the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第24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！
near that she could feel his breath upon her face。 His eyes； like two great
coals of fire； blazed into hers with a sinister and threatening light。 His
countenance seemed to utterly surpass any personal malignancy and to
exhibit itself as a type of all the hatreds that ever poisoned human hearts。
Only a moment before Gwen had felt a creepy； sickening sensation
stealing over her as the result of an ill…defined and apparently causeless
dread。 Now an actual； imminent； and fearful peril confronted her。
Under such circumstances most women would have fainted； and； indeed；
if Gwen had herself been asked how she would have acted under such a
supreme test； she would have prophesied the same maidenly course as her
own； yet； in the real exigency … how little do we know of ourselves； save
what actual experience has taught us！ … this is precisely what she did not
do。 When the horrible apparition first rose in her very face； as it were； a
momentary weakness caught her and she clung to the sash for support。
Then the wonderful fire of the malignant eyes； green； serpentine；
opalescent； with the wave…like flux of a glowworm's light seen under a
glass； riveted her attention。 She had ceased to tremble。 Our fear of death
varies with our desire for life。 Dulled by a great grief； she did not so very
much care what became of her。 The future's burden was heavy； and if it
were necessary she now put it down； there would still be a sense of relief。
As this thought passed like a shadow over her consciousness she felt
herself irresistibly attracted to the awful face before her。 Her assailant's
gaze seemed to have wound itself about her own till she could not
disentangle it。 She was dimly conscious that she was falling under a
spell and summoned all her remaining strength to break it。 Quick as the
uncoiling of a released spring； and without the slightest movement of
warning； she threw her entire weight upon the sash in a last endeavour to
67
… Page 68…
The Darrow Enigma
close the window； but the man's upraised arm held both her weight and it；
as if its muscles had been rods of steel。 Gwen saw a long knife in his
free hand； … saw the light shimmer along its blade； saw him raise it aloft to
plunge it into her bosom； yet made no movement to withdraw beyond his
reach and uttered no cry for help。 It seemed to her that all this was
happening to another and that she herself was only a fascinated spectator。
She was wondering whether or not the victim would try to defend herself
when the knife began its descent。 It seemed ages in its downward
passage； … so long； indeed； that it gave her time to think of most of the
main experiences of her life。 At last it paused irresolutely within an inch
of her bosom。 She wondered that the victim made no attempt to escape；
uttered no cry for help。 Suddenly she felt something whirling and buzzing
in her brain； while a wild fluttering filled both her ears； then the swirling；
fluttering torment rose in a swift and awful crescendo which seemed to
involve all creation in its vortex； then a pang like a lightning…thrust and a
crash like the thunder that goes with it； and she saw a tall man striding
rapidly from the window。 She was still sure it was no personal concern
of hers； yet an idle curiosity noted his great height； his dark； mulatto…like
skin； and a slight halt in his walk as he passed through a narrow beam of
light and off into the engulfing darkness。
It was many minutes before Gwen regained any considerable
command of her faculties； and she afterwards told me that she was even
then more than half inclined to consider the whole thing as a weird dream
of an overwrought mind。 At length； however； she realised that she had
had an actual experience； and that it was of sufficient importance to make
it known at once。 She accordingly hastened to lay the whole matter
before me； and I； in my turn； notified the police； who； at once instituted as
thorough a search as Gwen's description made possible。 She had told me
that her assailant was dark…skinned； yet with straight hair； and a cast of
features that gave no hint of any Ethiopian taint。 This； and his halting
gait and great stature； were all the police had in the way of description；
and I may as well add that the information was insufficient； for they never
found any trace of Gwen's assailant。
I had had some hopes of this clue； but they were doomed to
68
… Page 69…
The Darrow Enigma
disappointment。 It seemed evident to us that if anything were ever done
in bringing Mr。 Darrow's assassin to justice； Maitland would have to do it；
unless； indeed； M。 Godin solved the problem。=20 Osborne； Allen； and
their associates were simply out of the question。
We debated for some time as to whether or not we should write
Maitland about Gwen's strange experience； and finally decided that the
knowledge would be a constant source of worriment without being of the
least assistance to him while he was so far away。 We； therefore； decided
to keep our own counsel； for the present at least。
Maitland had written us a few lines from New York telling us the
result of his analysis； and ended by saying：
There is no doubt that Mr。 Darrow died of poison injected into the
blood through the slight wound in the throat。 This wound was not deep；
and seemed to have been torn rather than cut in the flesh。 What sort of
weapon or projectile produced that wound is a question of the utmost
importance； shrouded in the deepest of mysteries。 Once this point is settled；
however； its very uniqueness will be greatly in our favour。 I have an idea
our friend Ragobah might be able to throw some light upon this subject；
therefore I am starting on my way to visit him this afternoon； and shall
write you en route whenever occasion offers。 My kindest regards to Miss
Darrow。 Yours sincerely；GEORGE MAITLAND。
P。 S。 I shall have leisure now on shipboard to set tie that question of
atomic pitches； which is still a thorn in my intellectual flesh。
I handed this letter to Gwen； and； after she had read it through very
carefully； she questioned me about this new theory of Maitland's。 I went
through the form of telling her； after the usual practice of amiable men
discoursing to women； feeling sure she would be no wiser when I had
finished； and was dumfounded when she replied： 〃It looks very reasonable。
Professor Bjerknes； if I remember the name； has produced all the
phenomena of magnetic attraction； repulsion； and polarisation； by air
vibrations corresponding； I suppose； to certain fixed musical notes。 Why
might not something similar to this be true of atomic； as well as of
