登陆注册
37648500000062

第62章 THE EPISODE OF THE TELLTALE THUMB(8)

This attitude was, of course, not without its significance to Maitland, and it was easy to see that M.Godin's visit had much displeased him.But he was not the only one who was displeased that night.I regret that my promise of utter candour compels me to bear witness to my own foolishness; for when Maitland found it necessary to take Jeannette into the back parlour and to remain there alone with her in earnest conversation one hour and twelve minutes - I happened to notice the exact time - it seemed to me he was getting unpleasantly confidential, and it nettled me.You may fancy that I was jealous, but it was, most likely, only pique, or, at the worst, envy.I was provoked at the nonchalant ease with which this fellow did offhand a thing I had been trying to work myself up to for several days, and had finally abandoned from sheer lack of courage.Why couldn't I carelessly say to her, "Miss Jeannette, a word with you if you please," and then take her into the parlour and talk a "whole history." Oh, it was envy, that's what it was! And then the change in Jeannette! If he had not been ****** love to her - well, I have often wondered since if it were all envy, after all The next morning M.Latour's trial was resumed, and Maitland again put M.Godin upon the stand.The object of this did not appear at the time, though I think the Judge fully understood it.Maitland's first act was to show the Judge and Jury a glass negative and a letter, which he asked them to examine carefully as he held the articles before them.He then passed the negative to M.Godin, saying:

"Please take this by the lower corner, between your thumb and forefinger, so that you may be sure not to touch the sight of the picture; hold it to the light, and tell me if you recognise the face." M.Godin did as directed and replied without hesitancy: "It is a picture of M.Latour." "Good," rejoined Maitland, taking back the negative and passing him the letter; "now tell me if you recognise that signature." M.Godin looked sharply at the letter, holding it open between the thumb and forefinger of each hand, and read the signature, "'Carl Cazenove.' I should say that was M.

Latour's hand."

"Good again," replied Maitland, reaching for the paper and appearing somewhat disconcerted as he glanced at it."You have smutched the signature; - however, it doesn't matter," and he exhibited the paper to the Judge and Jury."The negative must have been oily - yes, that's where it came from," and he quietly examined it with a magnifying glass, to the wonderment of us all."That is all, M.

Godin; thank you."

As the celebrated detective left the stand we were all doing our best to fathom what possible bearing all this could have upon Latour's confession.M.Godin for once seemed equally at a loss to comprehend the trend of affairs, if I may judge by the deep furrows which gathered between his eyes.

Maitland then proceeded to address the Court and to sum up his case, the gist of which I shall give you as nearly as possible in his own words, omitting only such portions as were purely formal, uninteresting, or unnecessarily verbose.

"Your Honour and Gentlemen of the Jury: John Darrow was murdered and the prisoner, M.Gustave Latour, has confessed that he did the deed.

When a man denies the commission of a crime we do not feel bound to consider his testimony of any particular value; but when, on the other hand, a prisoner accused of so heinous a crime as murder responds to the indictment, 'I am guilty,' we instinctively feel impelled to believe his testimony.Why is this? Why do we doubt his word when he asserts his innocence and accept it when he acknowledges his guilt? I will tell you.It is all a question of motive.Could we see as cogent a motive for asseverating his guilt as we find for his insisting upon his innocence, we should lend as much credence to the one as to the other.I propose to show that M.

Latour has what seems to him the strongest of motives for confessing to the murder of John Darrow.If I am able to do this to your satisfaction, I shall practically have thrown M.Latour's entire testimony out of court, and nothing of importance will then remain but the evidence of the government's witness, M.Godin."A great wave of excitement swept over the room at these remarks.

"What!" each said to himself, "is it possible that this lawyer will try to prove that Latour, despite his circumstantial confession, did not commit the murder after all?" We did not dare let such a thought take hold of us, yet could not see what else could explain Maitland's remarks.Is it any wonder, therefore, that we all waited breathlessly for him to continue? M.Godin's face was dark and lowering.It was evident he did not propose to have his skill as a detective, - and with it the Darrow reward, - set aside without a struggle - at least so it seemed to me.The room was as quiet as the grave when Maitland continued.

