Part 3 (1/2)
*I do not know what misled you to that conclusion,' Sidney Grice said. *I have not expressed any support for your cause.'
Mrs Dillinger let go of the mantlepiece and swayed, and I stood ready in case she collapsed.
*Then I must go and find somebody who will.'
Sidney Grice shrugged, but Mrs Dillinger stayed where she was.
*I repeat my question,' he said. *Was the marriage a happy one?'
*Very... They were devoted to each other. He called my Sarah the apple...' Mrs Dillinger stopped, unable to continue.
*Would you like a gla.s.s of water?' I asked, but Mrs Dillinger whispered, *No. Thank you.'
I took her arm and guided her back into her chair, pulling up one of the upright chairs to sit myself beside her.
Sidney Grice tapped his feet together and said, *Did they have financial problems?'
*No more than anybody else. They made enough to live on.'
Mrs Dillinger cleared her throat.
*They?'
*Sarah worked in the shop also.'
*Are you employed?'
*I give private tuition in the pianoforte and French Conversation, and I sometimes take in children whilst their parents are unable to look after them.'
*For money?'
*Yes. I need it all the more since my dear husband died.'
*And how did he die?'
Mrs Dillinger s.h.i.+vered. *He was killed by a footpad on Westminster Bridge for his father's watch which did not even work. Is this relevant?'
Sidney Grice compressed his lips. *I do not know yet. Was your daughter's life insured?'
The front door slammed and footsteps raced along the hall.
*For a very small amount, I think, but I do not know the details.' Mrs Dillinger's face tightened. *And I do not see what that has got to do with anything.'
*The court may find it has something to do with everything. How old was...' Sidney Grice consulted his notes *... Sarah?'
*Nineteen.'
*Why, she was younger than I,' I said, and Sidney Grice said, *Please do not interject again, Miss Middleton. How old is your son-in-law, Mrs Dillinger?'
*Thirty-four.'
The mantle clock struck the quarter.
*Quite a difference.' Sidney Grice leaned back. *Perhaps your daughter was tired of being with an older man.'
*Fifteen years is nothing,' Mrs Dillinger said. *And I have told you... they were devoted.'
*Perhaps he caught her with another man and killed her in a rage.'
Mrs Dillinger straightened her back. *She was a loyal and decent girl and would never have betrayed him, and my son-in-law is a gentle and kind man. He could never have been so cruel.'
*Where is he now?' Sidney Grice extruded a little more lead from his pencil.
*He is being held in Marylebone Police Station.'
*And what is the address of this incident?'
*13 Mangle Street, Whitechapel.'
*Mangle Street,' my guardian mused. *Now there is a place with history. I know of six other murders along that road, the first being in seventeen forty as I recall, and the most recent being that of a certain Matilda Ta.s.sel and her two daughters, who were killed with an axe.'
*How tragic,' I said.
*Thank you for your shrewd forensic critique, Miss Middleton.' He scratched his cheek. *Perhaps William killed them too.'
*Or perhaps their murderer killed Sarah.'
*I believe her husband died of consumption whilst awaiting trial,' Sidney Grice said, *but I shall check with my records later. One last thing.' He was still writing. *My services are very expensive and your means are obviously limited. Quite how do you propose to reimburse me?'
Mrs Dillinger took a small black-edged handkerchief from a pocket in her coat. *But surely your first concern is to see justice done?' And Sidney Grice smiled unpleasantly.
*It might be a novel diversion,' he said, *but if word got about that I was prepared to lower my extravagant fees for the deserving poor, I should have every jackanapes in London sitting on my doorstep.'
*But I have no money.'
My guardian raised his left eyebrow.
*Then how do you propose to pay for this consultation?'
Mrs Dillinger looked at me and back at him blankly.
*I thought...'
*I do not want your thoughts,' Sidney Grice said. *I want your money.'
Her eyes filled with tears.