the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第50章
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most things； George has moments when his head is so much in the clouds
that he doesn't know what he is doing； and moves as if he were in a dream
set to dirge music。 He kept telling me to 〃put her on the couch！ … put her
on the couch！〃 To this day； he fondly believes that when I finally did
release her； it was as the result of his advice； rather than because he had at
last made a suitable bed for her。
I sent Maitland for some medicine； which I knew would relax the
tension she was under and make it possible for her to sleep。 When I had
administered this； Maitland and I talked the matter over and we decided to
take her at once to my house； where； with Gwen； she could share the
watchful care of my sister Alice。 This we did； though I was not without
some misgivings as to Gwen's attitude in the matter when she should
recover sufficiently to know of it。 I expressed my doubts to Maitland and
he replied： 〃Give yourself no uneasiness on that score； Miss Darrow is too
womanly to visit the sins of a guilty father upon an unoffending daughter；
and； besides； this man； … it seems that his real name is Latour； not
Cazenove； …=20 has a right to be judged innocent until his guilt is proved。〃
I found this to be sage counsel； for； when Gwen was able to understand
what I had done； she exhibited no antipathy toward the new member of
our household； but； on the contrary； became exceedingly interested in her。
I was especially glad of this； not only on account of Miss Latour； the
suspect's daughter； but also because the one thing Gwen needed above all
others was something to challenge her interest。 She had again relapsed
into the old； state of passive endurance； wherein nothing seemed to reach
her consciousness。 Her actions appeared to flow more from her nerve…
centres than from her mind。 She moved like an automaton。 There is
scarcely any condition of which I am more fearful than this。 The patient
becomes wax in one's hands。 She will do anything without a murmur； or
as willingly refrain from anything。 She simply is indifferent to life and
all that therein is。 Is it any wonder； then； that I rejoiced to see Gwen
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interest herself in poor Jeannette？ It was a long time； however； before
Jeannette repaid this interest with anything more than a dreamy； far…off
gaze； that refused to focus itself upon anything。 As time wore on；
however； I noticed with relief that there was a faint expression of wonder
in her look； and； as this daily grew stronger； I knew she was beginning to
realise her novel surroundings and to ask herself if she were still dreaming。
Yet she did not speak； she seemed to fear the sound of her own voice and
to determine to solve； unaided； the mystery confronting her。 I requested
that no one question her or make any attempt to induce her to break
silence； for I knew the time would come when she would do so of her own
free will。 As it happened； her first words were spoken to me； and； as my
writing this recalls the event； a thrill of pleasurable pain passes through me。
You may think this foolish； the more so； indeed； when you learn that
nothing was said to warrant such a feeling； but I must urge upon you not to
let your satisfied heart set itself up as judge in bachelor regions。
I had been mixing some medicine for her and was holding the cup to
her lips that she might drink the draught。 She laid her hand upon my
wrist and gently put the cup aside； saying； as she gazed thoughtfully at me：
〃Did you not bring me here？〃 〃Yes；〃 I replied。 She reached for the cup；
and drinking its contents； sank back upon the pillows with a half…satisfied
look upon her face； as if my reply had cleared up one mystery； but left
many more to be solved。
》From this day Jeannette steadily improved； and within two weeks she
and Gwen had come to a very good understanding。 It was plainly evident
that Alice； too； came in for a very good share of the little French girl's love。
They did not exchange confidences to any great degree； for； as Maitland
used to say； Alice was one of those rare； sweet women who say but little；
but seem to act upon all around them by a sort of catalysis； sweetening the
atmosphere by their very presence。
CHAPTER II
Belief； though it be as ample as the ocean； does not always
similarly swell in crystallising。 It has； however； its point of maximum
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density； but this； not infrequently； is also ifs point of minimum
knowledge。
During all these days Gwen was gaining rapidly。 Maitland came to
visit us almost every night； and he told Gwen that he did not feel
altogether certain that； in arresting M。 Latour； the law had secured her
father's real assassin。 It would be necessary to account for； he told her；
some very singular errors in his early calculations if M。 Latour was the
man。
〃When first I took up my abode under the same roof with him；〃 he said；
〃I had no doubt that we had at last run down our man。 Now； although
another detective has come to the same conclusion； I myself have many
misgivings； and you may be assured； Miss Darrow； that I shall lose no
time in getting these doubts answered one way or the other。 At present
you may say to your friend Jeannette that I am straining every nerve in her
father's behalf。〃
Why all this should so please Gwen I was at a loss to comprehend； but
I could not fail to see that it did please her greatly。 She had been the
most anxious of us all to see her father's murderer brought to justice； and
now； when through the efforts of M。 Godin； a man stood all but convicted
of the crime； she was pleased to hear Maitland； whose efforts to track
Latour she had applauded in no equivocal way； say that he should spare no
pains to give the suspect every possible chance to prove his innocence。
There was certainly a reason； whatever it might have been； for Gwen's
attitude in this matter； for that young woman was exceptionally rational in
all things。 Nothing of especial moment occurred between this time and
the beginning of the trial。 Maitland； for the most part； kept his own
counsel and gave us little information other than a hint that he still thought
there was a chance of clearing M。 Latour。
With this end in view he had become an associate attorney with
Jenkins in order the better to conduct M。 Latour's case along the lines
which seemed to him the most promising。 I asked him on one occasion
what led him to entertain a hope that Latour could be cleared and he
replied： 〃A good many things。〃 〃Well； then；〃 I rejoined； 〃what are some
of them？〃 He hesitated a moment and then re