"I shall show you that M.Godin's testimony is utterly unreliable, and, moreover, that it is intentionally so."This was a direct accusation, and at it M.Godin's face became of ashen pallor.I felt that he was striving to control his anger and saw the effort that it cost him as he fastened Maitland with a stiletto-like look that was anything but reassuring.George did not appear to notice it and continued easily:

"I shall prove to you beyond a doubt that, in the actual murder of John Darrow, only one person was concerned, - by which I mean, that only one person was outside the east window when he met his death.

同类推荐
  • Sarrasine

    Sarrasine

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 秦中吟十首·议婚

    秦中吟十首·议婚

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 鱼篮宝卷

    鱼篮宝卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北涧居简禅师语录

    北涧居简禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 杌近志

    杌近志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 红豆一枝寄秋思

    红豆一枝寄秋思

    “子溪你怎么不吃了?这红豆糕难道不好吃?”“好吃是好吃,可这都吃了三天了,能不能……”“你也知道吃了三天啊,你就不明白吗?”“明白什么……?”“哎呀!就是…相思……”“你去哪?”“去给你买好吃的酱牛肉。”道士本来可以娶一好人家的女儿,可偏偏摊上了被拐来的官小姐言怡。道士只好带着言怡回家。回家的路上,道士的钱财被骗走,穷得叮当响,一路上言怡便带着道士招摇撞骗,哦不,行侠仗义,慢慢走向致富……
  • 网王柯南之梦的诠释

    网王柯南之梦的诠释

    音羽:我叫江户川音羽,我的哥哥是江户川柯南。月说,他是个了不起的侦探,和新一哥哥一样?迹月忱:你们说神马!工藤新一是我哥哥?太扯了吧喂,我的哥哥是幸村精市才对。快斗:不管你是江藤月还是迹月忱,我都喜欢。柯南:这是个结合了两个世界的综漫文!此文非柯南?哎,我在说什么啊真是。-_-||为什么我会和工藤新一同时存在??谁能告诉我这到底是肿么回事!!====================(本文已大修!彻底颠覆原文。因作者实在写不下去了,但又舍不得放弃某些人物,所以用另一种思路来写吧?)
  • 火影之妖狐之缘

    火影之妖狐之缘

    火影同人,男主宇智波斑。女主孤独无(狐妖)。新人发书,希望大家多多关照o(≧v≦)o
  • 异世之重生天才

    异世之重生天才

    姓名:刘新元性别:男地址:河南省南阳市镇平县联系住址:河南省南阳市镇平县高丘镇先师庙村皂角树24号联系qq:1354236334联系邮箱:1354236334@qq.com
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 大领主之帝国崛起

    大领主之帝国崛起

    如何将一个即将荒废的小村庄,发展成为一个称霸大陆的强大帝国?经营贸易,建立商业帝国;招募英雄,参加职业联赛;转会市场,招募各路豪强。经营大本营,攀升科技树?这只是基础。开发各种特色产品,并将其销往全世界,努力赚钱,才是首要之务!您需要采购什么商品?我们青灵商盟拥有大陆最齐全的商品库,只有想不到,没有买不到……什么,你想要蘑菇弹?
  • 双刃利剑:克隆卷

    双刃利剑:克隆卷

    人类克隆技术是对人类尊严的挑战。每个生命都具有自己的独特性,而克隆人是对供体的复制,这将损害人类的尊严,破坏人类的独特性。这对整个人类来说都是一种严重的威胁。
  • 穿越一绝美冒险

    穿越一绝美冒险

    冷艳希,这个现代的杀手。死亡前被一束光带到了原冷艳希的体内。也就是说,杀手冷艳希在这一刻,在这个异时空的世界里,有了新身份;新生活……她,已经不是原来的冷艳希了!!!
  • 众神的坟墓

    众神的坟墓

    希腊众神的陨落,北欧神殿的衰败,印度庙宇的凋零,东方仙宫的湮灭……曾经凌驾凡人的众神为何纷纷消失在凡人的世界之中,他们究竟去了哪里?是生?是死?难道神也会死去?那么他们的坟墓在哪里?
  • 贪恋红尘三千尺

    贪恋红尘三千尺

    本是青灯不归客,却因浊酒恋红尘。人有生老三千疾,唯有相思不可医。佛曰:缘来缘去,皆是天意;缘深缘浅,皆是宿命。她本是出家女,一心只想着远离凡尘逍遥自在。不曾想有朝一日唯一的一次下山随手救下一人竟是改变自己的一生。而她与他的相识,不过是为了印证,相识只是孽缘一场。