the darrow enigma-第16章

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this　malignity　is　supposed　to　be　directed　against　some　rival　in　his
wife's　affections；　and　the　chain　of　circumstantial　evidence
possesses；　so　far　as　it　extends；　no　weak　link。　　Then；　too；　Ragobah
has　very　small　hands；　a　deformed　left　foot；　and　a　limping　gait；　…=20
everything　almost　which　we　had　already　predicted　of　the　assassin。
So　sure　am　I　that　Ragobah　is　the　guilty　man　that　I　shall　ask　for　his
arrest　upon　his　arrival　day　after　to…morrow　should　he　return　then；
a　thing　which；　I　regret　to　say；　does　not　impress　me　as　altogether
likely。　　Should　he　not　come　I　shall　cable　you　to　institute　a　search
for　your　end　of　the　line。　　The　next　thing　in　order　which　I　have　to
relate　is　my　interview　with　Moro　Scindia。　　I　had　engaged　an
interpreter；　but　was　able　to　dismiss　him　as　my　guest　spoke　English
with　more　ease　and　fluency　than　he；　being　an　intelligent　and
well…to…do　member　of　the　Vaisya　caste。　　I　thought　it　wise　to　see　the
venerable　Scindia　alone；　and　accordingly　sent　Parinama　out　of　the
room　with　the　interpreter。　　As　before；　I　give　you　what　passed　between
us　as　I　jotted　it　down　in　my　notebook。

Q。　You　are　a　friend　of　Rama　Ragobah；　are　you　not？

A。　No；　Sahib；　he　has　no　friends。

Q。　You　speak　as　if　you　disliked　him。

A。　It　is　not　Mono　Scindia's　habit　to　play　the　hypocrite。　　I　have　good
reason　to　hate　him。

Q。　You　would　not；　then；　had　he　committed　a　crime；　assist　him　to　escape
justice？

A。　I　would　track　him　like　a　bloodhound　to　the　ends　of　the　earth。

Q。　You　knew　Ragobah's　wife？

A。　She　was　my　cousin；　Sahib。

Q。　Were　your　relations　friendly？

A。　They　were　more　than　friendly。　　I　loved　her　dearly；　and　would　have
tried　to　win　her　had　I　not　been　so　much　her　senior。

Q。　Did　she　live　happily　with　Ragobah？

A。　No；　Sahib。

Q。　Why？

A。　I　cannot　answer。　　I　have　sworn　to　reveal　the　last　experiences　of
my　cousin　to　but　one　person。

Q。　And　that　person　is。？

A。　I　must　decline　to　answer　that　also；　Sahib。

Q。　If　I　succeed　in　naming　him　will　you　acknowledge　it？

A。　You　will　not　succeed；　Sahib。

Q。　But　if　I　should？

A。　I　will　acknowledge　it。

Q。　The　person　is　John　Hinton　Darrow。

The　old　man　started　as　if　he　had　been　stabbed；　and　looked　at　me　in
amazement。　　He　seemed　at　first　to　think　I　had　read　his　thoughts　and
riveted　his　dark　eyes　upon　me　as　if；　by　way　of　return；　he　would　read
my　very　soul。　　I　think　he　did　so；　for　his　scrutiny　seemed　to　satisfy
him。　　　He　replied；　somewhat　reassured：　〃I　can　speak　only　to　John
Hinton　Darrow。〃

〃John　Darrow　is　dead；〃　I　said。

〃Dead！〃　he　exclaimed；　springing　to　his　feet；　〃Darrow　Sahib　dead！〃　and
he　fell　back　into　his　chair；　covering　his　face　with　his　hands。　　〃Ah；
my　poor　Lona！〃　he　muttered　feebly；　〃I　have　failed　to　keep　my　promise。
Do　not　reproach　me；　for　I　have　done　my　best。　　For　twenty　years　have　I
searched　in　vain　for　this　man　that　I　might　fulfil　your　last　request；
and　the　very　first　information　I　receive　is　the　news　of　his　death。　　I
have　been　no　less　vigilant　than　Ragobah；　yet　I　have　failed；　even　as
he　has　failed。〃

I　took　this　opportunity　to　again　question　him。

Q。　Are　you　sure　Ragobah　failed？

A。　Yes；　had　he　found　Darrow　Sahib　he　would　have　killed　him。　　　His
mission　was　one　of　revenge；　mine　one　of　love　and　justice；　both　have
failed　utterly　since　their　object　is　dead。　　My　pledge　is　broken！

Q。　In　its　letter；　yes；　but　the　chance　is　still　left　you　to　keep　the
spirit　of　your　covenant。

