第72章

"I invite your attention to the fact that M.Godin has testified that he was assisted in his search for Mr.Darrow's murderer by certain library slips which he saw M.Latour make out in two different names.He has also testified that he did not know even the names of any of the books procured on these slips, and that one of them, entitled 'Poisons, Their Effects and Detection,' he not only never read, but never even heard of.I shall show you that all of these books were procured with M.Godin's knowledge, and that most of them were read by him.I shall prove to you beyond a doubt that he has not only heard of this particular work onpoisons, but that he has read it and placed his unmistakable signature on page 469 thereof beside the identical paragraph which suggested to Mr.Darrow's murderer the manner of his assassination!" M.Godin started as if he had been stabbed, but quickly regained his self-control as Maitland continued: "Here is the volume in question.You will please note the thumb-mark in the margin of page 469.There is but one thumb in the world that could have made that mark, and that is the thumb you have seen register itself upon this letter.It is also the thumb that made this paint smutch upon this slip of glass."All eyes were turned upon M.Godin.He was very pale, yet his jaw was firmly set and something akin to a defiant smile played about his handsome mouth.To say that the audience was amazed is to convey no adequate idea of their real condition.We felt prepared for anything.I almost feared lest some sudden turn in the case might cast suspicion upon myself, or even Maitland.Without apparently noticing M.Godin's discomfiture, George continued:

"M.Godin has testified that he sometimes plays cards, but only for a small stake - just enough, he says, to make it interesting.I shall show you that he is a professional gambler as well as a detective.

"The morning after the murder was committed I made a most careful examination of the premises, particularly of the grounds near the eastern window.As the result of my observations, I informed Miss Darrow that I had reason to believe that her father had been murdered by a person who had some good motive for concealing his footprints, and who also had a halting gait.The weight of this person I was able to estimate at not far from one hundred and thirty-five pounds, and his height as about five feet and five inches.I also stated it as my opinion that the person who did the deed had the habit of biting his finger nails, and a particular reason for sparing the nail of the little finger and permitting it to grow to an abnormal length.This was not guesswork on my part, for in the soft soil beneath the eastern window I found a perfect impression of a closed hand.Here is the cast of that hand.Look well at it.Notice the wart upon the upper joint of the thumb, and the crook in the third finger where it has evidently been broken.M.Godin says he never entered the yard of the Darrowestate, except on the night of the murder in company with Messrs.Osborne and Allen, and that then he merely passed up and down the front walk on his way to and from the house, yet the paint-mark on this slip of glass was made by his thumb, and the glass itself was cut by me from the eastern window of the Darrow house - the window through which the murder was committed.This plaster cast was taken from an impression in the soil beneath the same window on the morning after the murder.The hand is the hand of M.Godin.You will note that one of this gentleman's feet is deformed and that he habitually halts in his walk."We all glanced at M.Godin to verify these assertions, but that gentleman folded his arms in a way to conceal his hands and thrust his feet out of sight beneath the chair in front of him, while he smiled at us with the utmost apparent good nature.He would be game to the last, there was no doubt of that.

Maitland recalled our attention by saying: "Officer, you will please arrest M.Godin!"An excited whisper was heard from every corner, and many were the half-audible comments that were broken off by the imperative fall of the crier's gavel.So tense had been the strain that it was some time before complete order could be restored.When it was again quiet Maitland continued: