the darrow enigma-第30章

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Jenkins　in　order　the　better　to　conduct　M。　Latour's　case　along　the
lines　which　seemed　to　him　the　most　promising。　　I　asked　him　on　one
occasion　what　led　him　to　entertain　a　hope　that　Latour　could　be
cleared　and　he　replied：　〃A　good　many　things。〃　　〃Well；　then；〃　I
rejoined；　〃what　are　some　of　them？〃　　He　hesitated　a　moment　and　then
replied　laughingly：　〃You　see　I　hate　to　acknowledge　the　falsity　of
my　theories。　　I　said　shortly　after　the　murder　was　committed　that　I
thought　the　assassin　was　short　and　probably　did　not　weigh　over　one
hundred　and　thirty…five　pounds；　that　he　most　likely　had　some　especial
reason　for　concealing　his　footprints；　and　that　he　had　a　peculiarity
in　his　gait。　　I　felt　tolerably　sure　then　of　all　this；　but　now　it
turns　out　that　M。　Latour　is　six　feet　tall　in　his　stockings；　and　thin；
and　that；　emaciated　as　he　is；　he　tips　the　scales　at　one　hundred　and
fifty　pounds　by　reason　of　his　large　frame。　　His　feet　are　as
commonplace　as　…　as　yours；　Doc；　and　his　gait　as　regular　as　…　mine。
Is　it　to　be　expected　that　I　am　going　to　give　up　all　my　pet　illusions
without　a　struggle？〃

When　the　hour　for　the　trial　arrived　Gwen　insisted　on　accompanying　us
to　the　court…room。　　She　had　a　great　deal　of　confidence　in　George　and
felt　sure　that；　as　he　expressed　a　strong　doubt　of　the　prisoner's
guilt；　he　would　triumph　in　proving　him　innocent。　　She　determined；
therefore；　to　be　present　at　the　trial；　even　before　her　attendance
should　be　required　as　a　witness。

M。　Latour；　when　he　was　led　into　the　prisoner's　box；　seemed　to　have
aged　greatly　during　his　incarceration。　　It　was　with　a　marked　effort
that　he　arose　and　straightened　himself　up　as　the　indictment　was　read
to　him。　　　When　the　words：　〃Are　you　guilty　or　not　guilty？〃　were
addressed　to　him　every　eye　was　turned　upon　him　and　every　ear　listened
to　catch　the　first　sound　of　his　voice；　but　no　sound　came。　　The
question　was　repeated　more　loudly；　〃Are　you　guilty　or　not　guilty？〃
Like　one　suddenly　awakened　from　a　reverie　M。　Latour　started；　turned
toward　his　questioner；　and　in　a　full；　firm　voice　replied：〃　Guilty；！〃
I　was　so　dumfounded　that　I　could　offer　Gwen　no　word　of　comfort　to
alleviate　this　sudden　shock。　　Maitland　and　Godin　seemed　about　the
only　ones　in　the　court…room　who　were　not　taken　off　their　feet；　so　to
speak；　by　this　unexpected　plea；　and　George　was　at　Gwen's　side　in　a
moment　and　whispered　something　to　her　which　I　could　not　hear；　but
which　I　could　see　had　a　very　beneficial　effect　upon　her。　　We　had　all
expected　a　long；　complicated　trial；　and　here　the　whole　matter　was
reduced　to　a　mere　formality　by　M。　Latour's　simple　confession；
〃Guilty！〃　　Is　it　any　wonder；　therefore；　that　we　were　taken　aback？

While　we　were　recovering　from　our　surprise　at　this　sudden　turn　of
affairs；　Maitland　was　engaged　in　private　conversation　with　the　Judge；
with　whom；　he　afterward　told　me；　he　had　become　well　acquainted　both
in　his　own　cases　and　in　those　of　other　lawyers　requiring　his　services
as　an=20expert　chemist。　　He　never　told　me　what　passed　between　them；　nor
the　substance　of　any　of　the　brief　interviews　which　followed　with　the
prosecuting　attorney；　his　associate　counsel；　and　other　legal
functionaries。　　All　I　know　is　that　when　the　case　was　resumed　M。
Latour's　senior　counsel；　Jenkins；　kept　carefully　in　the　background；
leaving　the　practical　conduct　of　the　case　in　Maitland's　hands。