A。　I　do　not　understand　you；　Sahib。

Q。　I　will　explain。　　Lona　Ragobah　confided　to　you　certain　facts　in
explanation　of　her　conduct　toward　John　Darrow。　　She　loved　him
passionately；　and　it　was　her　desire　to　stand　acquitted　in　his　sight。
Were　she　alive　now；　any　wish　he　had　expressed　during　his　life
would　be　fulfilled　by　her　as　a　sacred　and　pleasurable　duty。　　This；
then；　as　one　who　lovingly　performs　her　will；　should　be　your　attitude
also。　　John　Darrow　was　the　only　man　she　ever　loved；　and；　were　she
living；　every　drop　of　her　loyal　blood　would　rise　against　anyone　who
had　done　him　injury。　　Do　I　not　speak　the　truth？

A。　Yes；　she　was　loyal　unto　death　and　so　shall　I　be。　　My　hand　has　ever
been　against　all　who　have　done　her　harm；　Ragobah　knows　that　full　well。

Q。　Were　she　alive；　you　certainly　would　aid　her　in　bringing　to　justice
one　who　has　done　her　the　most　cruel　of　wrongs　and；　at　the　same　time；
fulfilling　the　dying　request　of　the　man　who　to　her　was　more　than
life。

A。　I　should　do　her　bidding；　Sahib。

Q。　How　much　more　need；　then；　now　that　the　poor　woman　is　dead；　that
you　should　act　for　her　as　she　would；　were　she　here。

A。　You　have　not　told　me　all；　speak　your　mind　freely；　Sahib。　　You　may
depend　upon　my　doing　whatever　I　believe　Lona　would　do　were　she　here。

Q。　I　ask　nothing　more；　and　am　now　prepared　to　fully　confide　in　you。
As　you　doubtless　know；　Rama　Ragobah　left　Bombay　for　New　York　about
eleven　weeks　ago。　　He　went；　I　have　been　told；　on　an　errand　of　revenge。
Six　weeks　ago　John　Darrow　was　murdered。　　He　left　behind　him　a　written
statement　describing　his　wooing　of　Lona　Scindia　and　his　experiences
with　Rama　Ragobah。　　He　asserted；　furthermore；　his　belief　that　he
would　die　by　Ragobah's　hand；　…　the　hand　which　twice　before　had
attempted　his　life。　　Even　as　he　loved　your　cousin；　so　he　hated　her
husband；　and；　confident　that　he　would　ultimately　be　killed　by　him；
he　was　haunted　by　the　fear　that　he　would　escape　the　just　penalty　for
his　crime。　　He　bound　his　heir　by　the　most　solemn　of　promises　to　use；
in　the　event　of　his　murder；　every　possible　means　to　bring　the
assassin　to　justice。　　There　can；　of　course；　be　little　doubt　that　the
assassin　and　Rama　Ragobah　are　one　and　the　same　person。　　The　last
request　John　Darrow　ever　made　…　it　was　after　he　had　been　attacked
by　the　assassin　…　had　for　its　object　the　punishment　of　his　murderer。
Were　your　cousin　living；　do　you　think　she　would　be　deaf　to　that
entreaty？

A。　No。　　She　would　make　its　fulfilment　the　one　object　of　her　life；　and；
acting　in　her　stead；　I　shall　do　all　in　my　power　to　see　justice　done。
If　I　can　render　you　any　aid　in　that　direction　you　may　command　me；
Sahib。

Q。　You　can　assist　me　by　telling　me　all　you　know　of　your　cousin's
married　life；　and；　more　especially；　the　message　she　confided　to　you。

A。　In　doing　this　I　shall　break　the　letter　of　my　oath；　but；　were　I　not
to　do　it；　I　should　break　the　spirit　thereof；　therefore　listen：

You　have；　I　suppose；　already　learned　from　the　statement　of　Darrow
Sahib　what　occurred　at　his　last　meeting　with　my　cousin　on　Malabar
Hill。　　Her　act；　in　throwing　a　venomous　serpent　in　his　face；　was　one
which　doubtless　led　him　to　believe　she　wished　to　kill　him；　although
it　must　have　puzzled　him　to　assign　any　reason　for　such　a　desire。
Not　long　after　this　incident　my　cousin　married　Ragobah；　a　man　for
whom　she　had　always　cherished　an　ill…concealed　hatred。　　I　saw　but
little　of　her　at　this　time；　yet；　for　all　that；　I　could　not　but
observe　that　she　was　greatly　changed。　　But　one　solution　suggested
itself　to　me；　and　that　was　that　she　had　discovered　her　lover　false
to　her　and　had；　out　of　spite　as　it　is　called；　hastily　married
Ragobah。　　I　confess　that　when　this　conclusion　forced　itself　home
upon　me；　I　felt　much　dissatisfied　with　Lona；　for　I　thought　such　a
course　unworthy　of　her。　　As　I　saw　more　of　her　I　noted　still　greater
changes　in　her　character。　　As　I　had　known　her　from　childhood；　she
had　been　most　uniform　in　her　temper　and　her　conduct；　now　all　this
was　changed。　　To…day；　perhaps；　she　would　be　like　her　old　self；　…=20
only　weaker　and　more　fragile；　…　to…morrow　a　new　being　entirely；
stronger　and　more　restless；　with　a　demoniac　light　in　her　eyes；　and
a　sort　of　feverish　malignancy　dominating　her　whole　personality。
When　I　noticed　this　I　studied　to　avoid　her。　　If　the　Lona　I　had
known　were　merely　an　ideal　of　which　no　actual　prototype　existed；　I
wished　to　be　allowed　to　cherish　that　ideal　rather　than　to　have　it
cruelly　shattered　to　make　room　for　the　real　Lona。　　I　had　not　seen
her　for　many　weeks　when　one　day；　to　my　surprise；　I　received　a　note
from　her。　　It　was　short；　and　so　impressed　me　that　I　can　remember
every　word　of　it。

