‘I warned Mr Parish. He will agree I warned him most carefully and he signed the register—every formality and precaution—most particular. Full instructions. Label.’

The coroner said: ‘Why did you make this already lethal fluid so much more deadly?’

‘Rats,’ said Mr Noggins. ‘I mean Mr Parish said it was for rats, and that Mr Pomeroy had tried a commercial rat-bane without success. Mr Parish suggested—suggested—I should—’

‘Should what, Mr Noggins?’

‘That I should ginger it up a bit as he put it.’ Mr Noggins in the excess of his discomfort uttered a mad little laugh. The coroner turned upon him a face sickly with disapprobation and told him he might stand down. Dr Mordant then addressed the jury.

‘I think, gentlemen, we have heard enough evidence as to fact and circumstance surrounding this affair and may now listen to the medical evidence. Dr Shaw, if you please!’

Dr Shaw swore himself in very briskly and, at the coroner’s invitation, described the body as it was when he first saw it. The coroner’s attitude of morbid introspection increased but he and Dr Shaw seemed to understand each other pretty well.

‘The eyes were wide open and the pupils widely dilated, the jaws tightly clenched—’ Dr Shaw droned on and on. Parish and Cubitt who had remained in court both looked rather sick. Legge eyed Dr Shaw with a sort of mesmerized glare. Will Pomeroy held Decima’s hand and old Abel stared at his boots. Mr Nark, who had expected to be called, looked alternately huffy and sheepish. A large bald man who looked as if he ought to be in uniform seemed to prick up his ears. He was Superintendent Harper of the Illington Police Force.

‘You have performed an autopsy?’ asked the coroner.

‘Yes.’

‘What did you find?’

‘I found the blood much engorged and brilliant in colour. I found nothing unusual in the condition of the stomach. I sent the contents to be analysed however and the report has reached me. Nothing unexpected has been found. I also sent a certain quantity of the blood to be analysed.’

Dr Shaw paused.

‘N-n—yes?’

‘In the case of the sample of blood the analyst has found definite traces of hydrocyanic acid. These traces point to the presence of at least a grain and a half of the acid in the blood stream.’

‘And the fatal dose?’

‘One may safely say less than a grain.’

‘Did you send the brandy bottle and the iodine bottle which was found under the bench to the analyst?’

‘Yes.’

‘What was the result, Dr Shaw?’

‘The test was negative. The analyst can find no trace of hydrocyanic acid in either bottle.’

‘And the dart?’