the darrow enigma-第13章
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her father's body； and kissed the cold face passionately。 For the
first time since the tragedy she found relief in tears。 When she
arose a great change had come over her。 She was very pale and
seized a chair for support as she replied to Maitland's question
between the convulsive sobs which she seemed powerless to check：
〃I … I have bidden him good…bye。 We shall but obey his command in
sparing no pains to reach the assassin。 You … you have my permission
to do anything … everything … that may be … necessary to that end。
I … I know you will be as gentle … 〃 But she could not finish her
sentence。 The futility of gentleness … the realisation that her
father was forever past all need of tenderness； fell like a shroud
about her soul。 The awakening I had dreaded had come。 Her hand
fell from the chair； she staggered； and would have fallen to the
floor had not Maitland caught her in his arms。
THE EPISODE OF THE SEALED DOCUMENT
CHAPTER 1
Father of all surveyors； Time drags his chain of rust through
every life； and only Love … unaging God of the Ages … immeasurable；
keeps his untarnished youth。
Maitland carried the unconscious girl into the study； and for some
time we busied ourselves in bringing her to herself。 When this task
was accomplished we did not feel like immediately putting any further
tax upon her strength。 Maitland insisted that she should rest while
he and I ransacked the desk； and； ever mindful of her promise to obey
his instructions； she yielded without remonstrance。 Our search
revealed the insurance policies； and a sealed envelope bearing the
inscription： 〃To Miss Gwen Darrow； to be opened after the death of
John Darrow；〃 and three newspapers with articles marked in blue
pencil。 I read the first aloud。 It ran as follows：
I have reason to believe an attempt will sooner or later be made
upon my life； and that the utmost cunning will be employed to lead
the authorities astray。 The search for the assassin will be long；
expensive； and discouraging … just such a task as is never
successfully completed without some strong personal incentive。
This I propose to supply in advance。 My death will place in my
daughter's hands a fund of fifty thousand dollars； to be held in
trust by her； and delivered； in the event of my being murdered； to
such person or persons as shall secure evidence leading to the
conviction of the murderer。
（Signed） JOHN HINTON DARROW。
I glanced at the other two papers … the marked article was the same
in each。 〃I wonder what your friend Osborne would say to that；〃 I
said to Maitland。
〃How old are the papers？〃 he replied。
〃March l5th； … only a little over a month；〃 I answered。
〃Let me see them； please；〃 he said。 〃Hum！ All of the same date；
and each in the paid part of the paper！ It is clear Mr。 Darrow
inserted these singular notices himself。 I will tell you what
Osborne will say when he learns of these articles。 He will say
they strengthen his theory； that no sane man would publish such a
thing； except as a weak attempt to deceive the insurance companies。
As for the money all being paid to the discoverer of the assassin；
instead of to his daughter； he will simply dispose of that by
saying： 'No assassin； no reward； and the fund remains intact。' If
now； the other papers permit Miss Darrow to use the interest of this
fund while holding the principal in trust； we do not at present know
enough of this matter to successfully refute Osborne's reasoning。
This mystery seems to grow darker rather than lighter。 The one
thing upon which we seem continually to get evidence is the question
of sanity。 If Mr。 Darrow's suspicions were directed against no one
in particular； then it is clear his dreams； and all the rest of his
fears for that matter； had a purely subjective origin； which is to
say that upon this one subject； at least； he was of unsound mind。〃
〃I cannot think so；〃 Gwen interrupted。 〃He was so rational in
everything else。〃
〃That is quite possible；〃 I replied。 〃I have known people to be
monomaniacs upon the subject of water； and to go nowhere without a
glass of it in their hands。 There is also a well…authenticated case
of a man who was as sane as you or I until he heard the words 'real
estate。' One day while quietly carving the meat at a dinner to
which he had invited several guests； a gentleman opposite him
inadvertently spoke the fatal words； when； without a word of warning；
he sprang at him across the table； using the carving…knife with all
the fury of the most violent maniac； and yet； under all other
conditions； he was perfectly rational。〃
〃If； on the other hand；〃 said Maitland； continuing his remarks as if
unaware of our interruption； 〃Mr。 Darrow's suspicions had any
foundation in fact； it is almost certain they must have been directed
against some specific person or persons。 If so； why did he not name
them ？ … but； stay … how do we know that he did not？ Let us proceed
with our examination of the papers；〃 and he began perusing the
insurance policies。 Neither Gwen nor I spoke till he had finished
and thrown them down； when we both turned expectantly toward him。
〃All in Osborne's favour so far；〃 he said。 〃Principal to be held in
trust by Miss Darrow under the terms of a will which we have yet to
find； the income； until the discharge of the trust； to go to Miss
Darrow。 Now for this；〃 and he passed Gwen the sealed envelope
addressed to her。
She broke the seal with much agitation。 〃Shall I read it aloud？〃
she asked。
We signified our desire to hear it； and she read as follows：
MY DEAR GWEN：
My forebodings have seemed to you strange and uncalled for； but when
this comes to your hand you will know whether or not they were
groundless。 Of one episode in my career which shook the structure
of my being to its foundation stone； you have been carefully kept
in ignorance。 It is necessary that you should know it when I am
gone； and I have accordingly committed it to this paper； which will
then fall into your hands。 My early life； until two years after I
married your mother； was spent in India； the adult portion thereof
being devoted to the service of the East India Company。 I had charge
of a department in their depot at Bombay。 You have seen Naples。
Add to the beauties of that city the interesting and motley
population of Cairo and you can form some idea of the attractions of
Bombay。 I was very happy there until the occurrence of the event I
am about to narrate。
One morning； my duties calling me to one of the wharves； my attention
was attracted by a young girl dancing upon the flags by the water's
edge。 The ordinary bayadere is so common an object in India as to
attract but little notice from anyone of refined tastes； but this
girl； judging from the chaste beauty of her movements； was of a very
different type。 As my curiosity drew me nearer to her she turned her
face toward me； and in that instant I knew my hour had come。
Though many years her senior she was still my first love； … the one
great passion of my life。
I do not attempt to describe her ineffable loveliness； for； like the
beauty of a flower； it was incapable of analysis。 Nothing that I
could write would give you any adequate idea of this girl's seraphic
face； for she was like unto no one you have ever seen in this cold
Western world。 I watched in a wild； nervous transport； I know not
how long … time and space had no part in this new ecstasy of mine！
I could think of nothing； do nothing … only feel； … feel the hot
blood deluge my brain only to fall back in scalding torrents upon
my heart with a pain that was exquisite pleasure。
Suddenly she changed her step and executed a quick backward movement
toward the water； stopping just as her heels touched the curb at the
edge of the wharf； then forward； and again a quick return to the
backward movement； but this time she mistook the distance； her heels
struck the curb forcibly； and she was precipitated backward into the
water。 For a moment I stood as one petrified； unable to reason；
much less to act； then the excited vo
