything　depends　upon　absolute　thoroughness
at　this　juncture。〃

〃I　should　evince　but　poor　appreciation；〃　Gwen　replied；　〃of　the
ability　you　have　already　shown　should　I　fail　to　follow　your　slightest
suggestion。　　It　is　all　I　can　offer　you　by　way　of　thanks　for　the
kind　interest　you　have　taken。〃

The　return　of　Officer　Barker；　accompanied　by　three　other　men；　now
changed　the　tide　of　conversation。　　Maitland　advanced　and　shook　hands
with　one　whom　he　introduced　as　Mr。　Osborne；　and　this　gentleman　in
turn　introduced　his　brother　officer；　a　Mr。　Allen；　and　；　a
special　detective。

Osborne　impressed　me　as　a　man　of　only　mediocre　ability；　thoroughly
imbued　with　the　idea　that　he　is　exceptionally　clever。　　He　spoke
loudly　and；　I　thought；　a　bit　ostentatiously；　yet　withal　in　a　manner
so　frank　and　hearty　that　I　could　not　help　liking　the　fellow。

；　on　the　contrary；　seemed　retiring　almost　to　the　point　of
self…abnegation。　　He　said　but　little；　apparently　preferring　to　keep
in　the　background；　where　he　could　record　his　own　observations　in
his　note…book　without　too　frequent　interruption。　　His　manner　was
polished　in　the　extreme；　and　so　frank　withal　that　he　seemed　to　me
like　a　man　of　glass　through　whom　every　thought　shone　unhindered。
I　wondered　how　one　who　seemed　powerless　to　conceal　his　own　emotions
should　possess　a　detective's　ability　to　thread　his　way　through　the
dark　and　hidden　duplicity　of　crime。　　When　he　spoke　it　was　in　a　low；
velvety；　and　soothing　voice；　that　fell　upon　the　ear　with　an
irresistible　charm。　　When　Osborne　would　make　some　thoughtless
remark　fraught　with　bitterness　for　Gwen；　such　an　expression　of　pain
would　flit　across　's　fine　face　as　one　occasionally　sees
in　those　highly　organised　and　sympathetic　natures；　　…　usually　found
among　women　if　a　doctor's　experience　may　be　trusted；　…　which　catch
the　throb　of　another's　hurt；　even　as　adjacent　strings　strive　to
sing　each　other's　songs。

　seemed　to　me　more　priest　tha