the darrow enigma-第41章
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Is it to be expected that I am going to give up all my pet illusions
without a struggle？〃
When the hour for the trial arrived Gwen insisted on accompanying us
to the court…room。 She had a great deal of confidence in George and
felt sure that； as he expressed a strong doubt of the prisoner's
guilt； he would triumph in proving him innocent。 She determined；
therefore； to be present at the trial； even before her attendance
should be required as a witness。
M。 Latour； when he was led into the prisoner's box； seemed to have
aged greatly during his incarceration。 It was with a marked effort
that he arose and straightened himself up as the indictment was read
to him。 When the words： 〃Are you guilty or not guilty？〃 were
addressed to him every eye was turned upon him and every ear listened
to catch the first sound of his voice； but no sound came。 The
question was repeated more loudly； 〃Are you guilty or not guilty？〃
Like one suddenly awakened from a reverie M。 Latour started； turned
toward his questioner； and in a full； firm voice replied：〃 Guilty；！〃
I was so dumfounded that I could offer Gwen no word of comfort to
alleviate this sudden shock。 Maitland and Godin seemed about the
only ones in the court…room who were not taken off their feet； so to
speak； by this unexpected plea； and George was at Gwen's side in a
moment and whispered something to her which I could not hear； but
which I could see had a very beneficial effect upon her。 We had all
expected a long； complicated trial； and here the whole matter was
reduced to a mere formality by M。 Latour's simple confession；
〃Guilty！〃 Is it any wonder； therefore； that we were taken aback？
While we were recovering from our surprise at this sudden turn of
affairs； Maitland was engaged in private conversation with the Judge；
with whom； he afterward told me； he had become well acquainted both
in his own cases and in those of other lawyers requiring his services
as an=20expert chemist。 He never told me what passed between them； nor
the substance of any of the brief interviews which followed with the
prosecuting attorney； his associate counsel； and other legal
functionaries。 All I know is that when the case was resumed M。
Latour's senior counsel； Jenkins； kept carefully in the background；
leaving the practical conduct of the case in Maitland's hands。
If a hazelnut had the shell of a cocoanut； its meat would； in my
opinion； sustain about the same relation to its bulk as the gist of
the usual legal proceeding sustains to the mass of verbiage in which
it is enshrouded。 For this reason you will not expect me to give a
detailed account of this trial。 I couldn't if I would； and I wouldn't
if I could。 My knowledge of legal procedure is far from profound；
albeit I once began the study of law。 My memories of Blackstone
are such as need prejudice no ambitious aspirant for legal honours。
I have a recollection that somewhere Blackstone says something
about eavesdropping； … I mean in its literal sense … something
about the drippings from A's roof falling on B's estate； but for
the life of me I couldn't tell what he says。 More distinctly do
I remember this learned lawgiver stated that there could be no
doubt of the evidence of witchcraft； because the Bible was full
of it； and that witches should be punished with death。 This made
an impression upon me； because it was an instance； rare to me then；
but common enough now； of how minds； otherwise exceptionally able；
may have a spot so encankered with creed； bigotry； and superstition
as to render their judgments respecting certain classes of phenomena
erroneous and illogical； puerile and ridiculous。
But to return to those points of the trial which I can remember；
and which I think of sufficient interest to put before you。 These
refer chiefly to Maitland's examination of M。 Latour； and of the
government's chief witness； M。 Godin。 Such portions of their
testimony as I shall put before you I shall quote exactly as it
was given and reported by Maitland's friend； Simonds。
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
