the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第48节
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which is alive？
A。 It was not。
You could have heard a pin drop； so silent was the room during the
pause which preceded Maitland's next question。
Q。 Did you arrange some inanimate object or objects outside the
eastern window； or elsewhere； on the Darrow estate so that it or they might
wound Mr。 Darrow？
A。 No； … no inanimate object other than the hypodermic syringe
already referred to。
Q。 To my question： 〃A blow was given； yet no person gave it。 Was
it given by anything which is alive？〃 you have answered： 〃It was not。〃
Let me now ask： Was it given by anything which was at that time alive？
A。 It was。 There was a stir all over the court…room。 Here at last was
a suggestive admission。 The examination was approaching a crisis！
Q。 And you have said it was not a person。 Was it not an animal？
A。 It was。
〃An animal！〃 we all ejaculated with the unanimity of a Greek chorus。
So audible were the exclamations of incredulity which arose from the
spellbound audience that the crier's gavel had to be brought into
requisition before Maitland could proceed。
Q。 Did you train a little Capucin monkey to strike this blow？
A。 I did。
A great sigh； the result of suddenly relieved tension； liberally
interlarded with unconscious exclamations； swept over the court…room and
would not be gavelled into silence until it had duly spent itself。
Even the Judge so far forgot his dignity as to give vent to a half…stifled
exclamation。
Maitland proceeded：
Q。 In order that this monkey might not attack the wrong man after you
had armed him； you taught him to obey certain signals given by little
twitches upon the cord by which you held him。 A certain signal was to
creep stealthily forward； another to strike； and still another to crawl
quickly back with the weapon。 When circumstances seemed most
favourable to the success of your designs； … that is； when Miss Darrow's
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voice and the piano prevented any slight sound from attracting attention； …
you gently dropped the monkey in at the window and signalled him what
to do。 When Mr。 Darrow sprang to his feet you recalled the monkey and
hastened away。 Is not this a fairly correct description of what occurred？
A。 It is true to the letter。
Q。 And subsequently you killed the monkey lest he should betray you
by exhibiting his little tricks； at an inopportune moment in a way to
compromise you。 Is it not so？
A。 It is。 I killed him； though he was my daughter's pet。
We were stricken aghast at Maitland's sudden grasp of the case。 Even
Godin was surprised。 What could it all mean？ Had Maitland known the
facts all along？ Had he simply been playing with the witness for reasons
which we could not divine？ M。 Godin's face was a study。 He ceased
boring holes in Latour with his eyes and turned those wonderful orbs full
upon Maitland； in whom they seemed to sink to the depths of his very soul。
Clearly M。 Godin was surprised at this exhibition of Maitland's power。
Browne； who throughout the trial had glared at Maitland with an
unfriendliness which must have been apparent to everyone； now lowered
blacker than ever； it seemed to me。 I wondered what could have occurred
to still further displease him； and finally concluded it must either be some
transient thought which had come uncalled into his mind； or else a feeling
of envy at his rival's prominence in the case； and the deservedly good
reputation he was making。 His general ill…feeling I； of course； charged to
jealousy； for I could not but note his uncontrollable admiration for Gwen。
I fully believed he would have given his own life … or anyone else's for that
matter … to possess her； and I decided to speak a word of warning to
George。 After a short； whispered consultation with Jenkins and the
prosecuting attorney； Maitland turned to the prisoner and said：
〃That will do。 M。 Latour may leave the stand。〃
It seemed to the spectators that the affair was now entirely cleared up；
and they accordingly settled themselves comfortably for the formal
denouement。 They were； therefore； much taken aback when Maitland
continued； addressing the jury：
〃The evidence against the prisoner would indeed seem overwhelming；
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even had we not his confession。 Apart from this confession we have no
incriminating evidence save such as has been furnished by the
government's chief witness； M。 Godin。 As it is through this gentleman's
efforts that Latour was brought within reach of justice； it is but natural that
much should be clear to him which may be puzzling to those who have not
made so close a study of the case。 I think he will enlighten us upon a few
points。 M。 Godin will please take the stand。〃
At this there was much whispering in the courtroom。。 Maitland's
course seemed decidedly anomalous。 Everyone wondered why he should
be at such pains to prove that which had been already admitted and which；
moreover； since he was representing Latour； it would seem he would most
naturally wish to disprove。 M。 Godin； however； took the stand and
Maitland proceeded to examine him in a way which only added
amazement to wonder。
Q。 How long have you been at work on this case？
A。 Ever since the murder。
Q。 When did you first visit M。 Latour's rooms？
A。 Do you mean to enter them？
Q。 Yes。
A。 I did not enter his rooms until the day he was arrested。 I went to
other rooms of the same tenement…house on previous occasions。
Q。 Have you reason to believe M。 Latour ever saw you prior to the day
of his arrest？
A。 No。 I am sure he did not。 I was especially careful to keep out of
his way。
Q。 You are certain that on the several occasions when you say you
entered his rooms you were not observed by him while there？
A。 I did not say I entered his rooms on several occasions。
Q。 What did you say？
A。 I said I never was in his rooms but once； and that was upon the day
of his arrest。
Q。 I understand。 Were you not assisted in your search for Mr。
Darrow's murderer by certain library books which you discovered M。
Latour had been reading？
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A。 I … I don't quite understand。
Q。 M。 Latour obtained some books from the Public Library for hall use；
giving his name as … as …=20
A。 Weltz。 Yes； they did assist me。 There were some also taken
under the name of Rizzi。
Q。 Exactly。 Those are the names； I think。 How was your attention
called to these books？
A。 I met Latour at the library by accident； and he at once struck me as
a man anxious to avoid observation。 This made it my business to watch
him。 I saw that he signed his name as 〃Weltz〃 on the slips。 The next day
I saw him there again； and this time he signed the slips 〃Rizzi。〃 This was
long before the murder； and I was not at work upon any case into which I
could fit this 〃Weltz〃 or 〃Rizzi。〃 I was convinced in my own mind；
however； that he was guilty of some crime； and so put him down in my
memory for future reference。 During my work upon this present case
this incident recurred to me； and I followed up the suggestion as one
which might possibly throw some light upon the subject。
Q。 Did you peruse the books M。 Latour borrowed under the names of
Weltz and Rizzi？
A。 I did not。
Q。 Did you not look at any of them？
A。 No。 It did not occur to me to examine thei
