the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第47节
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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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A sudden change came over M。 Latour。 All his timidity seemed to
vanish in a moment； as he drew himself up to his full height and faced the
Judge。 It seemed to me as if till now he had cherished a hope that he
might not be forced to give the details of his awful crime； but that he had
at last concluded he would be obliged to disclose all the particulars； and
had decided to manfully face the issue。
Every eye was fixed upon him； and every ear strained to its utmost as
he turned slowly toward the Judge and said with a calm dignity which
surprised us all：
A。 Your Honour is in error。 I said that I made use of a specially
constructed hypodermic syringe。 I have not said that I struck Mr。 Darrow
with it。 There is； therefore； nothing contradictory in my statements。
Again the prisoner had scored； and again the audience exchanged
approving glances which plainly said： 〃He's clever enough for them all！〃
Then the Court continued the examination。
Q。 Were you upon the Darrow estate when Mr。 Darrow met his death？
A。 Yes； your Honour。
Q。 Where？
A。 Just outside the eastern parlour…window； your Honour。
Q。 Did you strike the blow which caused Mr。 Darrow's death？
A。 No； your Honour。 =20
Q。 What！ Have you not said you are responsible for his murder？
A。 Yes； your Honour。
Q。 Ah； I see！ You had some other person for an accomplice？
A。 No； your Honour。
Q。 Look here； sir！ Do you propose to tell us anything of your own
accord； or must we drag it out of you piecemeal？
A。 No power can make me speak if I do not elect to； and I only elect to
answer questions。 Commission for contempt will hardly discipline a
man in my position； and may lead me to hold my peace entirely。
The Court turned away with an expression of disgust and engaged
Jenkins and Maitland in a whispered conversation。 The prisoner had
again scored。 There is enough of the bully in many judges to cause the
public to secretly rejoice when they are worsted。 It was plain to be seen
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that the audience was pleased with Latour's defiance。
Maitland now resumed the examination with his accustomed ease。
One would have thought he was addressing a church sociable； … if he
judged by his manner。
Q。 You have testified to being responsible for the death of John
Darrow。 The instrument with which he was killed was directly or
indirectly your handiwork； yet you did not strike the blow； and you have
said you had no other person for an accomplice。 Am I substantially
correct in all this？
A。 You are quite correct。
Q。 Very good。 Did John Darrow's death result from a poisoned
wound made by the instrument you have described？
A。 It did。
This reply seemed to nonplus us all with the exception of Maitland and
Godin。 These two seemed proof against all surprises。 The rest of us
looked helplessly each at his neighbour as if to say； 〃What next？〃 and we
all felt； … at least I did and the others certainly looked it； … as if the solution
of the enigma were farther away than ever。
Maitland proceeded in the same methodical strain。
Q。 A blow was given； yet neither you nor any person acting as your
accomplice gave it。 Did Mr。 Darrow himself give the blow？
A。 No； sir。
Q。 I thought not。 Did any person give it？
A。 No； sir。
The audience drew a deep inspiration； as if with one accord！ They
had ceased to reason。 Again and again had we been brought； as we all
felt sure； within a single syllable of the truth； only to find ourselves at the
next word more mystified than ever。 It would hardly have surprised us
more if the prisoner had informed us that Mr。 Darrow still lived。 The
excitement was so intense that thought was impossible； so we could only
listen with bated breath for someone else to solve the thing for our
beleaguered and discouraged minds。 After a word with his colleague；
Maitland resumed。
Q。 A blow was given； yet no person gave it。 Was it given by anything
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whi
