第 19 节
作者:上网找工作      更新:2022-04-12 11:59      字数:9322
  plain his hunt like dog for last twenty year。  Such persevere mean
  strong motive; and as I have good reason to remember how quick he
  forget a kindness; I know he not moved by friendship; Sahib。
  Q 。His motive then is …=20
  A。 Revenge。
  Q。 Have you any idea why he cherishes this malice?
  A。 I think it because some old love affair; some rival in his wife's
  love。
  Q。 Indeed!  Then he has been married?
  A。 Yes; Sahib。
  Q。 Where shall I find his wife?
  A。 All that is left of her is in the bottomless well in the cave on
  Malabar Hill。
  Q。 Did Ragobah kill her?
  A。 No; that is; not with his own hand。
  Q。 How long ago did she die?
  A。 More than twenty year; Sahib。
  Q。 Are any of her relatives living?
  A。 Her husband; Sahib; and a cousin; that is all。
  Q。 Is there anyone else who could tell me of this woman?
  A。 Moro Scindia could; but he not do it。
  Q。 Why?  Is he Ragobah's friend?
  A。 Ragobah has no friends; Sahib。
  Q。 Why; then?
  A。 He under oath to tell what was told him only to one person。  He
  has keep his secret out of every year for more as twenty year; and
  can no be expect to tell to you; Sahib。
  Q。 Can you bring this man to me?  You will both be well paid for your
  time; of course。
  A。 I bring him; Sahib; but I not make him speak。
  Q。 Let me see you both; then; to…night at eight; at Herr Blaschek's
  villa on Malabar Hill。  Ask for Mr。 Maitland。
  A。 We be there。  Anything more; Sahib?
  Q。 Yes。  When is Ragobah expected to return?
  A。 He write that he think he return on the Dalmatia。  She due next
  day after to…morrow。
  Q。 Has Ragobah any physical peculiarities?
  A。 His hands and feet they very small for man so big and strong。
  Q。 Anything else?
  A。 His left leg been hurt。  The foot very bad shape; and the whole
  leg some bad; and; … what you call … halt when he walk。
  Q。 Has he the habit of biting his finger nails?
  A。 I not know he has; Sahib。
  This completed the list of questions which I had desired to ask him;
  so; after once more receiving his assurance that he would meet me in
  the evening with his friend Scindia; I left him。   As you know; I am
  not wont to draw conclusions until all the evidence is in; but I must
  confess that; looking at the whole matter from start to finish; there
  seems to have fallen upon Ragobah a net of circumstantial evidence
  so strong; and with a mesh of detail so minute; that it does not seem
  possible a mosquito could escape from it。  Look at it a moment from
  this standpoint。 Ragobah alone; so far as we know; has a motive for
  the murder。  His victim has related the feud existing between them
  and foretold; with an air of the utmost assurance; just such an
  outcome thereof。  Add to this that this man leaves India on a mission
  which those about him do not hesitate to pronounce one of vengeance;
  at just such a time as would enable him to reach Boston just a little
  before the commission of the murder; that this mission is the
  culmination of twenty years of unremitting search for revenge; that
  this malignity is supposed to be directed against some rival in his
  wife's affections; and the chain of circumstantial evidence
  possesses; so far as it extends; no weak link。  Then; too; Ragobah
  has very small hands; a deformed left foot; and a limping gait; …=20
  everything almost which we had already predicted of the assassin。
  So sure am I that Ragobah is the guilty man that I shall ask for his
  arrest upon his arrival day after to…morrow should he return then;
  a thing which; I regret to say; does not impress me as altogether
  likely。  Should he not come I shall cable you to institute a search
  for your end of the line。  The next thing in order which I have to
  relate is my interview with Moro Scindia。  I had engaged an
  interpreter; but was able to dismiss him as my guest spoke English
  with more ease and fluency than he; being an intelligent and
  well…to…do member of the Vaisya caste。  I thought it wise to see the
  venerable Scindia alone; and accordingly sent Parinama out of the
  room with the interpreter。  As before; I give you what passed between
  us as I jotted it down in my notebook。
  Q。 You are a friend of Rama Ragobah; are you not?
  A。 No; Sahib; he has no friends。
  Q。 You speak as if you disliked him。
  A。 It is not Mono Scindia's habit to play the hypocrite。  I have good
  reason to hate him。
  Q。 You would not; then; had he committed a crime; assist him to escape
  justice?
  A。 I would track him like a bloodhound to the ends of the earth。
  Q。 You knew Ragobah's wife?
