Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Black Doctor
Ontheotherhand,thereweresomestrongpointsforthedefence.Mortonwashigh-spiritedandimpetuous,likehissister,buthewasrespectedandlikedbyeveryone,andhisfrankandhonestnatureseemedtobeincapableofsuchacrime.HisownexplanationwasthathewasanxioustohaveaconversationwithDr.Lanaaboutsomeurgentfamilymatters(fromfirsttolastherefusedeventomentionthenameofhissister).Hedidnotattempttodenythatthisconversationwouldprobablyhavebeenofanunpleasantnature.Hehadheardfromapatientthatthedoctorwasout,andhethereforewaiteduntilaboutthreeinthemorningforhisreturn,butashehadseennothingofhimuptothathour,hehadgivenitupandhadreturnedhome.Astohisdeath,heknewnomoreaboutitthantheconstablewhoarrestedhim.Hehadformerlybeenanintimatefriendofthedeceasedman;butcircumstances,whichhewouldprefernottomention,hadbroughtaboutachangeinhissentiments.
Therewereseveralfactswhichsupportedhisinnocence.ItwascertainthatDr.Lanawasaliveandinhisstudyathalf-pasteleveno’clock.Mrs.Woodswaspreparedtoswearthatitwasatthathourthatshehadheardhisvoice.ThefriendsoftheprisonercontendedthatitwasprobablethatatthattimeDr.Lanawasnotalone.Thesoundwhichhadoriginallyattractedtheattentionofthehousekeeper,andhermaster’sunusualimpatiencethatsheshouldleavehiminpeace,seemedtopointtothat.IfthisweresothenitappearedtobeprobablethathehadmethisendbetweenthemomentwhenthehousekeeperheardhisvoiceandthetimewhenMrs.
