第69章

Browne, who throughout the trial had glared at Maitland with an unfriendliness which must have been apparent to everyone, now lowered blacker than ever, it seemed to me.I wondered what could have occurred to still further displease him, and finally concluded it must either be some transient thought which had come uncalled into his mind, or else a feeling of envy at his rival's prominence in the case, and the deservedly good reputation he was making.His general ill-feeling I, of course, charged to jealousy, for I could not but note his uncontrollable admiration for Gwen.I fully believed he would have given his own life - or anyone else's for that matter - to possess her, and I decided to speak a word of warning to George.After a short, whispered consultation with Jenkins and the prosecuting attorney, Maitland turned to the prisoner and said:

"That will do.M.Latour may leave the stand."It seemed to the spectators that the affair was now entirely cleared up, and they accordingly settled themselves comfortably for the formal denouement.They were, therefore, much taken aback when Maitland continued, addressing the jury:

"The evidence against the prisoner would indeed seem overwhelming,even had we not his confession.Apart from this confession we have no incriminating evidence save such as has been furnished by the government's chief witness, M.Godin.As it is through this gentleman's efforts that Latour was brought within reach of justice, it is but natural that much should be clear to him which may be puzzling to those who have not made so close a study of the case.I think he will enlighten us upon a few points.M.Godin will please take the stand."At this there was much whispering in the courtroom..Maitland's course seemed decidedly anomalous.Everyone wondered why he should be at such pains to prove that which had been already admitted and which, moreover, since he was representing Latour, it would seem he would most naturally wish to disprove.M.Godin, however, took the stand and Maitland proceeded to examine him in a way which only added amazement to wonder.

Q.How long have you been at work on this case?

A.Ever since the murder.

Q.When did you first visit M.Latour's rooms?

A.Do you mean to enter them?

Q.Yes.

A.I did not enter his rooms until the day he was arrested.I went to other rooms of the same tenement-house on previous occasions.

Q.Have you reason to believe M.Latour ever saw you prior to the day of his arrest?

A.No.I am sure he did not.I was especially careful to keep out of his way.

Q.You are certain that on the several occasions when you say you entered his rooms you were not observed by him while there?

A.I did not say I entered his rooms on several occasions.

Q.What did you say?

A.I said I never was in his rooms but once, and that was upon the day of his arrest.

Q.I understand.Were you not assisted in your search for Mr.Darrow's murderer by certain library books which you discovered M.Latour had been reading?

A.I - I don't quite understand.

Q.M.Latour obtained some books from the Public Library for hall use, giving his name as - as -=20A.Weltz.Yes, they did assist me.There were some also taken under the name of Rizzi.

Q.Exactly.Those are the names, I think.How was your attention called to these books?

A.I met Latour at the library by accident, and he at once struck me as a man anxious to avoid observation.This made it my business to watch him.I saw that he signed his name as "Weltz" on the slips.The next day I saw him there again, and this time he signed the slips "Rizzi." This was long before the murder, and I was not at work upon any case into which I could fit this "Weltz" or "Rizzi." I was convinced in my own mind, however, that he was guilty of some crime, and so put him down in my memory for future reference.During my work upon this present case this incident recurred to me, and I followed up the suggestion as one which might possibly throw some light upon the subject.

Q.Did you peruse the books M.Latour borrowed under the names of Weltz and Rizzi?

A.I did not.

Q.Did you not look at any of them?

A.No.It did not occur to me to examine their names.

Q.You probably noticed that there were several of them.Among the pile was one by Alexander Wynter Blyth entitled, "Poisons, Their Effects and Detection." Did you notice that? A.No.I did not notice any of them.

Q.But after you became suspicious of M.Latour, did you not then look up the slips, find this work, and read it?

A.No.I have never seen the book in my life and did not even know such a work existed.

Q.Oh!Then the perusal of the books had no part in the tracking ofM.Latour.

A.None whatever.

Q.Do you ever play cards?

A.Yes, sometimes, to pass the time.

Q.Do you play for money?

A.Sometimes for a small stake - just enough to make it interesting.

Q.Are you familiar with the house in which Mr.Darrow was murdered?

A.I have only such knowledge of it as I acquired at the examination immediately after the murder.You will remember I entered but the one room.

Q.And the grounds about the house?Surely you examined them?

A.On the contrary, I did not.

Q.Did you not even examine the eastern side of the house?

A.I did not.I have never been within the gate save on the night in question, and then only to traverse the front walk to and from the house in company with Messieurs Osborne and Allen.I was convinced that the solution of the problem was to be found within the room in which the murder was committed, and that my notes taken the night of the tragedy contained all the data I could hope to get.

Q.Was not this rather a singular assumption?

A.For many doubtless it would be; but I have my own methods, and I think I may say they have been measurably successful in most cases.[This last was said with a good-natured smile and a modest dignity that completely won the audience.]