the darrow enigma-第49章
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feasible plan of making away with my victim。 I need not go into
particulars； for I know perfectly well that this Maitland knows to
a nicety how the thing was done。 The Daboia Russellii； or Russell's
viper； is one of the best known and most deadly of Indian vipers。
I procured one of these reptiles at the cost of great delay and some
slight risk。 That is the whole story。 On the night of the murder
I took the viper in a box and went down to the water…front； near the
Darrow estate。 Here I cut a small pole from a clump of alders； made
a split in one end of it； and thrust it over the tail of the viper。
It pinched him severely and held him fast despite his angry struggles
to free himself and to attack anything within his reach。 All that
remained to be done was to thrust this through the window into the
darkened room and to bring the viper within reach of Mr。 Darrow。
This I did； being careful to crouch so as not to obstruct the light
of the window。 When I heard my victim's outcry I withdrew the pole；
and with it； of course； the viper； and made good my escape。 That
the reptile bit Mr。 Darrow under the chin while his back was toward
the window was mere chance； though I regarded it as a very lucky
occurrence； since it seemed to render the suicide theory at first
inevitable。
〃I had had some fear lest the hissing of the viper might have been
heard； for which reason I hazarded the only question I asked at the
examination； and was completely reassured by its answer。 I should
perhaps state that my purpose in keeping in the background at this
examination was my desire to avoid attracting attention to my
deformed foot and my halting gait。 This latter I had taken pains to
conceal at my entrance； but I knew that the first step I took in
forgetfulness would expose my halting habit。 I had no fear of either
Osborne or Allen； but there was something about this Maitland that
bade me at once be on my guard； and； as I have said before； I never
take an avoidable risk。 For this reason I sat at once in the darkest
corner I could find and remained there throughout the examination。 I
thought it extremely unlikely； though possible； that an attempt might
be made to track the assassin with dogs； yet； since that is precisely
the first thing I myself would have done； I decided that the risk was
worth avoiding。 I accordingly set the boat adrift to indicate an
escape by water； and then waded along the beach for half a mile or
so； carrying the pole； boards； etc。； with me。 As I kept where the
water was at least six inches deep I knew no dog could follow my
trail。 At the point where I left the water I sat down upon a rock
and put on my stockings and shoes； thoroughly saturating them at the
same time with turpentine； and pouring the remainder of the bottle
upon the rock where I had sat。 As I had known prisoners escaped
from Libby Prison to pass in this way undetected within twenty feet
of bloodhounds upon their trail； I felt that my tracks had been well
covered； and made all possible haste to get ready to attend the
examination with the special detail。
〃And now I have finished。 Before this meets any other eye than mine
I shall be dead … beyond the punishment of this world and awaiting
the punishment of the next。 Lest some may fancy I do not believe
this； … thinking that if I did I could not so have acted； … let me
say there is no moral restraining power in fear。 Fear is essentially
selfish； and selfishness is at the bottom of all crimes； my own among
the rest。 I leave behind me none who will mourn me； and have but one
satisfaction； viz。： the knowledge that I shall be regarded as an
artist in crime。 I take this occasion to bid the public an adieu
not altogether； I confess； unmixed with regrets。 I am now on that
eminence called 'Life'； in a few minutes I shall have jumped off into
the darkness； and then … all is mystery。〃
When I had finished reading this article we all remained silent for
a long time。 Gwen was the first to speak； and then only to say
slowly； as if thinking aloud： 〃 And so it is all over。〃
CHAPTER IV
It often happens that two souls who love are； like the parts of
a Mexican gemel…ring； the more difficult to intertwine the better
they fit each other。
You may be assured that； after reading M。 Godin's confession； we
looked forward to seeing Maitland with a good deal of interest。 We
knew this new turn of affairs would cause him to call at once； so
we all strove to possess our souls in patience while we awaited his
coming。 In less than half an hour he was with us。 〃The news of your
success has preceded you；〃 said Gwen as soon as he was seated。 〃I
wish to he the first to offer you my congratulations。 You have done
for me what none other could have done and I owe you a debt of
gratitude I can never repay。 The thought that I was unable to carry
out my father's wishes； … that I could do nothing to free his name
from the reproaches which had been cast upon it； was crushing my
heart like a leaden weight。 You have removed this burden； and；
believe me； words fail to express the gratitude I feel。 I shall
beg of you to permit me to pay you the sum my father mentioned and
to … to … 〃 She hesitated and Maitland did not permit her to
finish her sentence。
〃You must pardon me； Miss Darrow；〃 he replied； 〃but I can accept no
further payment for the little I have done。 It has been a pleasure
to do it and the knowledge that you are now released from the
disagreeable possibilities of your father's will is more than
sufficient remuneration。 If you still feel that you owe me anything；
perhaps you will be willing to grant me a favour。〃
〃There is nothing；〃 she said earnestly； 〃within my power to grant
for which you shall ask in vain。〃
〃Let me beg of you then；〃 he replied； 〃never again to seek to repay
me for any services you may fancy I have rendered。 There is nothing
you could bestow upon me which I would accept。〃 She gave him a
quick； searching glance and I noticed a look of pain upon her face；
but Maitland gave it no heed； for； indeed； he seemed to have much
ado either to know what he wanted to say； or knowing it； to say it。
〃And now；〃 he continued； 〃I must no longer presume to order your
actions。 You have considered my wishes so conscientiously； have
kept your covenant so absolutely； that what promised to be a
disagreeable responsibility has become a pleasure which I find
myself loth to discontinue。 All power leads to tyranny。 Man cannot
be trusted with it。 Its exercise becomes a consuming passion； and
he abuses it。 The story is the same； whether nations or individuals
be considered。 I myself； you see； am a case in point。 I thank you
for the patience you have shown and the pains you have taken to make
everything easy and pleasant for me； and now I must be going； as I
have yet much to do in this matter。 〃It may be a long time；〃 he
said； extending his hand to her； 〃before we meet again。 We have
travelled the same path … 〃 but he paused as if unable to proceed；
and a deadly pallor overspread his face as he let fall both her hand
and his own。 He made a heroic effort to proceed。
〃I … I shall miss … very … very much miss … pray pardon me … I … I
believe I'm ill … a little faint I'd … I'd better get out into the
air … I shall … shall miss … pardon … I … I'm not quite myself …
goodbye； good…bye！〃 and he staggered unsteadily； half blindly to the
door and out into the street without another word。 He certainly
did look ill。
Gwen's face was a study。 In it surprise； fear； pain； and dismay；
each struggled for predominance。 She tried to retain her
self…control while I was present； but it was all in vain。 A moment
later she threw herself upon the sofa； and； burying her face in the
cushions； wept long and bitterly。 I stole quietly away and sent
Alice to her； and after a time she regained her self…control； if
not her usual interest in affairs。
As day after day passed； however； and Maitland neglected to call；
transacting such business as he had through me； the shadow on
Gwen's face deepened； and the elasticity of manner； whereof she
had given such promise at Maitland
