°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dissatisfied¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡Lona£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡course¡¡
unworthy¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡more¡¡of¡¡her¡¡I¡¡noted¡¡still¡¡greater¡¡changes¡¡in¡¡her¡¡
character¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡known¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡childhood£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡
uniform¡¡in¡¡her¡¡temper¡¡and¡¡her¡¡conduct£»¡¡now¡¡all¡¡this¡¡was¡¡changed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡¡
day£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡like¡¡her¡¡old¡¡self£»¡¡¡=20¡¡only¡¡weaker¡¡and¡¡more¡¡
fragile£»¡¡¡¡¡to¡morrow¡¡a¡¡new¡¡being¡¡entirely£»¡¡stronger¡¡and¡¡more¡¡restless£»¡¡with¡¡
a¡¡demoniac¡¡light¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡feverish¡¡malignancy¡¡dominating¡¡
her¡¡whole¡¡personality¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡noticed¡¡this¡¡I¡¡studied¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡
Lona¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡known¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡merely¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡ideal¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡actual¡¡¡¡¡¡prototype¡¡
existed£»¡¡I¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡be¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡cherish¡¡that¡¡ideal¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡to¡¡have¡¡it¡¡
cruelly¡¡shattered¡¡to¡¡make¡¡room¡¡for¡¡the¡¡real¡¡Lona¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡her¡¡for¡¡
many¡¡weeks¡¡when¡¡one¡¡day£»¡¡to¡¡my¡¡surprise£»¡¡I¡¡received¡¡a¡¡note¡¡from¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡
was¡¡short£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡impressed¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can¡¡remember¡¡every¡¡word¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡DEAR¡¡COUSIN£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡send¡¡this¡¡note¡¡to¡¡you¡¡by¡¡Kandia¡¡that¡¡you¡¡may¡¡get¡¡it¡¡before¡¡it¡¡is¡¡too¡¡
late¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡do¡¡what¡¡I¡¡wish¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡caged¡¡bird¡¡in¡¡my¡¡husband's¡¡house¡£¡¡
My¡¡every¡¡movement¡¡is¡¡watched£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡would¡¡not¡¡let¡¡you¡¡come¡¡to¡¡me¡¡
were¡¡my¡¡husband¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡so£»¡¡I¡¡beseech¡¡you£»¡¡come¡¡at¡¡once¡¡lest¡¡he¡¡should¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡79¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡80¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Darrow¡¡Enigma¡¡
return¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡intrust¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡¡¡request¡£¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡
dying£»¡¡Moro£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡within¡¡your¡¡power¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡say¡¡¡¡whether¡¡my¡¡¡¡spirit¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡
rest¡¡in¡¡peace£»¡¡or¡¡be¡¡torn¡¡forever¡¡and¡¡ever¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fangs¡¡of¡¡a¡¡horrible¡¡regret¡£¡¡
My¡¡secret¡¡is¡¡as¡¡lead¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡soul¡¡and¡¡to¡¡you¡¡only¡¡can¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Come¡¡¡¡¡
come¡¡at¡¡once£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨LONA¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡can¡¡imagine¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡this¡¡revelation¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡better¡¡than¡¡I¡¡can¡¡
describe¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡seriously¡¡¡¡¡¡ill£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
urgent¡¡request¡¡for¡¡an¡¡interview¡¡came¡¡the¡¡sad¡¡tidings¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡dying£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡confirmation¡¡of¡¡my¡¡fear¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡adopted¡¡the¡¡religion¡¡of¡¡her¡¡
English¡¡¡¡¡¡lover¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡lost¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡state¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
feverish¡¡expectation£»¡¡fearful¡¡lest¡¡I¡¡should¡¡either¡¡not¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡come¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡
or¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡husband¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡return¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡arrival¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡worn¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
shadow¡¡of¡¡her¡¡former¡¡self£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡realised¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pang¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡
dying¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡knew¡¡I¡¡could¡¡depend¡¡upon¡¡you£»¡¡Moro£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡as¡¡I¡¡entered£»¡¡¡¨even¡¡
though¡¡you¡¡think¡¡I¡¡have¡¡lost¡¡all¡¡claim¡¡upon¡¡your¡¡regard¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡myself£»¡¡
'He¡¡will¡¡come¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡respect¡¡he¡¡once¡¡had¡¡for¡¡me£»'¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡right¡£¡¡
Yes£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡continued£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡noticing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡astonishment¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡change¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡her¡¡
condition£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡almost¡¡gone¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡not¡¡have¡¡lasted¡¡so¡¡long£»¡¡were¡¡it¡¡
not¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡die¡¡till¡¡I¡¡had¡¡spoken¡£¡¡Now¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡free¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡
horrible¡¡¡¡¡¡struggle¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡£¡¡You¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡English£»¡¡
Moro£»¡¡¡¡¡¡both¡¡¡¡¡¡here¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡England£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡meet¡¡
again¡¡in¡¡heaven¡¡those¡¡they¡¡have¡¡loved¡¡on¡¡earth¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡sank¡¡back¡¡exhausted¡¡from¡¡excitement¡¡and¡¡effort£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡said¡¡this£»¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡feared¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡unable¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡proceed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
what¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Christian's¡¡¡¡¡¡hope¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡heaven£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡suggested¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
that£»¡¡as¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡might¡¡return¡¡at¡¡any¡¡moment£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡best¡¡confide¡¡to¡¡
me¡¡at¡¡once¡¡any¡¡trust¡¡with¡¡which¡¡she¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡charge¡¡me¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡
she¡¡made¡¡no¡¡reply£»¡¡but¡¡said¡¡at¡¡length£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡very¡¡long¡¡story£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡I¡¡had¡¡
better¡¡begin¡¡at¡¡the¡¡beginning¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡remember¡¡well¡¡my¡¡being¡¡rescued¡¡by¡¡
an¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡English¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gentleman£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡John¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Darrow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡afterward¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡
acquainted£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡fact¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡married¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡union¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡parents¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡80¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡81¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Darrow¡¡Enigma¡¡
strongly¡¡objected¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡promised¡¡me¡¡to¡¡Rama¡¡Ragobah£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡
horrified¡¡at¡¡my¡¡seeking¡¡to¡¡outrage¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡of¡¡caste¡¡by¡¡bestowing¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡
not¡¡only¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡my¡¡station¡¡but¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡foreigner¡¡and¡¡Christian¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡
This¡¡had¡¡only¡¡¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡causing¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡Sahib¡¡secretly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡
chose¡¡for¡¡our¡¡meeting¡place¡¡the¡¡great¡¡banyan¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡Malabar¡¡Hill£»¡¡
where¡¡I¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡happiest¡¡moments¡¡I¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡known¡£¡¡Everything¡¡went¡¡
well¡¡until¡¡the¡¡night¡¡on¡¡which¡¡we¡¡had¡¡planned¡¡to¡¡run¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡were¡¡to¡¡
meet¡¡at¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡place¡¡and¡¡hour£»¡¡take¡¡the¡¡night¡¡train¡¡for¡¡Matheron¡¡Station£»¡¡
and¡¡there¡¡be¡¡married¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡¡¡heart¡¡¡¡¡¡bounded¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡joy¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡climbed¡¡¡¡¡¡Malabar¡¡¡¡Hill¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡fatal¡¡
evening£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡delight¡¡was¡¡of¡¡short¡¡duration¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡my¡¡fear¡¡lest¡¡I¡¡should¡¡
keep¡¡my¡¡lover¡¡waiting¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡arrived¡¡fully¡¡fifteen¡¡minutes¡¡before¡¡the¡¡
appointed¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡standing¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡banyan¡¡¡¡¡¡tree£»¡¡
awaiting¡¡the¡¡first¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡his¡¡approach£»¡¡when¡¡my¡¡attention¡¡was¡¡attracted¡¡
by¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡balls¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡fire¡¡¡¡¡¡shining¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡clump¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
bushes¡¡almost¡¡directly¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡with¡¡a¡¡lurid¡¡
and¡¡wicked¡¡glare£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡gaze¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡entangled¡¡by¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡tremor¡¡
ran¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡frame¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡cold¡¡¡¡¡¡sweat¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bathed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡entire¡¡¡¡¡¡body¡£¡¡
Overcome¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡unspeakable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dread¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡frantic¡¡¡¡¡¡effort¡¡¡¡to¡¡
withdraw¡¡my¡¡eyes£»¡¡but¡¡could¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡gradually£»¡¡by¡¡slow¡¡degrees£»¡¡my¡¡
terror¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡succeeded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡over¡whelming¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fascination¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡myself¡¡
