Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter VI. The Inquest
“Itshowsclearlyenoughthatmypooroldfriendhadjustfoundoutshe’dbeenmadeafoolof!”
“Itsaysnothingofthekindintheletter,”theCoronerpointedout.
“No,becauseEmilynevercouldbeartoputherselfinthewrong.ButIknowher.Shewantedmeback.Butshewasn’tgoingtoownthatI’dbeenright.Shewentroundabout.Mostpeopledo.Don’tbelieveinitmyself.”
Mr.Wellssmiledfaintly.So,Inoticed,didseveralofthejury.MissHowardwasobviouslyquiteapubliccharacter.
“Anyway,allthistomfooleryisagreatwasteoftime,”continuedthelady,glancingupanddownthejurydisparagingly.“Talk—talk—talk!Whenallthetimeweknowperfectlywell——”
TheCoronerinterruptedherinanagonyofapprehension:
“Thankyou,MissHoward,thatisall.”
Ifancyhebreathedasighofreliefwhenshecomplied.
Thencamethesensationoftheday.TheCoronercalledAlbertMace,chemist’sassistant.
Itwasouragitatedyoungmanofthepaleface.InanswertotheCoroner’squestions,heexplainedthathewasaqualifiedpharmacist,buthadonlyrecentlycometothisparticularshop,astheassistantformerlytherehadjustbeencalledupforthearmy.
Thesepreliminariescompleted,theCoronerproceededtobusiness.
“Mr.Mace,haveyoulatelysoldstrychninetoanyunauthorizedperson?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Whenwasthis?”
“LastMondaynight.”
“Monday?NotTuesday?”
“No,sir,Monday,the16th.”
“Willyoutellustowhomyousoldit?”
Youcouldhaveheardapindrop.
