"We can settle the case here," he said cheerfully. "No need of
troubling the police judge. Now, Mr. Detective, how did I kill
Jimmie Turnbull before all those people without any one becoming
aware of the fact?"
"Slipped the poison in the glass of water you handed him," answered
Ferguson promptly. "A nervy sleight-of-hand, but you'll swing for
it."
Rochester's smile was exasperating as he turned to Dr. Stone.
"Judging from Stone's remarks about aconitine - which I overheard,"
he interpolated. "I gather the doctor is tolerably familiar with
the action of the drug. Does aconitine kill instantly, doctor?"
Stone cleared his throat before speaking. "No; the fatal period
averages about four hours," he said, and Rochester's eyes sparkled
as he looked up at the detective.
"Jimmie died almost immediately after I handed him that drink of
water," he declared. "If you wish to know who administered that
aconitine poison, you will have to find out who Jimmie was with at
the McIntyre house in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Pages:
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279