Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1074 page)

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Never, sir. He was like a tender father.

ARMITAGE
: How about that riding switch? We’ve heard tales about that.

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Oh, it’s you, Mr. Armitage? There are good reasons why you should make mischief against the Doctor. He told you what he thought of you and your canting ways.

CORONER
: Now, then, I cannot have these recriminations. If I had known, Mr. Armitage, that there was personal feeling between the Doctor and you —

ARMITAGE
: Nothing of the sort, sir. I’m doing my public duty.

CORONER
: Well, the evidence of the witness seems very clear in combating your assertion of ill-treatment. Any other Juror? Very good, Mrs. Staunton.

(
Exit
MRS
.
STAUNTON
into the servants’ hall.
)

Call Dr. Grimesby
RYLOTT
.

OFFICER
(
calls at morning-room door
): Dr. Rylott.

(
Enter
DR. RYLOTT
.)

CORONER
: Dr. Rylott, do you identify the body of the deceased as that of your stepdaughter, Violet Stonor?

RYLOTT
: Yes, sir.

CORONER
: Can you say anything which will throw any light upon this unhappy business?

RYLOTT
: You may well say unhappy, sir. It has completely unnerved me.

CORONER
: No doubt.

RYLOTT
: She was the ray of sunshine in the house. She knew my ways. I am lost without her.

CORONER
: No doubt. But we must confine ourselves to the facts. Have you any explanation which will cover the facts of your stepdaughter’s death?

RYLOTT
: I know just as much of the matter as you do It is a complete and absolute mystery to me.

CORONER
: Speaking as a doctor, you had no misgivings as to her health?

RYLOTT
: She was never robust, but I had no reason for uneasiness.

CORONER
: It has come out in evidence that her happiness had been affected by your interference with her engagement?

RYLOTT
(
rising
): That is entirely a misunderstanding sir. As a matter of fact I interfered in order to protect her from a man I had every reason to believe was a mere fortune hunter. She saw it herself in that light and was relieved to see the last of him.

CORONER
: Excuse me sir but this introduces a new element into the case. Then the young lady had separate means?

RYLOTT
: An annuity under her mother’s will. (
Sits
.)

CORONER
: And to whom does it now go?

RYLOTT
: I believe that I might have a claim upon it but I am waiving it in favour of her sister.

CORONER
: Very handsome I am sure.

(
Murmurs from the
JURY
)

ARMITAGE
(
rising
): I expect sir so long as she lives under your roof you have the spending of it.

CORONER
: Well, well, we can hardly go into that.

ARMITAGE
: Had the young lady her own cheque book?

CORONER
: Really Mr. Armitage you get away from the subject.

ARMITAGE
: It is the subject.

RYLOTT
(
rising
): I am not here, sir, to submit to impertinence. (
Sits
. )

CORONER
: I must ask you, Mr. Armitage — (
Holds up hand.
)

(
ARMITAGE
sits
.)

Now, Dr. Rylott, the medical evidence, as you are aware, gives us no cause of death. You can suggest none?

RYLOTT
: No, sir.

CORONER
: Your stepdaughter has affirmed that her sister unlocked her door before appearing in the passage. Can you confirm this?

RYLOTT
: Yes, I heard her unlock the door.

CORONER
: You arrived in the passage simultaneously with the lady?

RYLOTT
: Yes.

CORONER
: You had been aroused by the scream?

RYLOTT
: Yes.

CORONER
: And naturally you came at once?

RYLOTT
: Quite so. I was just in time to see her rush from her room and fall into her sister’s arms. I can only imagine that she had some nightmare or hideous dream which had been too much for her heart. That is my own theory of her death.

CORONER
: We have it on record that she said some incoherent words before she died.

RYLOTT
: I heard nothing of the sort.

CORONER
: She said nothing so far as you know?

RYLOTT
: Nothing.

CORONER
: Did you hear any music?

RYLOTT
: Music, sir? No, I heard none.

CORONER
: Well, what happened next?

RYLOTT
: I satisfied myself that the poor girl was dead. Rodgers, my butler, had arrived, and together we laid her on her couch. I can really tell you nothing more.

CORONER
: You did not at once send for a doctor?

RYLOTT
: Well, sir, I was a doctor myself. To satisfy
ENID
I Consented in the morning to telegraph for Dr. Watson, who had been the girls’ friend in India. I really could do no more.

