"Certainly all the morphine that she took was administered by herself."
"But you are charged with having administered morphine, or other form of opium, which caused death. What have you to say to that?"
"I deny that during this last illness, or at any time, any such drug was administered to my wife, Mabel Medjora, by me, or at my order!"
The last speech was electric, partly from the manner of its utterance, and especially because, for the first time during the trial, the dead girl was called by the name of the prisoner. Mr. Bliss felt assured that he had won his case, and yielded the witness for cross-examination with a smile. Mr. Munson begged for an adjournment, that the cross-examination might be continuous, and not interrupted as it would necessarily be if begun late in the afternoon. This request was granted, and the shrewd lawyer thus obtained time to read over the Doctor's evidence, and be better able to attack him.
CHAPTER IX.
THE DEFENCE CLOSES.
The next day's proceedings began promptly, Dr. Medjora taking the stand for cross-examination. His evidence in his own behalf, it was generally conceded, had materially weakened the prosecution's case, and it was with much interest that the lawyers watched the outcome of his cross-examination. Mr. Munson began:
"You have testified that Miss Sloane was a morphine habitué." Before he could propound a question based upon this statement, the Doctor replied quickly:
"I have not so testified."
"You have not?" asked the attorney, with much surprise.