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 Isearched 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.Ihave 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.In doing this I shall break the letter of my oath, but, were I not to do it, I should break the spirit thereof, therefore listen:
You have, I suppose, already learned from the statement of Darrow Sahib what occurred at his last meeting with my cousin on Malabar Hill.Her act, in throwing a venomous serpent in his face, was one which doubtless led him to believe she wished to kill him, although it must have puzzled him to assign any reason for such a desire.
