Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
”
“Thenhowdoyouaccountforthefactthatyoulefttheunmistakableimpressofyourfinger-printsonit?”
Thebullyingmannerwashighlyefficaciouswithanervousdisposition.
“I—IsupposeImusthavetakenupthebottle.”
“Isupposesotoo!Didyouabstractanyofthecontentsofthebottle?”
“Certainlynot.”
“Thenwhydidyoutakeitup?”
“Ioncestudiedtobeadoctor.Suchthingsnaturallyinterestme.”
“Ah!Sopoisons‘naturallyinterest’you,dothey?Still,youwaitedtobealonebeforegratifyingthat‘interest’ofyours?”
“Thatwaspurechance.Iftheothershadbeenthere,Ishouldhavedonejustthesame.”
“Still,asithappens,theotherswerenotthere?”
“No,but——”
“Infact,duringthewholeafternoon,youwereonlyaloneforacoupleofminutes,andithappened—Isay,ithappened—tobeduringthosetwominutesthatyoudisplayedyour‘naturalinterest’inHydro-chlorideofStrychnine?”
Lawrencestammeredpitiably.
“I—I——”
Withasatisfiedandexpressivecountenance,SirErnestobserved:
“Ihavenothingmoretoaskyou,Mr.Cavendish.”
Thisbitofcross-examinationhadcausedgreatexcitementincourt.Theheadsofthemanyfashionablyattiredwomenpresentwerebusilylaidtogether,andtheirwhispersbecamesoloudthatthejudgeangrilythreatenedtohavethecourtclearediftherewasnotimmediatesilence.
Therewaslittlemoreevidence.
