the darrow enigma-第24章
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out immediately after my interview with her and have read it so many
times； during the last twenty years； that I have committed it to
memory。 The recollection of that last meeting； of her kiss and her
grateful look has been throughout all these long； weary years the
one verdant spot in the desert of my life。
＇Moro Scindia paused here； as one who had reached the end of his
narrative； and I continued my interrogations。＇
Q。 Although you never again saw your cousin you must； I think； have
heard something of her fate。
A I learned of it through Nana Kandia； the servant who had secretly
embraced Lona's cause； and who had borne her message to me。 It
seems that； after my interview with her； my cousin was seized with
a consuming desire to see her English lover once more before her
death； so she devised a plan by which； with Kandia's help； Darrow
Sahib was to be secretly conducted to her under cover of night。 She
wrote a letter asking him； as a last request； to meet her messenger
on Malabar Hill； and instructing him how to make himself known。
This she gave to Kandia to post early in the morning of the day upon
which their plan was to be put into execution。 As he was about
leaving the house Ragobah called him into his chamber and demanded
to know what was taking him forth so early in the morning。 Kandia
saw at once that the purpose of his errand had been discovered； and
determined to meet the issue bravely。 〃I was going to post a letter；
Sahib；〃 he replied quietly。 〃Let me see it！〃 Ragobah roared。 〃I
have no right to do so；〃 Kandia replied； springing toward the door。
But be was not quick enough for the wary Ragobah； who felled him to
the floor with a chair before he had reached the threshold。 When
he returned to consciousness he found his assailant； who had
skilfully opened the letter； standing over him perusing it in
malicious glee。 When he had finished reading he carefully resealed
it and placed it in his pocket。 Then he called two of his servants
and gave Kandia into their charge with orders to gag him； to bind
him hand and foot； and； as they valued their lives； not to permit
him to leave the room till he ordered it。
What occurred between that time and the return of Ragobah； wounded
and furious； late in the evening； we can only surmise。 He doubtless
posted the letter； and went himself to meet Darrow Sahib on Malabar
Hill。 When he returned home he hobbled into his wife's apartment
and then ordered Kandia to be sent to him。 His left leg was badly
crushed and his face； contorted with pain and fiendish malevolence；
was horrible to look upon。
〃Our trusty friend here；〃 he said； addressing his wife and pointing
to Kandia； 〃could not conveniently post your letter this morning； my
dear； so I did it myself。〃 Lona's face turned ashen pale； but she
made no reply。
〃I thought；〃 he continued in his sweetest accents and with the same
demoniac sarcasm； 〃that you would be anxious to know if the Sahib
received it； … our mail service is so lax of late； … so I went tonight
to Malabar Hill to see； for I felt certain he would come if he got
your note； and； sure enough； he was there even ahead of time。 I was
obliged to forego the pleasure of bringing him to you on account of
two most unfortunate accidents。 As you see I hurt my foot； and poor
Darrow Sahib slipped and fell headlong into the well in the little
cave。 As it has no bottom I could not； of course； get the Sahib out；
and so was obliged to return； as best I could； alone。〃 As he
finished this heartless lie； every word of which he knew was a
poisoned dart； Lona fell fainting upon the floor。 Kandia raised her
gently； expecting to find her dead； but was able at length to revive
her。 The first words she said were directed to Ragobah in a voice
devoid of passion or reproach； … of everything in fact save an
unutterable weariness。
〃I am ill；〃 she said； 〃will you permit Nana to get me some medicine
which has helped me in similar attacks？〃 Ragobah's reply was
directed to Kandia。
〃You may do as the Sahibah bids you；〃 was all he said。
Kandia turned to Lona for instructions and she said to him； 〃Get me
half an ounce of … stay； there are several ingredients … I had better
write them down。〃 She wrote upon a little slip of paper； naming
aloud the ingredients and quantities as she did so； and then asked
Kandia to move her chair to an open window before he left。 When he
had done so； she passed him the note； saying； 〃Please get it as
quickly as possible。〃 As he took the paper she seized his hand for
a moment and pressed it firmly。 He noticed this at the time； but
its significance did not dawn upon him until he had nearly reached
his destination； when； all at once； he realised with a pang that the
momentary pressure of the hand and the mute gratitude which shone
from the eyes were meant as a farewell。 His first impulse was to
hurriedly retrace his steps； but before he had acted upon it； the
thought occurred to him that she intended to poison herself with the
drugs he was about to procure。 If this were the case； there was no
great need of hurry。 Then he began to recall to mind the names of
the drugs she had mentioned as she wrote and to reflect that not
one of them was poisonous。 With this new light all his former
uneasiness returned。 He strove to reassure himself with the thought
that she might； in order to mislead Ragobah； have spoken the name
of a harmless drug while she wrote down that of a poisonous one。
It was easy to settle this question； and he determined to do so at
the next light。 He unfolded the paper； expecting to see a
prescription； but read instead these words：
〃To MORO SCINDIA；
〃My Dear Cousin： Death has relieved you of the task I imposed upon
you。 John Darrow's body is in the well in the cave on Malabar Hill；
where； before this reaches you； my body will have also gone to meet
it。 To this fragment of paper； then； must I confide the debt of
gratitude I owe to you and to him who will bear it to you； Nana
Kandia。 Good…bye。 If I had had two hearts； I should have given
you one。 Do not mourn me； but rather rejoice that my struggle and
its agony are over。 John has already gone … one tomb shall inclose
both our bodies … how could it have been better？
〃LONA。〃
No sooner had Kandia grasped the import of this letter than he
rushed with all speed to Malabar Hill； but he was too late； for
scarcely had he left the house upon Lona's errand before she had
sprung out of the window by which he had placed her。 Ragobah's
wound prevented his following her； and when he had summoned others
to pursue her； the darkness had closed about her form and none
knew the way she had taken。 At the edge of the fatal well Kandia
found a piece of paper beneath a stone and on it these words：
〃Farewell； Moro and Nana； the only beings on earth I regret to
leave！
… Lona。〃
The body was never recovered。 The news of his wife's death； and
the knowledge that he was the cause of it； produced an effect upon
Ragobah from which he never recovered。 More than twenty years have
passed since then； yet from that day to this he has never been known
to smile。 Long before his mangled limb had healed it became evident
to all who knew him that he had henceforth but one purpose in life；
… revenge； and that nothing save death could turn him from his
purpose； so long as his rival lived。 The knowledge of this made my
search for Darrow Sahib more than ever difficult from the fact that
it must be prosecuted secretly。 I could only learn that he had
left Bombay for the interior； nothing more。 My inquiries in all
the Indian cities proved fruitless； and in many instances； I was
informed that Ragobah had instituted a search for the same man。 I
think； in spite of my precautions； some of my agents ultimately
told Ragobah of my efforts； for I found myself so closely watched
by men in his interests that I was at length compelled to give up
the personal conduct of the search； and to continue it through a
deputy； unknown to him。 All my endeavours to find the Sahib were；
as you are alr
