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I did as he requested； and； if I am any judge of feminine indications；
my message did not yield Gwen unmixed pleasure； still； she said nothing
to warrant such a supposition on my part。 I visited Maitland every day to
learn what he might wish me to bring him； and also to carry him his mail；
for he had determined to remain constantly on the watch at his new
quarters。
I have thus far； in the narration of these incidents been perfectly candid
both as regards my friends and myself； and； therefore； that I may continue
in like manner to the end； I shall suppress certain qualms which are urging
me to silence； and confess myself guilty of some things of which you will；
perhaps； think I may well be ashamed。 Be that as it may； you shall have
the whole truth； however it may affect your opinion of me。 One reason
why I went to Maitland's new quarters so often； and stayed there so long；
was because I was always permitted to relieve him of his watch。 With a
telephone receiver strapped to my right ear； and my eyes fastened upon the
screen of the camera obscura； I would sit by the hour prying into the
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affairs of the two people in the next room。 I tried for a number of days to
ease my conscience by telling myself that I was labouring in the cause of
justice； and was not a common eavesdropper。 This permitted me to retain
a sort of quasi self…respect for a day or two till my honesty rallied itself；
and forced me to realise and to admit that I was； to all intents and purposes；
a common Paul Pry； performing a disreputable act for the gratification it
gave me。 I determined I would at least be honest with myself … and this
was my verdict。 You will； perhaps； fancy that when I arrived at this
decision I at once mended my ways and resigned my seat of observation to
Maitland's entirely professional care。 This； doubtless； I should have done；
if we fallible human beings governed our conduct by our knowledge of
what is right and proper。 Inasmuch； however； as desires and emotions are
the determining factors of human conduct； I did nothing of the sort。 I
simply watched there day after day； with ever…increasing avidity； until at
length I got to be impatient of the duties that took me away； and more than
half inclined to neglect them。
I shall gain nothing by attempting to make you believe it was the man
in the neighbouring room that interested me； so I shall not essay it。 I
confess； with a feeling of guilt because I am not more ashamed of it … that
it was the young lady who attracted me。 You will； I trust； assume I had
enough interest in her father to palliate my conduct in a measure。 Be
generous in your judgment。 How do you know you will not be in the same
predicament？ Think of it！ A young woman beautiful beyond my feeble
powers of description； her eyes of a heavenly blue； her luxuriant hair like
a mass of spun gold； her complexion matched to the tint and transparency
of the blush rose … and such a throat！ From it came a voice as musical as
the unguided waters when Winter rushes down the hills in search of Spring。
Never you mind； that's the way I felt about it； and； if you had been in my
place； you'd have been just as bad as I； come； now； you know you would。
Suppose I was a bachelor； and almost old enough to be her father。 Does
that help matters any？ Is the heart less hungry because it has been
starved？ Just look at your history。 When nuns have relapsed from other…
worldliness to this…worldliness how have they been？ I'll tell you。 They
have been just a round baker's dozen times worse than they would have
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been if they had never undertaken to cheat Nature。 Look at the thing
fairly。 I don't expect to dodge any blame that I deserve； yet I do want all
the palliating circumstances duly noted。 Many months have passed since
then； and yet the thought of that sweet girl sends a thrill all over me。 I
wonder where she is now？ I feel that we shall meet again some time； and
perhaps you will see her yourself。 If so； you will see that I couldn't be
expected to withstand any such temptation。
On these visits Maitland and I talked but very little； and while I was
spying nothing of interest occurred … i。 e。； nothing of interest to him … or； if
it did； things of interest to me prevented my observing it。 On several
occasions he alluded vaguely to things he had learned which he said he
should not divulge even to me until the proper time came。
Things went on in this way for about two weeks。 I visited Maitland
daily； and daily the little lady in the next room wove her spell around me。
If； as I am inclined to believe； thinking a great deal of a person is much the
same thing as thinking of a person a great deal； I must have adored her。
One night； about a fortnight after Maitland's change of abode； I found
Alice in a terrible state of excitement upon my arrival home。 She met me
at the door； and said Gwen needed my attention at once。 I did not stop to
hear further particulars； but hastened to the sitting…room； where Gwen lay
upon the lounge。 She was in a stupor from which it seemed impossible
to arouse her。 In vain I tried to attract her attention。 Her fixed； staring
eyes looked through me as if I had been glass。 I saw she had received a
severe shock； and so； after giving her some medicine； I took Alice aside
and asked her what had happened。 She said that Gwen and she had been
sitting sewing by the window all the afternoon； and talking about
Maitland's recent discoveries。 At about five o'clock the Evening Herald
was brought in as usual。 She； Alice； had picked it up to glance over the
news； when； in the column headed 〃Latest；〃 she had seen the heading：
〃The Darrow Mystery Solved！〃 This she had read aloud； without
thinking of the shock the unexpected announcement might give Gwen；
when the sudden pallor that had overspread the young woman's face had
brought her to her senses； and she had paused。 Her companion；
however； had seized the paper when she had hesitated and； in a fever of
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excitement； had read in a half…audible voice：
John Darrow was murdered。 … The assassin's inability to pay a
gambling debt the motive for the crime。 … Extraordinary work of a
French detective！ … The net …=20
But at this juncture the paper had dropped from Gwen's hands； and she
had fallen upon the floor before Alice could reach her。
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THE EPISODE OF THE
TELLTALE THUMB
CHAPTER I
When Disaster is bigger than its victim its bolt o'erlaps the
innocent。
It was some time after Gwen had fallen before Alice had succeeded in