"Thissymptomalarmedus。WewenttothevillageforthemedicalmanwhohadattendedMrs。Macallanduringherillness：oneMr。
　　Gale。
　　"Thedoctorseemednobetterabletoaccountforthechangefortheworseinhispatientthanwewere。Hearinghercomplainofthirst，hegavehersomemilk。Notlongaftertakingitshewassick。Thesicknessappearedtorelieveher。Shesoongrewdrowsyandslumbered。Mr。Galeleftus，withstrictinjunctionstosendforhiminstantlyifshewastakenillagain。
　　"Nothingofthesorthappened；nochangetookplaceforthenextthreehoursormore。Sherouseduptowardhalf—pastnineandinquiredaboutherhusband。Iinformedherthathehadreturnedtohisownroom，andaskedifIshouldsendforhim。Shesaid’No。’Iaskednextifshewouldlikeanythingtoeatordrink。
　　Shesaid’No’again，inratheravacant，stupefiedway，andthentoldmetogodownstairsandgetmybreakfast。OnmywaydownI
　　metthehousekeeper。Sheinvitedmetobreakfastwithherinherroom，insteadofintheservants’hallasusual。Iremainedwiththehousekeeperbutashorttime——certainlynotmorethanhalfanhour。
　　"Comingupstairsagain，Imettheunder—housemaidsweepingononeofthelandings。
　　"ThegirlinformedmethatMrs。Macallanhadtakenacupofteaduringmyabsenceinthehousekeeper’sroom。Mr。Macallan’svalethadorderedtheteaforhismistressbyhismaster’sdirections。
　　Theunder—housemaidmadeit，andtookitupstairsherselftoMrs。
　　Macallan’sroom。Hermaster，shesaid，openedthedoorwhensheknocked，andtookthetea—cupfromherwithhisownhand。Heopenedthedoorwidelyenoughforhertoseeintothebedroom，andtonoticethatnobodywaswithMrs。Macallanbuthimself。
　　"Afteralittletalkwiththeunder—housemaid，Ireturnedtothebedroom。Noonewasthere。Mrs。Macallanwaslyingperfectlyquiet，withherfaceturnedawayfrommeonthepillow。
　　Approachingthebedside，Ikickedagainstsomethingonthefloor。
　　Itwasabrokentea—cup。IsaidtoMrs。Macallan，’Howcomesthetea—cuptobebroken，ma’am？’Sheanswered，withoutturningtowardme，inanodd，muffledkindofvoice，’Idroppedit。’
　　’Beforeyoudrankyourtea，ma’am？’Iasked。’No，’shesaid；’inhandingthecupbacktoMr。Macallan，afterIhaddone。’Ihadputmyquestion，wishingtoknow，incaseshehadspilledtheteawhenshedroppedthecup，whetheritwouldbenecessarytogetheranymore。IamquitesureIremembercorrectlymyquestionandheranswer。Iinquirednextifshehadbeenlongalone。Shesaid，shortly，’Yes；Ihavebeentryingtosleep。’Isaid，’Doyoufeelprettycomfortable？’Sheanswered，’Yes，’again。Allthistimeshestillkeptherfacesulkilyturnedfrommetowardthewall。Stoopingoverhertoarrangethebedclothes，Ilookedtowardhertable。Thewritingmaterialswhichwerealwayskeptonitweredisturbed，andtherewaswetinkononeofthepens。I
　　said，’Surelyyouhaven’tbeenwriting，ma’am？’’Whynot？’shesaid；’Icouldn’tsleep。’’Anotherpoem？’Iasked。Shelaughedtoherself——abitter，shortlaugh。’Yes，’shesaid，’anotherpoem。’
　　’That’sgood，’Isaid；’itlooksasifyouweregettingquitelikeyourselfagain。Weshan’twantthedoctoranymoreto—day。’
　　Shemadenoanswertothis，exceptanimpatientsignwithherhand。Ididn’tunderstandthesign。Uponthatshespokeagain，andcrosslyenough，too——’Iwanttobealone；leaveme。’