If　a　hazelnut　had　the　shell　of　a　cocoanut；　its　meat　would；　in　my
opinion；　sustain　about　the　same　relation　to　its　bulk　as　the　gist　of
the　usual　legal　proceeding　sustains　to　the　mass　of　verbiage　in　which
it　is　enshrouded。　　For　this　reason　you　will　not　expect　me　to　give　a
detailed　account　of　this　trial。　　I　couldn't　if　I　would；　and　I　wouldn't
if　I　could。　　My　knowledge　of　legal　procedure　is　far　from　profound；
albeit　I　once　began　the　study　of　law。　　My　memories　of　Blackstone
are　such　as　need　prejudice　no　ambitious　aspirant　for　legal　honours。
I　have　a　recollection　that　somewhere　Blackstone　says　something
about　eavesdropping；　…　I　mean　in　its　literal　sense　…　something
about　the　drippings　from　A's　roof　falling　on　B's　estate；　but　for
the　life　of　me　I　couldn't　tell　what　he　says。　　More　distinctly　do
I　remember　this　learned　lawgiver　stated　that　there　could　be　no
doubt　of　the　evidence　of　witchcraft；　because　the　Bible　was　full
of　it；　and　that　witches　should　be　punished　with　death。　　This　made
an　impression　upon　me；　because　it　was　an　instance；　rare　to　me　then；
but　common　enough　now；　of　how　minds；　otherwise　exceptionally　able；
may　have　a　spot　so　encankered　with　creed；　bigotry；　and　superstition
as　to　render　their　judgments　respecting　certain　classes　of　phenomena
erroneous　and　illogical；　puerile　and　ridiculous。

But　to　return　to　those　points　of　the　trial　which　I　can　remember；
and　which　I　think　of　sufficient　interest　to　put　before　you。　　These
refer　chiefly　to　Maitland's　examination　of　M。　Latour；　and　of　the
government's　chief　witness；　M。　Godin。　　Such　portions　of　their
testimony　as　I　shall　put　before　you　I　shall　quote　exactly　as　it
was　given　and　reported　by　Maitland's　friend；　Simonds。

When　Maitland　began　for　the　defence　he　said：

〃At　about　half…past　seven　on　the　night　of　the　22d　of　April；　John
Darrow　met　his　death　at　his　home　in　Dorchester。　　He　died　in　the
presence　of　his　daughter；　Messrs。　Willard；　Browne；　Herne；　and
myself。　　His　death　was　caused　by　injecting　a　virulent　poison　into
his　system　through　a　slight　incision　in　his　neck。　　That　wound　the
prisoner　before　you　confesses　he　himself　inflicted。　　I　would　like
to　know　a　little　more　definitely　how　he　succeeded　in　doing　it
without　detection；　in　the　presence；　not　only　of　his　victim；　but
of　five　other　persons　sitting　close　about　him。　　　M。　Latour　will
please　take　the　stand。〃

As　M。　Latour　stepped　into　the　witness…box；　a　wave　of　suppressed
excitement　ran　all　over　the　court…room。　　Every　nerve　was　strained
to　its　tensest　pitch；　every　ear　eager　for　the　slightest　syllable
he　might　utter。　　What　could　be　done　for　a　man　who　had　confessed；
and　what　would　be　the　solution　of　the　crime　which　had　so　long
defied　the　authorities？　　The　explanation　was　now　to　be　made　and　it
is　no　wonder　that　the　excitement　was　intense。

I　omit　all　uninteresting　formalities。

Q。　Have　you　ever　seen　me　before　to…day？

A。　Not　to　my　knowledge。

Q。　Have　you　any　reason　to　believe　I　have　ever　seen　you　before　to…day？

A。　None　whatever　…　er　…　that　is　…　unless　on　the　night　of　the　murder。

Q。　Were　you　acquainted　with　John　Darrow？

A。　Yes。

Q。　How　long　have　you　known　him？

A。　About　six　months　…　perhaps　seven。

Q。　What　were　your　relations？

A。　I　don't　understand。　…　We　had　gambled　together。

Q。　Where？

A。　In　this　city　…　Decatur　Street。　=20

Q。　What　motive　led　you　to　kill　him？

A。　He　cheated　me　at　cards；　and　I　swore　to　be　even　with　him。

Q。　Had　you　any　other　reason？

A。　I　owed　him　twelve　hundred　and　thirty…five　dollars　which　I　borrowed
of　him　hoping　my　luck　would　change。　　He　won　it　all　back　from　me　by
false　play；　and　when　I　could　not　meet　it　he　pressed　me　over　hard。

Q。　You　say　this　occurred　on　Decatur　Street。　　What　was　the　date？

A。　I　do　not　remember。

Q。　What　month　was　it？

A。　It　was　in　March。　　Early　in　March。

Q。　You　are　sure　it　was　in　March？

A。　Yes。

Q。　Should　you　say　it　was　between　the　1st　and　15th　of　March？

A。　Yes。　　I　am　positive　it　was　before　the　15th　of　March。

Q。　Have　you　long　known　that　M。　Godin　was　at　work　upon　this　case？

A。　No。

Q。　When　did　you　first　become　aware　of　it？

A。　Not　until　my　arrest。

Q。　When　did　you　first　see　M。　Godin？

A。　When　I　was　arrested。

Q。　Did　he　ever　call　at　your　rooms？

A。　Never　…　not　to　my　knowledge　…　I　never　saw　him　till　the　day　of　my
arrest。

Q。　With　what　weapon　did　you　kill　Mr。　Darrow？

A。　I　made　use　of　a　specially　constructed　hypodermic　syringe。

Half…smothered　exclamations　of　surprise　were　heard　from　every　part
of　the　room。　　Even　the　Judge　gave　a　start　at　this　astounding　bit　of
testimony。　　Every　person　present　knew　perfectly　well　that　no　human
being　could　have　entered　or　left　the　Darrow　parlour　without　certain
discovery；　yet　here　was　a　man；　apparently　in　his　right　mind；　who
soberly　asserted　that　he　had　used　a　hypodermic　syringe。　　Maitland
and　Godin　alone　seemed　cool　and　collected。　　Throughout　all　Latour's
testimony；　M。　Godin　watched　the　witness　with　a　burning　concentration。
It　seemed　as　if　the　great　detective　meant　to　bore　through　Latour's
gaze　down　to　the　most　secret　depths　of　his　soul。　　Not　for　an　instant
did　he　take　his　eyes　from　Latour。　　I　said　to　myself　at　the　time　that
this　power　of　concentration　explained；　in　a　great　measure；　this
detective's　remarkable　success。　　Nothing　was　permitted　to　escape
him；　and　little　movements　which　another　man　would　doubtless　never
notice；　had；　for　M。　Godin；　I　felt　sure；　a　world　of　suggestive
significance。

Maitland's　calm　demeanour；　so　resourceful　in　its　serenity；　caused
all　eyes　to　turn　at　length　to　him　as　if　for　explanation。　　He
continued　with　slow　deliberation。

Q。　In　what　particulars　was　this　hypodermic　syringe　of　special
construction？

M。　Latour　seemed　nervous　and　ill　at　ease。　　He　shifted　from　side　to
side　as　if　M。　Godin's　glance　had　pierced　him　like　a　rapier；　and　he
were　trying　vainly　to　wriggle　off　of　it。　　He　seemed　unable　to
disengage　himself　and　at　length　replied　in　a　wearied　and　spiritless
tone：

A。　In　two　particulars　only。　　In　the　first　place；　it　was　very　small；
having　a　capacity　of　but　five　or　six　drops；　and；　in　the　second　place；
it　was　provided　with　an　internal　spring　which；　when　released；　worked
the　plunger　and　ejected　the　contents　with　extreme　rapidity。

Q。　What　operated　this　spring？

A。　Around　the　needle…like　point　of　the　syringe；　less　than　a　quarter
of　an　inch　from　its　end；　was　a　tiny；　annular　bit　of　metal。　　This
little　metallic　collar　was　forced　upward　by　the　pressure　of　the　flesh
as　the　sharp　point　entered　it；　and　this　movement　released　the　spring
and　instantly　and　forcibly　ejected　the　contents　of　the　cylinder。

Q。　Did　you　use　a　poison　in　this　syringe？=20

A。　Yes；　sir。

Q。　What　did　you　use？

M。　LATOUR　hesitated　and　shifted　helplessly　about　as　if　he　dreaded　to
go　farther　into　these　particulars；　and　fondly　hoped　someone　might
come　to　his　rescue。　　His　gaze　seemed　to　shift　about　the　room　without
in　the　least　being　able　to　disentangle　itself　from　that　of　M。　Godin。
He　remained　silent　and　the　question　was　repeated。

Q。　What　did　you　use？

Again　the　witness　hesitated　while　everyone；　save　only　Maitland　and
Godin；　leaned　eagerly　forward　to　catch　his　reply。　　At　length　it
came　in　a　voice　scarcely　above　a　whisper。

A。　Anhydrous　hydrocyanic　acid。

A　long…drawn　〃Hum！〃　escaped　from　Maitland；　while　M。　Godin　gave　not
the　slightest　indication　of　surprise。　　It　was　quite　evident　to　us
all　that　the　astute　Frenchman　had　acquired　complete　control　of　the
case　before　he　had　arrested　the　assassin。　　At　this　juncture　the　Court
said；　addressing　Maitland：

〃This　substance　is　extremely　poisonous；　I　take　it。〃

〃Your　Honour；〃　Maitland　replied；　〃it　is　the　most　fatal　of　all　poisons
known　to　chemists。　　It　is　also　called　cyanhydric；　and；　more　commonly；
prussic　acid。　　An　insignificant　amount；　when　inhaled　or　brought　into
contact　with　the　skin；　causes　immediate　death。　　If　a　drop　be　placed
upon　the　end　of　a　g