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！
gives you； by his absolutely realistic goes with you； and interprets its
grandeur to you。 Stand before his canvas and enjoy it as you would Nature
herself if there。 Surely； you say； nothing more could be desired； and you
clap your hands； and shout； 'Bravo！' But wait a bit； the other side is yet
to be heard from。 What does the true artist do for you by his picture of
Yosemite Valley？ He not only gives you a free conveyance to it； but he
goes with you； and interprets its grandeur to you。 He translates into the
language of your consciousness beauties which； without him； you would
entirely miss。 It is this very capability of seeing more in Nature than is
ever perceived by the common throng that constitutes the especial genius
of the artist； and a work that is not aglow with its creator's personality …
personality； mind you； not coarse realism … can never rank as a masterpiece。
But； come； this won't do。 Why did you want to get me astride my
hobby？〃
I thought it advisable to answer this question by asking another； so I
said： 〃But how about Davenport？ Will you go？〃
〃Yes；〃 he replied。 〃Anything with a Cleopatra to it interests me。 I'll
go now and see about the tickets；〃 and he left me。
114
… Page 115…
The Darrow Enigma
I have related Maitland's aesthetic views as expressed to me upon this
occasion； not because they have any particular bearing upon the mystery I
am narrating； but because they cast a strong side…light upon the young
man's character； and also for the reason that I believe his personality to be
sufficiently strong and unique to be of general interest。
We went that same night to see Sardou's 〃Cleopatra。〃 I asked Maitland
how he liked the piece； and the only reply he vouchsafed was： 〃I have
recently read Shakespeare's treatment of the same theme。〃=20
CHAPTER II
If events spread themselves out fanwise from the past into the
future； then must the occurrences of the present exhibit convergence
toward some historical burning…point； … some focal centre whereat the
potential was warmed=20into the kinetic。
It was nearly a week after the events last narrated before I saw
Maitland again； and then only by chance。 We happened to meet in the
Parker House； and； as he had some business pertaining to a case he was on；
to transact at the Court House； I walked up Beacon Street with him。
There is a book or stationery store； on Somerset Street； just before you
turn down toward Pemberton Square。 As we were passing this store；
Maitland espied a large photographic reproduction of some picture。
〃Let us cross over and see what it is；〃 he said。 We did so。 It was a
photograph of L。 Alma…Tadema's painting of Antony and Cleopatra。
Maitland started a little as he read the title； and then said lightly： 〃Do you
suppose； Doc； that woman's mummy is in existence？ I should like to find
it。 I've an idea she left some hieroglyphic message for me on her
mummy…case； and doesn't propose to let me rest easy until I find and
translate it。 Now； if I believed in transmigration of souls … do you see any
mark of Antony about me？ Say； though； just imagine the spirit of Marcus
Antonius in a rubber apron； making an analysis of oleomargarine！ But
here we are； good…bye；〃 and he left me without awaiting any reply。 He
seemed to me to be in decidedly better spirits than formerly； and I was at
the time at a loss to account for it。 The cause of his levity； however； was
115
… Page 116…
The Darrow Enigma
soon explained； for that night； as Gwen； my sister； and I were sitting cosily
in the study according to our usual custom； Maitland walked in；
unannounced。 He had come now to be a regular visitor； and I invented
not a few subterfuges to get him to call even oftener than he otherwise
would； for I perceived that his coming gave pleasure to Gwen。 She
exhibited less depression when in his presence than at any other time。 I
had learned that hers was one of those deep natures in which grief
crystallises slowly； but with an unconquerable persistence。 Instead of her
forgetting her bereavement； or the sense thereof waxing weaker by time；
she seemed to be drifting toward that ever…present consciousness of loss in
which the soul feels itself gradually； but surely； sinking under an
insupportable burden … a burden so long borne； so well known； that the
mind no longer thinks of it。 The heart beats stolidly under its load； and
seems to forget the time when it was not so oppressed。 No one knows
better than we physicians the danger of this autocracy of grief； and I
watched Gwen with a solicitude at times almost bordering on despair。
But； as I said before； she always seemed to show more interest in affairs
when Maitland was present； and； on the night in question； his abrupt and
unexpected entrance surprised her into the betrayal of more pleasure than
she would have wished us to note； and； indeed； so quickly did she conceal
her confusion that I was the only one who noticed it。 Maitland was too
busy with the news he brought。
〃Well； Miss Darrow；〃 he began at once； 〃at last your detective has got
a clue … not much of a one … but still a clue。 I can pick the man for whom
we are looking from among a million of his fellows … if I am ever fortunate
enough to get the chance。〃
Somebody has already called attention to the fact that women are more
or less curious； and there are well…authenticated cases on record where this
inquisitiveness has even extended to things which did not immediately
concern themselves； so I have little doubt I shall be believed when I say
the women folk were in a fever of expectancy； and besought Maitland with
an earnestness quite unnecessary … （it would have required a great deal to
have prevented his telling it） … to begin at the beginning； and relate the
whole thing。 He readily acceded to this request； and began by telling
116
… Page 117…
The Darrow Enigma
them the experiences which I have just narrated。 It was； he said； during
the last act of Sardou's 〃Cleopatra〃 that the idea had suddenly come to him
to change the plan of search from the analytical to the synthetical。
〃You see；〃 he continued； 〃I had from the first been trying to find the
assassin without knowing the exact way in which the crime was
committed。 I now determined to ascertain how； under the same
circumstances； I could commit such a crime； and leave behind no other
evidences of the deed than those which are in our possession。 I began to
read detective stories； with all the avidity of a Western Union Telegraph
messenger； and； of course； read those by Conan Doyle。 The assertion of
'Sherlock Holmes' that there is no novelty in crime； that crimes； like
history； repeat themselves； and that criminals read and copy each other's
methods； deeply impressed me； and I at once said to myself： 'If our
assassin was not original； whom did he copy？'
〃It was while reading 'The Sign of the Four；' which I had procured at
the Public Library； that I made the first discovery。 The crime therein
narrated had been committed in such a singular manner that it at once
attracted my attention。 The victim had apparently been murdered
without anyone having either entered or left the room。 In this respect it
was like the problem we are trying to solve。 Might not this book； I said
to myself； have suggested to your father's assassin the course he pursued。
I concluded to go to the library and ask for a list of the n