drawn¡¡irresistibly¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡thicket¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡came¡¡a¡¡vague¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡falling£»¡¡
falling£»¡¡falling£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡no¡¡more£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡for¡¡some¡¡little¡¡time¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡next¡¡thing¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡is¡¡seeing¡¡my¡¡lover¡¡stretch¡¡out¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡to¡¡
me£»¡¡while¡¡I¡¡was¡¡inspired¡¡with¡¡an¡¡unaccountable¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡him¡¡so¡¡bitter¡¡that¡¡
it¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡mute¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡transfixed¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡sought¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡embrace¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
threw¡¡a¡¡young¡¡cobra£»¡¡which£»¡¡coiled¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wicker¡¡basket£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡
my¡¡hand£»¡¡¡¡full¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡think£»¡¡also£»¡¡¡¡that¡¡I¡¡struck¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡ran¡¡
down¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡hill¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡straight¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Ragobah¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡¡¡¡¡happened¡¡
during¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡next¡¡¡¡¡¡few¡¡¡¡¡¡months¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
continual¡¡sleep¡¡full¡¡of¡¡dreams¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡awoke¡¡I¡¡seemed¡¡conscious¡¡that¡¡I¡¡
had¡¡dreamt£»¡¡but¡¡could¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡of¡¡what¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡can¡¡imagine¡¡my¡¡horror£»¡¡my¡¡
despair£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡addressed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡Ragobah's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡wife¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡denied¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
relation£»¡¡but¡¡everyone¡¡told¡¡me¡¡the¡¡same¡¡story¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡Ragobah¡¡Sahibah¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡81¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡82¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Darrow¡¡Enigma¡¡
This¡¡shock£»¡¡coming¡¡as¡¡it¡¡did¡¡with¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡my¡¡conduct¡¡that¡¡terrible¡¡
night¡¡on¡¡Malabar¡¡Hill£»¡¡nearly¡¡killed¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡another¡¡long¡¡
period¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dream¡¡¡¡¡¡existence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡began¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sufferer¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡
some¡¡terrible¡¡brain¡¡disease£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡doubt¡¡which¡¡was¡¡my¡¡real¡¡existence£»¡¡the¡¡
dreams¡¡or¡¡the¡¡waking¡¡moments¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨One¡¡day¡¡when£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡in¡¡several¡¡weeks£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡possession¡¡
of¡¡my¡¡normal¡¡faculties£»¡¡Ragobah¡¡came¡¡into¡¡my¡¡room¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡beside¡¡
me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡arose¡¡instantly¡¡and¡¡fled¡¡to¡¡the¡¡farther¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡apartment¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡
pursued¡¡me¡¡and¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡conquer¡¡my¡¡all¡¡too¡¡apparent¡¡aversion¡¡for¡¡him¡¡by¡¡
terms¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡endearment£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡pressed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡suit¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
loathing¡¡grew¡¡until£»¡¡maddened¡¡by¡¡references¡¡made¡¡to¡¡Darrow¡¡Sahib£»¡¡I¡¡lost¡¡
all¡¡¡¡¡¡self¡control¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡permitted¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡learn¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡detestation¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡
heard¡¡me¡¡through¡¡in¡¡silence£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡growing¡¡darker¡¡with¡¡every¡¡word£»¡¡and¡¡
when¡¡I¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡said¡¡with¡¡slow¡¡and¡¡studied¡¡malice£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨'You¡¡forget¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can¡¡follow¡¡my¡¡entreaty¡¡by¡¡
command¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡spurn¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡weaned¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡
English¡¡cur¡¡whose¡¡life£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡is¡¡in¡¡my¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Fool£»¡¡can¡¡you¡¡not¡¡
see¡¡how¡¡powerless¡¡you¡¡are£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡but¡¡to¡¡will¡¡you¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡him¡¡and¡¡your¡¡
first¡¡¡¡¡¡cursed¡¡¡¡¡¡failure¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡Malabar¡¡¡¡¡¡Hill¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡washed¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡infidel¡¡
blood¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡yield¡¡¡¡¡¡peaceably¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡thread¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡
existence¡¡passes¡¡through¡¡my¡¡hands£»¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡or¡¡tangle¡¡it¡¡as¡¡I¡¡list¡¡¡¡¡yield¡¡you¡¡
must£¡'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡strode¡¡¡¡¡¡frantically¡¡¡¡fr