Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter VI. The Inquest
Justashewasabouttostepdown,hepaused,andsaidratherhesitatingly:
“IshouldliketomakeasuggestionifImay?”
HeglanceddeprecatinglyattheCoroner,whorepliedbriskly:
“Certainly,Mr.Cavendish,weareheretoarriveatthetruthofthismatter,andwelcomeanythingthatmayleadtofurtherelucidation.”
“Itisjustanideaofmine,”explainedLawrence.“OfcourseImaybequitewrong,butitstillseemstomethatmymother’sdeathmightbeaccountedforbynaturalmeans.”
“Howdoyoumakethatout,Mr.Cavendish?”
“Mymother,atthetimeofherdeath,andforsometimebeforeit,wastakingatoniccontainingstrychnine.”
“Ah!”saidtheCoroner.
Thejurylookedup,interested.
“Ibelieve,”continuedLawrence,“thattherehavebeencaseswherethecumulativeeffectofadrug,administeredforsometime,hasendedbycausingdeath.Also,isitnotpossiblethatshemayhavetakenanoverdoseofhermedicinebyaccident?”
“Thisisthefirstwehaveheardofthedeceasedtakingstrychnineatthetimeofherdeath.Wearemuchobligedtoyou,Mr.Cavendish.”
Dr.Wilkinswasrecalledandridiculedtheidea.
“WhatMr.Cavendishsuggestsisquiteimpossible.Anydoctorwouldtellyouthesame.Strychnineis,inacertainsense,acumulativepoison,butitwouldbequiteimpossibleforittoresultinsuddendeathinthisway.Therewouldhavetobealongperiodofchronicsymptomswhichwouldatoncehaveattractedmyattention.Thewholethingisabsurd.”
“Andthesecondsuggestion?ThatMrs.
