the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第37章
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I had been mixing some medicine for her and was holding the cup to
her lips that she might drink the draught。 She laid her hand upon my
wrist and gently put the cup aside； saying； as she gazed thoughtfully at me：
〃Did you not bring me here？〃 〃Yes；〃 I replied。 She reached for the cup；
and drinking its contents； sank back upon the pillows with a half…satisfied
look upon her face； as if my reply had cleared up one mystery； but left
many more to be solved。
》From this day Jeannette steadily improved； and within two weeks she
and Gwen had come to a very good understanding。 It was plainly evident
that Alice； too； came in for a very good share of the little French girl's love。
They did not exchange confidences to any great degree； for； as Maitland
used to say； Alice was one of those rare； sweet women who say but little；
but seem to act upon all around them by a sort of catalysis； sweetening the
atmosphere by their very presence。
CHAPTER II
Belief； though it be as ample as the ocean； does not always
similarly swell in crystallising。 It has； however； its point of maximum
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density； but this； not infrequently； is also ifs point of minimum
knowledge。
During all these days Gwen was gaining rapidly。 Maitland came to
visit us almost every night； and he told Gwen that he did not feel
altogether certain that； in arresting M。 Latour； the law had secured her
father's real assassin。 It would be necessary to account for； he told her；
some very singular errors in his early calculations if M。 Latour was the
man。
〃When first I took up my abode under the same roof with him；〃 he said；
〃I had no doubt that we had at last run down our man。 Now； although
another detective has come to the same conclusion； I myself have many
misgivings； and you may be assured； Miss Darrow； that I shall lose no
time in getting these doubts answered one way or the other。 At present
you may say to your friend Jeannette that I am straining every nerve in her
father's behalf。〃
Why all this should so please Gwen I was at a loss to comprehend； but
I could not fail to see that it did please her greatly。 She had been the
most anxious of us all to see her father's murderer brought to justice； and
now； when through the efforts of M。 Godin； a man stood all but convicted
of the crime； she was pleased to hear Maitland； whose efforts to track
Latour she had applauded in no equivocal way； say that he should spare no
pains to give the suspect every possible chance to prove his innocence。
There was certainly a reason； whatever it might have been； for Gwen's
attitude in this matter； for that young woman was exceptionally rational in
all things。 Nothing of especial moment occurred between this time and
the beginning of the trial。 Maitland； for the most part； kept his own
counsel and gave us little information other than a hint that he still thought
there was a chance of clearing M。 Latour。
With this end in view he had become an associate attorney with
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
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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
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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。
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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
