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to still further displease him； and finally concluded it must either be some
transient thought which had come uncalled into his mind； or else a feeling
of envy at his rival's prominence in the case； and the deservedly good
reputation he was making。 His general ill…feeling I； of course； charged to
jealousy； for I could not but note his uncontrollable admiration for Gwen。
I fully believed he would have given his own life … or anyone else's for that
matter … to possess her； and I decided to speak a word of warning to
George。 After a short； whispered consultation with Jenkins and the
prosecuting attorney； Maitland turned to the prisoner and said：
〃That will do。 M。 Latour may leave the stand。〃
It seemed to the spectators that the affair was now entirely cleared up；
and they accordingly settled themselves comfortably for the formal
denouement。 They were； therefore； much taken aback when Maitland
continued； addressing the jury：
〃The evidence against the prisoner would indeed seem overwhelming；
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The Darrow Enigma
even had we not his confession。 Apart from this confession we have no
incriminating evidence save such as has been furnished by the
government's chief witness； M。 Godin。 As it is through this gentleman's
efforts that Latour was brought within reach of justice； it is but natural that
much should be clear to him which may be puzzling to those who have not
made so close a study of the case。 I think he will enlighten us upon a few
points。 M。 Godin will please take the stand。〃
At this there was much whispering in the courtroom。。 Maitland's
course seemed decidedly anomalous。 Everyone wondered why he should
be at such pains to prove that which had been already admitted and which；
moreover； since he was representing Latour； it would seem he would most
naturally wish to disprove。 M。 Godin； however； took the stand and
Maitland proceeded to examine him in a way which only added
amazement to wonder。
Q。 How long have you been at work on this case？
A。 Ever since the murder。
Q。 When did you first visit M。 Latour's rooms？
A。 Do you mean to enter them？
Q。 Yes。
A。 I did not enter his rooms until the day he was arrested。 I went to
other rooms of the same tenement…house on previous occasions。
Q。 Have you reason to believe M。 Latour ever saw you prior to the day
of his arrest？
A。 No。 I am sure he did not。 I was especially careful to keep out of
his way。
Q。 You are certain that on the several occasions when you say you
entered his rooms you were not observed by him while there？
A。 I did not say I entered his rooms on several occasions。
Q。 What did you say？
A。 I said I never was in his rooms but once； and that was upon the day
of his arrest。
Q。 I understand。 Were you not assisted in your search for Mr。
Darrow's murderer by certain library books which you discovered M。
Latour had been reading？
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The Darrow Enigma
A。 I … I don't quite understand。
Q。 M。 Latour obtained some books from the Public Library for hall use；
giving his name as … as …=20
A。 Weltz。 Yes； they did assist me。 There were some also taken
under the name of Rizzi。
Q。 Exactly。 Those are the names； I think。 How was your attention
called to these books？
A。 I met Latour at the library by accident； and he at once struck me as
a man anxious to avoid observation。 This made it my business to watch
him。 I saw that he signed his name as 〃Weltz〃 on the slips。 The next day
I saw him there again； and this time he signed the slips 〃Rizzi。〃 This was
long before the murder； and I was not at work upon any case into which I
could fit this 〃Weltz〃 or 〃Rizzi。〃 I was convinced in my own mind；
however； that he was guilty of some crime； and so put him down in my
memory for future reference。 During my work upon this present case
this incident recurred to me； and I followed up the suggestion as one
which might possibly throw some light upon the subject。
Q。 Did you peruse the books M。 Latour borrowed under the names of
Weltz and Rizzi？
A。 I did not。
Q。 Did you not look at any of them？
A。 No。 It did not occur to me to examine their names。
Q。 You probably noticed that there were several of them。 Among
the pile was one by Alexander Wynter Blyth entitled； 〃Poisons； Their
Effects and Detection。〃 Did you notice that？ A。 No。 I did not notice
any of them。
Q。 But after you became suspicious of M。 Latour； did you not then
look up the slips； find this work； and read it？
A。 No。 I have never seen the book in my life and did not even know
such a work existed。
Q。 Oh！ Then the perusal of the books had no part in the tracking of
M。 Latour。
A。 None whatever。
Q。 Do you ever play cards？
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The Darrow Enigma
A。 Yes； sometimes； to pass the time。
Q。 Do you play for money？
A。 Sometimes for a small stake … just enough to make it interesting。
Q。 Are you familiar with the house in which Mr。 Darrow was
murdered？
A。 I have only such knowledge of it as I acquired at the examination
immediately after the murder。 You will remember I entered but the one
room。
Q。 And the grounds about the house？ Surely you examined them？
A。 On the contrary； I did not。
Q。 Did you not even examine the eastern side of the house？
A。 I did not。 I have never been within the gate save on the night in
question； and then only to traverse the front walk to and from the house in
company with Messieurs Osborne and Allen。 I was convinced that the
solution of the problem was to be found within the room in which the
murder was committed； and that my notes taken the night of the tragedy
contained all the data I could hope to get。
Q。 Was not this rather a singular assumption？
A。 For many doubtless it would be； but I