‘How utterly ghastly,’ said Sebastian.
‘Another result of human folly,’ said Price. ‘His father and mother were first cousins and presumably educated people, yet they chose to be indifferent to the voice of science.’
‘The voice of science is hesitant on the subject,’ said Dr Ormonde, and Gerda joined in: ‘Where the medical history of the family is goot . . .’
‘These old families are all decadent,’ Price declared. ‘Their only hope is to choose their mates from the healthy and vigorous lower-income groups. They’re too snobbish for that, of course, and we note the results.’
‘These, perhaps, were not snobbish,’ said Gerda. ‘Like your Romeo and Juliet, they were, perhaps, victims of a terrible lof.’
‘In the case of thinking persons, the head rules the heart, Miss Truffer, and the affections, if found to be straying towards forbidden fruit, can be checked and redirected. Provided, of course, that the wish to do right is present.’
There was a silence while everyone avoided looking at Francis; then, oblivious of his gaffe, Price went on: ‘But moral sense seems to be absent in Mrs Patten. She admitted quite shamelessly to obtaining money by false pretences; ‘One must live,’ is what she said, suggesting by her tone that the world owes a living to the Pattens of Berrinsdale.’
Meade asked, ‘You’ve actually charged her with murder?’
‘She was charged with being accessory before the fact of murder, but her own story makes her out to be accessory after the fact. That would enable her to exploit for all it’s worth — a great deal in the case of British juries — the hackneyed theme of mother-love.’
Meade got to his feet. ‘Well, all this leaves a nasty taste in one’s mouth. One only hopes it will not impair one’s affection for Berrinsdale.’
Francis said, ‘Why should it? The hills sleep on in their eternity.’
Unexpectedly Price announced, ‘I agree with you, Mr Worthington. Nature, though we call her Mother Nature, stands coldly aloof from our cares, and it is to our fellow men that we look for assistance in resolving such problems as come our way.’
‘You mistake me,’ said Francis rising. ‘Sebastian, we’re doing the Arrowhead tomorrow, so let’s get off to bed.’
‘Before you go, Mr Worthington,’ said Price, springing up and forcing a smile to his lips as a sequence of thought — Oxford accent . . . Dr Muswell . . . the A.C . . . passed through his mind. ‘I must once again express my warmest appreciation of the assistance you have given me. ‘From information received’ is a phrase which will figure largely in the report I shall write tomorrow as the train conveys me back to the Metropolis.’
Taking the cold limp hand which Price held out to him, finding it in his heart to pity this dim little man, whose failings it would be interesting to trace back and blame on the Renaissance, ‘You’ll be sorry to leave Berrinsdale,’ Francis said.
Price replied, ‘With all due respect to you ladies and gentlemen, the contrary is the case.’
*
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The Body in the Beck Page 19