Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Black Doctor
Presscommentwaspreventedbythefactthatthetrialwasstillundecided,butthequestionwaseverywherearguedastohowfartherecouldbetruthinMissMorton’sdeclaration,andhowfaritmightbeadaringruseforthepurposeofsavingherbrother.Theobviousdilemmainwhichthemissingdoctorstoodwasthatifbyanyextraordinarychancehewasnotdead,thenhemustbeheldresponsibleforthedeathofthisunknownman,whoresembledhimsoexactly,andwhowasfoundinhisstudy.ThisletterwhichMissMortonrefusedtoproducewaspossiblyaconfessionofguilt,andshemightfindherselfintheterriblepositionofonlybeingabletosaveherbrotherfromthegallowsbythesacrificeofherformerlover.Thecourtnextmorningwascrammedtooverflowing,andamurmurofexcitementpassedoveritwhenMr.Humphreywasobservedtoenterinastateofemotion,whichevenhistrainednervescouldnotconceal,andtoconferwiththeopposingcounsel.Afewhurriedwords—wordswhichleftalookofamazementuponMr.PorlockCarr’sface—passedbetweenthem,andthenthecounselforthedefence,addressingtheJudge,announcedthat,withtheconsentoftheprosecution,theyoungladywhohadgivenevidenceuponthesittingbeforewouldnotberecalled.
TheJudge:Butyouappear,Mr.Humphrey,tohaveleftmattersinaveryunsatisfactorystate.
Mr.Humphrey:Perhaps,mylord,mynextwitnessmayhelptoclearthemup.
TheJudge:Thencallyournextwitness.
Mr.Humphrey:IcallDr.AloysiusLana.
