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The look of amazement which had at first overspread Gwen's face at
the mention of this precipitate departure gave place to one of modest
concern； as she said softly to Maitland： 〃Is it necessary that you should
encounter the dangers of such a journey； to say nothing； of the time and
inconvenience it will cost？〃 He looked down at her quickly； and then
said reassuringly： 〃Do you know one is； by actual statistics； safer in an
English railway carriage than when walking the crowded streets of
London？ I am daily subjecting myself to laboratory dangers which； I
believe； are graver than any I am likely to meet between here and Bombay；
or； for that matter； even at Bombay in the presence of our recent
acquaintance Ragobah。〃
〃I deeply appreciate；〃 she replied； 〃the generous sacrifice you would
make in my interests … hut Bombay is such a long way … and 〃
〃If suspicion directed me to the North Pole；〃 he interrupted； 〃I should
start with equal alacrity；〃 and he held out his hand to her to bid her
farewell。 She took it in a way that bespoke a world of gratitude； if
nothing more。 He retained the small hand； while he said： 〃Have you
forgotten； my friend； your promise to your father？ Do you not see in what
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terrible relations it may place you？ How important； then； that no effort
should be spared to prevent you from becoming indebted to one unmanly
enough to take advantage of your position。 I shall use every means
within my power to myself discover your father's murderer； and you may
comfort yourself with the assurance that； if successful； I shall make no
demand of any kind whatsoever upon your gratitude。 I think you
understand me。〃
As he said this Gwen looked him full in the face。 A little nervous
tremor seized the corners of her mouth； and the tears sprang to her eyes。
〃Good…bye〃 was all she could say before she was compelled to turn aside
to conceal her emotion。
Maitland； observing her agitation； said to her tenderly： 〃Your gratitude
for the little that I have already done is reward； more than ample； for all I
shall ever be able to do。 Good…bye；〃 and he left the room。
Oh； man with your microscope！ How is it that you find the smallest
speck of dust； yet miss the mountain？ Does the time seem too short？ It
would not if you realised that events； not clocks； were the real measure
thereof。
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THE EPISODE OF RAMA
RAGOBAH
CHAPTER I
Life is but a poor accountant when it leaves the Future to
balance its entries long years after the parties to the transactions are
but a handful of insolvent dust。 When； in such wise； the chiefest
item of one side of the sheet fails to explain itself to the other； the
tragic is attained。
On the day following Maitland's departure On for New York； Mr。
Darrow was buried。 The Osborne theory seemed to be universally
accepted； and many women who had never seen Mr。 Darrow during his
life attended his funeral； curious to see what sort of a person this suicide
might be。 Gwen bore the ordeal with a fortitude which spoke volumes
for her strength of character； and I took good care； when it was all over；
that she should not be left alone。 In compliance with Maitland's request；
whose will； since her promise to him； was law to her； she prepared to close
the house and take up her abode with us。
It was on the night of the funeral； just after the lamps were lighted； that
an event occurred which made a deep impression upon Gwen； though
neither she nor I fully appreciated its significance till weeks afterward。
Gwen； who was to close the house on the morrow； was going from
room to room collecting such little things as she wished to take with her。
The servants had been dismissed and she was entirely alone in the house。
She had gathered the things she had collected in a little heap upon the
sitting…room table； preparatory to doing them up。 She could think of but
one thing more which she must take … a cabinet photograph of her father。
This was upon the top of the piano in the room where he had met his death。
She knew its exact location and could have put her hand right upon it had
it been perfectly dark； which it was not。 She arose； therefore； and；
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without taking a light with her； went into the parlour。 A faint afterglow
illumined the windows and suffused the room with an uncertain； dim；
ghostly light which lent to all its objects that vague flatness from which
the imagination carves what shapes。 it lists。 As Gwen reached for the
picture； a sudden conviction possessed her that her father stood just behind
her in the exact spot where he had met his death； … that if she turned she
would see him again with his hand clutching his throat and his eyes
starting from their sockets with that never…to…be…forgotten look of frenzied
helplessness。
It would be difficult to find a woman upon whom superstition has so
slight a hold as it has upon Gwen Darrow； yet； for all that； it required an
effort for her to turn and gaze toward the centre of the room。 A dim； ill…
defined stain of light fell momentarily upon the chair in which the dead
man had sat； and then flickered unsteadily across the room and； as it
seemed to her； out through its western side； the while a faint； rustling
sound caught her ear。 She was plainly conscious； too； of a something
swishing by her； as if a strong draught had just fallen upon her。 She was
not naturally superstitious； as I have said before； yet there was something
in the gloom； the deserted house； and this fatal room with its untold story
of death which； added