“You still contend that my uncle was murdered?” she asked. “And that it was not a case of suicide in a moment of mental aberration.”
“I do; the medical evidence establishes that fact.” Mitchell would have added more, but Anne turned swiftly to Curtis.
“Can you tell with absolute accuracy from the wound that it was not self-inflicted, Doctor Curtis?” she demanded.
All eyes were turned toward the blind surgeon. McLane, as well as Curtis, had caught the unconscious note of appeal in Anne’s voice, and he waited with interest for Curtis’ answer. It took the form of a question.
“Was John Meredith by chance ambidexterous?” he asked.
“He was.”
An exclamation escaped Mitchell. “Why didn’t you state that fact at the inquest?” he inquired with warmth.
“Because I was not questioned on the subject,” she responded, and again addressed Curtis. “Doesn’t that prove that Uncle John could have killed himself?”
Curtis’ hesitation was imperceptible except to McLane.
“I believe that the fact that Meredith was ambidexterous will enable experts to cast sufficient doubt on the medical testimony to render it practically valueless,” he said.