the darrow enigma-第42章
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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 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！〃
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 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。
