±´¿Çµç×ÓÊé > Ó¢ÎÄÔ­Öøµç×ÓÊé > the darrow enigma >

µÚ39ÕÂ

the darrow enigma-µÚ39ÕÂ

С˵£º the darrow enigma ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



expected¡¡to¡¡withstand¡¡any¡¡such¡¡temptation¡£

On¡¡these¡¡visits¡¡Maitland¡¡and¡¡I¡¡talked¡¡but¡¡very¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡while¡¡I
was¡¡spying¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡interest¡¡occurred¡¡¡­¡¡i¡£¡¡e¡££»¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡interest
to¡¡him¡¡¡­¡¡or£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡did£»¡¡things¡¡of¡¡interest¡¡to¡¡me¡¡prevented¡¡my
observing¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡several¡¡occasions¡¡he¡¡alluded¡¡vaguely¡¡to¡¡things¡¡he
had¡¡learned¡¡which¡¡he¡¡said¡¡he¡¡should¡¡not¡¡divulge¡¡even¡¡to¡¡me¡¡until¡¡the
proper¡¡time¡¡came¡£

Things¡¡went¡¡on¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way¡¡for¡¡about¡¡two¡¡weeks¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡visited¡¡Maitland
daily£»¡¡and¡¡daily¡¡the¡¡little¡¡lady¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡room¡¡wove¡¡her¡¡spell
around¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡If£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡am¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡believe£»¡¡thinking¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal
of¡¡a¡¡person¡¡is¡¡much¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thing¡¡as¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡a¡¡person¡¡a¡¡great
deal£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡adored¡¡her¡£

One¡¡night£»¡¡about¡¡a¡¡fortnight¡¡after¡¡Maitland's¡¡change¡¡of¡¡abode£»¡¡I
found¡¡Alice¡¡in¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡state¡¡of¡¡excitement¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡arrival¡¡home¡£
She¡¡met¡¡me¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡Gwen¡¡needed¡¡my¡¡attention¡¡at¡¡once¡£
I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡stop¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡further¡¡particulars£»¡¡but¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡the
sitting¡­room£»¡¡where¡¡Gwen¡¡lay¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡lounge¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡stupor
from¡¡which¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡arouse¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡vain¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to
attract¡¡her¡¡attention¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡fixed£»¡¡staring¡¡eyes¡¡looked¡¡through
me¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡glass¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡she¡¡had¡¡received¡¡a¡¡severe¡¡shock£»
and¡¡so£»¡¡after¡¡giving¡¡her¡¡some¡¡medicine£»¡¡I¡¡took¡¡Alice¡¡aside¡¡and¡¡asked
her¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡said¡¡that¡¡Gwen¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sitting
sewing¡¡by¡¡the¡¡window¡¡all¡¡the¡¡afternoon£»¡¡and¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡Maitland's
recent¡¡discoveries¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡about¡¡five¡¡o'clock¡¡the¡¡Evening¡¡Herald¡¡was
brought¡¡in¡¡as¡¡usual¡£¡¡¡¡She£»¡¡Alice£»¡¡had¡¡picked¡¡it¡¡up¡¡to¡¡glance¡¡over
the¡¡news£»¡¡when£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡column¡¡headed¡¡¡¨Latest£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the
heading£º¡¡¡¨The¡¡Darrow¡¡Mystery¡¡Solved£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡This¡¡she¡¡had¡¡read¡¡aloud£»
without¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shock¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡¡announcement¡¡might¡¡give
Gwen£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sudden¡¡pallor¡¡that¡¡had¡¡overspread¡¡the¡¡young¡¡woman's
face¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡her¡¡to¡¡her¡¡senses£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡paused¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Her
companion£»¡¡however£»¡¡had¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡hesitated¡¡and£»
in¡¡a¡¡fever¡¡of¡¡excitement£»¡¡had¡¡read¡¡in¡¡a¡¡half¡­audible¡¡voice£º

¡¡¡¡¡¡John¡¡Darrow¡¡was¡¡murdered¡£¡¡¡¡¡­¡¡The¡¡assassin's¡¡inability¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡a
¡¡¡¡¡¡gambling¡¡debt¡¡the¡¡motive¡¡for¡¡the¡¡crime¡£¡¡¡¡¡­¡¡Extraordinary¡¡work
¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡a¡¡French¡¡detective£¡¡¡¡­¡¡The¡¡net¡¡¡­=20

But¡¡at¡¡this¡¡juncture¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡had¡¡dropped¡¡from¡¡Gwen's¡¡hands£»¡¡and
she¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡before¡¡Alice¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡her¡£



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡EPISODE¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡TELLTALE¡¡THUMB


¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡I

¡¡¡¡When¡¡Disaster¡¡is¡¡bigger¡¡than¡¡its¡¡victim¡¡its¡¡bolt¡¡o'erlaps¡¡the
¡¡¡¡innocent¡£

