everything else。〃
〃That is quite possible；〃 I replied。 〃I have known people to be
monomaniacs upon the subject of water； and to go nowhere without a
glass of it in their hands。 There is also a well…authenticated case
of a man who was as sane as you or I until he heard the words 'real
estate。' One day while quietly carving the meat at a dinner to
which he had invited several guests； a gentleman opposite him
inadvertently spoke the fatal words； when； without a word of warning；
he sprang at him across the table； using the carving…knife with all
the fury of the most violent maniac； and yet； under all other
conditions； he was perfectly rational。〃
〃If； on the other hand；〃 said Maitland； continuing his remarks as if
unaware of our interruption； 〃Mr。 Darrow's suspicions had any
foundation in fact； it is almost certain they must have been directed
against some specific person or persons。 If so； why did he not name
them ？ … but； stay … how do we know that he did not？ Let us proceed
with our examination of the papers；〃 and he began perusing the
insurance policies。 Neither Gwen nor I spoke till he had finished
and thrown them down； when we both turned expectantly toward him。
〃All in Osborne's favour so far；〃 he said。 〃Principal to be held in
trust by Miss Darrow under the terms of a will which we have yet to
find； the income； until the discharge of the trust； to go to Miss
Darrow。 Now for this；〃 and he passed Gwen the sealed envelope
addressed to her。
She broke the seal with much agitation。 〃Shall I read it aloud？〃
she asked。
We signified our desire to hear it； and she read as follows：
MY DEAR GWEN：
My forebodings have seemed to you strange and uncalled for； but when
this comes to your hand you will know whether or not they were
groundless。 Of one episode in my career which shook the structure
of my being to its foundation stone； you have been carefully kept
in ignorance。 It is necessary that you should know it when I am
gone； and I have accordingly committed it to this paper； which will
then fall into your hands。 My early life； until two years after I
married your mother； was spent in India； the adult portion thereof
being devoted to the service of the East India Company。 I had charge
of a department in their depot at Bombay。 You have seen Naples。
Add to the beauties of that city the interesting and motley
population of Cairo and you can form some idea of the attractions of
Bombay。 I was very happy there until the occurrence of the event I
am about to narrate。
One morning； my duties calling me to one of the wharves； my attention
was attracted by a young girl dancing upon the flags by the water's
edge。 The ordinary bayadere is so common an object in India as to
attract but little notice from anyone of refined tastes； but this
girl； judging from the chaste beauty of her movements； was of a very
different type。 As my curiosity drew me nearer to her she turned her
face toward me； and in that instant I knew my hour had come。
Though many years her senior she was still my first love； … the one
great passion of my life。
I do not attempt to describe her ineffable loveliness； for； like the
beauty of a flower； it was incapable of analysis。 Nothing that I
could write would give you any adequate idea of this girl's seraphic
face； for she was like unto no one you have ever seen in this cold
Western world。 I watched in a wild； nervous transport； I know not
how long … time and space had no part in this new ecstasy of mine！
I could think of nothing； do nothing … only feel； … feel the hot
blood deluge my brain only to fall back in scalding torrents upon
my heart with a pain that was exquisite pleasure。
Suddenly she changed her step and executed a quick backward movement
toward the water； stopping just as her heels touched the curb at the
edge of the wharf； then forward； and again a quick return to the
backward movement； but this time she mistook the distance； her heels
struck the curb forcibly； and she was precipitated backward into the
water。 For a moment I stood as one petrified； unable to reason；
much less to act； then the excited voices of the crowd recalled me。
They had thrown a rope into the water and were waiting for her to
come to the surface and grasp it。 The wall from which she had fallen
must have been at least fifteen feet above the water； which was
littered with broken spars； pieces of timber； and other odd bits of
wood。 It seemed as if she would never come to the surface； and when
at length she did； she did not attempt to seize the rope thrown to
her； but sank without a movement。 The truth flashed upon me in an
instant。 She had struck her head against some of the floating drift
and was unconscious！ Something must be done at once。 I seized the
rope and sprang in after her； taking good care to avoid obstructions；
and although； as you know； I never learned to swim； I succeeded in
reaching her； and we were drawn up together。 I bore her in my arms
into one of the storerooms close by； and； laying her upon a bale of
cotton； used such restoratives as could be quickly procured。
