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The Darrow Enigma
A long…drawn 〃Hum！〃 escaped from Maitland； while M。 Godin gave
not the slightest indication of surprise。 It was quite evident to us all that
the astute Frenchman had acquired complete control of the case before he
had arrested the assassin。 At this juncture the Court said； addressing
Maitland：
〃This substance is extremely poisonous； I take it。〃 〃Your Honour；〃
Maitland replied； 〃it is the most fatal of all poisons known to chemists。 It
is also called cyanhydric； and； more commonly； prussic acid。 An
insignificant amount； when inhaled or brought into contact with the skin；
causes immediate death。 If a drop be placed upon the end of a glass rod
and brought toward the nose of a live rabbit he will be dead before it
reaches him。〃
A profound silence … the death…like quiet which accompanies an almost
breaking tension … reigned in the court…room as Maitland turned again to
Latour。
Q。 I understand you to say you used anhydrous hydrocyanic or
cyanhydric acid。
A。 Yes； sir。
Q。 Do you sufficiently understand chemistry to use these terms with
accuracy？ Might you not have used potassium cyanide or prussiate of
potash？
A。 I am a tolerably good chemist； and have spoken understandingly。
Potassium cyanide； KCN； is a white； crystalline compound； and could
hardly be used in a hypodermic syringe save in solution； in which
condition it would not have been sufficiently poisonous to have served my
purpose。
At this reply many of the audience exchanged approving glances。 They
believed M。 Latour had shown himself quite a match for Maitland in not
falling easily into what they regarded as a neat little trap which had been
set to prove his lack of chemical knowledge。 They attributed Maitland's
failure to further interrogate Latour upon his understanding of chemistry
as evidence that he had met an equal。 To be sure； they were not quite clear
in their own minds why Latour's counsel should be at such pains to
carefully examine a man who had already confessed； but they believed
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The Darrow Enigma
they knew when a lawyer had met his match； and felt sure that this was
one such instance。 Clinton Browne； who sat in one of the front seats；
seemed to find a deal more to amuse him in this incident than was
apparent to me。 Some men have such=20a wonderful sense of humour！
Maitland continued：
Q。 When Mr。 Darrow was murdered he sat in the centre of his parlour；
surrounded by his daughter and invited guests。 Will you tell the Court
how you entered and left this room without detection？
Again the witness hesitated and looked irresolutely； almost tremblingly；
about him； but seemed finally to steady himself； as it were； upon Godin's
glance。 It's a strange thing how the directness and intense earnestness of
a strong man will pull the vacillation of a weak one into line with it； even
as great ships draw lesser ones into their wakes。 The excited audience
hung breathlessly upon Latour's utterance。 At last they were to know
how this miracle of crime had been performed。 Every auditor leaned
forward in his seat； and those who were a trifle dull of hearing placed their
hands to their ears； fearful lest some syllable of the riddle's solution should
escape them。 M。 Latour remained dumb。 The Judge regarded him
sternly and said：
〃Answer the question。 How did you enter the Darrow parlour？〃
A。 I … I did … I did not enter it。
Again a half…suppressed exclamation of surprise traversed the room。
Q。 If you did not enter the room how did you plunge the hypodermic
syringe into your victim's neck？
It seemed for a moment as if the witness would utterly collapse； but he
pulled himself together； as with a mighty effort； and fairly took our breath
away with his astounding answer：
A。 I … I did not strike Mr。 Darrow with the syringe。
The audience literally gasped in open…mouthed amazement； while the
Court turned fiercely upon Latour and said：
〃What do you mean by first telling us you killed Mr。 Darrow by
injecting poison into his circulation from a specially prepared hypodermic
syringe； and then telling us that you did not strike him with this syringe。
What do you mean； sir？ Answer me！〃
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The Darrow Enigma
A sudden change came over M。 Latour。 All his timidity seemed to
vanish in a moment； as he drew himself up to his full height and faced the
Judge。 It seemed to me as if till now he had cherished a hope that he
might not be forced to give the details of his awful crime； but that he had
at last concluded he would be obliged to disclose all the particulars； and
had decided to manfully face the issue。
Every eye was fixed upon him； and every ear strained to its utmost as
he turned slowly toward the Judge and said with a calm dignity which
surprised us all：
A。 Your Honour is in error。 I said that I made use of a specially
constructed hypodermic syringe。 I have not said that I struck Mr。 Darrow
with it。 There is； therefore； nothing contradictory in my statements。
Again the prisoner had scored； and again the audience exchanged
approving glances which plainly said： 〃He's clever enough for them all！〃
Then the Court continued the examination。
Q。 Were you upon the Darrow estate when Mr。 Darrow met his death？
A。 Yes； your Honour。
Q。 Where？
A。 Just outside the eastern parlour…window； your Honour。
Q。 Did you strike the blow which caused Mr。 Darrow's death？
A。 No； your Honour。 =20
Q。 What！ Have you not said you are responsible for his murder？
A。 Yes； your Honour。
Q。 Ah； I see！ You had some other person for an accomplice？
A。 No； your Honour。
Q。 Look here； sir！ Do you propose to tell us anything of your own
accord； or must we drag it out of you piecemeal？
A。 No power can make me speak if I do not elect to； and I only elect to
answer questions。 Commission for contempt will hardly discipli