“Cranys, in the plural, sir. We say cranium, for one skull, and crany, for two.”
“I wonder what he would say for numskull?” whispered John to Michael.
“Yes, sir; I understand you, now. I trust the reporters will get it right.”
“Oh! they never make any mistakes, especially in legal proceedings,” quietly remarked Mr. Dunscomb to the doctor. “In matters of law and the constitution, they are of proof! Talk of letters on the constitution! What are equal to those that come to us, hibernally, as one may say, from Washington?”
“Hibernially would be the better word,” answered McBrain, in the same under tone.
“You ought to know; your grandfather was an Irishman, Ned. But listen to this examination.”
“And now, Dr. Coe, have the goodness to look at those skeletons,” resumed the coroner, “and tell us whether they belong to man, woman, or child. Whether they are the remains of adults, or of children.”
“Of adults, certainly. On that point, sir, I conceive there can be no doubt.”
“And as to the sex?”
“I should think that is equally clear. I have no doubt that one are the remains of Peter Goodwin, and the other those of his wife. Science can distinguish between the sexes, in ordinary cases, I allow; but this is a case in which science is at fault, for want of facts; and taking all the known circumstances into consideration, I have no hesitation in saying that, according to my best judgment, those are the remains of the missing man and woman—man and wife.”