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！
wind had sprung up； which； as it was still early in the season； was not
altogether agreeable to our host； sitting as he was； back to； though fully
eight feet from； an open window looking to the east。 Maitland； with his
usual quick observation； noticed his discomfort and asked if he should not
close the window。 The old gentleman did not seem to hear the question
until it was repeated； when； starting as if from a reverie； he said： 〃If it will
not be too warm for the rest of you； I would like to have it partly closed；
say to within six inches； for the wind is cold〃； and he seemed to relapse
again into his reverie。 Maitland was obliged to use considerable strength to
force the window down； as it stuck in the casing； and when it finally gave
way it closed with a loud shrieking sound ending in the bang of the
counterweights。 At the noise Darrow sprang to his feet； exclaiming：
〃Again！ The same sound！ I knew I could not mistake it！〃 but by this
time Gwen was at his side； pressing him gently back into his seat； as she
said to him in an undertone audible to all of us： 〃What is it； father？〃 The
old gentleman only pressed her closer by way of reply； while he said to us
apologetically： 〃You must excuse me； gentlemen。 I have a certain dream
which haunts me； … the dream of someone striking me out of the darkness。
Last night I had the same dream for the seventh time and awoke to hear
that window opened。 There is no mistaking the sound I heard just now； it
is identical with that I heard last night。 I sprang out of bed； took a light；
and rushed down here； for I am not afraid to meet anything I can see； but
11
… Page 12…
The Darrow Enigma
the window was closed and locked； as I had left it！ What do you think；
Doctor；〃 he said； turning to me； 〃are dreams ever prophetic？〃
〃I have never；〃 I replied； anxious to quiet him； 〃had any personal
experience justifying such a conclusion。〃 I did not tell him of certain
things which had happened to friends of mine； and so my reply reassured
him。
Maitland； who had been startled by the old gentleman's conduct； now
returned to the window and opened it about six inches。 There was no
other window open in the room； and yet so fresh was the air that we were
not uncomfortable。 Darrow； with ill…concealed pride； then asked his
daughter to sing； and she left him and went to the piano。 〃Shall I not
light the lamp？〃 I asked。 〃I think we shall not need it；〃 the old gentleman
replied； 〃music is always better in the gloaming。〃
In order that you may understand what follows； it will be necessary for
me to describe to you our several positions in the room。 The apartment is
large； nearly square； and occupies the southeast corner of the house。 The
eastern side of the room has one window； that which had been left open
about six inches； and on the southern side of the room there were two
windows； both of which were securely fastened and the blinds of which
had been closed by the painters who； that morning； had primed the eastern
and southern sides of the house； preparatory to giving it a thorough
repainting。 On the north side of the room； but much nearer to the western
than the eastern end； are folding doors。 These on this occasion were
closed and fastened。 On the western side of the room is the piano； and to
the left of it； near the southwest corner； is a door leading to the hallway。
This door was closed。 As I have already told you； Darrow sat in a high…
backed easy…chair facing the piano and almost in the centre of the room。
The partly opened window on the east side was directly behind him and
fully eight feet away。 Herne and Browne sat upon Darrow's right and a
little in front of him against the folding doors； while Maitland and I were
upon his left； between him and the hall door。 Gwen was at the piano。
There are no closets； draperies； or niches in the room。 I think you will now
be able to understand the situation fully。
Whether the gloom of the scene suggested it to her； or whether it was
12
… Page 13…
The Darrow Enigma
merely a coincidence； I do not know； but Miss Darrow began to sing 〃In
the Gloaming〃 in a deep； rich contralto voice which seemed fraught with a
weird； melancholy power。 When I say that her voice was ineffably
sympathetic I would not have you confound this quality either with the
sepulchral or the aspirated tone which usually is made to do duty for
sympathy； especially in contralto voices。 Every note was as distinct； as
brilliantly resonant； as a cello in a master's hand。 So clear； so full the
notes rang out that I could plainly feel the chair vibrate beneath me。
〃In the gloaming； 0 my darling！ When the lights are dim and
low； And the quiet shadows falling Softly come and softly go。
When the winds are sobbing faintly With a gentle unknown woe；
Will you think of me and love me As you did once； long ago？
〃In the gloaming； 0 my darling！ Think not bitterly of me；
Though I passed away in silence； Left you lonely； set you free。
For my heart was crushed with longing。 What had been could never
be： It was best to leave you thus； dear； Best for you and best〃
But the line was never finished。 With a wild cry； more of fear than
of pain； Darrow sprang from his chair。 〃Gentlemen； I have been
stabbed！〃 was all he said； and fell back heavily into his seat。 Gwen was
kneeling before him in an instant； even before I could assist him。 His
right hand was pressed to his throat and his eyes seemed starting from
their sockets as he shouted hoarsely： 〃A light； a light！ For God's sake；
don't let him strike me again in the dark！〃 Maitland was already lighting
the gas and Herne and Browne； so Browne afterward told me； were
preparing to seize the assailant。 I remembered； after it all was over； a
quick movement Browne had made toward the darkest corner of the room。
The apartment was now flooded with light； and I looked for the
assassin。 He was not to be found！ The room contained only Gwen；
Darrow； and his four invited guests！ The doors were closed； the windows
had not been touched。 No one could possibly have entered or left the
room； and yet the assassin was not there。 But one solution remained；
Darrow was labouring under a delusion； and Gwen's voice would restore
him。 As she was about to speak I stepped back to note the effect of her
words upon him。 〃Do not fear； father；〃 she said in a low voice as she laid
13
… Page 14…
The Darrow Enigma
her face against his cheek； 〃there is nothing here to hurt you。 You are ill；
… I will get you a glass of cordial and you will be yourself again in a
moment。〃 She was about to rise when her father seized her frantically by
the arm； exclaiming in a hoarse whisper： 〃Don't leave me！ Can't you
see？ Don't leave me！〃 and for the first time he removed his hand from
his throat； and taking her head between his palms； gazed wistfully into her
face。 He tried to speak again； but could not； and glanced up at us
with=20a helpless expression which I shall never forget。 Maitland； his
eyes riveted upon the old gentleman； whose thoughts he seemed to divine；
hurriedly produced a pencil and note…book and held them toward him； but
he did not see them； for he had drawn Gwen's face down to him and was
kissing her passionately。 The next instant he was on his feet and from the
swollen veins that stood out like cords upon his