the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第38章
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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
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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
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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。
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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 glass rod
and brought toward the nose of a live rabbit he will be dead before it
reaches him。〃
A profound silence … the death…like quiet which accompanies an almost
breaking tension … reigned in the court…room as Maitland turned again to
Latour。
Q。 I understand you to say you used anhydrous hydrocyanic or
cyanhydric acid。
A。 Yes； sir。
Q。 Do you sufficiently understand chemistry to use these terms with
accuracy？ Might you not have used potassium cyanide or prussiate of
potash？
A。 I am a tolerably good chemist； and have spoken understandingly。
Potassium cyanide； KCN； is a white； crystalline compound； and could
hardly be used in a hypodermic syringe save in solution； in which
condition it would not have been sufficiently poisonous to have served my
purpose。
At this reply many of the audience exchanged approving glances。 They
believed M。 Latour had shown himself quite a match for Maitland in not
falling easily into what they regarded as a neat little trap which had been
set to prove his lack of chemical knowledge。 They attributed Maitland's
failure to further interrogate Latour upon his understanding of chemistry
as evidence that he had met an equal。 To be sure； they were not quite clear
in their own minds why Latour's counsel should be at such pains to
carefully examine a man who had already confessed； but they believed
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they knew when a lawyer had met his match； and felt sure that this was
one such instance。 Clinton Browne； who sat in one of the front seats；
seemed to find a deal more to amuse him in this incident than was
apparent to me。 Some men have such=20a wonderful sense of humour！
Maitland continued：
Q。 When Mr。 Darrow was murdered he sat in the centre of his parlour；
surrounded by his daughter and invited guests。 Will you tell the Court
how you entered and left this room without detection？
Again the witness hesitated and looked irresolutely； almost tremblingly；
about him； but seemed finally to steady himself； as it were； upon Godin's
glance。 It's a strange thing how the directness and intense earnestness of
a strong man will pull the vacillation of a weak one into line with it； even
as great ships draw lesser ones into their wakes。 The excited audience
hung breathlessly upon Latour's utterance。 At last they were to know
how this miracle of crime had been performed。 Every auditor leaned
forward in his seat； and those who were a trifle dull of hearing placed their
hands to their ears； fearful lest some syllable of the riddle's solution should
escape them。 M。 Latour remained dumb。 The Judge regarded him
sternly and said：
〃Answer the question。 How did you enter the Darrow parlour？〃
A。 I … I did … I did not enter it。
Again a half…suppressed exclamation of surprise traversed the room。
Q。 If you did not enter the room how did you plunge the hypodermic
syringe into your victim's neck？
It seemed for a moment as if the witness would utterly collapse； but he
pulled himself together； as with a mighty effort； and fairly took our breath
away with his astounding answer：
A。 I … I did not strike Mr。 Darrow with the syringe。
The audience literally gasped in open…mouthed amazement； while the
Court turned fiercely upon Latour and said：
〃What do you mean by first telling us you killed Mr。 Darrow by
injecting poison into his circulation from a specially prepared hypodermic
syringe； and then telling us that you did not strike him with this syringe。
What do you mean； sir？ Answer me！〃
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