the darrow enigma-第37节
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When Maitland began for the defence he said:
〃At about half…past seven on the night of the 22d of April; John
Darrow met his death at his home in Dorchester。 He died in the
presence of his daughter; Messrs。 Willard; Browne; Herne; and
myself。 His death was caused by injecting a virulent poison into
his system through a slight incision in his neck。 That wound the
prisoner before you confesses he himself inflicted。 I would like
to know a little more definitely how he succeeded in doing it
without detection; in the presence; not only of his victim; but
of five other persons sitting close about him。 M。 Latour will
please take the stand。〃
As M。 Latour stepped into the witness…box; a wave of suppressed
excitement ran all over the court…room。 Every nerve was strained
to its 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 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 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。
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 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