　　"IhadnochoicebuttodoasIwastold。Tothebestofmyobservation，therewasnothingthematterwithher，andnothingforthenursetodo。Iputthebell—ropewithinreachofherhand，andIwentdownstairsagain。
　　"Halfanhourmore，aswellasIcanguessit，passed。Ikeptwithinhearingofthebell；butitneverrang。Iwasnotquiteatmyease——withoutexactlyknowingwhy。Thatodd，muffledvoiceinwhichshehadspokentomehungonmymind，asitwere。Iwasnotquitesatisfiedaboutleavingheralonefortoolongatimetogether——andthen，again，Iwasunwillingtoriskthrowingherintooneofherfitsofpassionbygoingbackbeforesherangforme。Itendedinmyventuringintotheroomontheground—floorcalledtheMorning—Room，toconsultMr。Macallan。Hewasusuallytobefoundthereintheforenoonoftheday。
　　"Onthisoccasion，however，whenIlookedintotheMorning—Roomitwasempty。
　　"AtthesamemomentIheardthemaster’svoiceontheterraceoutside。Iwentout，andfoundhimspeakingtooneMr。Dexter，anoldfriendofhis，and（likeMrs。Beauly）agueststayinginthehouse。Mr。Dexterwassittingatthewindowofhisroomupstairs（hewasacripple，andcouldonlymovehimselfaboutinachaironwheels），andMr。Macallanwasspeakingtohimfromtheterracebelow。
　　"’Dexter！’IheardMr。Macallansay。’WhereisMrs。Beauly？Haveyouseenanythingofher？’
　　"Mr。Dexteranswered，inhisquick，off—handwayofspeaking，’NotI。Iknownothingabouther。’
　　"ThenIadvanced，and，beggingpardonforintruding，ImentionedtoMr。MacallanthedifficultyIwasinaboutgoingbackornottohiswife’sroomwithoutwaitinguntilsherangforme。Beforehecouldadvisemeinthematter，thefootmanmadehisappearanceandinformedmethatMrs。Macallan’sbellwasthenringing——andringingviolently。
　　"Itwasthencloseoneleveno’clock。AsfastasIcouldmountthestairsIhastenedbacktothebedroom。
　　"BeforeIopenedthedoorIheardMrs。Macallangroaning。Shewasindreadfulpain；feelingaburningheatinthestomachandinthethroat，togetherwiththesamesicknesswhichhadtroubledherintheearlymorning。Thoughnodoctor，Icouldseeinherfacethatthissecondattackwasofafarmoreseriousnaturethanthefirst。AfterringingthebellforamessengertosendtoMr。Macallan，Irantothedoortoseeifanyoftheservantshappenedtobewithincall。
　　"TheonlypersonIsawinthecorridorwasMrs。Beauly。Shewasonherwayfromherownroom，shesaid，toinquireafterMrs。
　　Macallan’shealth。Isaidtoher，’Mrs。Macallanisseriouslyillagain，ma’am。WouldyoupleasetellMr。Macallan，andsendforthedoctor？’SherandownstairsatoncetodoasItoldher。
　　"IhadnotbeenlongbackatthebedsidewhenMr。MacallanandMrs。Beaulybothcameintogether。Mrs。Macallancastastrangelookonthem（alookIcannotatalldescribe），andbadethemleaveher。Mrs。Beauly，lookingverymuchfrightened，withdrewimmediately。Mr。Macallanadvancedasteportwonearertothebed。Hiswifelookedathimagaininthesamestrangeway，andcriedout——halfasifshewasthreateninghim，halfasifshewasentreatinghim——’Leavemewiththenurse。Go！’Heonlywaitedtosaytomeinawhisper，’Thedoctorissentfor，’andthenhelefttheroom。
