the darrow enigma-第9章
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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 intersecting strings is numbered；
and represents one square foot of carpet； the numbers running from
one to two hundred and eighty…eight。 Every inch of every one of
these squares I shall examine under a microscope； and anything found
which can be of any possible interest will be carefully preserved；
and its exact location accurately marked upon this chart I have
prepared； which； as you will see； has the same number of squares as
the room； the area of each square being reduced from one square foot
to one square inch。 You will note that I have already marked the
location of all doors； windows； and furniture。 The weapon； if there
be one； may be very minute； but if it be on the floor we may be
assured the microscope will find it。 The walls of the room；
especially any shelving projections； and the furniture； I shall
examine with equal thoroughness； though I have now some additional
reasons for believing the weapon is not here。〃
〃Have you discovered anything new？〃 Gwen exclaimed； unable to control
the excitement caused by this last remark。 〃You must pardon me；〃
Maitland rejoined； 〃if I ask you and the Doctor a question before
replying。〃 She nodded assent； and he continued： 〃I wish to know if
you agree with me that we shall be more likely to arrive at a
solution of the problem before us if we keep our own counsel than
if we take the officers of the law； or； for that matter； anyone
else； into our confidence。 You undoubtedly noticed how carefully M。
Godin kept his own counsel。 Official methods； and the hasty
generalisations which form a part thereof … to say nothing of the
petty rivalries and the passion for notoriety … can do much to hinder
our own work； and； I believe； nothing to help it。 What say you？〃
〃That we keep our work to ourselves；〃 Gwen quickly rejoined； and I
signified that I was of the same opinion。 〃Then；〃 Maitland continued；
〃I may say this in answer to your question。 I have ascertained
something which may bear upon the case in hand。 You will remember
that part of
