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She had betrayed a very perceptible agitation on hearing the
letter referred to； and on having it placed in her hands。 This
exhibition of feeling was variously interpreted among the
audience。 Upon the whole； however； Mrs。 Beauly's evidence was
considered to have aided the impression which the mother's
evidence had produced in the prisoner's favor。
The next witnessesboth ladies； and both school friends of Mrs。
Eustace Macallancreated a new feeling of interest in Court。
They supplied the missing link in the evidence for the defense。
The first of the ladies declared that she had mentioned arsenic
as a means of improving the complexion in conversation with Mrs。
Eustace Macallan。 She had never used it herself； but she had read
of the practice of eating arsenic among the Styrian peasantry for
the purpose of clearing the color； and of producing a general
appearance of plumpness and good health。 She positively swore
that she had related this result of her reading to the deceased
lady exactly as she now related it in Court。
The second witness； present at the conversation already
mentioned； corroborated the first witness in every particular；
and added that she had procured the book relating to the
arsenic…eating practices of the Styrian peasantry； and their
results； at Mrs。 Eustace Macallan's own request。 This book she
had herself dispatched by post to Mrs。 Eustace Macallan at
Gleninch。
There was but one assailable p oint in this otherwise conclusive
evidence。 The cross…examination discovered it。
Both the ladies were asked； in turn； if Mrs。 Eustace Macallan had
expressed to them； directly or indirectly； any intention of
obtaining arsenic； with a view to the improvement of her
complexion。 In each case the answer to that all…important
question was； No。 Mrs。 Eustace Macallan had heard of the remedy；
and had received the book。 But of her own intentions in the
future she had not said one word。 She had begged both the ladies
to consider the conversation as strictly privateand there it
had ended。
It required no lawyer's eye to discern the fatal defect which was
now revealed in the evidence for the defense。 Every intelligent
person present could see that the prisoner's chance of an
honorable acquittal depended on tracing the poison to the
possession of his wifeor at least on proving her expressed
intention to obtain it。 In either of these cases the prisoner's
Declaration of his innocence would claim the support of
testimony； which； however indirect it might be； no honest and
intelligent men would be likely to resist。 Was that testimony
forthcoming？ Was the counsel for the defense not at the end of
his resources yet？
The crowded audience waited in breathless expectation for the
appearance of the next witness。 A whisper went round among
certain well…instructed persons that the Court was now to see and
hear the prisoner's old friendalready often referred to in the
course of the Trial as 〃Mr。 Dexter。〃
After a brief interval of delay there was a sudden commotion
among the audience； accompanied by suppressed exclamations of
curiosity and surprise。 At the same moment the crier summoned the
new witness by the extraordinary name of
〃MISERRIMUS DEXTER〃
CHAPTER XX。
THE END OF THE TRIAL。
THE calling of the new witness provoked a burst of laughter
among the audience due partly； no doubt； to the strange name by
which he had been summoned； partly； also； to the instinctive
desire of all crowded assemblies； when their interest is
painfully excited； to seize on any relief in the shape of the
first subject of merriment which may present itself。 A severe
rebuke from the Bench restored order among the audience。 The Lord
Justice Clerk declared that he would 〃clear the Court〃 if the
interruption to the proceedings were renewed。
During the silence which followed this announcement the new
witness appeared。
Gliding； self…propelled in his chair on wheels； through the
opening made for him among the crowd； a strange and startling
creatureliterally the half of a manrevealed himself to the
general view。 A coverlet which had been thrown over his chair had
fallen off during his progress through the throng。 The loss of it
exposed to the public curiosity the head； the arms； and the trunk
of a living human being： absolutely deprived of the lower limbs。
To make this deformity all the more striking and all the more
terrible； the victim of it wasas to his face and his bodyan
unusually handsome and an unusually well…made man。 His long silky
hair； of a bright and beautiful chestnut color； fell over
shoulders that were the perfection of strength and grace。 His
face was bright with vivacity and intelligence。 His large clear
blue eyes and his long delicate white hands were like the eyes
and hands of a beautiful woman。 He would have looked effeminate
but for the manly proportions of his throat and chest； aided in
their effect by his flowing beard and long mustache； of a lighter
chestnut shade than the color of his hair。 Never had a
magnificent head and body been more hopelessly ill…bestowed than
in this instance！ Never had Nature committed a more careless or a
more cruel mistake than in the making of this man！
He was sworn； seated； of course； in his chair。 Having given his
name； he bowed to the Judges and requested their permission to
preface his evidence with a word of explanation。
〃People generally laugh when they first hear my strange Christian
name；〃 he said； in a low； clear； resonant voice which penetrated
to the remotest corners of the Court。 〃I may inform the good
people here that many names； still common among us； have their
significations； and that mine is one of them。 'Alexander；' for
instance； means； in the Greek； 'a helper of men。' 'David' means；
in Hebrew； 'well…beloved。' 'Francis' means； in German； 'free。' My
name； 'Miserrimus；' means； in Latin； 'most unhappy。' It was given
to me by my father； in allusion to the deformity which you all
seethe deformity with which it was my misfortune to be born。
You won't laugh at 'Miserrimus' again； will you？〃 He turned to
the Dean of Faculty； waiting to examine him for the defense。 〃Mr。
Dean。 I am at your service。 I apologize for delaying； even for a
moment； the proceedings of the Court。〃
He delivered his little address with perfect grace and
good…humor。 Examined by the Dean； he gave his evidence clearly；
without the slightest appearance of hesitation or reserve。
〃I was staying at Gleninch as a guest in the house at the time of
Mrs。 Eustace Macallan's death；〃 he began。 〃Doctor Jerome and Mr。
Gale desired to see me at a private interviewthe prisoner being
then in a state of prostration which made it impossible for him
to attend to his duties as master of the house。 At this interview
the two doctors astonished and horrified me by declaring that
Mrs。 Eustace Macallan had died poisoned。 They left it to me to
communicate the dreadful news to her husband； and they warned me
that a post…mortem examination must be held on the body。
〃If the Fiscal had seen my old friend when I communicated the
doctors' message； I doubt if he would have ventured to charge the
prisoner with the murder of his wif