the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第36章
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bloodhounds； and anybody else that happens to be available。 It really
doesn't make the least difference how many or how few people are in the
cast。 I have heard that an Uncle Tom manager on a Western circuit； most
of whose company deserted him because the 'ghost' never walked；
succeeded in cutting and rewriting the piece so as to double 'George
Harris' and 'Legree；' ' Marks' and 'Topsy；' 'Uncle Tom' and 'Little Eva。' As
for the rest he had it so arranged that he could himself 'get off the door' in
time to 'do；' with the aid of the dogs； all the other characters。 You see the
dogs held the stage while he changed； say； from 'Eliza' to Eva's father。
'George Harris' would look off left second entrance and say that 'Legree'
was after him。 Then he would discharge a revolver； rush off right first
entrance； where he would pass his weapon to 'Eva' and 'Uncle Tom；' and
this bisexual individual would discharge it in the wings at the imaginary
pursuer； while 'Harris ' would put on a wire beard； slouch hat； black
melodramatic cape； and；=20rushing behind the flat； enter left as 'Legree。'
〃The hardest thing to manage was the death of 'Little Eva' with 'Uncle
Tom' by the bedside； but managerial genius overcame the difficulty after
the style of Mantell's 'Corsican Brothers。' You see it is all easy enough
when you know how。 'Little Eva' is discovered； sitting up in bed with the
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curtains drawn back。 She says what she has to say to her father and the
rest。 Then her father has a line in which he informs 'Eva' that she is tired
and had better try to sleep。 She says she will try； just to please him； and
he gently lowers her back upon the pillows and draws the curtains in front
of the bed。 But instead of utilising this seclusion for a refreshing sleep
'Eva' rolls out at the back side of the bed。 'Legree' snatches off 'Eva's'
wig and 'Topsy' deftly removes the white nightdress concealing his …
'Eva's' … 'Uncle Tom' make…up； while the erstwhile little girl hastily
blackens his face and hands； puts on a negro wig； and in less than a minute
is changed in colour； race； and sex。 He 'gets round' left and enters the
sick room as 'Uncle Tom' with 'Topsy。' They are both told that 'Little
Eva' is asleep； and 'Topsy' peeps cautiously between the curtains and
remarks that the child's eyes are open and staring。 The father looks in and；
overcome by grief； informs the audience that his child is dead。 'Topsy；'
tearful and grief…stricken； 'gets off' right and washes up to 'do' 'Little Eva'
climbing the golden stair in the last tableau。 Meanwhile 'Uncle Tom；' in
a paroxysm of grief； throws himself upon the bed and holds the stage till
he smells the red fire for the vision； then he staggers down stage； strikes
an attitude； the others do likewise； picture of 'Little Eva；' curtain。 Talk
about doubling 'Marcellus；' 'Folonius；' 'Osric；' and the 'First Grave Digger'！
Why； that's nothing to these 'Uncle Tom' productions。 But hold on；
where did I get side…tracked？ Oh； yes； the dogs。
〃Well； as I was saying； as soon as I thought of Burwell I made up my
mind at once to borrow one of his hounds。 It was late when I got to his
house。 When I knocked at the door both Pompey and Caesar began sub…
bass solos of growls； and Burwell was awake in a minute。 I told him I
wanted a dog for private business and took Caesar off with me。 He
found the trail with no difficulty； and followed it in a bee…line down to the
water； where he raised his big muzzle and howled in dismal impotency。
The assassin had taken to the water。 I took the dog up and down the shore
to see if he had returned to land； but all I found of interest was a clump of
alders from which a pole had been cut。 I knew by the dog's actions that
the assassin had been there； for Caesar immediately took a new trail back
to the house。 Try as I might I could learn nothing further； and I at once
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returned the dog。 There is no doubt that the murderer made his escape in
a boat and took with him the pole he had cut； the boards he had worn； and
everything else； I dare say； connected with his crime。 One thing seems
clear； and that is that we are dealing with no ordinary criminal。 I would
wager a good deal that this fellow； if ever he is caught； will be found to be
a man of brains。 I don't place much confidence in the Chinese theory；
Doc； but as I have nothing better to offer； let us go see Miss Darrow。 If
her father has ever had any dealings with Chinamen； we shall probably
deem it wise to look the Orientals up a bit。〃
We immediately acted upon this suggestion； waiting upon Gwen at my
house。 She said she and her father had spent a year in San Francisco
when she was about seven years of age。 While there their household was
looked after by two Chinese servants； named Wah Sing and Sam Lee。
The latter had been discharged by her father because of his refusal to
perform certain minor duties which； through oversight； had not been set
down as part of his work when he was engaged。 So far as she knew no
altercation had taken place and there were no hard feelings on either side。
Sam Lee had bade her good…bye and had seemed sorry to leave；
notwithstanding which； however； he refused； with true Chinese pertinacity；
to assume the new duties。 She did not think it likely that either of these
Chinamen had been instrumental in her father's death； yet she agreed with
Maitland that it would be a point gained to be assured of this fact。
Maitland accordingly determined to depart at once for San Francisco； and
the next day he was off。
We received no letters from him during his absence and were；
accordingly； unable to tell when he expected to get back。 Since his return
from India Gwen had given evidence of a reviving interest in life； but now
that he was again away； she relapsed into her old listless condition； from
which we found it impossible to arouse her。 Alice； who did her utmost to
please her； was at her wit's end。 She could never tell which of two
alternatives Gwen preferred； since that young lady would invariably
express herself satisfied with either and did not seem to realise why she
should be expected to have any choice in the matter。 Alice was quite at a
loss to understand this state of affairs； until I told her that Gwen was in a
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condition of semi…torpor in which even the effort of choice seemed an
unwarrantable outlay。 She simply did not care what happened。 She felt
nothing； save a sense of fatigue； and even what she saw was viewed as
from afar； … and seemed
