A. None whatever—­er—­that is—­unless on the night of the murder.

Q. Were you acquainted with John Darrow?

A. Yes.

Q. How long have you known him?

A. About six months—­perhaps seven.

Q. What were your relations?

A. I don’t understand.—­We had gambled together.

Q. Where?

A. In this city—­Decatur Street.

Q. What motive led you to kill him?

A. He cheated me at cards, and I swore to be even with him.

Q. Had you any other reason?

A. I owed him twelve hundred and thirty-five dollars which I borrowed of him hoping my luck would change.  He won it all back from me by false play, and when I could not meet it he pressed me over hard.

Q. You say this occurred on Decatur Street.  What was the date?

A. I do not remember.

Q. What month was it?

A. It was in March.  Early in March.

Q. You are sure it was in March?

A. Yes.

Q. Should you say it was between the 1st and 15th of March?

A. Yes.  I am positive it was before the 15th of March.

Q. Have you long known that M. Godin was at work upon this case?

A. No.

Q. When did you first become aware of it?

A. Not until my arrest.

Q. When did you first see M. Godin?

A. When I was arrested.

Q. Did he ever call at your rooms?

A. Never—­not to my knowledge—­I never saw him till the day of my arrest.

Q. With what weapon did you kill Mr. Darrow?

A. I made use of a specially constructed hypodermic syringe.

Half-smothered exclamations of surprise were heard from every part of the room.  Even the Judge gave a start at this astounding bit of testimony.  Every person present knew perfectly well that no human being could have entered or left the Darrow parlour without certain discovery, yet here was a man, apparently in his right mind, who soberly asserted that he had used a hypodermic syringe.  Maitland and Godin alone seemed cool and collected.  Throughout all Latour’s testimony, M. Godin watched the witness with a burning concentration.  It seemed as if the great detective meant to bore through Latour’s gaze down to the most secret depths of his soul.  Not for an instant did he take his eyes from Latour.  I said to myself at the time that this power of concentration explained, in a great measure, this detective’s remarkable success.  Nothing was permitted to escape him, and little movements which another man would doubtless never notice, had, for M. Godin, I felt sure, a world of suggestive significance.

Maitland’s calm demeanour, so resourceful in its serenity, caused all eyes to turn at length to him as if for explanation.  He continued with slow deliberation.

Q. In what particulars was this hypodermic syringe of special construction?