the darrow enigma-第7部分

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the　throb　of　another's　hurt；　even　as　adjacent　strings　strive　to
sing　each　other's　songs。

　seemed　to　me　more　priest　than　detective。　　His　clean…shaven
face；　its　beautifully　chiselled　features　suffused　with　that　peculiar
pallor　which　borrows　the　transparency　of　marble；　the　large；　limpid
brown　eyes　and　the　delicate；　kindly　mouth　…　all　these；　combined　with
a　faultless　manner　and　a　carriage　suggestive　of　power　in　reserve；
so　fascinated　me　that　I　found　myself　watching　him　continually。　　I
remember　saying　to　myself：　〃What　a　rival　he　would　make　in　a　woman's
affections！〃

At　just　that　time　he　was　looking　at　Gwen　with　tender；　solicitous
sympathy　written　in　every　feature；　and　that　doubtless　suggested　my
thought。

Mr。　Allen　was　even　more　ordinary　than　Mr。　Osborne　in　manner　and
appearance。　　I　do　not　presume　to　judge　his　real　merits；　for　I　did
not　notice　him　sufficiently　to　properly　portray　him　to　you；　even
if　I　had　the　gift　of　description；　which　I　think　you　will　admit　I
have　not。　　He　lives　in　my　memory　only　as　a　something　tall；　spare；
coarse　of　texture；　red；　hairy；　and　redolent　of　poor　tobacco。

How　different　men　are！　　（Of　course　women　are　all　alike！）　While
Osborne；　like　a　good…natured　bumble…bee；　was　buzzing　noisily　about；
as　though　all　the　world　were　his　clover…blossom；　and　Allen；　so　far
as　I　know；　was　doing　nothing；　；　alert　and　keen　despite　his
gentleness　and　a　modesty　which　kept　him　for　the　most　part
unobtrusively　in　the　shadow　of　his　chosen　corner；　was　writing
rapidly　in　a　note…book　and　speaking　no　word。　　It　seemed　as　if
nothing　escaped　him。　　　Clearly　he　was　there　to　enlighten　himself
rather　than　others。　　At　length；　pausing　to　make　a　measurement；
he　noticed　my　gaze　and　said　to　me　in　an　undertone；　as　he　glanced
solicitously　at　Gwen　lest　she　should　hear：

〃Pardon　me；　but　did　any　of　you　observe　anything；　at　or　about　the
time　of　Mr。　Darrow's　death；　which　impressed　you　as　singular；　…　any
noise；　any　shadow；　any　draught　or　change　of　temperature；　say　a
rushing　or　I　might　say　swishing　sound；　…　anything；　in　fact；　that
would　seem　to　you　as　at　all　unusual？〃

〃Nothing　whatever；〃　I　replied。　　〃Everything　seemed　perfectly　normal
and　commonplace。〃

〃Hum！　　Strange！〃　he　said；　and　returned　to　his　notes。

I　felt　sure　　had　had　a　theory　and　that　my　testimony　had　not
strengthened　it；　but　he　did　not　volunteer　any　information；　neither
did　he　take　part　in　the　conversation　of　his　companions；　and　so　my
curiosity　remained　ungratified。　　It　was　clear　that　's　methods
were　very　different　from　those　of　Osborne　and　Allen。

I　need　not　weary　you　by　further　narrating　what　occurred　at　this
official　examination。　　Suffice　it　to　say　that；　with　one　or　two　minor
exceptions；　Osborne　and　Allen　followed　the　precise　course　of
reasoning　prophesied　by　Maitland；　and；　as　for　；　he
courteously；　but　firmly；　held　his　peace。　　The　two　officers　did　not；
however；　lean　as　strongly　to　the　theory　that　death　resulted　from
natural　causes　as　Maitland　had　anticipated；　and；　I　think；　this
surprised
him。　　He　had　already　told　them　that　he　expected　to　be　able　to　show
death　to　have　resulted　from　poison　hypodermically　applied；　and；　as
I　overheard　a　remark　made　by　Osborne　to　Allen；　I　readily　understood
their　speedy　abandonment　of　their　natural…death　theory。　　They　were
engaged　in　verifying　Maitland's　measurement　of　the　east　side　of　the
room　when　Osborne　said　softly　to　his　companion：　〃He　has　figured　in
several　of　my　cases　as　a　chemical　expert；　and　when　he　expresses　an
opinion　on　a　matter　it's　about　the　same　as　proved。　　He's　not　the
kind　that　jumps　in　the　dark。　　He's　a　lawyer　as　well　as　chemist　and
knows　what's　evidence；　so　I　reckon　we'd　better　see　if　we　can　make
anything　out　of　the　suicide　and　murder　theories。〃

