the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第41章
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satisfaction； I shall practically have thrown M。 Latour's entire testimony
out of court； and nothing of importance will then remain but the evidence
of the government's witness； M。 Godin。〃
A great wave of excitement swept over the room at these remarks。
〃What！〃 each said to himself； 〃is it possible that this lawyer will try to
prove that Latour； despite his circumstantial confession； did not commit
the murder after all？〃 We did not dare let such a thought take hold of us；
yet could not see what else could explain Maitland's remarks。 Is it any
wonder； therefore； that we all waited breathlessly for him to continue？ M。
Godin's face was dark and lowering。 It was evident he did not propose to
have his skill as a detective； … and with it the Darrow reward； … set aside
without a struggle … at least so it seemed to me。 The room was as quiet as
the grave when Maitland continued。
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〃I shall show you that M。 Godin's testimony is utterly unreliable； and；
moreover； that it is intentionally so。〃
This was a direct accusation； and at it M。 Godin's face became of
ashen pallor。 I felt that he was striving to control his anger and saw the
effort that it cost him as he fastened Maitland with a stiletto…like look that
was anything but reassuring。 George did not appear to notice it and
continued easily：
〃I shall prove to you beyond a doubt that； in the actual murder of John
Darrow； only one person was concerned； … by which I mean； that only one
person was outside the east window when he met his death。 I shall also
show that M。 Latour was not； and could not by any possibility have been；
that person。 ＇At this juncture Browne arose and walked toward the door。
He was very pale and looked anything but well。 I thought he was going
to leave； but he reseated himself at the back of the room near the door。＇ I
shall convince you that M。 Latour's description of the way the murder was
committed is false。〃
All eyes were turned toward Latour； but he made no sign either of
affirmation or dissent。 With his eyes closed and his hands falling
listlessly in front of him； he sat in a half…collapsed condition； like one in a
stupor。 M。 Godin shifted uneasily in his chair； as if he could not remain
silent much longer。 Maitland proceeded with calm deliberation：
〃Mr。 Clinton Browne … 〃
But he did not finish the sentence。 At the name 〃Mr。 Clinton
Browne〃 he was interrupted by a sudden commotion at the rear of the
room； followed by a heavy fall which shook the whole apartment。 We all
turned and looked toward the door。 Several men had gathered about
someone lying upon the floor； and one of them was throwing water in the
face of the prostrate man。 Presently he revived a little； and they bore him
out into the cooler air of the corridor。 It was Clinton Browne。 The great
tension of the trial； his own strong emotions； and the closeness of the room
had doubtless been too much for him。 I could not but marvel at it；
however。 Here were delicate women with apparently little or no staying
power； and yet this athlete； with the form of a Mars and the fibre of a
Hercules； must be the first to succumb。 Verily； even physicians are
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subject to surprises！
When quiet had been fully restored Maitland continued：
〃I was about to say when the interruption occurred that Mr。 Clinton
Browne and Mr。 Charles Herne would both testify to the fact that a very
sensible time elapsed between the delivery of the blow and the death of
the victim。 You will see； therefore； that I shall prove to your satisfaction
that Mr。 Darrow's death did not result from prussic acid； as stated by the
prisoner。 I shall show you that a chemical analysis of the wound made in
my laboratory shortly after the murder gave none of the well…known
prussic…acid reactions。 I shall prove to you that John Darrow sprang to
his feet after receiving the blow which caused his death。 That he
clutched at his throat； and that； after an effort consuming several seconds；
he spoke disjointedly。 I shall convince you that if he had been poisoned in
the manner described he would have been dead before he could have so
much as raised his hand to his throat。 We have been very particular to
make sure the exact nature of the poison which it is claimed was used； so
there can be no possible doubt upon this point。 I shall show you further
that the little Capucin monkey which M。 Latour says he killed is still alive；
and I will produce him； if necessary； and will challenge M。 Latour； or
anyone else for that matter； to put him through the drill which it is claimed
he has been taught。 I shall inform you that； since I claim the monkey had
no part in Mr。 Darrow's death； I could not； during my examination of the
prisoner； have been stating anything from knowledge when I spoke of the
manner in which he had trained the animal； and gave details which M。
Latour accepted as those of the murder。 My sole effort was to state a
plausible way； in order to see if the prisoner would not adopt it as the
actual course pursued。 I also coupled with this the killing of the monkey
（though I knew the animal was still alive）； that I might see if M。 Latour
would follow my lead in this also。 You have seen that he did so； that he
indorsed my guesses where they were purely guesses； and that he also
accepted the one statement I knew to be false。 I shall therefore ask you
to consider about what the chances are that a series of guesses like those
which I made would represent the exact facts as M。 Latour has claimed；
while at the same time you do not lose sight of the undeniable fact that
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upon the only detail regarding which I had positive information； M。 Latour
bore false testimony。〃
Here Maitland whispered to Jenkins； who in turn spoke to the sheriff
or some other officer of the court。 I would have given a good deal just
then to have been able to translate M。 Godin's thoughts。 His face was a
study。 Maitland immediately resumed：
〃It has been positively stated by M。 Latour that he gambled with Mr。
Darrow on Decatur Street between the 1st and 15th day of March。 This
is false。 In the first place it can be shown that while Mr。 Darrow
occasionally played cards at his own home； he never gambled； uniformly
refusing to play for even the smallest stake。 Furthermore； Mr。 Darrow's
physician will testify that Mr。 Darrow was confined to his bed from the
25th day of February to the 18th day of March； and that he visited him
during that time at least once； and oftener twice； every day。
〃Again； M。 Latour asserts that he never saw M。 Godin till the day of
his arrest； and M。 Godin asserts that he never entered M。 Latour's rooms
until that day。 I have a photograph and here a phonographic record。
The picture shows M。 Latour's rooms with that gentleman and M。 Godin
sitting at a table and evidently engaged in earnest conversation。 This
cylinder is a record of a very interesting portion of that conversation … M。
Godin will please not leave the room！〃
This last was said as M。 Godin started toward the door。 The officer to
whom Jenkins had recently spoken laid his hand upon the detective and
detained him。 〃We may need M。 Godin；〃 Maitland continued； 〃to
explain things to us。
〃I invite your attention to the fact that M。 Godin has testified that he
was assisted in his search for Mr。 Darrow's murderer by certain library
slips which he saw M。 Latour make out in two different names。 He has
also testified that he did not know even the names of any of the books
procured on these slips； and that one of them； entitled 'Poisons； Their
Effects and Detection；' he not only never read； but never even heard of。 I
shall show you that all of these books were procured with M。 Godin's
knowledge； and that most of them were read by him。 I shall prove to
you beyond a doubt that he has not only heard of this particular work on
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poisons； but that he has read it and placed his unmistakable signature on
page 469 thereof beside the identical paragraph which suggested to Mr。
Darrow's murderer the manner of his assassination！〃 M。 Godin started as if
he had been stabbed； but quickly regained his self…control as Maitland
continued： 〃Here is the volume in question。 You will please note the
thumb…mark in the margin of page 469。 There is but one thumb in the
world that could have made that mark； and that is the thumb you have seen
register itself upon this letter。 It is also the thumb that made this paint
smutch upon this slip of glass。〃
All eyes were turned upon M。 Godin。 He was very pale； yet his jaw
was firmly set and something akin to a defiant smile played about his
handsome mouth。 To say that the audience was amazed is to convey no
adequate idea of their real condition。 We felt prepared for anything。 I
almost feared lest some sudden turn in the case might cast suspicion upon
myself； or even Maitland。 Without apparently noticing M。 Godin's
discomfiture； George continued：