It¡¡was¡¡some¡¡time¡¡after¡¡Gwen¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡before¡¡Alice¡¡had¡¡succeeded
in¡¡getting¡¡her¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡lounge£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡all¡¡her¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡revive
her¡¡had¡¡failed¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡nerveless¡¡stupor¡¡as
that¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡found¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡Alice¡¡if¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡why¡¡this
announcement¡¡had¡¡produced¡¡such¡¡an¡¡effect¡¡upon¡¡Gwen£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡returned
my¡¡question¡¡with¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡amazement¡£

¡¨Have¡¡you¡¡forgotten¡¡Gwen's¡¡promise¡¡to¡¡her¡¡father¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter£¿¡¨
she¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Has¡¡she¡¡not¡¡already¡¡told¡¡you¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡keep
that¡¡promise£»¡¡whatever¡¡the¡¡sacrifice¡¡cost¡¡her£¿¡¡¡¡She¡¡is£»¡¡therefore£»
entirely¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡this¡¡M¡£¡¡Godin£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡is¡¡also¡¡obliged¡¡to
advise¡¡him¡¡of¡¡this¡¡fact£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would¡¡carry¡¡out¡¡her¡¡father's¡¡wishes¡£
Is¡¡this¡¡nothing¡¡for¡¡a¡¡sensitive¡¡nature¡¡like¡¡hers£¿¡¡¡¡If¡¡she¡¡has¡¡any
love¡¡for¡¡anyone¡¡else¡¡she¡¡must¡¡crush¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡heart£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡is
M¡£¡¡Godin's¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡Surely£»¡¡Ned£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡so¡¡stupid¡¡as¡¡your¡¡question
would¡¡indicate¡£¡¨

¡¨We¡¡won't¡¡discuss¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡rejoined¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Let¡¡us¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Gwen¡¡and¡¡get
her¡¡to¡¡bed¡£¡¨

This¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sufferer¡¡made¡¡easy¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡I¡¡glanced¡¡at
the¡¡article¡¡which¡¡had¡¡so¡¡upset¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡read¡¡its¡¡sensational
¡¨scare¡­head¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡In¡¡full¡¡it¡¡ran¡¡as¡¡follows£º

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡DARROW¡¡MYSTERY¡¡SOLVED£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡JOHN¡¡DARROW¡¡WAS¡¡MURDERED£¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Assassin's¡¡Inability¡¡to¡¡Pay¡¡a¡¡Gambling¡¡Debt¡¡the
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Motive¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Crime¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡EXTRAORDINARY¡¡WORK¡¡OF¡¡A¡¡FRENCH¡¡DETECTIVE£¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Net¡¡so¡¡Completely¡¡Woven¡¡About¡¡the¡¡Alleged
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Assassin¡¡That¡¡it¡¡is¡¡Thought¡¡He¡¡Will¡¡Confess¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Arrest¡¡Entirely¡¡Due¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Unassisted¡¡Efforts¡¡of
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡M¡£¡¡LOUIS¡¡GODIN£¡


I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡stop¡¡to¡¡read¡¡the¡¡article£»¡¡but¡¡seized¡¡my¡¡hat¡¡and¡¡hastened
at¡¡once¡¡to¡¡Maitland¡£

A¡¡copy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Herald¡¡lay¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡table£»¡¡advising¡¡me¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was
already¡¡acquainted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡turn¡¡affairs¡¡had¡¡taken¡£¡¡¡¡He
told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡newsboys¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street¡¡calling¡¡out
¡¨The¡¡Darrow¡¡Mystery¡¡Solved£¡¡¨¡¡and¡¡had¡¡at¡¡once¡¡rushed¡¡out¡¡and¡¡bought
a¡¡paper¡£

I¡¡informed¡¡him¡¡of¡¡Gwen's¡¡condition¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡her¡¡at
once£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡he¡¡must¡¡wait¡¡until¡¡the¡¡morrow£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡had
already¡¡retired£»¡¡and¡¡was£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡hope£»¡¡fast¡¡asleep¡£¡¡¡¡I
reassured¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡information¡¡that¡¡a¡¡night's¡¡sleep¡¡and¡¡the
medicine¡¡I¡¡had¡¡given¡¡her¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡put¡¡Gwen¡¡in¡¡full¡¡possession
of¡¡her¡¡faculties¡£¡¡¡¡Having¡¡thus¡¡satisfied¡¡his¡¡fears£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡it
fitting¡¡he¡¡should¡¡satisfy¡¡mine¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡what¡¡had¡¡become¡¡of¡¡the
young¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reply£»¡¡but¡¡quietly¡¡led¡¡me
into¡¡his¡¡camera¡¡obscura¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might¡¡see¡¡for¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was
sitting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡face¡¡buried
in¡¡her¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡her¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡only¡¡movement
I¡¡could¡¡discern¡¡was¡¡that¡¡occasioned¡¡ever¡¡and¡¡anon¡¡by¡¡a¡¡convulsive
catching¡¡of¡¡her¡¡breath¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pet¡¡monkey¡¡was¡¡nowhere¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡£

