"Oh, dear me, yes, quite sure! The bottle bears my label, as you may see: 'Doctor Augustus Collygog, Pharmacist and Dealer in Surgical Instruments and Small Notions, Appletop, Illinois.'"
"Who? Oh, excuse me, sir; but the secrets of the profession are sacred--sacred, sir."
At this Moth turned to the judge, but the latter, not waiting, said:
"Thank you, Judge, if I must; but only on compulsion."
"Well, who was it?" Moth asked, impatiently.
"Ha! yes. Who was what?" Doctor Collygog answered, losing the thread of the examination.
"Who was it that bought the stuff of you?" Moth screamed at the top of his voice.
"Oh, yes, I understand; but not quite so loud, if you please, sir. It was Mr. Job Throckmorton."
"That will do. If you please, your honor, the state rests here, confident of having proven its case and steadfastly believing in the intelligence of the honorable jury called to pass upon the testimony. Indeed, it is so plain, that I should waste your time with explanations. Having bought the chloroform and sprinkled it about his bed, Throckmorton hid what remained. Through the happy chance of finding the half-filled bottle where he placed it, however, the whole scheme is made clear, and his identity as the robber proven beyond the shadow of a doubt."
Upon Moth's concluding, Mr. Promb arose, and facing the last witness, asked:
"When did Mr. Throckmorton procure this medicine of you?"
"Yes, Mr. Promb. Let me see; in September, I think, or possibly--I do not say positively--in the fore part of October. The books of My House will show."
"I think not; but indeed I might be mistaken in this, it not being thought material in his case, he being a man grown and responsible."
"Did he not say it was for his nephew, who was ill at the Dragon?"
"Ha! I think not, Mr. Promb; but, dear me, I can't be certain, as I have just said."
"That is all. May it please your honor, we should like to have Mr. Seymour recalled"; and upon this being done, Mr. Promb asked:
"For what purpose did Mr. Throckmorton procure the chloroform it contains?"
After this, Mr. Promb recalled Tipps, who arose, with hand uplifted and eyes raised obliquely as before, but nothing came of his re-examination. After him many other men, all reputable and of good standing in the community, were summoned by Mr. Promb to prove the prisoner's high character; and with this, and a fine speech, but lacking force, I thought, Uncle Job's attorney closed the defense. Upon this, Moth asked that Mr. Seymour be recalled, and when this had been done, he asked: