the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第47章
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even ahead of us。 How on earth … 〃 But I did not finish the exclamation。
My seizure of the pipe upon my side of the partition had produced an
audible vibration of that portion extending over the heads of my
neighbours。 The young girl's quick ear had detected the sound and she
had ceased speaking and fastened her eyes suspiciously upon the aperture
through which I was gazing。 It seemed to me as if she must see me； yet I
dared not move。 After a little she seemed reassured and continued： 〃I
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knew he had been here。 You are always this way after his visits。 Why；
of late； does he always come when I am away？〃 The question seemed
innocent enough； yet the man to whom it was addressed turned crimson
and then as pale as ashes。 When he spoke the effort his self…control cost
him was terribly apparent。
〃We have private business； dear；〃 he said； 〃private business。〃 He
hesitated a moment and again his eyes wore the wild look I had first
noticed。 〃I am selling him something；〃 he continued； 〃very dear to me …
as dear as my heart's blood； and I expect to get enough for it to guard you
from want。〃
〃And you； father？〃 the young girl questioned fervently。 I thought I
noticed a tremor run through his frame； as drawing her face down to his；
he said； kissing her； 〃Me？ Never mind me； Puss； this cancer here will
take care of me。〃
She made no reply； but turned away to hide the tears that sprang to her
eyes。 As she did so she raised her face toward me。 I have never been
considered particularly sympathetic； … that is； no more than the average； …
but there was something in the expression of her face that went to my
heart like a knife。 I felt as if I were about to sob with her。 I do not
know what it was that so aroused my sympathies。 We are； I fancy； more
apt to feel for those whose beauty is like to the ideals we have learned to
love； than we are to be moved by the suffering of those whose looks repel
us； … and this may have had something to do with my condition； … for the
young girl was radiantly beautiful； … yet it could hardly have been the real
cause of it。
So rapt was I in the sympathetic contemplation of her that I did not see
Maitland's entrance or realise I was observed till he plucked me by the
coat and motioned me to get down。 I did so and he told me he had rented
the rooms； and laid before me the plan he meant to pursue。
As soon as he had ceased speaking I said to him： 〃George； you are
undoubtedly on the right track。 The man in there is the one we are
looking for； fast enough； but I am afraid we are a bit too late。〃
〃Too late！〃 he exclaimed in a tone that I feared might be overheard。
〃What the mischief do you mean？〃
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〃I mean；〃 I replied； 〃that M。 Godin is already upon the scene。〃
In the next ten seconds Maitland turned all colours and I edged nearer
to him； expecting him to fall； but he did not。
〃M。 Godin！〃 he ejaculated at length。 〃How in the name of all the
gods at once … Doc； he's all they claim for him； and as fascinating as he is
clever；〃 at which last remark a heavy cloud passed over Maitland's face。
〃Come；〃 he continued listlessly； 〃you may as well tell me all you know
about it。〃
I then confided to him what I had heard and ended by asking him what
he proposed to do。
〃Do？〃 he replied。 〃There is but one thing I can do； which makes the
choice decidedly easy；〃 and he set his jaws together with a determined
expression； the meaning of which I knew full well。
〃I shall camp right here；〃 he said； 〃 till I learn all I wish to know of our
neighbours yonder。 I have already provided myself with instruments
which will enable me to note every movement they make； indeed to
photograph them； if necessary； and to hear and record every word they
utter。 You look surprised； but it is easily done。 I will place my lenses
there at the chink through which you were gazing and bring the image
down into my camera obscura by a prism arranged for total internal
reflection。 As for the hearing； that is easier yet。 I will carefully work
away the plaster on this side to…night till I get through to the paper
covering their wall。 This I will leave intact to use as a diaphragm。 I have
then only to fasten my carbon to it； and； behold； we have a microphone or
telephone … whichever you choose to call it。 All I have to look out for is
that I get it high enough to avoid the danger of the paper being
accidentally broken from the other side； and that I work quietly while
removing the plaster。 I shall； of course； cover it with a bit of black felt to
prevent our light from showing； and to deaden any sounds from this side。
This will enable us to hear all that goes on in the other room； but this may
not be enough。 We may need a phonographic record of what transpires。
〃The device whereby I secure this at such a distance is an invention of
my own which； for patent reasons … I might almost say 'patent patent
reasons' … I will ask you to kindly keep to yourself。 To the diaphragm
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there I fasten this bit of burnished silver。 Upon this I concentrate a pencil
of light which； when reflected； acts photographically upon a sensitised
moving tape in this little box； and perfectly registers the minutest
movement of the receiving diaphragm。 How I develop； etch； and
reproduce this record； and transform it into a record of the ordinary type；
you will see in due time … and will kindly keep secret for the present。
You had better go now and send me the things on this list； as soon as
possible；〃 and he passed me a paper； continuing：
〃We will not despair yet。 Our clever rival may not be ready to prove
his case so quickly as we。 At all events； when he comes again I shall be
in a condition to ascertain how far he has progressed。 I have some things
I must settle before I can ask for an arrest； and I am not at all sure that M。
Godin is in any better condition in this regard than I am。 By Jove！ I'd
give something to know how that wizard has gotten so far without so
much as a single sign to indicate that he had even moved in the matter。 I
say； Doc； it beats me； blessed if it doesn't！ Please say to Miss Darrow
that I am at work upon a promising clue…promising for someone； anyway …
and may not see her for some time yet。〃
I did as he requested； and； if I am any judge of feminine indications；
my message did not yield Gwen unmixed pl
