“The lady died from the effects of poison; that has been established beyond dispute,” said Garnet. “Who administered it is another question. The prosecution says my late friend, Doctor Bourne; but assertions are one thing and proof is another. This is a question, however, which I think we had better not attempt to discuss just now. Good-night, or rather morning, my dear friend. I will see you as early as possible to-morrow.”
And with these words the fashionable physician took his departure.
CHAPTER CI.
AFTER THE DEED—THE SALE BY AUCTION—MRS. BOURNE PAYS A VISIT TO MR. THOMPSON.
The news of Doctor Bourne’s sudden departure from the world, together with the manner of his death, spread like wildfire. It was in every person’s mouth. Would-be wiseacres shook their heads and said “it was no more than they expected.” Rich dowagers and antiquated maiden ladies said it was very shocking, and that the poor dear man had been persecuted by a lot of good-for-nothing Americans who were envious of his position and fair fame.
Everybody had something to say upon the subject—the diversity of opinion was most remarkable.
Meanwhile the dead body of the doctor remained in the chair, in precisely the same position in which it had been found, till the day appointed for the coroner’s inquest.
The inmates of the house and Doctor Garnet were of course the chief witnesses. A feeble attempt was made to prove that death resulted from disease of the heart. There was, as usual, a great deal of hair-splitting, and the medical evidence was contradictory. But the facts were so clearly manifested that after a short deliberation the jury returned a verdict “that the deceased died from the effects of prussic acid, taken while labouring under a fit of temporary insanity.”
Everybody appeared to be satisfied with the verdict, and the last remains of the doctor were interred with great pomp and ceremony. Upon the cavalcade reaching the grave many hundreds of persons were to be seen awaiting the arrival of the hearse.
To say that there was not a dry eye in the assembly would be but to make use of a newspaper reporter’s stereotyped phrase.