'Both boys,' he said with a catch in his voice. He cleared his throat. 'Both boys,' he repeated, 'and Albert Frobisher. That's three witnesses. Good God, man, how many do you want? Do you imagine the creature went about exhibiting his perversion?'
'Both boys?' Pitt said again. 'And what if they were involved themselves, wouldn't that be just the lie they would tell? And Albie Frobisher-would you take the word of a seventeen-year-old male prostitute against that of a respectable scholastic tutor at any other time? Would you?'
'No!' Athelstan was on his feet now, his face only a hand-span from Pitt's, his knuckles white, arms shaking. 'Yes!' he contradicted himself. 'Yes-if it fits with all the other evidence. And it does! He identified him from photographs-that proves Jerome was there.'
'Can we be sure?' Pitt urged. 'Can we be sure we didn't put the idea into his mind, prompt him? Did we suggest the answer we wanted by the way we asked the questions?'
'No, of course we didn't!' Athelstan's voice dropped a little. He was regaining control of himself. 'Gillivray is a professional.' He took a deep breath. 'Really, Pitt, you are al-
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lowing your resentment to warp you. I said Gillivray was treading on your heels, and now you're trying to discredit him. It's not worthy of you.' He sat down again, straightening his jacket and stretching his neck to ease his collar.
'Jerome is guilty,' Athelstan said. 'He has been found guilty by the courts, and he will be hanged.' He cleared his throat again. 'Don't stand over me like that, Pitt-it's insolent! And the health of Godfrey Waybourne is his father's affair- similarly Titus Swynford. As far as the prostitute is concerned, he's lucky we didn't prosecute him for his filthy trade. He'll probably die of some disease or other in the end anyway. If he hasn't got it now, he soon will have! Now I warn you, Pitt, this matter is closed. If you insist on pursuing it any further, you will be jeopardizing your own career. Do you understand me? These people have suffered enough tragedy in their lives. You will now pursue the job you are paid for-and leave them alone. Have I made myself clear?'
'But, sir-'
'I forbid it! You do not have permission to harass the Way-bournes any further, Pitt! The case is closed-finished! Jerome is guilty and that is the end of it. I don't want you to mention it again-to me or to anyone else. Gillivray is an excellent officer and his conduct is not open to question. I am perfectly satisfied he did everything necessary to determine the truth, and that he did determine it! I don't know how to make it any plainer to you. Now get on with your job-if you want to keep it.' He stared at Pitt in challenge.
Suddenly it had become a test between them whose will would prevail, and Athelstan could not afford to let it be Pitt's. Pitt was dangerous because he was unpredictable; he did not give respect where he ought to, and when his sympathies were engaged, his good sense, even his self-preservation, went out the window. He was a most uncomfortable person to have about; at the first available opportunity, Athelstan decided, he would promote him to someone else's area. Unless, of course, Pitt were to press on in this wretched business of the Way-bourne case, in which event he could be reduced to walking the beat again and Athelstan would be as easily rid of him.
Pitt stood still as the seconds ticked by. The room was so si-160
lent 'he imagined he could hear the workings of the gold watch hanging from Athelstan's waistcoat on the thick, gold link chain.
To Athelstan, Pitt was a disturbing person because he did not understand him. Pitt had married above himself, and that was offensive as well as incomprehensible. What did a wellborn woman like Charlotte want with an untidy, erratic, and imaginative paradox like Pitt? A woman with any dignity would have stuck to her own class!
Gillivray, on the other hand, was quite different; he was easy to understand. He was an only son with three sisters. He was ambitious, but he accepted that one must climb the ladder rung by rung, everything in order, each advance earned. There was comfort, even beauty, in observing order. There was safety in it for everyone, and that was what the law was for-preserving the safety of society. Yes, Gillivray was an eminently sane young man, and very pleasing to have around. He would go far. In fact, Athelstan had once even remarked that he would not mind if one of his own daughters were to marry a young man of such a type. He had already proved he knew how to conduct himself with both diligence and discretion. He did not go out of the way to antagonize people, or allow his
