the darrow enigma-第5章
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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 impassive countenance； from which now the
perplexed look had fled； and said simply：
〃Gentlemen； what is to be done？〃 Her voice was firm and sane； … that
it was pitched lower than usual and had a suggestion of intensity in
it； was perfectly natural。 I thought she did not realise her loss
and said： 〃He has gone past recall。〃 〃Yes；〃 she replied； 〃I know
that； but should we not send for an officer？〃 〃An officer！〃 I
exclaimed。 〃Is it possible you entertain a doubt that your father's
death resulted from natural causes？〃 She looked at me a moment
fixedly； and then said deliberately： 〃My father was murdered！〃 I
was so surprised and pained that； for a moment； I could not reply；
and no one else sought to break the silence。
Maitland； as if Gwen's last remark had given rise to a sudden
determination； glided to the body。 He examined the throat； raised
the right hand and looked at the fingers： then he stepped back a
little and wrote something in his note…book。 This done； he tried
the folding doors and found them locked on the inside； then the two
windows on the south side of the room； which he also found fastened。
He opened the hall door slightly and the hinges creaked noisily； of
all of which he made a note。 Then taking a rule from his pocket he
went to the east window； and measured the opening； and then the
distance between this window and the chair in which the old gentleman
had sat； recording his results as before。 His next act astonished
me not a little and had the effect of recalling me to my senses。
With his penknife he cut a circle in the carpet around each leg of
the chair on which the body rested。 He continued his examinations
with quiet thoroughness； but I ceased now to follow him closely；
since I had begun to feel the necessity of convincing Gwen of her
error； and was casting about for the best way to do so。
〃My dear Miss Darrow；〃 I said at length； 〃you attach too much
importance to the last words of your father； who； it is clear； was
not in his right mind。 You must know that he has； for some months；
had periods of temporary aberration； and that all his delusions
have been of a sanguinary nature。 Try to think calmly；〃 I said；
perceiving from her expression that I had not shaken her conviction
in the least。 〃Your father said he had been stabbed。 You must see
that such a thing is physically impossible。 Had all the doors and
windows been open； no object so large as a man could possibly have
entered or left the room without our observing him； but the windows
were closed and fastened； with the exception of the east window；
which； as you may see for yourself； is open some six inches or so；
in which position it is secured by the spring fastening。 The folding
doors are locked on the inside and the only possible means of
entrance； therefore； would have been by the hall door。 Directly in
front of that； between it and your father； sat Mr。 Maitland and
myself。 You see by my chair that I was less than two feet from the
door。 It is inconceivable that； in that half…light； anyone could
have used that entrance and escaped observation。 Do you not see
how untenable your idea is？ Had your father been stabbed he would
have bled； but I am as certain as though I had made a thorough
examination that there is not so much as a scratch anywhere upon his
body。〃 Gwen heard me through in silence and then said wearily； in
a voice which had now neither intensity nor elasticity； 〃I understand
fully the apparent absurdity of my position； yet I know my father
was murdered。 The wound which caused his death has escaped your
notice； but … 〃
〃My dear Miss Darrow；〃 I interrupted； 〃there is no wound； you may
be sure of that！〃 For the first time since Darrow's death Maitland
spoke。 〃If you will look at the throat a little more closely； you
will see what may be a wound；〃 he said； and went on quietly with his
examinations。 He was right； there was a minute abrasion visible。
The girl's quick observation had detected what had escaped me；
convinced as I was that there was nothing to be found by a scrutiny
however close。
Gwen now transferred her attention to Maitland； and asked： 〃Had not
one of us better go for an officer？〃 Maitland； whose power of
concentration is so remarkable as on some occasions to render him
utterly oblivious of his surroundings； did not notice the question
and Browne replied to it for him。 〃I should be only too happy to
fetch an officer for you； if you wish；〃 he said。 Have you ever
noticed how acute the mind is for trifles and slight incongruities
when under the severe tension of such a shock as we had experienced？
Such attacks； threatening to invade and forever subjugate our
happiness； seem to have the effect of so completely manning the
ramparts of our intellect the nothing； however trivial； escapes
observation。 Gwen's father； her only near relative； lay cold before
her； … his death； from her standpoint； the most painful of mysteries；
… and yet the incongruity of Browne's 〃only too happy 〃 did not
escape her； as was evident by the quick glance and sudden relaxation
of the mouth into the faintest semblance of a smile。 All this was
momentary and； I doubt not； half unconscious。 She replied gravely：
〃I would indeed be obliged if you would do so。〃
Maitland； who had now finished his examination； noticed that Browne
was about to depart。 When the artist would have passed him on his
way to the hall door； he placed his hand upon that gentleman's
shoulder； saying： 〃Pardon me； sir； but I would strongly urge that
you do not leave the room！〃
Browne paused。 Both men stood like excited animals at gaze。
CHAPTER III
Nothing is so full of possibilities as the seemingly impossible。
Maitland's request that Browne should not leave the room seemed to
us all a veritable thunderbolt。 It impressed me at the time as
being a thinly veneered command； and I remember fearing lest the
artist should be injudicious enough to disregard it。 If he could
have seen his own face for the next few moments； he would have had
a lesson in expression which years of portrait work may fail to
teach him。 At length the rapidly changing kaleidoscope of his mind
seemed to settle； to group its varied imaginings about a definite
idea； … the idea that he had been all but openly accused； in the
presence of Miss Darrow； of being instrumental in her father's death。
For a moment； as he faced Maitland； whom he instinctively felt to be
a rival； he looked so dark and sinister that one could easily have
believed him capable of almost any crime。
Gwen was no less surprised than the rest of us at Maitland's
interference； but she did not permit it to show in her voice as she
said quietly： 〃Mr。 Browne has consented to go for an officer。〃 As
I felt sure she must have thought Maitland already knew this； as
anyone else must have heard what had passed； I looked upon her
remark as a polite way of saying：
〃I am mistress here。〃
Maitland apparently so regarded it； for he replied quickly： 〃I hope
you will not think me officious； or unmindful of your right to
dictate in a matter so peculiarly your own affair。 My only desire
is to help you。 Mr。 Browne's departure would still further
complicate a case already far to difficult of solution。 My legal
training has given me some little experience in these matters； and
I only wish that you may have the benefit thereof。 It is now nearly
three…quarters of an hour since your father's death； and； I assure
you； time at this particular juncture may be of the utmost
importance。 Not a moment should be wasted in needless discussion。
If you will consent to despatch a servant to the police station
I will； in due time； explain to you why I have taken the liberty of
being so insistent on this point。〃
He had hardly ceased speaking before Gwen rang for a servant。 She
hurriedly told him what had transpired and sent him to the nearest
police station。 As this was but a few rods away and the messenger
was fleet of foot； an officer
