第 21 节
作者:淋雨      更新:2021-10-16 18:43      字数:9322
  he stated that Turnbull died from an acute attack of angina pectoris。〃
  〃How did Mr。 Rochester come to make that assertion and where?〃
  〃Immediately after Turnbull's death;〃 replied Stone。               〃Mr。 Rochester;
  who   shared   his   apartment;   defended   him   in   court。     Mr。   Rochester   was
  aware that Turnbull suffered from the disease; and Mr。 Clymer; who was
  present; also knew it。〃
  〃And what is your opinion; doctor?〃 questioned Penfield。
  Stone hesitated。      〃There was a distinct odor of amyl nitrite noticeable
  when I went to Turnbull's aid; and I concluded then that he had some heart
  trouble and had inhaled the drug to ward off an attack。                It bears out Mr。
  Rochester's theory of death from angina pectoris。〃
  〃I see。    Thank you; doctor。        Please wait with the other witnesses; we
  may call you again;〃 and with a sigh the busy physician resigned himself
  to spending another hour in the room reserved for the witnesses。
  The next to take   the witness stand   was Deputy Marshal   Grant。                His
  testimony was short and concise; … and his description of the scene in the
  police court preceding Turnbull's death was listened to with deep attention
  by every one。
  〃Did    the  prisoner    show    any   symptoms      of  illness  before    his  heart
  attack?〃 asked Penfield。
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  〃Not exactly illness;〃 replied Grant slowly。            〃I noticed he didn't move
  very  quickly;   sort   of   shambled;   as   if   he   was   weak   in   his   legs。   I've   seen
  'drunk and disorderlies' act just that way; and paid no particular attention
  to him。     He did ask for a drink of water just after he returned to the cage。〃
  〃Did you give it to him?〃
  〃No; an attendant gave the glass to Mr。 Rochester who handed it to Mr。
  Turnbull。〃
  Penfield   regarded   Grant   in   silence   for   a   minute。    〃That   is   all;〃   he
  announced; and with a polite bow the deputy marshal withdrew。
  Detective Ferguson recognized Kent as he passed up the room to the
  platform     and    gave    him   a   slight  bow     and   smile;   but   the   smile   had
  disappeared when; at the coroner's request; he told of his arrival just after
  the discovery of the burglar's identity。
  〃I searched the cage where the prisoner had been seated and found this
  handkerchief;〃 he went on to say。            〃It had been dropped by Turnbull and
  was saturated with amyl nitrite。          I had it examined by a chemist; who said
  that this amyl nitrite was given to patients with heart trouble in little pearl
  capsules to be crushed in handkerchiefs and the fumes inhaled。
  〃The chemist also told me that〃 … the detective spoke with impressive
  seriousness; 〃judging from the number of particles of capsules adhering to
  the linen; more than one capsule had been crushed by Turnbull。                      Here is
  the handkerchief;〃 and he laid it on the table with great care。
  Kent's heart sank; the moment he had dreaded all that long afternoon
  had   come。     Penfield   inspected   the   handkerchief   with   interest;   and   then
  passed it to the jurors; cautioning them to handle it carefully。
  〃I   note;〃   he   stated;   turning   again   to   Detective   Ferguson;   〃that   it   is   a
  woman's handkerchief。〃
  〃It   is;〃   replied  Ferguson。     〃And     embroidered      in   one  corner   is  the
  initial 'B。'〃
  Penfield     ran   his   fingers   through     his  gray    hair。   〃You      may    go;
  Ferguson;〃      he   said;  and   beckoned      to  the  morgue     master。    〃Ask     Miss
  Barbara McIntyre to return。〃
  The girl was quick in answering the summons。                 Kent; more and more
  worried; was watching the scene with painful attention。
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  〃Did Mr。 Turnbull have one of your handkerchiefs?〃 asked Penfield。
  Her surprise at the question was manifest in her manner。
  〃He might have;〃 she said。          〃I have a dreadful habit of dropping my
  handkerchiefs around。〃
  〃Did you miss one after his visit to your house on Monday night?〃
  〃Miss     McIntyre;〃     Penfield    took   up   the   handkerchief      which    the
  foreman replaced on his desk a moment before; and holding it with care
  extended it toward the girl。       〃Is this your handkerchief?〃
  She inspected the handkerchief and the initial with curiosity; but with
  nothing more; Kent was convinced; and in his relief was almost guilty of
  disturbing the decorum of the inquest with a shout of joy。
  〃It is not my handkerchief;〃 she stated clearly。
  Penfield replaced the handkerchief on the table with the same care he
  had picked it up; and turned again to her。
  〃Thank   you;   Miss   McIntyre;   I   won't   detain   you   longer。   Logan;〃   to
  the morgue master; 〃ask Dr。 Stone to step here。〃
  Almost     immediately     Stone    reentered    the  room    and   hurried   to  the
  platform。
  〃Would two or more capsules of amyl nitrite constitute a lethal dose?〃
  asked Penfield。
  〃They   would      be  very   apt  to  finish  a  feeble   heart;〃  replied   Stone。
  〃Three capsules; if inhaled deeply would certainly kill a healthy person。〃
  Penfield showed the  handkerchief to the  physician。              〃Can a  chemist
  tell; from the particles clinging to this handkerchief; how many capsules
  have been used?〃
  〃I should say he could。〃       Stone looked grave as he inspected the linen;
  taking   careful   note   of   the   letter   〃B〃   in   one   corner   of   the   handkerchief。
  〃But there is this to be considered … Turnbull may not have crushed those
  capsules all at the same time。〃
  〃What do you mean?〃
  〃He may have felt an attack coming on earlier in the evening and used
  a capsule; and in the police court used the same handkerchief in the same
  manner。〃
  〃I see;〃 Penfield nodded。       〃The point is cleverly taken。〃
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  Kent   silently   agreed   with   the   coroner。     The   next   instant   Stone   was
  excused;   and   after   a   slight   pause   the   deputy   coroner;   Dr。   Mayo;   left   his
  table and his notes and occupied the witness chair; after first being sworn。
  The preliminaries did not consume much time; and Penfield's manner was
  brisk as he addressed his assistant。
  〃Did you make a post…mortem examination of Turnbull?〃 he asked。
  〃I did; sir; in the presence of the morgue master and Dr。 McLane。〃 Dr。
  Mayo   displayed   an   anatomical   chart;   drawing   his   pencil   down   it   as   he
  talked。     〃We found from the condition of the heart that the deceased had
  suffered from angina   pectoris〃 … he paused and spoke   more slowly …   〃in
  examining the gastric contents we found the presence of aconitine。〃
  〃Aconitine?〃       questioned      Penfield;    and   the   reporters;    scenting    the
  sensational; leaned forward eagerly so as not to miss the deputy coroner's
  answer。
  〃Aconitine;   an   active   poison;〃   he   explained。       〃It   is   the   alkaloid   of
  aconite; and generally fatal in its results。〃
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  CHAPTER X
  AT THE CLUB DE VINGT
  The     large   building    of   the   popular    Club    de   Vingt;    or   as  one
  Washingtonian put it; the 〃Club De Vin;〃 which had sprung into existence
  in the National Capital during the war; was ablaze with light and Benjamin
  Clymer; sitting at a small table in one corner of the dining…room; wished
  most   heartily   that   it   had   been   less   crowded。 Many   dinner…parties   were
  being   given   that   night;   and   it   was   only   by   dint   of   perseverance   and   a
  Treasury note that he had finally induced the head waiter to put in an extra
  table for him and his guest; Harry Kent。            Kent had been very late and; to
  add to his short…comings; had been silent; not to say morose; during dinner。
  Clymer heaved a sigh of relief when the table was cleared and coffee and
  cigars placed before them。
  Kent roused himself from his abstraction。             〃We cannot talk here;〃 he
  said;   looking    at  the  gay   diners   who    surrounded     them。    〃And     I  have
  several important matters to discuss with you; Mr。 Clymer。〃
  His remark was overheard by their waiter; and he stopped pouring out
  K