I was kneeling by her； my arm under her neck； in the act of raising
her head； when she opened her eyes； and fastened them； full of
wonderment； upon my face。 A moment more； her memory returning to her；
she made a little movement； as if to free herself。 I was too excited
then to heed it； and continued to support her head。 She did not
repeat the movement； but half closed her eyes and leaned back
resignedly against my arm。 If； I thought； these few minutes could
be expanded into an eternity； it would be my idea of heaven。 She
was recovering rapidly now and soon raised herself into a sitting
posture； saying； in very good English； 〃I think I can stand now；
Sahib。〃 I gave her my arm and assisted her to her feet。 Her
hand closed upon my sleeve as if to see how wet it was； and glancing
at my dripping garments； she said simply： 〃You have been in the
water； Sahib； and it is to you I owe my life。 I shall never forget
your kindness。 She raised her eyes to my face and met my gaze for
a moment； as she spoke。 We are told that the eye is incapable of
any expression save that lent it by the lids and brow； … that the
eyeball itself； apart from its direction； and the changes of the
pupil resulting from variations in the intensity of light； can
carry no message whatsoever。 This may be so； but； without any
noticeable movement of the eyes that met mine； I learned with
ineffable delight that this young girl's soul and mine were threaded
upon the same cord of destiny。 My emotion so overpowered me that
I could not speak； and when my self…possession returned the young
girl had vanished。
》From the height of bliss I now plunged into the abyss of despair。
I had let her go without a word。 I did not even know her name。 I
had caught her to myself from the ocean only to suffer her to drown
herself among the half…million inhabitants of Bombay。 What must she
think of me？ I asked the wharfinger if he knew her； but he had never
seen her before。 All my other inquiries proved equally fruitless。
I wondered if she knew that I loved her； but hardiy dared to hope
she had been able to correctly interpret my boorish conduct。 I
could think of but one thing to do。 If I did not know her name；
neither did she know mine； and so if she desired a further
acquaintance； she； like myself； must rely upon a chance meeting。
If she had detected my admiration for her she must know that I too
would strive to meet her again。 Where would she be most likely to
expect me to look for her？ Clearly at the same place we had met
before； and at the same time of day。 She might naturally think my
duties called me there daily at that hour。 I determined to be there
at the same time the next day。
I arrived to find her there before me； anxiously peering at the
passers…by。 She was certainly looking for me； … there was ecstasy
in the thought！
It is not necessary； my dear child； that I should describe the
details of our love…making； for my present purpose is not merely to
interest you； but rather to acquaint you with certain occurrences
which I now deem it wise you should know。 Time only intensified our
love for each other； and for several months all went well。 One
serious obstacle to our union presented itself； … that of caste。
Her people； Lona said； would never permit her to marry outside her
own station in life； besides which there was another ground upon
which we might be equally sure of their opposition。 They had already
chosen for her and she was betrothed to Rama Ragobah。 It is of this
man that I have chiefly to speak。 By birth he was of the same Vaisya
caste as Lona。 Early in life his lot had fallen among fakirs and
he had acquired all their secrets。 This did not satisfy his
ambitions； for he wished to be numbered among the rishis or adepts；
and subjected himself to the most horrible asceticism to qualify
himself for adeptship。 His indifference to physical pain was truly
marvellous。 He had rolled his naked body to the Ganges over
hundreds of miles of burning sands！ He had held his hands clinched
until the nails had worn through the palm and out at the back of the
hand。 He had at one time maintained for weeks a slow fire upon the
top of his head； keeping the skin burned to the skull。
When he came wooing Lona； his rigid asceticism had much relaxed； but
he would still seek to amuse her by driving knives into his body
until she would sicken at the blood； a condition of affairs which；
she said； afforded him great enjoyment。 Ragobah was a man of
gigantic build and immense physical strength。 His features were
heavy and forbidding。 You are familiar with pictures of Nana Sahib。
If I had not known this fiend to have died while beset in a swamp；
I should have mistaken Ragobah for him。 It was to such a being that
Lona was betrothed in spite of the loathing her parents knew she
felt for him。 She told me all this one night at our accustomed
tryst on Malabar Hill。 We had chosen to meet here on account of
the beauty of the place and the seclusion it offered。 There； on
bright moonlit nights； with the sea and the city below m