Maitland　had　asked　them　to　send　to　the　station　for　a　woman　to　search
Gwen　and　she　had　just　arrived。　　We　all　requested　that　a　most
thorough　examination　should　now　be　made　to　assure　the　officers　that
no　one　of　us　possessed　the　missing　weapon。　　This　done；　the　officers
and　　departed　for　the　night；　assuring　Gwen　that　there　was
nothing　further　to　be　done　till　morning；　and　Osborne；　doubtless　with
a　view　to　consoling　her；　said：　〃It　may　be　a　relief　to　you；　miss；
to　know　that　there　is　scarcely　a　doubt　that　your　father　took　his
own　life。〃　　This　had　an　effect　upon　Gwen　very　different　from　that
which　had　been　intended。　　Her　face　contracted；　and　it　was　plain　to
see　she　was　beginning　to　think　everyone　was　determined　to　force　a
falsehood　upon　her。　　Herne　and　Browne　also　prepared　to　take　their
leave。　　A　glance　from　Maitland　told　me　he　wished　me　to　remain　with
him　a　moment　after　the　others　had　departed；　and　I　accordingly　did　so。

When　we　were　alone　with　Gwen　he　said　to　her：　〃I　think　I　understand
your　feeling　with　regard　to　Mr。　Osborne's　remark；　as　well　as　your
conviction　that　it　does　not　represent　the　truth。　　I　foresaw　they
would　come　to　this　conclusion；　and　know　very　well　the　pains　they
will　take　to　prove　their　hypothesis。〃　　〃Can　nothing　be　done？〃　she
asked　beseechingly。　　〃It　is　that　of　which　I　wish　to　speak；〃　he
replied。　　〃If　you　have　sufficient　confidence　in　me　to　place　the
case　in　my　hands；　I　will　do　everything　in　my　power　to　establish
the　truth；　…　on　one　condition；〃　and　he　glanced　at　her　face；　now
pale　and　rigid　from　her　long…continued　effort　of　self…control。
〃And　that　condition　is？〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃That　you　follow　my
directions　and　permit　me　to　order　your　movements　in　all　things；　so
long　as　the　case　remains　in　my　hands；　if　at　any　time　I　seek　to
abuse　your　faith；　you　are　as　free　to　discharge　me　as　if　I　were　a
paid　detective。〃　　Gwen　looked　searchingly　at　him；　then；　extending
her　hand　to　him；　she　said　impulsively：　〃You　are　very　kind；　I
accept　the　condition。　　What　shall　I　do？〃

