said Dr Malapelle of the Institute for Forensic Medicine. “Barbituric acid. No doubt about it. A massive dose. Somnifen. The stomach contents seemed to have a strong smell of aniseed and since I don’t know of any sedative derived from barbituric acid with an aniseed smell apart from Somnifen, I think we can conclude that’s what it was. The woman didn’t have long to live, anyway. Terminal endocarditis. Or, to put it more plainly for the lay mind, Inspector, the old lady had a weak heart, a very weak heart. Too much excitement – e poi . . . Yes . . . Could she have taken it of her own accord? Perhaps. Probably. One really cannot exclude the possibility of suicide. But you think it murder? You’re an old romantic, but if that’s what you enjoy . . .” So Studer told him about the string and the traces of fibres on the edge of the keyhole. “Fantasmagoria!” said Dr Malapelle irritatedly. “You have a vivid imagination and you’re letting it run away with you. Pull yourself together.”
