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！
but that gentleman only shut his square jaws the more firmly together and
held his peace； … at least in so far as words were concerned。 If looks； like
actions； 〃speak louder than words；〃 this black visage with its two points of
fire made eloquent discourse。 I charged all this display of malice to
jealousy。 It is not altogether pleasant to be placed at a disadvantage
before the one being whose good opinion one prizes above all things else；
… that is to say； I have read that such is the case。 I do not consider my
own views upon such matters expert testimony。 In all affairs of the heart
my opinions cease to have weight at exactly the point where that organ
ceases to be a pump。
Even Gwen； I think； noticed Browne's determined silence； for she said
to Maitland：
〃I am very grateful that your forethought prevented me from causing
Mr。 Browne even temporary annoyance by making him my messenger。〃
She paused a moment and then continued：
〃You were speaking of the officers' theories。 When they have
convinced themselves that no one of us has removed the weapon； what
then？〃
〃In my opinion；〃 said Maitland； 〃they will ultimately fall back upon
the suicide theory； but they must find the weapon here before they can
26
… Page 27…
The Darrow Enigma
substantiate it； for if it be not here someone must have taken it away and
that someone could have only been the one who used it … the assassin； in
short … but here are the officers。 Let each one of us insist upon being
searched。 They can send to the station for a woman to search you；〃 he
said in an undertone to Gwen and then added： 〃I trust you will pardon my
suggesting a course which； in your case； seems so utterly unnecessary； but；
believe me； there are urgent reasons for it which I can explain later。 If
we would hope to solve this mystery； everything depends upon absolute
thoroughness at this juncture。〃
〃I should evince but poor appreciation；〃 Gwen replied； 〃of the ability
you have already shown should I fail to follow your slightest suggestion。
It is all I can offer you by way of thanks for the kind interest you have
taken。〃
The return of Officer Barker； accompanied by three other men； now
changed the tide of conversation。 Maitland advanced and shook hands
with one whom he introduced as Mr。 Osborne； and this gentleman in turn
introduced his brother officer； a Mr。 Allen； and ； a special detective。
Osborne impressed me as a man of only mediocre ability； thoroughly
imbued with the idea that he is exceptionally clever。 He spoke loudly
and； I thought； a bit ostentatiously； yet withal in a manner so frank and
hearty that I could not help liking the fellow。
； on the contrary； seemed retiring almost to the point of self…abnegation。
He said but little； apparently preferring to keep in the background； where
he could record his own observations in his note…book without too
frequent interruption。 His manner was polished in the extreme； and so
frank withal that he seemed to me like a man of glass through whom every
thought shone unhindered。 I wondered how one who seemed powerless to
conceal his own emotions should possess a detective's ability to thread his
way through the dark and hidden duplicity of crime。 When he spoke it
was in a low； velvety； and soothing voice； that fell upon the ear with an
irresistible charm。 When Osborne would make some thoughtless remark
fraught with bitterness for Gwen； such an expression of pain would flit
across 's fine face as one occasionally sees in those highly organised and
sympathetic natures； … usually found among women if a doctor's
27
… Page 28…
The Darrow Enigma
experience may be trusted； … which catch the throb of another's hurt； even
as adjacent strings strive to sing each other's songs。
seemed to me more priest than detective。 His clean…shaven face； its
beautifully chiselled features suffused with that peculiar pallor which
borrows the transparency of marble； the large； limpid brown eyes and the
delicate； kindly mouth … all these； combined with a faultless manner and a
carriage suggestive of power in reserve； so fascinated me that I found
myself watching him continually。 I remember saying to myself： 〃What a
rival he would make in a woman's affections！〃
At just that time he was looking at Gwen with tender； solicitous
sympathy written in every feature； and that doubtless suggested my
thought。
Mr。 Allen was even more ordinary than Mr。 Osborne in manner and
appearance。 I do not presume to judge his real merits； for I did not notice
him sufficiently to properly portray him to you； even if I had the gift of
description； which I think you will admit I have not。 He lives in my
memory only as a something tall； spare； coarse of texture； red； hairy； and
redolent of poor tobacco。
How different men are！ （Of course women are all alike！） While
Osborne； like a good…natured bumble…bee； was buzzing noisily about； as
though all the world were his clover…blossom； and Allen； so far as I know；
was doing nothing； ； alert and keen despite his gentleness and a modesty
which kept him for the most part unobtrusively in the shadow of his
chosen corner； was writing rapidly in a note…book and speaking no word。
It seemed as if nothing escaped him。 Clearly he was there to enlighten
himself rather than others。 At length； pausing to make a measurement； he
noticed my gaze and said to me in an undertone； as he glanced solicitously
at Gwen lest she should hear：
〃Pardon me； but did any of you observe anything； at or about the time
of Mr。 Darrow's death； which impressed you as singular； … any noise； any
shadow； any draught or change of temperature； say a rushing or I might
say swishing sound； … anything； in fact； that would seem to you as at all
unusual？〃
〃Nothing whatever；〃 I replied。 〃Everything seemed perfectly normal
28
… Page 29…
The Darrow Enigma
and common