the red seal(红印)-第21节
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he stated that Turnbull died from an acute attack of angina pectoris。〃
〃How did Mr。 Rochester come to make that assertion and where？〃
〃Immediately after Turnbull's death；〃 replied Stone。 〃Mr。 Rochester；
who shared his apartment； defended him in court。 Mr。 Rochester was
aware that Turnbull suffered from the disease； and Mr。 Clymer； who was
present； also knew it。〃
〃And what is your opinion； doctor？〃 questioned Penfield。
Stone hesitated。 〃There was a distinct odor of amyl nitrite noticeable
when I went to Turnbull's aid； and I concluded then that he had some heart
trouble and had inhaled the drug to ward off an attack。 It bears out Mr。
Rochester's theory of death from angina pectoris。〃
〃I see。 Thank you； doctor。 Please wait with the other witnesses； we
may call you again；〃 and with a sigh the busy physician resigned himself
to spending another hour in the room reserved for the witnesses。
The next to take the witness stand was Deputy Marshal Grant。 His
testimony was short and concise； … and his description of the scene in the
police court preceding Turnbull's death was listened to with deep attention
by every one。
〃Did the prisoner show any symptoms of illness before his heart
attack？〃 asked Penfield。
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〃Not exactly illness；〃 replied Grant slowly。 〃I noticed he didn't move
very quickly； sort of shambled； as if he was weak in his legs。 I've seen
'drunk and disorderlies' act just that way； and paid no particular attention
to him。 He did ask for a drink of water just after he returned to the cage。〃
〃Did you give it to him？〃
〃No； an attendant gave the glass to Mr。 Rochester who handed it to Mr。
Turnbull。〃
Penfield regarded Grant in silence for a minute。 〃That is all；〃 he
announced； and with a polite bow the deputy marshal withdrew。
Detective Ferguson recognized Kent as he passed up the room to the
platform and gave him a slight bow and smile； but the smile had
disappeared when； at the coroner's request； he told of his arrival just after
the discovery of the burglar's identity。
〃I searched the cage where the prisoner had been seated and found this
handkerchief；〃 he went on to say。 〃It had been dropped by Turnbull and
was saturated with amyl nitrite。 I had it examined by a chemist； who said
that this amyl nitrite was given to patients with heart trouble in little pearl
capsules to be crushed in handkerchiefs and the fumes inhaled。
〃The chemist also told me that〃 … the detective spoke with impressive
seriousness； 〃judging from the number of particles of capsules adhering to
the linen； more than one capsule had been crushed by Turnbull。 Here is
the handkerchief；〃 and he laid it on the table with great care。
Kent's heart sank； the moment he had dreaded all that long afternoon
had come。 Penfield inspected the handkerchief with interest； and then
passed it to the jurors； cautioning them to handle it carefully。
〃I note；〃 he stated； turning again to Detective Ferguson； 〃that it is a
woman's handkerchief。〃
〃It is；〃 replied Ferguson。 〃And embroidered in one corner is the
initial 'B。'〃
Penfield ran his fingers through his gray hair。 〃You may go；
Ferguson；〃 he said； and beckoned to the morgue master。 〃Ask Miss
Barbara McIntyre to return。〃
The girl was quick in answering the summons。 Kent； more and more
worried； was watching the scene with painful attention。
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〃Did Mr。 Turnbull have one of your handkerchiefs？〃 asked Penfield。
Her surprise at the question was manifest in her manner。
〃He might have；〃 she said。 〃I have a dreadful habit of dropping my
handkerchiefs around。〃
〃Did you miss one after his visit to your house on Monday night？〃
〃Miss McIntyre；〃 Penfield took up the handkerchief which the
foreman replaced on his desk a moment before； and holding it with care
extended it toward the girl。 〃Is this your handkerchief？〃
She inspected the handkerchief and the initial with curiosity； but with
nothing more； Kent was convinced； and in his relief was almost guilty of
disturbing the decorum of the inquest with a shout of joy。
〃It is not my handkerchief；〃 she stated clearly。
Penfield replaced the handkerchief on the table with the same care he
had picked it up； and turned again to her。
〃Thank you； Miss McIntyre； I won't detain you longer。 Logan；〃 to
the morgue master； 〃ask Dr。 Stone to step here。〃
Almost immediately Stone reentered the room and hurried to the
platform。
〃Would two or more capsules of amyl nitrite constitute a lethal dose？〃
asked Penfield。
〃They would be very apt to finish a feeble heart；〃 replied Stone。
〃Three capsules； if inhaled deeply would certainly kill a healthy person。〃
Penfield showed the handkerchief to the physician。 〃Can a chemist
tell； from the particles clinging to this handkerchief； how many capsules
have been used？〃
〃I should say he could。〃 Stone looked grave as he inspected the linen；
taking careful note of the letter 〃B〃 in one corner of the handkerchief。
〃But there is this to be considered … Turnbull may not have crushed those
capsules all at the same time。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃He may have felt an attack coming on earlier in the evening and used
a capsule； and in the police court used the same handkerchief in the same
manner。〃
〃I see；〃 Penfield nodded。 〃The point is cleverly taken。〃
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Kent silently agreed with the coroner。 The next instant Stone was
excused； and after a slight pause the deputy coroner； Dr。 Mayo； left his
table and his notes and occupied the witness chair； after first being sworn。
The preliminaries did not consume much time； and Penfield's manner was
brisk as he addressed his assistant。
〃Did you make a post…mortem examination of Turnbull？〃 he asked。
〃I did； sir； in the presence of the morgue master and Dr。 McLane。〃 Dr。
Mayo displayed an anatomical chart； drawing his pencil down it as he
talked。 〃We found from the condition of the heart that the deceased had
suffered from angina pectoris〃 … he paused and spoke more slowly … 〃in
examining the gastric contents we found the presence of aconitine。〃
〃Aconitine？〃 questioned Penfield； and the reporters； scenting the
sensational； leaned forward eagerly so as not to miss the deputy coroner's
answer。
〃Aconitine； an active poison；〃 he explained。 〃It is the alkaloid of
aconite； and generally fatal in its results。〃
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CHAPTER X
AT THE CLUB DE VINGT
The large building of the popular Club de Vingt； or as one
Washingtonian put it； the 〃Club De Vin；〃 which had sprung into existence
in the National Capital during the war； was ablaze with light and Benjamin
Clymer； sitting at a small table in one corner of the dining…room； wished
most heartily that it had been less crowded。 Many dinner…parties were
being given that night； and it was only by dint of perseverance and a
Treasury note that he had finally induced the head waiter to put in an extra
table for him and his guest； Harry Kent。 Kent had been very late and； to
add to his short…comings； had been silent； not to say morose； during dinner。
Clymer heaved a sigh of relief when the table was cleared and coffee and
cigars placed before them。
Kent roused himself from his abstraction。 〃We cannot talk here；〃 he
said； looking at the gay diners who surrounded them。 〃And I have
several important matters to discuss with you； Mr。 Clymer。〃
His remark was overheard by their waiter； and he stopped pouring out
K
