the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第14章
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Osborne cast a furtive glance at Gwen； and then continued： 〃We
learned on inquiry that certain recent investments of Mr。 Darrow's had
turned out badly。 In addition to this he had been dealing somewhat
extensively in certain electric and sugar stocks； and when the recent
financial crash came； he found himself unable to cover his margins； and
was so swept clean of everything。 Nor is this all； he had lost a
considerable sum of money in yet another way … just how my informant
would not disclose … and all of these losses combined made his speedy
failure inevitable。 Under such conditions many another man has
committed suicide； unable to face financial ruin。 But this man had a
daughter to consider； and； as I have already said； he would wish to spare
her the disgrace which the taking of his own life would visit upon her； and；
more than all； would desire that she should not be left penniless。 The
creditors would make away with his estate； and his daughter be left a
beggar。 We could see but one way of his preventing this； and that was to
insure his life in his daughter's favour。 We instituted inquiries at the
insurance offices； and found that less than a month ago he had taken out
policies in various companies aggregating nearly fifty thousand dollars；
whereas； up to that time； he had been carrying only two thousand dollars
insurance。 Why this sudden and tremendous increase？ Clearly to
provide for his daughter after his act should have deprived her of his own
watchful care。 And now we can plainly see why he wished his suicide to
pass for murder。 He had been insured but a month； and immediate ruin
stared him in the face。 His death must be consummated at once； and yet；
by our law； a man who takes his life before the payment of his second
annual insurance premium relieves the company issuing his policy of all
liability thereunder； and robs his beneficiary of the fund intended for her。
Here； then； is a sufficient motive； and nothing more is required to make
the whole case perfectly clear。 Of course； it would be a little more
complete if we could find the weapon； but even without it； there can be no
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doubt； in the light of our work； that John Darrow took his own life with
the intentions； and for the purposes； I have already set forth。〃
〃Upon my soul； gentlemen；〃 exclaimed Maitland； 〃you have reasoned
that out well！ Did you carefully read the copies of the various policies
when interrogating the companies insuring Mr。 Darrow？〃 〃Hardly；〃
Osborne replied。 〃We learned from the officials all we needed to know；
and didn't waste any time in gratifying idle curiosity。〃 A long…drawn
〃hm…m〃 was the only reply Maitland vouchsafed to this。 〃We regret；〃
said Osborne； addressing Gwen； 〃that our duty； which has compelled us to
establish the truth in this matter； has been the means of depriving you of
the insurance money which your father intended for you。〃 Gwen bowed；
and a slight enigmatical smile played for a moment about her lips； but she
made no other reply； and； as neither Maitland nor I encouraged
conversation； the two officers wished us a good…morning； and left the
house without further remark。
〃I wish to ask you a few questions；〃 Maitland said to Gwen as soon as
the door had closed behind Osborne and his companion； 'and I beg you
will remember that in doing so； however personal my inquiries may seem；
they have but one object in view … the solution of this mystery。〃 〃I have
already had good proof of your singleness of purpose；〃 she replied。
〃Only too gladly will I give you any information in my possession。 Until
this assassin is found； and my father's good name freed from the obloquy
which has been cast upon it； my existence will be but a blank； … yes； worse；
it will be an unceasing torment； for I know my father's spirit … if the dead
have power to return to this earth … can never rest with this weight of
shame upon it。〃 As she spoke these words the depth of grief she had
hitherto so well concealed became visible for a moment； and her whole
frame shook as the expression of her emotion reacted upon her。 The next
instant she regained her old composure； and said calmly：
〃You see I have every reason to shed whatever light I can upon this
dark subject。〃
〃Please； then； to answer my questions methodically； and do not permit
yourself to reason why I have asked them。 What was your father's age？〃
〃Sixty…two。〃
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〃Did he drink？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did he play cards？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Poker？〃
〃Yes； and several other games。〃
〃Was he as fond of them as of croquet？〃
〃No； nothing pleased him as croquet did … nothing； unless it were
chess。〃
〃Hum！ Do you play chess？〃
〃Yes； I played a good deal with father。〃
〃What kind of a game did he play？〃
〃I do not understand you。 He played a good game； my father did not
enjoy doing anything that he could not do well。〃
〃I mean to ask if his positions were steadily sustained … or if； on the
other hand； his manoeuvres were swift； and what you might call brilliant。〃
〃I think you would call them brilliant。〃
〃Hum！ How old are you？〃
〃Twenty…two。〃
〃Tell me your relations with your father。〃
〃We were most constant companions。 My mother … she and my father
… they were not altogether companionable … in short； they were ill…mated；
and； being wise enough to find it out； and having no desire to longer
embitter each other's lives； they agreed to separate when I was only four。
They parted without the slightest ill…feeling； and I remained with father。
He was very fond of me； and would permit no one else to teach me。 At
seven I was drawing and painting under his guidance。 At eight the violin
was put into my hands and my studies in voice began。 In the meantime
father was most careful not to neglect my physical training； he taught me
the use of Indian clubs； and how to walk easily。 At eight I could walk
four miles an hour without fatigue。 The neighbours used to urge that I be
put to school； but my father would reply … many a time I have heard him
say it … 'a child's brain is like a flower that blossoms in perceptions and
goes to seed in abstractions。 Correct concepts are the raw material of
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reason。 Every desk in your school is an intellectual loom which is
expected to weave a sound fabric out of rotten raw material。 While your
children are wasting their fibre in memorising the antique errors of
classical thought my
