the darrow enigma-第26章
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this acknowledgment of it with such a hope of ultimate success as
you may enjoy。 Tell her I shall never cease my efforts to solve
this mystery so long as I am able to find a clue； however slight；
to follow。 At present I am all at sea； and it looks as if I should
have to go clear back and start all over again。 Ragobah； as a
point of departure； has not proved a success。 With my kind regards
to you all；
I remain； cordially yours；
GEORGE MAITLAND。
I read this through aloud； despite the fact that I knew some parts
of it were intended only for my perusal。 Gwen did not speak until
some minutes after I had finished； and then only to express a fear
that； despite his caution； harm might come to Maitland at his
interview with Ragobah。 She seemed to be far less disappointed at
Maitland's failure to convict Ragobah than she was fearful for her
friend's personal safety。 She was restless and ill at ease for the
next two or three days … in fact； until the arrival of Maitland's
next letter。 This came during my absence on a professional call；
and when I returned home she met me with it at the door with an
expression of relief upon her countenance so plain as not to be
misconstrued。 We went into the sitting…room； where my sister was
awaiting the news； and I read as follows：
MY DEAR DOCTOR：
I kept my appointment last night with Rama Ragobah and； although
nothing transpired at all likely to assist me in locating Mr。
Darrow's assassin； yet the interview； though short； was interesting
and worth narrating。 Promptly at nine o'clock I was at my post by
the little cave。 I am still staying with Herr Blaschek and； as I
had but a few rods to travel； I did not quit the house until within
five minutes of the time appointed for our meeting。 As I stepped
out into the darkness I noticed a tall form glide behind a tree；
about a rod away from the door。 I could not be sure it was Ragobah；
yet I had little doubt of it。 I was a trifle taken aback at the
moment； and instinctively placed my hand upon my revolver and
grasped my cane more firmly。 Should occasion require it； I counted
upon this cane quite as much as upon my revolver； for； innocent and
inoffensive as it looked； it was capable of most deadly execution。
I had chosen it in preference to many other more pretentious weapons
which had suggested themselves to me。 It consisted of a small；
flexible steel wire hardly bigger than the blade of a foil；
surmounted by a good…sized lead ball； and the whole covered with a
closely woven fabric。 By grasping the cane by its lower end a
tremendously heavy blow could be struck with the ball； and； if an
attempt were made to shield the head by throwing up the arm； it
was almost certain to fail of its object since the flexibility of
the wire permitted it to bend about an obstruction until its loaded
end was brought home。 You will perhaps think that； since I did not
make use of this weapon； I need not have troubled myself to describe
it。 Perhaps that is so； but； let me assure you； when I saw Ragobah；
for it was he； glide behind that tree； and reflected how capable he
was of every kind of treachery； I wouldn't have parted with that
cane for its weight in gold。 The Indian had pledged me to come
alone and had promised to do likewise； but I felt any tree might
conceal one of his minions； hired to assassinate me while he engaged
my attention。 All this； of course； did not in the least affect my
decision。 I had promised to go alone； and Miss Darrow's interests
required … that I should keep my covenant。 I should have done so；
even though I had known Ragobah meant to betray me。 I may as well；
however； tell you at once that my suspicions wronged the fellow。
He had evidently taken his station behind a tree to satisfy himself；
without exposure； that I meant to keep my promise and come alone。
When I reached the cave I found him awaiting me。 How he was able
to get there before me passes my comprehension； but there he was。
He did not waste time； but addressed me at once； and； as my memory
is excellent and our interview was short； I am able to give you an
accurate report of what passed between us。 I copy it here just as
I entered it in my notebook； immediately upon my return to the house。
〃You naturally wish to know；〃 Ragobah began； 〃why I have sought this
interview。 That is easily explained。 You have done me the honour；
Sahib； for I feel it is such； to suspect me of the murder of John
Darrow。 You have come here from America to fasten the crime upon
me； and； from the bottom of my heart； I regret your failure to do
so。 I would give everything I possess on earth； and would gladly
suffer a life of torment； to be able truthfully to say： 'I； Rama
Ragobah； killed John Darrow。' But despite all my efforts； I； wretch
that I am； am innocent！ For more than twenty years I have had but
one purpose； … one thought； … and that was to track down and slay
John Darrow。 This desire consumed me。 It led me all over India
in vain search for him。 For nineteen years… I laboured incessantly；
without discovering so much as a trace of him。 When he fled Bombay
his belongings went inland； so I was told。 I believed the story
and felt sure I should one day find him on Indian soil。 Years
passed and I did not find him。 It was but a few months ago that
I discovered his ruse and learned his whereabouts。 I could scarcely
contain myself for joy。 My life…work was at last to be completed。
Nothing now remained but to plan his destruction。 This； however；
was not so easy a thing to do； since； in order to make my revenge
complete； I must disclose my identity before killing him。 At
length I decided upon a plan。 I would come upon him at night； when
asleep； gag him and bind him to his bed。 Then he should learn the
name of his doomsman； and the horrible nature of the death that
awaited him。〃
Ragobah paused here as if overcome by his disappointment； and I
said； 〃And how did you intend to kill him？〃 He gave a throaty
chuckle； as he replied： 〃It was all so very pretty！ I had only to
saturate the bedclothes with oil and set fire to them。 I should
have lighted them at his feet and watched the flames creep upward
toward his head till safety compelled my retreat。 It was for this
purpose I went to New York。 You already know the fatal delay I
incurred。 When I landed I made all haste to the home of Darrow
Sahib； in Dorchester； only to learn that he had killed himself a
few days before my arrival。 The morsel for which I had striven and
hungered for twenty long years was whipped from my hand； even as I
raised it to my mouth。 My enemy was dead； beyond the power of
injury； and my hands were unstained by his blood。
〃I then determined to kill his daughter。 It was the night of my
enemy's burial。 The Sahibah was alone in the house and was intending
to leave it that night。 I knew she would see that everything was
securely fastened before she went away； and so； when I opened one
of the windows； I was sure she would come to close it。 Crouching
down outside I awaited her approach； intending to spring up and stab
her while she was pulling the window down。 Everything happened as
I planned … what ails the Sahib？ I did not kill her！ No； at the
last moment something … never mind what … stayed my arm！ The death
of an innocent girl did not promise me any lasting satisfaction and
I gave up the idea； returned to New York； and re…embarked for Bombay
as innocent in act as when I left it。 My life had been a failure
and I had no desire to prolong it。 When you arrested me on the
charge of murder； nothing would have given me greater pleasure than
to have been able to plead guilty。
〃You already know why I so hated Darrow。 He robbed me of the only
woman I ever loved。 Maddened by jealousy； I told her I had thrown
him into the well in the cave here。 It was a lie； but she believed
it； and fled from me； and in a few minutes had thrown herself into
that bottomless hole。 See； Sahib；〃 he said； entering the cave and
pointing down the dark shaft； … 〃that is the road she took in order
that her bones might rest with his； and；