I　tried　to　catch　Maitland's　eye　to　tell　him　what　he　should　counsel
her；　but　a　man　with　his　ability　to　observe　conditions　and　grasp
situations　can　very　well　do　without　prompting。　　〃First；〃　he　said；
〃you　must　return　home　with　the　Doctor　and　spend　the　rest　of　the
night　with　his　sister；　I　shall　stay　here　until　morning；　and　second；
I　desire　that　you　use　your　utmost　endeavour　to　keep　the　incidents
of　this　evening　out　of　your　mind。　　You　cannot；　of　course；　forget
your　loss；　unless　you　sleep；〃　…　and　he　gave　me　a　look　which　said：
〃I　depend　on　you　to　see　to　that；〃　…　〃but　you　must　not　continually
re…enact　the　scene　in　imagination；　In　the　morning　the　Doctor　will
come　here　to　bring　me　my　camera；　microscope；　and　a　few　things　I
shall　require　〃　…　and　he　passed　me　a　list　he　had　written。　　〃If　you
have　slept　well　you　can　be　of　considerable　service；　and　may
accompany　him　…　if　not；　you　must　remain　quietly　at　his　house。〃
With　this　he　turned　to　me；　and　said：　〃She　is　making　a　condenser　of
herself；　Doctor；　and　will　soon　break　through　the　insulation。　　Sparks
will　be　dangerous　…　you　must　secure　the　brush　effect。〃　　He　spoke
quickly；　and　used　electrical　terms；　that　she　might　not　understand
him；　but　either　he　failed　of　his　purpose；　or　the　observation　she
immediately　made　was　a　strange　coincidence。　　I　believe　she
understood；　for；　while　young　women　educated　by　their　mothers　are
usually　ignorant　upon　all　the　more　masculine　subjects；　those　who
have　long　been　their　father's　companions　are　ever　prone　to　startle
one　with　the　most　unexpected　flashes　of　intelligence。　　〃I　am　in
rather　a　high　state　of　tension　now；〃　she　said；　turning　calmly　to
Maitland；　〃but　when　alone　the　expression　which　has　been　denied　me
here　will　afford　relief。〃　　Maitland　glanced　at　her　quickly；　and
then　at　me；　and　I　knew　he　was　wondering　if　she　had　understood。
Then　he　said：　〃It　is　getting　late。　　I　shall　expect　you　to　sleep
well　and　to　come　in　the　morning。　　Please　say　to　the　servants　as
you　go　that　I　shall　stay　here　all　night；　and　that　no　one　must　enter
without　permission。　　Good…night。〃　　She　held　out　her　hand　to　him；
but　made　no　reply；　then　she　fervently　kissed　her　father's　lips；
and　together　we　left　the　chamber　of　death。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　IV


　Death　speaks　with　the　tongue　of　Memory；　and　his　ashen　hand　reaches
　out　of　the　great　unknown　to　seize　and　hold　fast　our　plighted　souls。

What　Maitland's　reason　was　for　spending　the　night　with　the　dead　body
of　Darrow；　or　how　he　busied　himself　until　morning；　I　do　not　know。
Perhaps　he　desired　to　make　sure　that　everything　remained　untouched；
or；　it　may　be；　that　he　chose。　　this　method　of　preventing　Gwen　from
performing　a　vigil　by　the　body。　　I　thought　this　latter　view　very
probable　at　the　time；　as　I　had　been　singularly　impressed　with　the
remarkable　foresight　my　friend　had　displayed　in　so　quickly　and
adroitly　getting　Gwen　away　from　everything　connected　with　her
father's　sad　and　mysterious　death。

Arriving　at　my　house　my　sister　took　an　early　opportunity　to　urge
upon　Gwen　a　glass　of　wine；　in　which　I　had　placed　a　generous　sedative。
The　terrible　tension　soon　began　to　relax；　and　in　less　than　half　an
hour　she　was　sleeping　quietly。　　I　dreaded　the　moment　when　she　should
awake　and　the　memory　of　all　that　had　happened　should　descend　like　an
avalanche　upon　her。　　I　told　my　sister　that　this　would　be　a　critical
moment；　cautioning　her　to　stay　by　Gwen　and　to　give　her；　immediately
upon　her　arising；　a　draught　I　had　prepared　for　the　purpose　of
somewhat　deadening　her　sensibilities。　　I　arose　early；　and　went　to
Maitland's　laboratory　to　collect　the　things　he　desired。　　When　I
returned　Gwen　was　awake；　and　to　my　intense　gratification　in　even　a
better　condition　than　I　had　dared　to　hope。

It　was　quite　late　when　we　reached　her　house；　and　Maitland　had
evidently　been　at　work　several　hours。　　He　looked　sharply　at　Gwen
when　she　entered；　and　seemed　much　pleased　at　her　condition。　　〃You
have　obeyed　my　instructions；　I　see；　and　slept；〃　he　said；　as　he　gave
her　his　hand。　　〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　〃I　was　very　tired；　and　the
doctor's　cordial　quite　overcame　me；〃　and　she　cast　an　inquiring
glance　at　the　network　of　white　string　which　Maitland　had　stretched
across　the　carpet；　dividing　it　into　squares　like　an　immense
checker…board。　　In　reply　to　her　questioning　look；　he　said：　〃French
detectives　are　the　most　thorough　in　the　world；　and　I　am　about　to
make　use　of　their　method　of　instituting　an　exhaustive　search。　　Each
one　of　the　squares　formed　by　these　i