　　"BeforeMr。GalearrivedMrs。Macallanwasviolentlysick。Whatcamefromherwasmuddyandfrothy，andfaintlystreakedwithblood。WhenMr。Galesawithelookedveryserious。Iheardhimsaytohimself，’Whatdoesthismean？’HedidhisbesttorelieveMrs。Macallan，butwithnogoodresultthatIcouldsee。Afteratimesheseemedtosufferless。Thenmoresicknesscameon。Thentherewasanotherintermission。Whethershewassufferingornot，Iobservedthatherhandsandfeet（wheneverItouchedthem）
　　remainedequallycold。Also，thedoctor’sreportofherpulsewasalwaysthesame——’verysmallandfeeble。’IsaidtoMr。Gale，’Whatistobedone，sir？’AndMr。Galesaidtome，’Iwon’ttaketheresponsibilityonmyselfanylonger；ImusthaveaphysicianfromEdinburgh。’
　　"ThefastesthorseinthestablesatGleninchwasputintoadog—cart，andthecoachmandroveawayfullspeedtoEdinburghtofetchthefamousDoctorJerome。
　　"Whilewewerewaitingforthephysician，Mr。Macallancameintohiswife’sroomwithMr。Gale。Exhaustedasshewas，sheinstantlyliftedherhandandsignedtohimtoleaveher。Hetriedbysoothingwordstopersuadehertolethimstay。No！Shestillinsistedonsendinghimoutofherroom。Heseemedtofeelit——atsuchatime，andinthepresenceofthedoctor。Beforeshewasawareofhim，hesuddenlysteppeduptothebedsideandkissedherontheforehead。Sheshrankfromhimwithascream。
　　Mr。Galeinterfered，andledhimoutoftheroom。
　　"IntheafternoonDoctorJeromearrived。
　　"Thegreatphysiciancamejustintimetoseeherseizedwithanotherattackofsickness。Hewatchedherattentively，withoutspeakingaword。Intheintervalwhenthesicknessstopped，hestillstudiedher，asitwere，inperfectsilence。Ithoughthewouldneverhavedoneexaminingher。Whenhewasatlastsatisfied，hetoldmetoleavehimalonewithMr。Gale。’Wewillring，’hesaid，’whenwewantyouhereagain。’
　　"Itwasalongtimebeforetheyrangforme。ThecoachmanwassentforbeforeIwassummonedbacktothebedroom。HewasdispatchedtoEdinburghforthesecondtime，withawrittenmessagefromDr。Jerometohisheadservant，sayingthattherewasnochanceofhisreturningtothecityandtohispatientsforsomehourstocome。SomeofusthoughtthislookedbadlyforMrs。Macallan。Otherssaiditmightmeanthatthedoctorhadhopesofsavingher，butexpectedtobealongtimeindoingit。
　　"AtlastIwassentfor。Onmypresentingmyselfinthebedroom，DoctorJeromewentouttospeaktoMr。Macallan，leavingMr。Galealongwithme。FromthattimeaslongasthepoorladylivedI
　　wasneverleftalonewithher。Oneofthetwodoctorswasalwaysinherroom。Refreshmentswerepreparedforthem；butstilltheytookitinturnstoeattheirmeal，onerelievingtheotheratthebedside。Iftheyhadadministeredremediestotheirpatient，Ishouldnothavebeensurprisedbythisproceeding。Buttheywereattheendoftheirremedies；theironlybusinesstheseemedtobetokeepwatch。Iwaspuzzledtoaccountforthis。Keepingwatchwasthenurse’sbusiness。Ithoughttheconductofthedoctorsverystrange。
　　"Bythetimethatthelampwaslightedinthesick—roomIcouldseethattheendwasnear。Exceptinganoccasionalfeelingofcrampinherlegs，sheseemedtosufferless。Buthereyeslookedsunkinherhead；herskinwascoldandclammy；herlipshadturnedtoabluishpaleness。Nothingrousedhernow——exceptingthelastattemptmadebyherhusbandtoseeher。HecameinwithDoctorJerome，lookinglikeamanterror—struck。Shewaspastspeaking；butthemomentshesawhimshefeeblymadesignsandsoundswhichshowedthatshewasjustasresolvedasevernottolethimcomenearher。HewassooverwhelmedthatMr。Galewasobligedtohelphimoutoftheroom。Nootherpersonwasallowedtoseethepatient。Mr。DexterandMrs。Beaulymadetheirinquiriesoutsidethedoor，andwerenotinvitedin。Astheeveningdrewonthedoctorssatoneithersideofthebed，silentlywatchingher，silentlywaitingforherdeath。
