“‘“No, you are wrong there! not a drop have I tasted within the last twenty-four hours; my brain was never more clear than it is this moment; and again I tell you the child has been murdered!” “‘“Don’t say _murder_! it takes malice to constitute murder; who could bear malice against an innocent little boy like him?” “‘“Does the highwayman bear malice against the poor traveler when he kills him for his money?” “‘“But who gets any money by the death of this poor child?” “‘“The very one who administered the death-dealing drug.” “‘”’Tis untrue! and who utters it is an idiot!” “‘“Keep calm, Doctor Dodson, I beseech you; I can forgive your strong language, knowing, as I do, that you will soon be sorry for having used it; but you will be of my opinion as to this case before long. We must make an autopsy, and then you will doubtless be convinced that the child has been dosed to death with poison.” “‘Doctor Dodson leaned back on the sofa, buried his face in his hands and groaned. After remaining silent for a long time, endeavoring to collect his thoughts, he said: “‘“What evidence have you that causes you to conclude the child has been poisoned?” “‘“Having seen several persons die from its effects, and seeing the boy die from it this very night. I knew it was poison as soon as I arrived, and might have saved him if I had been here an hour sooner; but it was too late when I came.” “‘“Is that all your evidence?” “‘“No, no! not by any means; I have found something which I guess will startle you when you see it; look at that and tell me if you know what it is?” “‘“Of course--that is a small phial of strychnine; but what does that signify; will you please tell me?” “‘“I found this in a little drawer of a bureau in Miss Bramlett’s room. Her brother died from the effects of poison, and she was ordered by you to administer quinine to her brother, but she administered something else. Do I speak sufficiently plain? Do you understand me? Shall I say anything more by way of explaining what I mean?” “‘“Hush, hush! for Heaven’s sake, stop! give me time to think. How many papers of the quinine had been given to the child when you arrived?” “‘“Miss Bramlett said that she administered three doses, and that the last one made her brother sick!” “‘“Did you find the doses that had not been given to the patient?” “‘“I found two papers on the table near the bed containing quinine, and have them here now.” “‘“Have you examined them to see whether they contain quinine or something else?” “‘“Yes, their contents is pure, unadulterated quinine.” “‘“You don’t mean to say that you think Miss Bramlett has intentionally killed her brother!”