Eunice went for it, and, returning, handed the detective a finely bound volume.
Hastily he ran over the dates, looking at notes of parties, concerts and theatres she had attended recently. At last, he gave a start, read over one entry carefully, and closed the book.
Abruptly, then, he went back to Embury’s room, asking Dr. Crowell to go with him.
When they reappeared, it was plain to be seen the mystery was solved.
“There is no doubt,” said the Medical Examiner, “that Sanford Embury met his death by foul play. The means used was the administering of poison—through the ear!”
“Through the ear!” repeated Elliott, as one who failed to grasp the sense of the words.
“Yes; it is a most unusual, almost a unique case, but it is proved beyond a doubt. The poison was inserted in Mr. Embury’s ear, by means—”
He paused, and Driscoll held up to view a small, ordinary glass medicine dropper, with a rubber bulb top. In it still remained a portion of a colorless liquid.
“By means of this,” Driscoll declared. “This fluid is henbane—that is the commercial name of it—known to the profession, however, as hyoscyamus or hyoscyamine. This little implement, I found, in the medicine chest in Miss Ames’ bathroom.”
“No! no!” screamed Aunt Abby. “I never saw it before!”