Inspector Morse 12 Death is Now My Neighbour

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

But she went on pleading in her distraction; and perhaps said things that would have been better left to silence.

'Angel! - Angel! I was a child - a child when it happened! I knew nothing of men.'

Tou were more sinned against than sinning, that I admit'

'Then you will not forgive me?*

*I do forgive you, but forgiveness is not all.'

'And love me?'

To this question he did not answer

(Thomas Hardy, less of the dVtlerviUes)

'COFFEE?' SHE suggested, as Cornford was hanging up his overcoat in the entrance hall.

'I've just had some.'

Til put the kettle on.'

'No! Leave it a while. I want to talk to you.'

They sat together, if opposite is together, in the lounge.

'What did you do when the Chaplain invited us all to confess our manifold sins and wickedness?'

The measured, civilized tone of Cornford's voice had

shifted to a slightly higher, yet strangely quieter key; and the eyes, normally so kindly, seemed to concentrate ever narrowingly upon her, like an ornithologist focusing binoculars on an interesting species.

Tarrdon?'

''In thought, word, and deed' - wasn't that the formula?'

She shook her head in apparent puzzlement 'I haven't the faintest-'

But his words cut sharply across her protestation. 'Why are you lying to me?'

'What-?'

'Shut up!' The voice had lost its control. 'You've been unfaithful to me! /know that. You know diat. Let's start from there!'

'But I haven't-'

'Don't lie to me! I've put up with your infidelity, but I can't put up with your liesV

The last word was hissed, like a whiplash across his wife's face.

'Only once, really,' she whispered.

'Recently?'

She nodded, in helpless misery.

'Who with?'

In great gouts, the tears were falling now. 'Why do you have to know? Why do you have to torture yourself? It didn't mean anything, Denis! It didn't mean anything.'

'Hah!' He laughed bitterly. 'Didn't you think it might mean something to me?'

'He just wanted-'

'Who was it?'

She closed her eyes, cheeks curtained with mascara'd tears, unable to answer him.

'Who was it?

But still she made no answer to the piercing question.

'Shall I tell your

He knew - she realized he knew. And now, her eyes still firmly shut, she spoke the name of the adulterer.

'He didn't come here? You went over to the Master's Lodge?'

'Yes.'

'And you went to his bedroom?'

Yes.'

'And you undressed for him?'

'Yes.'

'You stripped naked for him?'

Tes.'