Страница 14 из 81
Monk's face tightened. "Perhaps you would prefer to discuss it somewhere more discreet than the hallway?" He looked towards the stairs, and the landing where other doorways led off-including Grey's.
"Yes-yes I suppose so." Scarsdale was now acutely uncomfortable, a fine beading of sweat on his brow. "Although I really ca
Monk closed the main door, then followed him into the sitting room.
"Then you asked her, sir?" He allowed his face to register interest.
"Yes, of course I did!" Scarsdale was begi
"And this young lady, of course, is well known to you?" Monk did not try to keep his own sarcastic contempt out of his voice.
Scarsdale was confused, not sure whether to affect insult or to prevaricate because he could think of nothing suitably crushing. He chose the latter.
"I beg your pardon?" he said stiffly.
"You can vouch for her truthfulness," Monk elaborated, his eyes meeting Scarsdale's with a bitter smile. "Apart from her… work"-he deliberately chose the same word-"she is a person of perfect probity?"
Scarsdale colored heavily and Monk realized he had lost any chance of cooperation from him.
"You exceed your authority!" Scarsdale snapped. "And you are impertinent. My private affairs are no concern of yours. Watch your tongue, or I shall be obliged to complain to your superiors." He looked at Monk and decided this was not a good idea. "The woman in question has no reason to lie," he said stiffly. "She came up alone and left alone, and saw no one at either time, except Grim-wade, the porter; and you can ascertain that from him. No one enters these buildings without his permission, you know." He sniffed very slightly. "This is not a common rooming house!" His eyes glanced for a second at the handsome furnishings, then back at Monk.
"Then it follows that Grimwade must have seen the murderer," Monk replied, keeping his eyes on Scarsdale's face.
Scarsdale saw the imputation, and paled; he was arrogant, and perhaps bigoted, but he was not stupid.
Monk took what he believed might well be his best chance.
"You are a gentleman of similar social standing"-he winced inwardly at his own hypocrisy-"and an immediate neighbor of Major Grey's; you must be able to tell me something about him personally. I know nothing."
Scarsdale was happy enough to change the subject, and in spite of his irritation, flattered.
"Yes, of course," he agreed quickly. "Nothing at all?"
"Nothing at all," Monk conceded.
"He was a younger brother of Lord Shelburne, you know?" Scarsdale's eyes widened, and at last he walked to the center of the room and sat down on a hard-backed, carved chair. He waved his arm vaguely, giving Monk permission to do so too.
"Indeed?" Monk chose another hard-backed chair so as not to be below Scarsdale.
"Oh yes, a very old family," Scarsdale said with relish. "The Dowager Lady Shelburne, his mother, of course, was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ruthven, at least I think it was he; certainly the duke of somewhere."
"Joscelin Grey," Monk reminded him.
"Oh. Very pleasant fellow; officer in the Crimea, forgotten which regiment, but a very distinguished record." He nodded vigorously. "Wounded at Sebastopol, I think he said, then invalided out. Walked with a limp, poor devil. Not that it was disfiguring. Very good-looking fellow, great charm, very well liked, you know."
"A wealthy family?"
"Shelburne?" Scarsdale was faintly amused by Monk's ignorance and his confidence was begi
Monk controlled his sense of being patronized; he was perfectly aware of the laws of primogeniture.
"Yes, thank you. Where did Joscelin Grey's money come from?"
Scarsdale waved his hands, which were small, with wide knuckles and very short nails. "Oh business interests, I presume. I don't believe he had a great deal, but he didn't appear in any want. Always dressed well. Tell a lot from a fellow's clothes, you know." Again he looked at Monk with a faint curl of his lip, then saw the quality of Monk's jacket and the portion of his shirt that was visible, and changed his mind, his eyes registering confusion.
"And as far as you know he was neither married nor betrothed?'' Monk kept a stiff face and hid at least most of his satisfaction.
Scarsdale was surprised at his inefficiency.
"Surely you know that?"
"Yes, we know there was no official arrangement," Monk said, hastening to cover his mistake. "But you are in a position to know if there was any other relationship, anyone in whom he-had an interest?"
Scarsdale's rather full mouth turned down at the corners.
"If you mean an arrangement of convenience, not that I am aware of. But then a man of breeding does not inquire into the personal tastes-or accommodations-of another gentleman."
"No, I didn't mean a financial matter," Monk answered with the shadow of a sneer. "I meant some lady he might have-admired-or even been courting."
Scarsdale colored angrily. "Not as far as I know."
"Was he a gambler?"
"I have no idea. I don't gamble myself, except with friends, of course, and Grey was not among them. I haven't heard anything, if that's what you mean."
Monk realized he would get no more this evening, and he was tired. His own mystery was heavy at the back of his mind. Odd, how emptiness could be so intrusive. He rose to his feet.
"Thank you, Mr. Scarsdale. If you should hear anything to throw light on Major Grey's last few days, or who might have wished him harm, I am sure you will let us know. The sooner we apprehend this man, the safer it will be for everyone."
Scarsdale rose also, his face tightening at the subtle and unpleasant reminder that it had happened just across the hall from his own flat, threatening his security even as he stood there.
"Yes, naturally," he said a little sharply. "Now if you will be good enough to permit me to change-I have a di
Monk arrived at the police station to find Evan waiting for him. He was surprised at the sharpness of his pleasure at seeing him. Had he always been a lonely person, or was this just the isolation from memory, from all that might have been love or warmth in himself? Surely there was a friend somewhere-someone with whom he had shared pleasure and pain, at least common experience? Had there been no woman-in the past, if not now-some stored-up memory of tenderness, of laughter or tears? If not he must have been a cold fish. Was there perhaps some tragedy? Or some wrong?
The nothingness was crowding in on him, threatening to engulf the precarious present. He had not even the comfort of habit.