the darrow enigma-第4章
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was no other window open in the room； and yet so fresh was the air
that we were not uncomfortable。 Darrow； with ill…concealed pride；
then asked his daughter to sing； and she left him and went to the
piano。 〃Shall I not light the lamp？〃 I asked。 〃I think we shall
not need it；〃 the old gentleman replied； 〃music is always better
in the gloaming。〃
In order that you may understand what follows； it will be necessary
for me to describe to you our several positions in the room。 The
apartment is large； nearly square； and occupies the southeast corner
of the house。 The eastern side of the room has one window； that
which had been left open about six inches； and on the southern side
of the room there were two windows； both of which were securely
fastened and the blinds of which had been closed by the painters who；
that morning； had primed the eastern and southern sides of the house；
preparatory to giving it a thorough repainting。 On the north side of
the room； but much nearer to the western than the eastern end； are
folding doors。 These on this occasion were closed and fastened。 On
the western side of the room is the piano； and to the left of it；
near the southwest corner； is a door leading to the hallway。 This
door was closed。 As I have already told you； Darrow sat in a
high…backed easy…chair facing the piano and almost in the centre of
the room。 The partly opened window on the east side was directly
behind him and fully eight feet away。 Herne and Browne sat upon
Darrow's right and a little in front of him against the folding
doors； while Maitland and I were upon his left； between him and the
hall door。 Gwen was at the piano。 There are no closets； draperies；
or niches in the room。 I think you will now be able to understand
the situation fully。
Whether the gloom of the scene suggested it to her； or whether it
was merely a coincidence； I do not know； but Miss Darrow began to
sing 〃In the Gloaming〃 in a deep； rich contralto voice which seemed
fraught with a weird； melancholy power。 When I say that her voice
was ineffably sympathetic I would not have you confound this quality
either with the sepulchral or the aspirated tone which usually is
made to do duty for sympathy； especially in contralto voices。 Every
note was as distinct； as brilliantly resonant； as a cello in a
master's hand。 So clear； so full the notes rang out that I could
plainly feel the chair vibrate beneath me。
〃In the gloaming； 0 my darling！
When the lights are dim and low；
And the quiet shadows falling
Softly come and softly go。
When the winds are sobbing faintly
With a gentle unknown woe；
Will you think of me and love me
As you did once； long ago？
〃In the gloaming； 0 my darling！
Think not bitterly of me；
Though I passed away in silence；
Left you lonely； set you free。
For my heart was crushed with longing。
What had been could never be：
It was best to leave you thus； dear；
Best for you and best〃
But the line was never finished。 With a wild cry； more of fear than
of pain； Darrow sprang from his chair。 〃Gentlemen； I have been
stabbed！〃 was all he said； and fell back heavily into his seat。 Gwen
was kneeling before him in an instant； even before I could assist
him。 His right hand was pressed to his throat and his eyes seemed
starting from their sockets as he shouted hoarsely： 〃A light； a
light！ For God's sake； don't let him strike me again in the dark！〃
Maitland was already lighting the gas and Herne and Browne； so Browne
afterward told me； were preparing to seize the assailant。 I
remembered； after it all was over； a quick movement Browne had made
toward the darkest corner of the room。
The apartment was now flooded with light； and I looked for the
assassin。 He was not to be found！ The room contained only Gwen；
Darrow； and his four invited guests！ The doors were closed； the
windows had not been touched。 No one could possibly have entered
or left the room； and yet the assassin was not there。 But one
solution remained； Darrow was labouring under a delusion； and
Gwen's voice would restore him。 As she was about to speak I
stepped back to note the effect of her words upon him。 〃Do not
fear； father；〃 she said in a low voice as she laid her face against
his cheek； 〃there is nothing here to hurt you。 You are ill； … I
will get you a glass of cordial and you will be yourself again in
a moment。〃 She was about to rise when her father seized her
frantically by the arm； exclaiming in a hoarse whisper： 〃Don't
leave me！ Can't you see？ Don't leave me！〃 and for the first time
he removed his hand from his throat； and taking her head between
his palms； gazed wistfully into her face。 He tried to speak again；
but could not； and glanced up at us with=20a helpless expression
which I shall never forget。 Maitland； his eyes riveted upon the
old gentleman； whose thoughts he seemed to divine； hurriedly
produced a pencil and note…book and held them toward him； but
he did not see them； for he had drawn Gwen's face down to him and
was kissing her passionately。 The next instant he was on his feet
and from the swollen veins that stood out like cords upon his neck
and forehead； we could see the terrible effort he was making to
speak。 At last the words came； … came as if they were torn hissing
from his throat； for he took a full breath between each one of them。
〃Gwen … I … knew … it！ Good…bye！ Remember … your … promise！〃
… and he fell a limp mass into his chair； overcome； I felt sure；
by the fearful struggle he had made。 Maitland seized a glass of
water and threw it in his face。 I loosened the clothing about his
neck and； in doing so； his head fell backward and his face was
turned upward toward me。 The features were drawn； … the eyes were
glazed and set。 I felt of his heart； he was dead！
CHAPTER II
Silence is the only tender Death can make to Mystery。
The look of pain and astonishment upon my face said plainly enough
to Gwen：
〃Your father is dead。〃 I could not speak。 In the presence of her
great affliction we all stood silent； and with bowed heads。 I had
thought Darrow's attack the result of an overwrought mental condition
which would speedily readjust itself； and had so counted upon his
daughter's influence as all but certain to immediately result in a
temporary cure。 When； therefore； I found him dead without any
apparent cause； I was； for the time being； too dazed to think； much
less to act； and I think the other gentlemen were quite as much
incapacitated as I。 My first thought； when I recovered so that I
could think； was of Gwen。 I felt sure her reason must give way under
the strain； and I thought of going nearer to her in case she should
fall； but refrained when I noticed that Maitland had noiselessly
glided within easy reach of her。 To move seemed impossible to me。
Such a sudden transition from warm； vigorous life to cold； impassive
death seems to chill the dynamic rivers of being into a horrible
winter； static and eternal。 Though death puts all things in the
past tense； even we physicians cannot but be strangely moved when
the soul thus hastily deserts the body without the usual farewell of
an illness。
Contrary to my expectations Gwen did not faint。 For a long time；
… it may not have been more than twenty minutes； but it seemed；
under the peculiar circumstances； at least an hour； … she remained
perfectly impassive。 She neither changed colour nor exhibited any
other sign of emotion。 She stood gazing quietly； tenderly； at her
father's body as if he were asleep and she were watching for some
indication of his awakening。 Then a puzzled expression came over
her countenance。 There was no trace of sorrow in it； only the look
of perplexity。 I decided to break the gruesome silence； but the
thought of how my own voice would sound in that awe…inspired
stillness frightened me。 Gwen herself was the first to speak。 She
looked up with the same imp