  A。 She was my cousin; Sahib。
  Q。 Were your relations friendly?
  A。 They were more than friendly。  I loved her dearly; and would have
  tried to win her had I not been so much her senior。
  Q。 Did she live happily with Ragobah?
  A。 No; Sahib。
  Q。 Why?
  A。 I cannot answer。  I have sworn to reveal the last experiences of
  my cousin to but one person。
  Q。 And that person is。?
  A。 I must decline to answer that also; Sahib。
  Q。 If I succeed in naming him will you acknowledge it?
  A。 You will not succeed; Sahib。
  Q。 But if I should?
  A。 I will acknowledge it。
  Q。 The person is John Hinton Darrow。
  The old man started as if he had been stabbed; and looked at me in
  amazement。  He seemed at first to think I had read his thoughts and
  riveted his dark eyes upon me as if; by way of return; he would read
  my very soul。  I think he did so; for his scrutiny seemed to satisfy
  him。   He replied; somewhat reassured: 〃I can speak only to John
  Hinton Darrow。〃
  〃John Darrow is dead;〃 I said。
  〃Dead!〃 he exclaimed; springing to his feet; 〃Darrow Sahib dead!〃 and
  he fell back into his chair; covering his face with his hands。  〃Ah;
  my poor Lona!〃 he muttered feebly; 〃I have failed to keep my promise。
  Do not reproach me; for I have done my best。  For twenty years have I
  searched in vain for this man that I might fulfil your last request;
  and the very first information I receive is the news of his death。  I
  have been no less vigilant than Ragobah; yet I have failed; even as
  he has failed。〃
  I took this opportunity to again question him。
  Q。 Are you sure Ragobah failed?
  A。 Yes; had he found Darrow Sahib he would have killed him。   His
  mission was one of revenge; mine one of love and justice; both have
  failed utterly since their object is dead。  My pledge is broken!
  Q。 In its letter; yes; but the chance is still left you to keep the
  spirit of your covenant。
  A。 I do not understand you; Sahib。
  Q。 I will explain。  Lona Ragobah confided to you certain facts in
  explanation of her conduct toward John Darrow。  She loved him
  passionately; and it was her desire to stand acquitted in his sight。
  Were she alive now; any wish he had expressed during his life
  would be fulfilled by her as a sacred and pleasurable duty。  This;
  then; as one who lovingly performs her will; should be your attitude
  also。  John Darrow was the only man she ever loved; and; were she
  living; every drop of her loyal blood would rise against anyone who
  had done him injury。  Do I not speak the truth?
  A。 Yes; she was loyal unto death and so shall I be。  My hand has ever
  been against all who have done her harm; Ragobah knows that full well。
  Q。 Were she alive; you certainly would aid her in bringing to justice
  one who has done her the most cruel of wrongs and; at the same time;
  fulfilling the dying request of the man who to her was more than
  life。
  A。 I should do her bidding; Sahib。
  Q。 How much more need; then; now that the poor woman is dead; that
  you should act for her as she would; were she here。
  A。 You have not told me all; speak your mind freely; Sahib。  You may
  depend upon my doing whatever I believe Lona would do were she here。
  Q。 I ask nothing more; and am now prepared to fully confide in you。
  As you doubtless know; Rama Ragobah left Bombay for New York about
  eleven weeks ago。  He went; I have been told; on an errand of revenge。
  Six weeks ago John Darrow was murdered。  He left behind him a written
  statement describing his wooing of Lona Scindia and his experiences
  with Rama Ragobah。  He asserted; furthermore; his belief that he
  would die by Ragobah's hand; … the hand which twice before had
  attempted his life。  Even as he loved your cousin; so he hated her
  husband; and; confident that he would ultimately be killed by him;
  he was haunted by the fear that he would escape the just penalty for
  his crime。  He bound his heir by the most solemn of promises to use;
  in the event of his murder; every possible means to bring the
  assassin to justice。  There can; of course; be little doubt that the
  assassin and Rama Ragobah are one and the same person。  The last
  request John Darrow ever made … it was after he had been attacked
  by the assassin … had for its object the punishment of his murderer。
  Were your cousin living; do you think she would be deaf to that
  entreaty?
  A。 No。  She would make its fulfilment the one object of her life; and;
  acting in her stead; I shall do all in my power to see justice done。
  If I can render you any aid in that direction you may command me;
  Sahib。
  Q。 You can assist me by telling me all you know of your cousin's
  married life; and; more especially; the message she confided to you。
  A。 I