the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第6章
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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
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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
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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。
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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
