the darrow enigma-第20章

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affair；　but；　when　I　realised　how　hard　it　would　be　for　me　to　prove
my　innocence　were　I　charged　with　Ragobah's　murder；　I　decided　to　keep
the　secret　of　the　well。

I　shudder　when　I　think　of　Miss　Darrow's　narrow　escape。　　Did　you
suspect　who　her　assailant　really　was？　　I　wonder　you　have　written　me
nothing　about　it；　but　suppose　you　thought　it　would　only　needlessly
alarm　me。　　If　you　had　known　it　was　our　friend　Ragobah；　you　would
doubtless　have　felt　it　imperative　that　I　should　know　of　it；　…　so　I
conclude　from　your　silence　that　you　did　not　discover　his　identity。

I　need　not；　of　course；　tell　you；　my　dear　Doctor；　that　we　have
reached　the　end　of　our　Indian　clue；　and　that　I　deem　it　wise；　all
things　considered；　for　me　to　get　out　of　India　just　as　soon　as
possible。　　If　this　letter　is　in　any　way　delayed；　you　need　not　be
surprised　if　I　have　the　pleasure　of　relating　its　contents　in　person。
Remember　me　to　Miss　Darrow　and　tell　her　how　sorry　I　am　that；　thus
far；　I　have　been　unable　to　be　of　any　real　service　to　her。　　As　I
shall　see　you　so　soon　I　need　write　nothing　further。　　Kind　regards
to　Miss　Alice。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Ever　yours；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　GEORGE　MAITLAND。

When　I　had　finished　reading　this　letter　I　looked　up　at　Gwen；
expecting　to　see　that　its　news　had　depressed　her。　　I　must　confess；
however；　that　I　could　not　detect　any　such　effect。　　On　the　contrary；
she　seemed　to　be　in　much　better　spirits　than　when　I　began　reading。
〃According　to　this　letter；　then；〃　she　said；　addressing　me　somewhat
excitedly；　〃we　may　…　〃　but　she　let　fall　her　eyes　and　did　not　complete
her　sentence。　　My　sister　bestowed　upon　her　one　of　those　glances
described　in　the　vernacular　of　woman　as　〃knowing〃　and　then　said　to
me：　〃We　may　expect　Mr。　Maitland　at　any　time；　it　seems。〃　〃Yes；〃　I
replied；　〃he　will　lose　no　time　in　getting　here。　　He　undoubtedly　feels
much　chagrined　at　his　failure　and　will　now　be　more　than　ever
determined　to　see　the　affair　through　to　a　successful　conclusion。　　He
is　in　the　position　of　a　hound　that　has　lost　its　scent；　and　is　eager
to　return　to　its　point　of　departure　for　a　fresh　start。　　I　fancy　it
will　be　no　easy　task　to　discover　a　new　clue；　and　I　shall　watch
Maitland's　work　in　this　direction　with　a　great　deal　of　curiosity。〃
Gwen　did　not　speak；　but　she　listened　to　our　conversation　with　a
nearer　approach　to　a　healthy　interest　than　I　had　known　her　to　display
on　any　other　occasion　since　her　father's　death。　　I　regarded　this　as
a　good　omen。　　Her　condition；　since　that　sad　occurrence；　had　worried
me　a　good　deal。　　She　seemed　to　have　lost　her　hold　on　life　and　to
exist　in　a　state　of　wearied　listlessness。　　Nothing　seemed　to　impress
her　and　she　would　at　times　forget；　in　the　midst　of　a　sentence；　what
she　had　intended　to　say　when　she　began　it！　　Her　elasticity　was　gone
and　every　effort　a　visible　burden　to　her。　　I　knew　the　consciousness
of　her　loss　was　as　a　dull；　heavy　weight　bearing　her　down；　and　I　knew；
too；　that　she　could　not　marshal　her　will　to　resist　it；　…　that；　in
fact；　she　really　didn't　care；　so　tired　was　she　of　it　all。　　Experience
had　taught　me　how　the　dull；　heavy　ache　of　a　great　loss　will　press
upon　the　consciousness　with　the　regular；　persistent；　relentless
throb　of　a　loaded　wheel　and　eat　out　one's　life　with　the　slow
certainty　of　a　cancer。　　This　I　knew　to　have　been　Gwen's　state　since
her　father's　death；　and　all　my　attempts　to　bring　about　a　healthful
reaction　had　hitherto　been　futile。　　It　is　not　to　be　wondered　at；
therefore；　that　even　the　transient　interest　she　had　evinced　was
hailed　by　me　with　delight　as　the　beginning　of　that　healthful
reaction　for　which　I　had　so　long　sought。　　When　a　human　bark　in　the
full　tide　of　life　is　suddenly　dashed　upon　the　rocks　of　despair　the
wreckage　is　strewn　far　and　wide；　and　it　is　with　no　little　difficulty
that　enough　can　be　rescued　to　serve　in　the　rebuilding　of　even　the
smallest　of　craft。　　The　thought；　therefore；　that　Gwen's　intellectual
flotsam　was　beginning　at　length　to　swirl　about　a　definite　object　in
a　way　to　facilitate　the　rescue　of　her　faculties　was　to　me　a
decidedly　reassuring　one；　and　I　noted　with　pleasure　that　the　state
of　excited　expectancy　which　she　had　tried　in　vain　to　conceal　did　not
wane；　but　waxed　stronger　as　the　days　went　by。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　EPISODE　OF　THE　PARALLEL　READERS