　　"Towardeighto’clocksheseemedtohavelosttheuseofherhandsandarms：theylayhelplessoutsidethebed—clothes。A
　　littlelatershesankintoasortofdullsleep。Littlebylittlethesoundofherheavybreathinggrewfainter。AttwentyminutespastnineDoctorJerometoldmetobringthelamptothebedside。
　　Helookedather，andputhishandonherheart。Thenhesaidtome，’Youcangodownstairs，nurse：itisallover。’HeturnedtoMr。Gale。’WillyouinquireifMr。Macallancanseeus？’hesaid。
　　IopenedthedoorforMr。Gale，andfollowedhimout。DoctorJeromecalledmebackforamoment，andtoldmetogivehimthekeyofthedoor。Ididso，ofcourse；butIthoughtthisalsoverystrange。WhenIgotdowntotheservants’hallIfoundtherewasageneralfeelingthatsomethingwaswrong。Wewerealluneasy——withoutknowingwhy。
　　"Alittlelaterthetwodoctorsleftthehouse。Mr。Macallanhadbeenquiteincapableofreceivingthemandhearingwhattheyhadtosay。InthisdifficultytheyhadspokenprivatelywithMr。
　　Dexter，asMr。Macallan’soldfriend，andtheonlygentlemanthenstayingatGleninch。
　　"Beforebed—timeIwentupstairstopreparetheremainsofthedeceasedladyforthecoffin。Theroominwhichshelaywaslocked，thedoorleadingintoMr。Macallan’sroombeingsecured，aswellasthedoorleadingintothecorridor。ThekeyshadbeentakenawaybyMr。Gale。Twoofthemen—servantswerepostedoutsidethebedroomtokeepwatch。Theyweretoberelievedatfourinthemorning——thatwasalltheycouldtellme。
　　"Intheabsenceofanyexplanationsordirections，ItookthelibertyofknockingatthedoorofMr。Dexter’sroom。FromhislipsIfirstheardthestartlingnews。Boththedoctorshadrefusedtogivetheusualcertificateofdeath！Therewastobeamedicalexaminationofthebodythenextmorning。"
　　Theretheexaminationofthenurse，ChristinaOrmsay，cametoanend。
　　IgnorantasIwasofthelaw，Icouldseewhatimpressiontheevidence（sofar）wasintendedtoproduceonthemindsofthejury。Afterfirstshowingthatmyhusbandhadhadtwoopportunitiesofadministeringthepoison——onceinthemedicineandonceinthetea——thecounselfortheCrownledthejurytoinferthattheprisonerhadtakenthoseopportunitiestoridhimselfofanuglyandjealouswife，whosedetestabletemperhecouldnolongerendure。
　　Havingdirectedhisexaminationtotheattainmentofthisobject，theLordAdvocatehaddonewiththewitness。TheDeanofFaculty——actingintheprisoner’sinterests——thenrosetobringoutthefavorablesideofthewife’scharacterbycross—examiningthenurse。Ifhesucceededinthisattempt，thejurymightreconsidertheirconclusionthatthewifewasapersonwhohadexasperatedherhusbandbeyondendurance。Inthatcase，where（sofar）wasthehusband’smotiveforpoisoningher？andwherewasthepresumptionoftheprisoner’sguilt？
