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The Darrow Enigma
The Darrow Enigma
by Melvin L。 Severy
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The Darrow Enigma
THE EPISODE OF THE
DARKENED ROOM
CHAPTER I
What shall we say when Dream…Pictures leave their frames of night
and push us from the waking world？
As the part I played in the events I am about to narrate was rather that
of a passive observer than of an active participant； I need say little of
myself。 I am a graduate of a Western university and； by profession； a
physician。 My practice is now extensive； owing to my blundering into
fame in a somewhat singular manner； but a year ago I had； I assure you；
little enough to do。 Inasmuch as my practice is now secure； I feel
perfectly free to confess that the cure I effected in the now celebrated case
of Mrs。 P… was altogether the result of chance； and not； as I was then only
too glad to have people believe； due to an almost supernatural power of
diagnosis。
Mrs。 P… was not more surprised at the happy result than was I； the only
difference being that she showed her astonishment； while I endeavoured to
conceal mine； and affected to look upon the whole thing as a matter of
course。
My fame spread； the case got into the medical journals； where my skill
was much lauded； and my practice became enormous。 There is but one
thing further I need mention regarding myself： that is； that I am possessed
of a memory which my friends are pleased to consider phenomenal。 I
can repeat a lecture； sermon； or conversation almost word for word after
once hearing it； provided always； that the subject commands my interest。
My humble abilities in this direction have never ceased to be a source of
wonderment to my acquaintance； though I confess； for my own part； when
I compare them with those of Blind Tom； or of the man who； after a single
reading； could correctly repeat the London Times； advertisements and all；
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The Darrow Enigma
they seem modest indeed。
It was about the time when； owing to the blessed Mrs。 P …； my
creditors were beginning to receive some attention； that I first met George
Maitland。 He had need； he said； of my professional services； he felt
much under the weather； could I give him something which would brace
him up a bit； he had some important chemical work on hand which he
could not afford to put by； in fact； he didn't mind saying that he was at
work upon a table of atomical pitches to match Dalton's atomic weights； if
he succeeded in what he had undertaken he would have solved the secret
of the love and hatred of atoms； and unions hitherto unknown could easily
be effected。
I do not know how long he would have continued had not my interest
in the subject caused me to interrupt him。 I was something of an
experimenter myself； and here was a man who could help me。
It was a dream of mine that the great majority of ailments could be
cured by analysing a patient's blood； and then injecting into his veins such
chemicals as were found wanting； or were necessary to counteract the
influence of any deleterious matter present。 There were； of course；
difficulties in the way； but had they not already at Cornell University done
much the same for vegetable life？ And did not those plants which had
been set in sea sand out of which every particle of nutriment had been
roasted； and which were then artificially fed with a solution of the
chemicals of which they were known to be composed； grow twice as rank
as those which had been set in the soil ordinarily supposed to be best
adapted to them？ What was the difference between a human cell and a
plant cell？ Yes； since my patient was a chemist； I would cultivate his
acquaintance。
He proceeded to tell me how he felt； but I could make nothing of it； so
I forthwith did the regulation thing； what should we doctors do without it！
I looked at his tongue； pulled down his eyelid； and pronounced him bilious。
Yes； there were the little brown spots under his skin … freckles； perhaps …
and probably he had an occasional ringing in his ears。 He was willing to
admit that he was dizzy on suddenly rising from a stooping posture； and
that eggs； milk； and coffee were poison to him； and he afterward told me
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The Darrow Enigma
he should have said the same of any other three articles I might have
mentioned； for he looked so hale and vigorous； and felt so disgracefully
well； that he was ashamed of himself。 We have had many a laugh over it
since。 The fact of the matter is the only affliction from which he was
suffering was an inordinate desire to make my acquaintance。 Not for my
own sake … oh； dear； no！ … but because I was John Darrow's family
physician； and would be reasonably sure to know Gwen Darrow； that
gentleman's daughter。 He had first met her； he told me after we had
become intimate； at an exhibition of paintings by William T。 Richards； …
but； as you will soon be wondering if it were； on his part； a case of love at
first sight； I had best relate the incident to you in his own words as he told
it to me。 This will relieve me of passing any judgment upon the matter；
for you will then know as much about it as I； and； doubtless； be quite as
capable of answering the question； for candour compels me to own that
my knowledge of the human heart is entirely professional。 Think of
searching for Cupid's darts with a stethoscope！
〃I was standing；〃 Maitland said； 〃before a masterpiece of sea and rock；
such as only Richards can paint。 It was a view of Land's End； Cornwall；
and in the artist's very best vein。 My admiration made me totally
unmindful of my surroundings； so much so； indeed； that； although the
gallery was crowded； I caught myself expressing my delight in a perfectly
audible undertone。 My enthusiasm； since it was addressed to no one；
soon began to attract attention； and people stopped looking at the pictures
to look at me。 I was conscious of this in a vague； far…off way； much as
one is conscious of a conversation which seems to have followed him
across the borderland of sleep； and I even thought that I ought to be
embarrassed。 How long I remained thus transported I do not know。 The
first thing I remember is hearing someone close beside me take a quick；
deep breath； one of those full inhalations natural to all sensitive natures
when they come suddenly upon something sublime。 …I turned and looked。
I have said I was transported by that canvas of sea and rocks； and have；
therefore； no word left to describe the emotion with which I gazed upon
the exquisite； living； palpitating picture besi