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　I


　　　The　events　of　the　present　are　all　strung　upon　the　thread　of　the
　　　past；　and　in　telling　over　this　chronological　rosary；　it　not
　　　infrequently　happens　that　strange；　unlike　beads　follow　each　other
　　　between　our　questioning　fingers。

It　was　nearly　a　week　after　his　letter　before　Maitland　arrived。　　He
sent　us　no　further　word；　but　walked　in　one　evening　as　we　were　talking
about　him。　　　He　came　upon　us　so　suddenly　that　we　were　all　taken
aback　and；　for　a　moment；　I　felt　somewhat　alarmed　about　Gwen。　　She
had　started　up　quickly　when　the　servant　had　mentioned　Maitland's
name　and　pressed　her　hand　convulsively　upon　her　heart；　while　her
face　and　neck　became　of　a　deep　crimson　colour。　　I　was　saying　to
myself　that　this　was　a　common　effect　of　sudden　surprise；　when　I　saw
her　clutch　quickly　at　the　back　of　her　chair；　as　if　to　steady　herself。
A　moment　later　she　sank　into　her　seat。　　Her　face　was　now　as　pale　as
ashes；　and　I　felt　I　had　good　reason　to　be　alarmed。　　I　think　she　was
conscious　of　my　scrutiny；　for　she　turned　her　face　from　me　and
remained　motionless。　　The　movement　told　me　she　was　trying　to　regain
command　of　her　faculties　and　I　forbore　to　interfere　in　the　struggle；
though　I　watched　her　with　some　solicitude。=20　My　fears　were　at　once
dispelled；　however；　when　Maitland　entered；　for　Gwen　was　the　first
to　welcome　him。　　　She　extended　her　hand　with　much　of　her　old
impulsiveness；　saying：　〃I　have　so　much　for　which　to　thank　you　…　〃
but　Maitland　interrupted　her。　　〃Indeed；　I　regret　to　say；〃　he
rejoined；　〃that　I　have　been　unable　thus　far　to　be　of　any　real　service
to　you。　　The　Ragobah　clue　was　a　miserable　failure；　though　we　may　do
ourselves　the　justice　to　admit　that　we　had　no　alternative　but　to
follow　it　to　the　end。　　I　confess　I　have　never　been　more　disappointed
than　in　the　outcome　of　this　affair。？〃　　〃My　dear　fellow；〃　I　said；
〃we　all　have　much　to　be　thankful　for　in　your　safe　return；　let　us
not　forget　that。〃　　Maitland　laughed：　〃That　reminds　me；〃　he　said；
〃of　the　man　who　passed　the　hat　at　a　coloured　camp…meeting。　　When
asked　how　much　he　had　collected；　he　replied：　'I　didn't　get　no　money；
but　I'se　done　got　de　hat　back。'　　You've　got　your　hat　back；　and　that's
about　all。　　However；　with　Miss　Darrow's　permission；　I　shall　go　back
to　the　starting　point　and　begin　all　over　again。〃

〃You　are　making　me　your　debtor；〃　Gwen　replied　slowly；　〃beyond　my
power　ever　to　repay　you。〃

〃It　is　in　the　hope　that　no　payment　may　ever　be　demanded　of　you；〃
he　rejoined；　〃that　I　am　busying　myself　in　your　affairs。〃　　The　colour
sprang　to　Gwen's　cheeks；　but　she　only　replied　by　a　grateful　glance。
I　knew　what　was　passing　through　her　mind。　　She　was　thinking　of　her
promise　…　of　her　father's　last　words；　and　of　the　terrible
possibilities　thereof　from　which　Maitland　was　seeking　to　rescue　her。
She　felt　that　she　could　safely　owe　him　any　debt　of　gratitude；　however
great；　while　he；　on　his　part；　took　what　I　fancied；　both　then　and
afterward；　were　unnecessary　pains　to　assure　her　that；　in　the　event
of　his　finding　the　assassin；　she　need　have　no　fear　of　his　making
any　claim　whatsoever　upon　her。　　And　so　the　whole　affair　was　dropped
for　the　time　being　and　the　rest　of　the　evening　devoted　to　listening
to　Maitland's　account　of　his　experiences　while　abroad。