　　Pressedbythisskillfullawyer，thenursewasobligedtoexhibitmyhusband’sfirstwifeunderanentirelynewaspect。HereisthesubstanceofwhattheDeanofFacultyextractedfromChristinaOrmsay：
　　"IpersistindeclaringthatMrs。Macallanhadamostviolenttemper。Butshewascertainlyinthehabitofmakingamendsfortheoffensethatshegavebyherviolence。Whenshewasquietagainshealwaysmadeherexcusestome，andshemadethemwithagoodgrace。Hermannerswereengagingatsuchtimesasthese。Shespokeandactedlikeawell—bredlady。Then，again，astoherpersonalappearance。Plainasshewasinface，shehadagoodfigure；herhandsandfeet，Iwastold，hadbeenmodeledbyasculptor。Shehadaverypleasantvoice，andshewasreportedwheninhealthtosingbeautifully。Shewasalso（ifhermaid’saccountwastobetrusted）apatterninthematterofdressingfortheotherladiesintheneighborhood。Then，astoMrs。
　　Beauly，thoughshewascertainlyjealousofthebeautifulyoungwidow，shehadshownatthesametimethatshewascapableofcontrollingthatfeeling。ItwasthroughMrs。MacallanthatMrs。
　　Beaulywasinthehouse。Mrs。BeaulyhadwishedtopostponehervisitonaccountofthestateofMrs。Macallan’shealth。ItwasMrs。Macallanherself——notherhusband——whodecidedthatMrs。
　　Beaulyshouldnotbedisappointed，andshouldpayhervisittoGleninchthenandthere。Further，Mrs。Macallan（inspiteofhertemper）waspopularwithherfriendsandpopularwithherservants。Therewashardlyadryeyeinthehousewhenitwasknownshewasdying。And，furtherstill，inthoselittledomesticdisagreementsatwhichthenursehadbeenpresent，Mr。Macallanhadneverlosthistemper，andhadneverusedharshlanguage：heseemedtobemoresorrythanangrywhenthequarrelstookplace。"——Moralforthejury：Wasthisthesortofwomanwhowouldexasperateamanintopoisoningher？Andwasthisthesortofmanwhowouldbecapableofpoisoninghiswife？
　　Havingproducedthissalutarycounter—impression，theDeanofFacultysatdown；andthemedicalwitnesseswerecallednext。
　　Heretheevidencewassimplyirresistible。
　　Dr。JeromeandMr。Galepositivelysworethatthesymptomsoftheillnesswerethesymptomsofpoisoningbyarsenic。Thesurgeonwhohadperformedthepost—mortemexaminationfollowed。HepositivelysworethattheappearanceoftheinternalorgansprovedDoctorJeromeandMr。Galetoberightindeclaringthattheirpatienthaddiedpoisoned。Lastly，tocompletethisoverwhelmingtestimony，twoanalyticalchemistsactuallyproducedinCourtthearsenicwhichtheyhadfoundinthebody，inaquantityadmittedlysufficienttohavekilledtwopersonsinsteadofone。Inthefaceofsuchevidenceasthis，cross—examinationwasamereform。ThefirstQuestionraisedbytheTrial——DidtheWomanDiePoisoned？——wasansweredintheaffirmative，andansweredbeyondthepossibilityofdoubt。
　　Thenextwitnessescalledwerewitnessesconcernedwiththequestionthatnowfollowed——theobscureandterriblequestion，WhoPoisonedHer？
　　CHAPTERXVII。
　　SECONDQUESTION——WHOPOISONEDHER？。
　　THEevidenceofthedoctorsandthechemistsclosedtheproceedingsonthefirstdayoftheTrial。
　　Ontheseconddaytheevidencetobeproducedbytheprosecutionwasanticipatedwithageneralfeelingofcuriosityandinterest。
