Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1073 page)

WATSON
: No, sir.

CORONER
: A retired Army Surgeon, I understand?

WATSON
: Yes.

CORONER
: Dear me! you retired young.

WATSON
: I was wounded in the Afghan Campaign.

CORONER
: I see, I see. You knew Dr. Rylott before this tragedy?

WATSON
: No, sir. I knew Mrs. Stonor when she was a widow, and I knew her two daughters. That was in India. I heard of her re-marriage and her death. When I heard that the children, with their stepfather, had come to England, I wrote and reminded them that they had at least one friend.

CORONER
: Well, what then?

WATSON
: I heard no more until I received a wire from Miss Enid Stonor. I at once came down to Stoke Moran.

CORONER
: You were the first medical man to see the body?

WATSON
: Dr. Rylott is himself a medical man.

CORONER
: Exactly. You were the first independent medical man?

WATSON
: Oh, yes, sir.

CORONER
: Without going too far into painful details, I take it that you are in agreement with Professor Van Donop’s report and analysis?

WATSON
: Yes, sir.

CORONER
: You found no physical lesion?

WATSON
: No.

CORONER
: Nothing to account for death?

WATSON
: No.

CORONER
: No signs of violence?

WATSON
: No.

CORONER
: Nor of poison?

WATSON
: No.

CORONER
: Yet there must be a cause?

WATSON
: There are many causes of death which leave no sign.

CORONER
: For instance — ?

WATSON
: Well, for instance, the subtler poisons. There are many poisons for which we have no test.

CORONER
: No doubt. But you will remember, Dr. Watson, that this young lady died some five or six hours after her last meal. So far as the evidence goes it was only then that she could have taken Poison, unless she took it of her own free will; in which case we Should have expected to find some paper or bottle in her room. But it would indeed be a strange poison which could strike her down so suddenly many hours after it was taken. You perceive difficulty?

WATSON
: Yes sir.

CORONER
: You could name no such poison?

WATSON
: No.

CORONER
: Then what remains?

WATSON
: There are other causes. One may die of nervous shock or one may die of a broken heart.

CORONER
: Had you any reason to think that the deceased had undergone nervous shock?

WATSON
: Only the narrative of her sister.

CORONER
: You have formed no conjecture as to the nature of the shock?

WATSON
: No sir.

CORONER
: You spoke of a broken heart. Have you any reason for using such an expression?

WATSON
: Only my general impression that she was not happy.

CORONER
: I fear we cannot deal with general impressions.

(
Murmurs of acquiescence from the
JURY
)

You have no definite reason?

WATSON
: None that I can put into words.

CORONER
: Has any juror any question to ask?

ARMITAGE
(
rising
): I’m a plain downright man and I want to get to the bottom of this thing.

CORONER
: We all share your desire Mr. Armitage.

ARMITAGE
: Look here Doctor you examined this lady. Did you find any signs of violence?

WATSON
: I have already said I did not.

ARMITAGE
: I mean bruises, or the like.

WATSON
: No sir.

CORONER
: Any questions?

ARMITAGE
: I would like to ask the Doctor whether he wrote to these young ladies because he had any reason to think they were ill-used.

WATSON
: No, sir. I wrote because I knew their mother.

ARMITAGE
: What did their mother die of?

WATSON
: I have no idea.

CORONER
Really Mr. Armitage you go too far!

(
ARMITAGE
sits
.)

Anything else?

FOREMAN
: May I ask, Dr. Watson, whether you examined the window of the room to see if any one from outside could have molested the lady?

WATSON
: The window was bolted.

FOREMAN
: Yes, but had it been bolted all night?

WATSON
: Yes, it had.

CORONER
: How do you know?

WATSON
: By the dust on the window-latch.

CORONER
: Dear me, Doctor, you are very observant!

WATSON
: I have a friend, sir, who trained me in such matters.

CORONER
: Well, your evidence seems final on that point. We are all obliged to you, Dr. Watson, and will detain you no longer.

(
Exit
DR
.
WATSON
into the morning-room.
)

OFFICER
(
at door
): Mr. Rodgers!

(
Enter
RODGERS
.)

CORONER
: Swear him!

(
Business of swearing.
)

Well, Mr. Rodgers, how long have you been in the service of Dr. Rylott?

RODGERS
: For many years, sir.

CORONER
: Ever since the family settled here?

RODGERS
: Yes, sir. I’m an old man, sir, too old to change. I don’t suppose I’d get another place if I lost this one. He tells me it would be the gutter or the workhouse.

CORONER
: Who tells you?

RODGERS
: Him, sir — the master. But I am not saying anything against him, sir. No, no, don’t think that — not a word against the master. You won’t misunderstand me?

CORONER
: You seem nervous?

RODGERS
: Well, I’m an old man, sir, and things like this —

CORONER
: Quite so, we can understand. Now, Rodgers, upon the night of April 14, you helped to carry the deceased to her room.

RODGERS
: Did I, sir? Who said that?

CORONER
: We had it in Miss Stonor’s evidence. Was it not so?

RODGERS
: Yes, yes, if Miss Enid said it. What Miss Enid says is true. And what the master says is true. It’s all true.

CORONER
: I suppose you came when you heard the scream?

RODGERS
: Yes, yes, the scream in the night; I came to it.

CORONER
: And what did you see?

RODGERS
: I saw — I saw — (
Puts his hands up as if about to faint.
)

CORONER
: Come, come, man, speak out.

RODGERS
: I’m — I’m frightened.

CORONER
: You have nothing to fear. You are under protection of the law. Who are you afraid of? Your master?

RODGERS
(
rising
): No, no, gentlemen, don’t think that! No, no!

CORONER
: Well, then — what did you see?

RODGERS
: She was on the ground, sir, and Miss Enid beside her — both in white night clothes. My master was standing near them.

CORONER
: Well?

RODGERS
: We carried the young lady to her room and laid her on her couch. She never spoke nor moved. I know no more indeed I know no more.

(
Sinking into his chair
.)

CORONER
: Any questions, gentlemen?

ARMITAGE
: You live in the house all the time?

RODGERS
: Yes, sir.

ARMITAGE
: Does your master ever knock you about?

RODGERS
: No, sir, no.

ARMITAGE
: Well, Mr. Scott Wilson told us what happened to him, and I know he laid the gardener up for a week and paid ten pound to keep out of court. You know that yourself.

RODGERS
: No, no, sir, I know nothing of the kind.

ARMITAGE
: Well, every one else in the village knows. What I want to ask is — was he ever violent to these young ladies?

FOREMAN
: Yes, that’s it. Was he violent?

RODGERS
: No, not to say violent. No, he’s a kind man, the master.

(
Pause
.)

CORONER
: Call Mrs. Staunton, the housekeeper. That will do.

(
Exit
RODGERS
into the servant’s hall
.)

(
Enter
MRS
.
STAUNTON
from the morning-room.
)

CORONER
: You are housekeeper here?

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Yes, sir. (
Standing
.)

CORONER
: How long have you been here?

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Ever since the family settled here.

CORONER
: Can you tell us anything of this matter?

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: I knew nothing of it, sir, till after the poor young lady had been laid upon the bed. After that it was I who took charge of things, for Dr. Rylott was so dreadfully upset that he could do nothing.

CORONER
: Oh! he was very upset, was he?

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: I never saw a man in such a state of grief.

CORONER
: Living in the house you had numerous opportunities of seeing the relations between Dr. Rylott and his two stepdaughters.

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Yes, sir.

CORONER
: How would you describe them?

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: He was kindness itself to them. No two young ladies could be better treated than they have been.

CORONER
: It has been suggested that he was sometimes violent to them.