按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Ragobah relative to their vessel。 The Dalmatia had steamed into New
York at eleven o'clock on the morning of the 24th day of April with a
broken screw！
Imagine my amazement！ The net of circumstantial evidence wound
around Ragobah seemed to be such as to leave no possibility of escape；
and yet； the very first effort made to draw it tighter about him had resulted
in his walking； with the utmost ease； right through its meshes！ There is
no gainsaying such an alibi； and I am； therefore； forced to acknowledge
that Rama Ragobah could not； by any possibility； have murdered John
Darrow。 That he may have planned the deed and that he may have
intended to be present at its execution is quite possible； but we may at
once dismiss the idea of his having personally committed the act。 You
90
… Page 91…
The Darrow Enigma
will immediately appreciate that nearly all of the evidence which we
secured against Ragobah was directed against him as the assassin； and is
of little or no use to prove his complicity in an affair committed by another。
In his hatred of Mr。 Darrow we have； I believe； a sufficient motive for the
act； but what evidence have we to support the theory that the murder was
committed by anyone acting in his interests？ I must confess my inability
to detect； at present writing； the slightest evidence that Ragobah acted
through an accomplice。 So； here the matter rests。
I may state in closing that Ragobah has requested the 〃pleasure〃 （sic）
of a private interview with me on Malabar Hill to…morrow night。 As
there is a bare possibility he may let fall something which may shed some
light upon the accomplice hypothesis； I have agreed to meet him at the
entrance to the little cave at nine o'clock。 He has requested that I come
（alone and I shall do so； but； lest you fear for my safety； let me assure you
that I know very well the unscrupulous nature of the man with whom I am
to deal and that I shall take good care not to afford him any opportunity to
catch me unawares。 You will hear from me again after I meet Ragobah。
Remember me kindly to Miss Darrow。 The failure of my enterprise
will； I know； be a bitter disappointment to her； and you must temper this
acknowledgment of it with such a hope of ultimate success as you may
enjoy。 Tell her I shall never cease my efforts to solve this mystery so
long as I am able to find a clue； however slight； to follow。 At present I
am all at sea； and it looks as if I should have to go clear back and start all
over again。 Ragobah； as a point of departure； has not proved a success。
With my kind regards to you all； I remain； cordially yours；
GEORGE MAITLAND。
I read this through aloud； despite the fact that I knew some parts of it
were intended only for my perusal。 Gwen did not speak until some
minutes after I had finished； and then only to express a fear that； despite
his caution； harm might come to Maitland at his interview with Ragobah。
She seemed to be far less disappointed at Maitland's failure to convict
Ragobah than she was fearful for her friend's personal safety。 She was
restless and ill at ease for the next two or three days … in fact； until the
arrival of Maitland's next letter。 This came during my absence on a
91
… Page 92…
The Darrow Enigma
professional call； and when I returned home she met me with it at the door
with an expression of relief upon her countenance so plain as not to be
misconstrued。 We went into the sitting…room； where my sister was
awaiting the news； and I read as follows：
MY DEAR DOCTOR：
I kept my appointment last night with Rama Ragobah and； although
nothing transpired at all likely to assist me in locating Mr。 Darrow's
assassin； yet the interview； though short； was interesting and worth
narrating。 Promptly at nine o'clock I was at my post by the little cave。 I
am still staying with Herr Blaschek and； as I had but a few rods to travel； I
did not quit the house until within five minutes of the time appointed for
our meeting。 As I stepped out into the darkness I noticed a tall form glide
behind a tree； about a rod away from the door。 I could not be sure it was
Ragobah； yet I had little doubt of it。 I was a trifle taken aback at the
moment； and instinctively placed my hand upon my revolver and grasped
my cane more firmly。 Should occasion require it； I counted upon this
cane quite as much as upon my revolver； for； innocent and inoffensive as it
looked； it was capable of most deadly execution。 I had chosen it in
preference to many other more pretentious weapons which had suggested
themselves to me。 It consisted of a small； flexible steel wire hardly
bigger than the blade of a foil； surmounted by a good…sized lead ball； and
the whole covered with a closely woven fabric。 By grasping the cane by
its lower end a tremendously heavy blow could be struck with the ball； and；
if an attempt were made to shield the head by throwing up the arm； it was
almost certain to fail of its object since the flexibility of the wire permitted
it to bend about an obstruction until its loaded end was brought home。
You will perhaps think that； since I did not make use of this weapon； I
need not have troubled myself to describe it。 Perhaps that is so； but； let
me assure you； when I saw Ragobah； for it was he； glide behind that tree；
and reflected how capable he was of every kind of treachery； I wouldn't
have parted with that cane for its weight in gold。 The Indian had pledged
me to come alone and had promised to do likewise； but I felt any tree
might conceal one of his minions； hired to assassinate me while he
engaged my attention。 All this； of course； did not in the least affect my
92
… Page 93…
The Darrow Enigma
decision。 I had promised to go alone； and Miss Darrow's interests
required … that I should keep my covenant。 I should have done so； even
though I had known Ragobah meant to betray me。 I may as well；
however； tell you at once that my suspicions wronged the fellow。 He had
evidently taken his station behind a tree to satisfy himself； without
exposure； that I meant to keep my promise and come alone。
When I reached the cave I found him awaiting me。 How he was able
to get there before me passes my comprehension； but there he was。 He did
not waste time； but addressed me at once； and； as my memory is excellent
and our interview was short； I am able to give you an accurate report of
what passed between us。 I copy it here just as I entered it in my
notebook； immediately upo