'Exactly,' assented M. Vandeloup, with an airy wave of his hand.
'Gaston Vandeloup is a fictitious third person I have called into
existence for my own safety--you understand. As Gaston Vandeloup, a
friend of Braulard, I knew all about this poison, and manufactured
it in Ballarat for a mere experiment, and as Gaston Vandeloup I give
evidence against the woman who was my mistress on the ground of
poisoning Selina Sprotts with hemlock.'
'You are not shielding yourself behind this girl?' asked the doctor,
coming close to him.
'How could I?' replied Vandeloup, slipping his hand into his pocket.
'I could not have gone down to St Kilda, climbed over a wall with
glass bottles on top, and committed the crime, as Kitty Marchurst
says it was done. If I had done this there would be some trace--no,
I assure you Mademoiselle Marchurst, and none other, is the guilty
woman. She was in the room--Madame Midas asleep in bed. What was
easier for her than to pour the poison into the glass, which stood
ready to receive it? Mind you, I don't say she did it deliberately--
impulse--hallucination--madness--what you like--but she did it.'
'By God!' cried Gollipeck, warmly, 'you'd argue a rope round the
girl's neck even before she has had a trial. I believe you did it
yourself.'
'If I did,' retorted Vandeloup, coolly, 'when I am in the witness-
box I run the risk of being found out.
Pages:
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369