“No, but force sufficient to leave traces would not have been necessary.”
“Would death from this cause leave traces other than those ascertainable from a post-mortem?”
Dr. Lingard hesitated very slightly.
“I do not think so,” he answered. “If it did they would be very faint and it would be easy to overlook them.”
“Was Dr. Emerson at the post-mortem?”
“He was.”
“Have you anything else to tell us, anything which you think might throw further light on this extraordinary affair?”
No, Dr. Lingard had nothing, and Dr. Emerson was recalled. He declared emphatically that he had never had any suspicion that the deceased might have been addicted to the cocaine habit.
“You have heard the evidence the previous witness gave as to the cause of the deceased’s death. Do you from your present knowledge agree with his conclusions?”
“Completely,” Dr. Emerson answered. The man looked harassed and careworn, but his bearing remained dignified.