¡¨They¡¡took¡¡her¡¡father¡¡away¡¡early¡¡this¡¡morning£»¡¨¡¡Maitland¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and£»
after¡¡the¡¡first¡¡shock£»¡¡she¡¡sank¡¡into¡¡this¡¡condition¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡has¡¡not
moved¡¡since¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡see¡¡the¡¡despair¡¡her¡¡father's¡¡arrest¡¡has
occasioned¡¡I¡¡am¡¡almost¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡rejoice¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡it£»
and¡¡yet¡¡¡­¡¡well£»¡¡there's¡¡no¡¡great¡¡harm¡¡without¡¡some¡¡small¡¡good¡¡¡­¡¡no
one¡¡will¡¡say¡¡now¡¡that¡¡John¡¡Darrow¡¡took¡¡his¡¡own¡¡life£»¡¡eh£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡do
you¡¡think¡¡our¡¡friends£»¡¡Osborne¡¡and¡¡Allen£»¡¡will¡¡say¡¡now£¿¡¡¡¡They¡¡were
so¡¡sure¡¡their¡¡theory¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡tenable¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡Ah£»¡¡well£¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡should
ever¡¡hold¡¡ourselves¡¡in¡¡readiness=20
for¡¡surprises¡£¡¨

¡¨And¡¡for¡¡emergencies¡¡too£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡continued£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡this¡¡strikes¡¡me¡¡as
being¡¡very¡¡like¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡young¡¡woman¡¡needs¡¡attention£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡any
judge¡¡of¡¡appearances£»¡¡and¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡in¡¡there¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡¡use£»¡¡Doc£»¡¨
Maitland¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡door¡¡is¡¡locked£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡either¡¡cannot¡¡or
will¡¡not¡¡open¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡knocked¡¡there¡¡for¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡hoping¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able
to¡¡comfort¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡It's¡¡no¡¡use¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡try£»¡¡she¡¡won't¡¡open¡¡the
door¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Won't£»¡¡eh£¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡I'll¡¡go¡¡through¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡in¡¡a
tone¡¡that¡¡so¡¡amazed¡¡Maitland¡¡that¡¡he¡¡seized¡¡me¡¡by¡¡the¡¡shoulders¡¡and
gazed¡¡fixedly¡¡into¡¡my¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡George£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»
answering¡¡his¡¡look¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡going¡¡in¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be
at¡¡all¡¡delicate¡¡about¡¡my¡¡entrance¡¡either¡£¡¨

He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡a¡¡little¡¡doubtfully£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that£»¡¡on¡¡the
whole£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡pleased¡¡with¡¡my¡¡decision¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡and
knocked¡¡loudly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡response¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡kicked¡¡it
till¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡heard¡¡all¡¡over¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡there
was¡¡no¡¡response¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡now¡¡clear¡¡I¡¡should¡¡not¡¡enter¡¡by¡¡invitation£»
so¡¡I¡¡went¡¡up¡¡four¡¡or¡¡five¡¡stairs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flight¡¡opposite¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and
from¡¡that¡¡position¡¡sprang¡¡against¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡remember£»¡¡a
heavy¡¡man£»¡¡but¡¡momentum¡¡is¡¡MV¡¡and¡¡I¡¡made¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡'V'¡¡what¡¡I¡¡lacked
in¡¡the¡¡'M¡£'¡¡¡¡The¡¡door¡¡opened¡¡inwardly£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡tore¡¡it¡¡from¡¡its¡¡hinges
and¡¡precipitated¡¡both¡¡myself¡¡and¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡apartment¡£
As¡¡I¡¡look¡¡back¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡incident¡¡I¡¡regard¡¡it¡¡as¡¡the¡¡most¡¡precipitous
thing¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡did¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡a¡¡professional¡¡visit¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡young
lady¡¡started¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡she¡¡did¡¡so¡¡before¡¡I¡¡had¡¡gathered¡¡myself¡¡together
sufficiently¡¡to¡¡notice¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡no¡¡evidence
of¡¡hearing¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡raised¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡wide¡¡open¡¡and
stared¡¡full¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡yet¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡blank¡¡way¡¡that¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not
hear¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡contraction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brows£»¡¡the¡¡knotted¡¡appearance¡¡of
the¡¡forehead£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rigor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡face¡¡told¡¡me¡¡she¡¡was¡¡under¡¡an
all¡­but¡­breaking¡¡tension¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡tear¡­stains¡¡from¡¡tears¡¡which
long¡¡since¡¡had¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡flow¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fire¡¡of¡¡fever¡¡had¡¡dried¡¡them¡¡up¡£
I¡¡regarded¡¡her¡¡case¡¡as¡¡far¡¡more¡¡desperate¡¡than¡¡Gwen's¡¡and¡¡determined
to¡¡lose¡¡no¡¡time¡¡in¡¡taking¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡so¡¡like
sacrilege¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡her¡¡without¡¡an¡¡expla

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