the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第16章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to pain you … but to do this properly it will be necessary to cut away the
wounded portion。 Have we your permission to do so？〃
For a moment Gwen did not answer。 She fell upon her knees before
her father's body； and kissed the cold face passionately。 For the first time
since the tragedy she found relief in tears。 When she arose a great
43
… Page 44…
The Darrow Enigma
change had come over her。 She was very pale and seized a chair for
support as she replied to Maitland's question between the convulsive sobs
which she seemed powerless to check： 〃I … I have bidden him good…bye。
We shall but obey his command in sparing no pains to reach the assassin。
You … you have my permission to do anything … everything … that may be …
necessary to that end。 I … I know you will be as gentle … 〃 But she could
not finish her sentence。 The futility of gentleness … the realisation that
her father was forever past all need of tenderness； fell like a shroud about
her soul。 The awakening I had dreaded had come。 Her hand fell from
the chair； she staggered； and would have fallen to the floor had not
Maitland caught her in his arms。
44
… Page 45…
The Darrow Enigma
THE EPISODE OF THE SEALED
DOCUMENT
CHAPTER 1
Father of all surveyors； Time drags his chain of rust through
every life； and only Love … unaging God of the Ages … immeasurable；
keeps his untarnished youth。
Maitland carried the unconscious girl into the study； and for some time
we busied ourselves in bringing her to herself。 When this task was
accomplished we did not feel like immediately putting any further tax
upon her strength。 Maitland insisted that she should rest while he and I
ransacked the desk； and； ever mindful of her promise to obey his
instructions； she yielded without remonstrance。 Our search revealed the
insurance policies； and a sealed envelope bearing the inscription： 〃To Miss
Gwen Darrow； to be opened after the death of John Darrow；〃 and three
newspapers with articles marked in blue pencil。 I read the first aloud。 It
ran as follows：
I have reason to believe an attempt will sooner or later be made upon
my life； and that the utmost cunning will be employed to lead the
authorities astray。 The search for the assassin will be long； expensive；
and discouraging … just such a task as is never successfully completed
without some strong personal incentive。 This I propose to supply in
advance。 My death will place in my daughter's hands a fund of fifty
thousand dollars； to be held in trust by her； and delivered； in the event of
my being murdered； to such person or persons as shall secure evidence
leading to the conviction of the murderer。 （Signed） JOHN HINTON
DARROW。
I glanced at the other two papers … the marked article was the same in
45
… Page 46…
The Darrow Enigma
each。 〃I wonder what your friend Osborne would say to that；〃 I said to
Maitland。
〃How old are the papers？〃 he replied。
〃March l5th； … only a little over a month；〃 I answered。
〃Let me see them； please；〃 he said。 〃Hum！ All of the same date；
and each in the paid part of the paper！ It is clear Mr。 Darrow inserted
these singular notices himself。 I will tell you what Osborne will say
when he learns of these articles。 He will say they strengthen his theory；
that no sane man would publish such a thing； except as a weak attempt to
deceive the insurance companies。 As for the money all being paid to the
discoverer of the assassin； instead of to his daughter； he will simply
dispose of that by saying： 'No assassin； no reward； and the fund remains
intact。' If now； the other papers permit Miss Darrow to use the interest of
this fund while holding the principal in trust； we do not at present know
enough of this matter to successfully refute Osborne's reasoning。 This
mystery seems to grow darker rather than lighter。 The one thing upon
which we seem continually to get evidence is the question of sanity。 If
Mr。 Darrow's suspicions were directed against no one in particular； then it
is clear his dreams； and all the rest of his fears for that matter； had a purely
subjective origin； which is to say that upon this one subject； at least； he
was of unsound mind。〃
〃I cannot think so；〃 Gwen interrupted。 〃He was so rational in
everything else。〃
〃That is quite possible；〃 I replied。 〃I have known people to be
monomaniacs upon the subject of water； and to go nowhere without a
glass of it in their hands。 There is also a well…authenticated case of a man
who was as sane as you or I until he heard the words 'real estate。' One
day while quietly carving the meat at a dinner to which he had invited
several guests； a gentleman opposite him inadvertently spoke the fatal
words； when； without a word of warning； he sprang at him across the table；
using the carving…knife with all the fury of the most violent maniac； and
yet； under all other conditions； he was perfectly rational。〃
〃If； on the other hand；〃 said Maitland； continuing his remarks as if
unaware of our interruption； 〃Mr。 Darrow's suspicions had any foundation
46
… Page 47…
The Darrow Enigma
in fact； it is almost certain they must have been directed against some
specific person or persons。 If so； why did he not name them ？ … but；
stay … how do we know that he did not？ Let us proceed with our
examination of the papers；〃 and he began perusing the insurance policies。
Neither Gwen nor I spoke till he had finished and thrown them down；
when we both turned expectantly toward him。
〃All in Osborne's favour so far；〃 he said。 〃Principal to be held in trust
by Miss Darrow under the terms of a will which we have yet to find； the
income； until the discharge of the trust； to go to Miss Darrow。 Now for
this；〃 and he passed Gwen the sealed envelope addressed to her。
She broke the seal with much agitation。 〃Shall I read it aloud？〃 she
asked。
We signified our desire to hear it； and she read as follows：
MY DEAR GWEN：
My forebodings have seemed to you strange and uncalled for； but
when this comes to your hand you will know whether or not they were
groundless。 Of one episode in my career which shook the structure of
my being to its foundation stone； you have been carefully kept in
ignorance。 It is necessary that you should know it when I am gone； and I
have a