〃My　DEAR　COUSIN：

〃I　send　this　note　to　you　by　Kandia　that　you　may　get　it　before　it　is
too　late　for　you　to　do　what　I　wish。　　I　am　a　caged　bird　in　my
husband's　house。　　My　every　movement　is　watched；　and　they　would　not
let　you　come　to　me　were　my　husband　at　home；　so；　I　beseech　you；　come
at　once　lest　he　should　return　before　I　have　had　time　to　intrust　to
you　my　last　request。　　I　am　dying；　Moro；　and　it　is　within　your　power
to　say　whether　my　spirit　shall　rest　in　peace；　or　be　torn　forever　and
ever　by　the　fangs　of　a　horrible　regret。　　My　secret　is　as　lead　upon
my　soul　and　to　you　only　can　I　tell　it。　　Come　…　come　at　once！

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃LONA。〃

You　can　imagine　the　effect　of　this　revelation　upon　me　better　than
I　can　describe　it。　　I　did　not　even　know　she　was　seriously　ill；　and
with　her　urgent　request　for　an　interview　came　the　sad　tidings　that
she　was　dying；　and　the　confirmation　of　my　fear　…　that　she　had　adopted
the　religion　of　her　English　lover。　　I　lost　no　time　in　going　to　her。
I　found　her　in　a　state　of　feverish　expectation；　fearful　lest　I　should
either　not　be　able　to　come　at　all；　or　her　husband　would　return　before
my　arrival。　　She　was　worn　to　a　shadow　of　her　former　self；　and　I
realised　with　a　pang　that　she　was　indeed　dying。

〃I　knew　I　could　depend　upon　you；　Moro；〃　she　said　as　I　entered；　〃even
though　you　think　I　have　lost　all　claim　upon　your　regard。　　I　said　to
myself；　'He　will　come　because　of　the　respect　he　once　had　for　me；'
and　I　was　right。　　Yes；〃　she　continued；　noticing　my　astonishment　at
the　change　in　her　condition；　〃I　am　almost　gone。　　I　should　not　have
lasted　so　long；　were　it　not　that　I　could　not　die　till　I　had　spoken。
Now　I　shall　be　free　to　go；　and　the　horrible　struggle　will　be　over。
You　have　been　much　among　the　English；　Moro；　both　here　and　in　England；
and　know　they　believe　they　will　meet　again　in　heaven　those　they　have
loved　on　earth。〃

She　sank　back　exhausted　from　excitement　and　effort；　as　she　said　this；
and　I　feared　for　a　moment　she　would　be　unable　to　proceed。　　I　told
her　what　I　knew　about　the　Christian's　hope　of　heaven；　and　suggested
to　her　that；　as　her　husband　might　return　at　any　moment；　she　had　best
confide　to　me　at　once　any　trust　with　which　she　wished　to　charge　me。
For　a　moment　she　made　no　reply；　but　said　at　length：

〃Yes；　you　are　right。　　It　is　not　a　very　long　story；　and　I　suppose　I
had　better　begin　at　the　beginning。　　You　remember　well　my　being　rescued
by　an　English　gentleman；　a　Mr。　John　Darrow。　　I　afterward　became　well
acquainted；　…　in　fact　we　were　to　be　married。　　To　this　union　my　parents
strongly　objected。　　They　had　promised　me　to　Rama　Ragobah；　and　were
horrified　at　my　seeking　to　outrage　the　laws　of　caste　by　bestowing　my
hand　not　only　outside　of　my　station　but　upon　a　foreigner　and　Christian
as　well。　　This　had　only　the　effect　of　causing　me　to　meet　the　Sahib
secretly。　　We　chose　for　our　meeting…place　the　great　banyan　on　the　top
of　Malabar　Hill；　where　I　passed　the　happiest　moments　I　have　ever　known。
Everything　went　well　until　the　night　on　which　we　had　planned　to　run
away。　　We　were　to　meet　at　the　usual　place　and　hour；　take　the　night
train　for　Matheron　Station；　and