more than grief, it was something that lay not only in the past but in the future also.
5
Monk and Evan saw Grimwade only briefly, then went straight up to visit Yeats. It was a little after eight in the morning and they hoped to catch him at breakfast, or possibly even before.
Yeats opened the door himself; he was a small man of about forty, a trifle plump, with a mild face and thinning hair which fell forward over his brow. He was startled and there was still a piece of toast and orange preserve in his hand. He stared at Monk with some alarm.
'Good morning, Mr. Yeats,' Monk said firmly. 'We are from the police; we would like to speak to you about the murder of Major Joscelin Grey. May we come in please?' He did not step forward, but his height seemed to press over Yeats and vaguely threaten him, and he used it deliberately.
'Y-yes, y-yes of course,' Yeats stuttered, backing away, still clutching the toast. 'But I assure you I d-don't know anything I haven't already t-told you. Not you-at least-a Mr. Lamb who was-a-'
'Yes I know.' Monk followed him in. He knew he was being oppressive, but he could not afford to be gentle.
Yeats must have seen the murderer face-to-face, possibly even been in collusion with him, willingly or unwillingly.
'But we have learned quite a few new facts,' he went on, 'since Mr. Lamb was taken ill and I have been put on the case.'
'Oh?' Yeats dropped the toast and bent to pick it up, ignoring the preserve on the carpet. It was a smaller room than Joscelin Grey's and overpoweringly furnished in heavy oak covered in photographs and embroidered linen. There were antimacassars on both the chairs.
'Have you-' Yeats said nervously. 'Have you? I still don't think I can-er-could-'
'Perhaps if you were to allow a few questions, Mr. Yeats.' Monk did not want him so frightened as to be incapable of thought or memory.
'Well-if you think so. Yes-yes, if…' He backed away and sat down sharply on the chair closest to the table.
Monk sat also and was conscious of Evan behind him doing the same on a ladder-back chair by the wall. He wondered fleetingly what Evan was thinking, if he found him harsh, overconscious of his own ambition, his need to succeed. Yeats could so easily be no more than he seemed, a frightened little man whom mischance had placed at the pivot of a murder.
Monk began quietly, thinking with an instant's self-mockery that he might be moderating his tone not to reassure Yeats but to earn Evan's approval. What had led him to such isolation that Evan's opinion mattered so much to him? Had he been too absorbed in learning, climbing, polishing himself, to afford friendship, much less love? Indeed, had anything at all engaged his higher emotions?
Yeats was watching him like a rabbit seeing a stoat, and too horrified to move.
'You yourself had a visitor that night,' Monk told him quite gently. 'Who was he?'
'I don't know!' Yeats's voice was high, almost a squeak. 'I don't know who he was! I told Mr. Lamb that! He came here by mistake; he didn't even really want me!'
Monk found himself holding up his hand, trying to calm him as one would with an overexcited child, or an animal.
'But you saw him, Mr. Yeats.' He kept his voice low. 'No doubt you have some memory of his appearance, perhaps his voice? He must have spoken to you?' Whether Yeats was lying or not, he would achieve nothing by attacking his statement now; Yeats would only entrench himself more and more deeply into his ignorance.
Yeats blinked.
'I-I really can hardly say, Mr.-Mr.-'
'Monk-I'm sorry,' he said, apologizing for not having introduced himself. 'And my colleague is Mr. Evan. Was he a large man, or small?'
'Oh large, very large,' Yeats said instantly. 'Big as you are, and looked heavy; of course he had a thick coat on, it was a very bad night-wet-terribly.'
'Yes, yes I remember. Was he taller than I am, do you think?' Monk stood up helpfully.
Yeats stared up at him. 'No, no, I don't think so. About the same, as well as I can recall. But it was some time ago now.'' He shook his head unhappily.
Monk seated himself again, aware of Evan discreetly taking notes.
'He really was here only a moment or two,' Yeats protested, still holding the toast, now beginning to break and drop crumbs on his trousers. 'He just saw me, asked a question as to my business, then realized I was not the person he sought, and left again. That is really all there was.' He brushed ineffectively at his trousers. 'You must believe me, if I could help, I would. Poor Major Grey, such an appalling death.' He shivered. 'Such a charming young man. Life plays some dreadful tricks, does it not?'
Monk felt a quick flicker of excitement inside himself.
'You knew Major Grey?' He kept his voice almost casual.
'Oh not very well, no, no!' Yeats protested, shunning any thought of social arrogance-or involvement. “Only to pass the time of day, you understand? But he was very civil, always had a pleasant word, not like some of these young men of fashion. And he didn't affect to have forgotten one's name.'
'And what is your business, Mr. Yeats? I don't think you said.'
'Oh perhaps not.' The toast shed more pieces in his hand, but now he was oblivious of it. 'I deal in rare stamps and coins.'
'And this visitor, was he also a dealer?'
Yeats looked surprised.
'He did not say, but I should imagine not. It is a small business, you know; one gets to meet most of those who are interested, at one time or another.'
'He was English then?'
“I beg your pardon?''
'He was not a foreigner, whom you would not expect to have known, even had he been in the business?'
'Oh, I see.' Yeats's brow cleared. 'Yes, yes he was English.'
'And who was he looking for, if not for you, Mr. Yeats?'
'I-I-really cannot say.' He waved his hand in the air. 'He asked if I were a collector of maps; I told him I was not. He said he had been misinformed, and he left immediately. ''
'I think not, Mr. Yeats. I think he then went to call on Major Grey, and within the next three quarters of an hour, beat him to death.'
'Oh my dear God!' Yeats's bones buckled inside him and he slid backwards and down into his chair. Behind Monk, Evan moved as if to help, then changed his mind and sat down again.
'That surprises you?' Monk inquired.
Yeats was gasping, beyond speech.
'Are you sure this man was not known to you?' Monk persisted, giving him no time to regather his thoughts. This was the time to press.
'Yes, yes I am. Quite unknown.' He covered his face with his hands. 'Oh my dear heaven!'
Monk stared at Yeats. The man was useless now, either reduced to abject horror, or else very skillfully affecting to be. He turned and looked at Evan. Evan's face was stiff with embarrassment, possibly for their presence and their part in the man's wretchedness, possibly merely at being witness to it.
Monk stood up and heard his own voice far away. He knew he was risking a mistake, and that he was doing it because of Evan.
'Thank you, Mr. Yeats. I'm sorry for distressing you. Just one more thing: was this man carrying a stick?'
Yeats looked up, his face sickly pale; his voice was no more than a whisper.
'Yes, quite a handsome one; I noticed it.'
'Heavy or light?'
