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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。
Not long after this incident my cousin married Ragobah； a man for
whom she had always cherished an ill…concealed hatred。 I saw but
little of her at this time； yet； for all that； I could not but
observe that she was greatly changed。 But one solution suggested
itself to me； and that was that she had discovered her lover false
to her and had； out of spite as it is called； hastily married
Ragobah。 I confess that when this conclusion forced itself home
upon 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：
〃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 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
conf