　　TheCourtwasnowtohearwhathadbeenseenanddonebythepersonsofficiallyappointedtoverifysuchcasesofsuspectedcrimeasthecasewhichhadoccurredatGleninch。TheProcurator—Fiscal——beingthepersonofficiallyappointedtodirectthepreliminaryinvestigationsofthelaw——wasthefirstwitnesscalledontheseconddayoftheTrial。
　　ExaminedbytheLordAdvocate，theFiscalgavehisevidence，asfollows：
　　"Onthetwenty—sixthofOctoberIreceivedacommunicationfromDoctorJerome，ofEdinburgh，andfromMr。AlexanderGale，medicalpractitioner，residinginthevillageorhamletofDingdovie，nearEdinburgh。Thecommunicationrelatedtothedeath，undercircumstancesofsuspicion，ofMrs。EustaceMacallan，atherhusband’shouse，hardbyDingdovie，calledGleninch。Therewerealsoforwardedtome，inclosedinthedocumentjustmentioned，tworeports。Onedescribedtheresultsofapostmortemexaminationofthedeceasedlady，andtheotherstatedthediscoveriesmadeafterachemicalanalysisofcertainoftheinteriororgansofherbody。TheresultinbothinstancesprovedtodemonstrationthatMrs。EustaceMacallanhaddiedofpoisoningbyarsenic。
　　"Underthesecircumstances，IsetinmotionasearchandinquiryinthehouseatGleninchandelsewhere，simplyforthepurposeofthrowinglightonthecircumstanceswhichhadattendedthelady’sdeath。
　　"Nocriminalchargeinconnectionwiththedeathwasmadeatmyofficeagainstanyperson，eitherinthecommunicationwhichI
　　receivedfromthemedicalmenorinanyotherform。TheinvestigationsatGleninchandelsewhere，beginningonthetwenty—sixthofOctober，werenotcompleteduntilthetwenty—eighth。Uponthislatterdate——actingoncertaindiscoverieswhichwerereportedtome，andonmyownexaminationoflettersandotherdocumentsbroughttomyoffice——Imadeacriminalchargeagainsttheprisoner，andobtainedawarrantforhisapprehension。HewasexaminedbeforetheSheriffonthetwenty—ninthofOctober，andwascommittedfortrialbeforethisCourt。"
　　TheFiscalhavingmadehisstatement，andhavingbeencross—examined（ontechnicalmattersonly），thepersonsemployedinhisofficewerecallednext。Thesemenhadastoryofstartlinginteresttotell。TheirswerethefataldiscoverieswhichhadjustifiedtheFiscalinchargingmyhusbandwiththemurderofhiswife。Thefirstofthewitnesseswasasheriff’sofficer。HegavehisnameasIsaiahSchoolcraft。
　　ExaminedbyMr。Drew——Advocate—Depute，andcounselfortheCrown，withtheLordAdvocate——IsaiahSchoolcraftsaid：
　　"Igotawarrantonthetwenty—sixthofOctobertogotothecountry—housenearEdinburghcalledGleninch。ItookwithmeRobertLorrie，assistanttotheFiscal。WefirstexaminedtheroominwhichMrs。EustaceMacallanhaddied。Onthebed，andonamovabletablewhichwasattachedtoit，wefoundbooksandwritingmaterials，andapapercontainingsomeunfinishedversesinmanuscript，afterwardidentifiedasbeinginthehandwritingofthedeceased。Weinclosedthesearticlesinpaper，andsealedthemup。
　　"WenextopenedanIndiancabinetinthebedroom。Herewefoundmanymoreversesonmanymoresheetsofpaperinthesamehand—writing。Wealsodiscovered，firstsomeletters，andnextacrumpledpieceofpaperthrownasideinacornerofoneoftheshelves。Oncloserexamination，achemist’sprintedlabelwasdiscoveredonthismorselofpaper。Wealsofoundinthefoldsofitafewscatteredgrainsofsomewhitepowder。Thepaperandtheletterswerecarefullyinclosed，andsealedupasbefore。