The　next　morning　I　called　upon　our　detective　at　his　laboratory　and
asked　him　what　he　intended　to　do　next。　　He　replied　that　he　had　no
plans　as　yet；　but　that　he　wished　to　review　with　me　all　the　evidence
at　hand。

〃You　see；〃　he　said；　〃the　thing　that　renders　the　solution　of　this
mystery　so　difficult　is　the　fact　that　all　our　clues；　while　they
would　be　of　the　utmost　service　in　the　conviction　of　the　assassin
had　we　found　him；　are　almost　destitute　of　any　value　until　he　has
been　located。　　Add　to　this　that　we　are　now　unable　to　find　any
motive　for　the　crime　and　you　can　see　how　slight　are　our　hopes　of
success。　　If　ever　we　chance　to　find　the　man；　…　for　I　feel　that
such　a　consummation　would　result　more　from　chance　than　from
anything　else；　…　I　think　we　can　convict　him。

〃Here；　for　example；〃　he　said；　taking　up　a　small　slip　of　glass
which　he　had　cut　from　the　eastern　parlour　window　of　the　Darrow
house；　〃is　something　I　have　never　shown　either　you　or　Miss　Darrow。
It　is　utterly　worthless；　so　far　as　assisting　us　to　track　the
assassin　is　concerned；　but；　if　ever　we　suspect　the　right　man；　the
evidence　on　that　glass　would　probably　convict　him；　though　there
were　ten　thousand　other　suspects。〃

I　took　the　glass　from　him　and；　examining　it　with　the　utmost　care；
I　detected　a　smutch　of　yellowish　paint　upon　it；　nothing　more。
〃For　Heaven's　sake；　Maitland！〃　I　said　in　astonishment；　〃of　what
possible　use　can　that　formless　daub　of　paint　be；　or　is　there
something　else　on　the　glass　that　has　escaped　me？〃　　He　laughed　at
my　excitement　as　he　replied：

〃There　is　nothing　there　hut　the　paint　spot。　　Regarding　that；　however；
you　have　come　to　a　very　natural　though　erroneous　conclusion。　　It　is
not　formless〃；　and　he　passed　me　a　jeweller's　eye…glass　to　assist　me
in　a　closer　examination。　　He　was　right。　　The　paint　lay　upon　the
glass　in　little　irregular　furrows　which　arranged　themselves
concentrically　about　a　central　oval　groove　somewhat　imperfect　in
shape。　　〃Well；〃　continued。　　Maitland；　as　I　returned　him　the
magnifying　glass；　〃what　do　you　make　of　it？〃　　〃If　you　hadn't　already
attached　so　much　importance　to　the　thing；〃　I　said；　〃I　should
pronounce　it　a　daub　of　paint　transferred　to　the　glass　by　somebody's
thumb；　but；　as　such　a　thing　would　be　clearly　useless；　I　am　at　a　loss
to　know　what　it　is。〃

〃Well；〃　he　rejoined；　〃you've　hit　the　nail　on　the　head；　…　that's　just
what　it　is；　but　you　are　entirely　wrong　in　your　assumption　that　the
thumb…mark　can　have　no　value　as　evidence。　　Do　you　not　know　that
there　are　no　two　thumbs　in　the　world　which　are　capable　of　making
indistinguishable　marks？〃　　I　was　not　aware　of　this。　　〃How　do　you
know；〃　I　asked；　〃that　this　mark　was　made　by　the　assassin？　　It　seems
to　me　there　can　hardly　be　a　doubt　that　one　of　the　painters；　while
priming　the　sill；　accidentally　pressed　his　thumb　against　the　glass。
His　hands　would　naturally　have　been　painty；　and　this　impression
would　as　naturally　have　resulted。〃

〃What　you　say；〃　replied　Maitland；　〃is　very　good；　so　far　as　it　goes。
My　reasons　for　believing　this　thumb…mark　was　made　by　the　assassin　are
easily　understood。　　First：　there　was　another　impression　of　a　thumb
in　the　moist　paint　of　the　sill　directly　under　that　upon　the　glass。
Both　marks　were　made　by　the　same　thumb　and；　in　the　lower　one；　the
microscope　revealed　minute　traces　of　gravel　dust；　not　elsewhere
discernible　upon　the　sill。　　The　thumb　carried　the　dust　there；　and
was　the　thumb　of　the　hand　pressed　into　the　gravel；　…　the　hand　of
which　I　have　a　cast。　　You　see　how　this　shows　how　the　thumb　came　to
have　paint　upon　it　when　pressed　upon　the　glass。　　Second：　the　two
men　engaged　in　priming　the