I had made the threat
of abandoning her, with no intention of course of carrying it into
effect, for whilst I hoped that it would act as a deterrent,
stimulating her will to resist the attraction of the drug, I knew from
my professional experience that she would not be able to withstand it
entirely. Thus if I had questioned her, she must have confessed, as
she was strictly truthful. This would have placed me in an awkward
predicament, compelling me to admit that my threat had never been
seriously intended, and thus I should have lessened my influence over
her for the future. However, not long before her last illness, I found
a syringe in her room as well as some tablets. These I appropriated
and took away without saying anything to her."

"How long before the attack of diphtheria was this?"

"Two or three days."

"Supposing that she had been taking morphine prior to that time, do
you think that it might have accumulated in her system, finally
producing death?"

"I object!" said Mr. Munson. "The witness is not here as an expert."

"He is the accused," said the Recorder, "and as the party having the
greatest interest at stake I will allow him to answer. He simply
expresses his opinion. The jury will decide whether it is worthy of
credence."

Mr. Bliss smiled with satisfaction, but was a little surprised at the
answer, though later he understood better that the Doctor appreciated
what he said. The answer was:

"Considering the length of time which elapsed from the moment when I
took away the syringe, to the day of her death, I cannot believe that
morphine taken previously could have accumulated, and have caused
death ultimately."

Mr. Bliss was puzzled and paused a moment to think, whilst Mr. Munson,
much pleased at this apparently damaging testimony given by the
prisoner himself, wore a pleased expression. Mr. Bliss scarcely knew
what to ask next. He glanced at a list of notes supplied by Dr.
Medjora and read this one. "Ask me about retained morphine. Go into it
thoroughly." The latter part of this sentence convinced him that Dr.
Medjora must have conceived his defence along this line, and,
therefore, though doubting the propriety of doing so, he ventured
another question.

"It has been admitted," said he, "by the expert witnesses that
morphine may be accumulated in the system, finally resulting fatally.
How does that occur, and why do you think it did not occur in this
case?"

"I have not said that it did