CORONER
: Looking back, you have nothing with which to reproach yourself in your treatment of this lady?

RYLOTT
: She was the apple of my eye, I would have given my life for her.

CORONER
: Well, gentlemen, any questions?

ARMITAGE
: Yes, a good many. (Rising.)

(
The other
JURYMEN
show some impatience
.)

Well, I pay my way, the same as the rest of you, and I claim my rights. Mr. Coroner, I claim my rights.

CORONER
: Well, well, Mr. Armitage, be as short as you can (
Looks at his watch
.) It is nearly two.

ARMITAGE
: See here, Dr. Rylott, what about that great hound of yours? What about that whip you carry. What about the tales we hear down in the village of your bully-raggin’ them young ladies?

RYLOTT
(
rising
): Really, Mr. Coroner, I must claim your protection. This fellow’s impertinence is intolerable.

CORONER: You go rather far, Mr. Armitage. You must confine yourself to definite questions upon matters of fact.

(
RYLOTT
sits
.)

ARMITAGE
: Well, then, do you sleep with a light in your room?

RYLOTT
: No, I do not.

ARMITAGE
: How was you dressed in the passage?

RYLOTT
: In my dressing-gown.

ARMITAGE
: How did you get it?

RYLOTT
: I struck a light, of course, and took it from a hook.

ARMITAGE
: Well, if you did all that, how did you come into the passage as quick as the young lady who ran out just as she was?

RYLOTT
: I can only tell you it was so.

ARMITAGE
: Well, I can only tell you I don’t believe it.

CORONER
: You must withdraw that, Mr. Armitage.

ARMITAGE
: I says what I mean, Mr. Coroner, and I say it again, I don’t believe it. I’ve got common sense if I haven’t got education.

RYLOTT
(
rising
): I can afford to disregard his remarks, Coroner.

CORONER
: Anything else, Mr. Armitage?

ARMITAGE
: I’ve said my say, and I stick to it.

CORONER
: Then that will do, Dr. Rylott.

(
Pause
.
DR
.
RYLOTT
is going up towards the morning door
.)

By the way, can your Indian servant help us at all in the matter?

RYLOTT
(
coming down again
): Ali sleeps in a garret and knew nothing till next morning. He is my personal valet.

CORONER
: Then we need not call him. Very good, Dr. Rylott. you can remain if you wish. (
To
JURY
.) Well, gentlemen, you have heard the evidence relating to this very painful case. There are several conceivable alternatives. There is death by murder. Of this I need not say there is not a shadow or tittle of evidence. There is death by suicide. Here, again, the presumption is absolutely against it. Then there is death by accident. We have nothing to lead us to believe that there has been an accident. Finally, we come to death by natural causes. It must be admitted that these natural causes are obscure, but the processes of nature are often mysterious, and we cannot claim to have such an exact knowledge of them that we can always define them. You have read the evidence of Professor Van Donop and you have heard that of Dr. Watson. If you are not satisfied it is always within your competence to declare that death arose from unknown causes. It is for you to form your own conclusions.

(
The
JURY
buzz together for a moment. The
CORONER
looks at his watch, rises, and goes over to
DR
.
RYLOTT
.)

We are later than I intended.

RYLOTT
: These absurd interruptions — !

CORONER
: Yes, at these country inquests we generally have some queer fellows on the jury.

RYLOTT
: Lunch must be ready. Won’t you join us.

CORONER
: Well, well, I shall be delighted.

FOREMAN
: We are all ready, sir.

(
CORONER
returns to table.
)

CORONER
: Well, gentlemen? (
Sits
.)

FOREMAN
: We are for unknown causes.

CORONER
: Quite so. Unanimous?

ARMITAGE
: No, sir. I am for further investigation. I don’t say it’s unknown and I won’t say it’s unknown.

CORONER
: I entirely agree with the majority finding. Well, gentlemen that will finish our labours. Officer —

(
The
OFFICER
comes to him.
ARMITAGE
sits
.)

You will all sign the inquisition before you leave this room officer will take your signatures as you pass out

(
The
JURY
rise — sign book as they go out into the entrance hall
.)

(
Crossing to
ARMITAGE
)

Mr. Armitage One moment. Mr. Armitage I am sorry that you are not yet satisfied.