　　"Furtherinvestigationoftheroomrevealednothingwhichcouldthrowanylightonthepurposeofourinquiry。Weexaminedtheclothes，jewelry，andbooksofthedeceased。Theseweleftunderlockandkey。Wealsofoundherdressing—case，whichweprotectedbyseals，andtookawaywithustotheFiscal’soffice，alongwithalltheotherarticlesthatwehaddiscoveredintheroom。
　　"Thenextdaywecontinuedourexaminationinthehouse，havingreceivedintheintervalfreshinstructionsfromtheFiscal。WebeganourworkinthebedroomcommunicatingwiththeroominwhichMrs。Macallanhaddied。Ithadbeenkeptlockedsincethedeath。Findingnothingofanyimportancehere，wewentnexttoanotherroomonthesamefloor，inwhichwewereinformedtheprisonerwasthenlyingillinbed。
　　"Hisillnesswasdescribedtousasanervouscomplaint，causedbythedeathofhiswife，andbytheproceedingswhichhadfollowedit。Hewasreportedtobequiteincapableofexertinghimself，andquiteunfittoseestrangers。Weinsistednevertheless（indeferencetoourinstructions）onobtainingadmissiontohisroom。Hemadenoreplywhenweinquiredwhetherhehadorhadnotremovedanythingfromthesleeping—roomnexttohislatewife’s，whichheusuallyoccupied，tothesleeping—roominwhichhenowlay。Allhedidwastoclosehiseyes，asifheweretoofeebletospeaktousortonoticeus。Withoutfurtherdisturbinghim，webegantoexaminetheroomandthedifferentobjectsinit。
　　"Whileweweresoemployed，wewereinterruptedbyastrangesound。Welikenedittotherumblingofwheelsinthecorridoroutside。
　　"Thedooropened，andtherecameswiftlyinagentleman——acripple——wheelinghimselfalonginachair。Hewheeledhischairstraightuptoalittletablewhichstoodbytheprisoner’sbedside，andsaidsomethingtohiminawhispertoolowtobeoverheard。Theprisoneropenedhiseyes，andquicklyansweredbyasign。Weinformedthecrippledgentleman，quiterespectfully，thatwecouldnotallowhimtobeintheroomatthistime。Heappearedtothinknothingofwhatwesaid。Heonlyanswered，’MynameisDexter。IamoneofMr。Macallan’soldfriends。Itisyouwhoareintrudinghere——notI。’Weagainnotifiedtohimthathemustleavetheroom；andwepointedoutparticularlythathehadgothischairinsuchapositionagainstthebedsidetableastopreventusfromexaminingit。Heonlylaughed。’Can’tyouseeforyourselves，’hesaid，’thatitisatable，andnothingmore？’Inreplytothiswewarnedhimthatwewereactingunderalegalwarrant，andthathemightgetintotroubleifheobstructedusintheexecutionofourduty。Findingtherewasnomovinghimbyfairmeans，Itookhischairandpulleditaway，whileRobertLorrielaidholdofthetableandcarriedittotheotherendoftheroom。Thecrippledgentlemanflewintoafuriousragewithmeforpresumingtotouchhischair。’MychairisMe，’hesaid：’howdareyoulayhandsonMe？’Ifirstopenedthedoor，andthen，bywayofaccommodatinghim，gavethechairagoodpushbehindwithmystickinsteadofmyhand，andsosentitandhimsafelyandswiftlyoutoftheroom。
　　"Havinglockedthedoor，soastopreventanyfurtherintrusion，IjoinedRobertLorrieinexaminingthebedsidetable。Ithadonedrawerinit，andthatdrawerwefoundsecured。
　　"Weaskedtheprisonerforthekey。
　　"Heflatlyrefusedtogiveittous，andsaidwehadnorighttounlockhisdrawers。Hewassoangrythatheevendeclareditwasluckyforushewastooweaktorisefromhisbed。Iansweredcivillythatourdutyobligedustoexaminethedrawer，andthatifhestilldeclinedtoproducethekey，hewouldonlyobligeustotakethetableawayandhavethelockopenedbyasmith。
　　"Whilewewerestilldisputingtherewasaknockatthedooroftheroom。
　　"Iopenedthedoorcautiously。Insteadofthecrippledgentleman，whomIhadexpectedtoseeagain，therewasanotherstrangerstandingoutside。Theprisonerhailedhimasafriendandneighbor，andeagerlycalleduponhimforprotectionfromus。Wefoundthissecondgentlemanpleasantenoughtodealwith。HeinformedusreadilythathehadbeensentforbyMr。Dexter，andthathewashimselfalawyer，andheaskedtoseeourwarrant。
　　Havinglookedatit，heatonceinformedtheprisoner（evidentlyverymuchtotheprisoner’ssurprise）thathemustsubmittohavethedrawerexamined，underprotest。Andthen，withoutmoreado，hegotthekey，andopenedthetabledrawerforushimself。
　　"Wefoundinsideseveralletters，andalargebookwithalocktoit，havingthewords’MyDiary’inscribedonitingiltletters。
　　Asamatterofcourse，wetookpossessionofthelettersandtheDiary，andsealedthemup，tobegiventotheFiscal。Atthesametimethegentlemanwroteoutaprotestontheprisoner’sbehalf，andhandedushiscard。ThecardinformedusthathewasMr。
　　Playmore，nowoneoftheAgentsfortheprisoner。Thecardandtheprotestweredeposited，withtheotherdocuments，inthecareoftheFiscal。NootherdiscoveriesofanyimportanceweremadeatGleninch。
　　"OurnextinquiriestookustoEdinburgh——tothedruggistwhoselabelwehadfoundonthecrumpledmorselofpaper，andtootherdruggistslikewisewhomwewereinstructedtoquestion。Onthetwenty—eighthofOctobertheFiscalwasinpossessionofalltheinformationthatwecouldcollect，andourdutiesforthetimebeingcametoanend。"
　　ThisconcludedtheevidenceofSchoolcraftandLorrie。Itwasnotshakenoncross—examination，anditwasplainlyunfavorabletotheprisoner。
　　Mattersgrewworsestillwhenthenextwitnesseswerecalled。Thedruggistwhoselabelhadbeenfoundonthecrumpledbitofpapernowappearedonthestand，tomakethepositionofmyunhappyhusbandmorecriticalthanever。
　　AndrewKinlay，druggist，ofEdinburgh，deposedasfollows：
　　"Ikeepaspecialregistrybookofthepoisonssoldbyme。I
　　producethebook。Onthedatethereinmentionedtheprisoneratthebar，Mr。EustaceMacallan，cameintomyshop，andsaidthathewishedtopurchasesomearsenic。Iaskedhimwhatitwaswantedfor。Hetoldmeitwaswantedbyhisgardener，tobeused，insolution，forthekillingofinsectsinthegreenhouse。Atthesametimehementionedhisname——Mr。Macallan，ofGleninch。Iatoncedirectedmyassistanttoputupthearsenic（twoouncesofit），andImadethenecessaryentryinmybook。Mr。Macallansignedtheentry，andIsigneditafterwardaswitness。Hepaidforthearsenic，andtookitawaywithhimwrappedupintwopapers，theouterwrapperbeinglabeledwithmynameandaddress，andwiththeword’Poison’inlargeletters——exactlylikethelabelnowproducedonthepieceofpaperfoundatGleninch。"
　　Thenextwitness，PeterStockdale（alsoadruggistofEdinburgh），followed，andsaid：