Book 1 Chapter 20 The Trial - The Medical Report

But, as if to spite him, the case dragged out to a great length.
After each witness had been examined separately and the expert
last of all, and a great number of useless questions had been
put, with the usual air of importance, by the public prosecutor
and by both advocates, the president invited the jury to examine
the objects offered as material evidence. They consisted of an
enormous diamond ring, which had evidently been worn on the first
finger, and a test tube in which the poison had been analysed.
These things had seals and labels attached to them.

Just as the witnesses were about to look at these things, the
public prosecutor rose and demanded that before they did this the
results of the doctor's examination of the body should be read.
The president, who was hurrying the business through as fast as
he could in order to visit his Swiss friend, though he knew that
the reading of this paper could have no other effect than that of
producing weariness and putting off the dinner hour, and that the
public prosecutor wanted it read simply because he knew he had a
right to demand it, had no option but to express his consent.

The secretary got out the doctor's report and again began to read
in his weary lisping voice, making no distinction between the
"r's" and "l's."

The external examination proved that: "1. Theropont Smelkoff's height was six feet five inches.

"Not so bad, that. A very good size," whispered the merchant,
with interest, into Nekhludoff's ear.