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〃Yes。〃
〃Did youwhile you happened to be alone for a few secondsunlock
the poison cupboard； and examine some of the bottles？〃
〃IImay have done so。〃
〃I put it to you that you did do so？〃
〃Yes。〃
Sir Ernest fairly shot the next question at him。
〃Did you examine one bottle in particular？〃
〃No； I do not think so。〃
〃Be careful； Mr。 Cavendish。 I am referring to a little bottle of Hydro…
chloride of Strychnine。〃
Lawrence was turning a sickly greenish colour。
〃NoI am sure I didn't。〃
〃Then how do you account for the fact that you left the unmistakable
impress of your finger…prints on it？〃
The bullying manner was highly efficacious with a nervous
disposition。
〃II suppose I must have taken up the bottle。〃
〃I suppose so too！ Did you abstract any of the contents of the bottle？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃Then why did you take it up？〃
〃I once studied to be a doctor。 Such things naturally interest me。〃
〃Ah！ So poisons 'naturally interest' you； do they？ Still； you waited to
be alone before gratifying that 'interest' of yours？〃
〃That was pure chance。 If the others had been there； I should have
done just the same。〃
〃Still； as it happens； the others were not there？〃
〃No； but〃
〃In fact； during the whole afternoon； you were only alone for a couple
of minutes； and it happenedI say； it happened to be during those two
minutes that you displayed your 'natural interest' in Hydro…chloride of
Strychnine？〃
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Lawrence stammered pitiably。
〃II〃
With a satisfied and expressive countenance； Sir Ernest observed：
〃I have nothing more to ask you； Mr。 Cavendish。〃
This bit of cross…examination had caused great excitement in court。
The heads of the many fashionably attired women present were busily laid
together； and their whispers became so loud that the judge angrily
threatened to have the court cleared if there was not immediate silence。
There was little more evidence。 The hand…writing experts were
called upon for their opinion of the signature of 〃Alfred Inglethorp〃 in the
chemist's poison register。 They all declared unanimously that it was
certainly not his hand…writing； and gave it as their view that it might be
that of the prisoner disguised。 Cross…examined； they admitted that it
might be the prisoner's hand…writing cleverly counterfeited。
Sir Ernest Heavywether's speech in opening the case for the defence
was not a long one； but it was backed by the full force of his emphatic
manner。 Never； he said； in the course of his long experience； had he
known a charge of murder rest on slighter evidence。 Not only was it
entirely circumstantial； but the greater part of it was practically unproved。
Let them take the testimony they had heard and sift it impartially。 The
strychnine had been found in a drawer in the prisoner's room。 That
drawer was an unlocked one； as he had pointed out； and he submitted that
there was no evidence to prove that it was the prisoner who had concealed
the poison there。 It was； in fact； a wicked and malicious attempt on the
part of some third person to fix the crime on the prisoner。 The
prosecution had been unable to produce a shred of evidence in support of
their contention that it was the prisoner who ordered the black beard from
Parkson's。 The quarrel which had taken place between prisoner and his
stepmother was freely admitted； but both it and his financial
embarrassments had been grossly exaggerated。
His learned friendSir Ernest nodded carelessly at Mr。 Philipshad
stated that if the prisoner were an innocent man； he would have come
forward at the inquest to explain that it was he； and not Mr。 Inglethorp；
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
who had been the participator in the quarrel。 He thought the facts had
been misrepresented。 What had actually occurred was this。 The
prisoner； returning to the house on Tuesday evening； had been
authoritatively told that there had been a violent quarrel between Mr。 and
Mrs。 Inglethorp。 No suspicion had entered the prisoner's head that
anyone could possibly have mistaken his voice for that of Mr。 Inglethorp。
He naturally concluded that his stepmother had had two quarrels。
The prosecution averred that on Monday； July 16th； the prisoner had
entered the chemist's shop in the village； disguised as Mr。 Inglethorp。
The prisoner； on the contrary； was at that time at a lonely spot called
Marston's Spinney； where he had been summoned by an anonymous note；
couched in blackmailing terms； and threatening to reveal certain matters to
his wife unless he complied with its demands。 The prisoner had；
accordingly； gone to the appointed spot； and after waiting there vainly for
half an hour had returned home。 Unfortunately； he had met with no one
on the way there or back who could vouch for the truth of his story； but
luckily he had kept the note； and it would be produced as evidence。
As for the statement relating to the destruction of the will； the prisoner
had formerly practiced at the Bar； and was perfectly well aware that the
will made in his favour a year before was automatically revoked by his
stepmother's remarriage。 He would call evidence to show who did
destroy the will； and it was possible that that might open up quite a new
view of the case。
Finally； he would point out to the jury that there was evidence against
other people besides John Cavendish。 He would direct their attention to
the fact that the evidence against Mr。 Lawrence Cavendish was quite as
strong； if not stronger than that against his brother。
He would now call the prisoner。
John acquitted himself well in the witness…box。 Under Sir Ernest's
skilful handling； he told his tale credibly and well。 The anonymous note
received by him was produced； and handed to the jury to examine。 The
readiness with which he admitted his financial difficulties； and the
disagreement with his stepmother； lent value to his denials。
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At the close of his examination； he paused； and said：
〃I should like to make one thing clear。 I utterly reject and disapprove
of Sir Ernest Heavywether's insinuations against my brother。 My brother；
I am convinced； had no more to do with the crime than I have。〃
Sir Ernest merely smiled； and noted with a sharp eye that John's
protest had produced a very favourable impression on the jury。
Then the cross…examination began。
〃I understand you to say that it never entered your head that the
witnesses at the inquest could possibly have mistaken your voice for that
of Mr。 Inglethorp。 Is not that very surprising？〃
〃No； I don't think so。 I was told there had been a quarrel between my
mother and Mr。 Inglethorp； and it never occurred to me that such was not
really the case。〃
〃Not when the servant Dorcas repeated certain fragments of the
conversationfragments which you must have recognized？〃
〃I did not recognize them。〃
〃Your memory must be unusually short！〃
〃No； but we were both angry； and； I think； said more than we meant。
I paid very little attention to my mother's actual words。〃
Mr。 Philips' incredulous sniff was a triumph of forensic skill。 He
passed on to the subject of the note。
〃You have produced this note very opportunely。 Tell me； is there
nothing familiar about the hand…writing of it？〃
〃Not that I know of。〃
〃Do you not think that it bears a marked resemblance to your own
hand…writingcarelessly disguised？〃