'A maid that worked here two years ago, by the name of Martha Riven.'
Basil's face tightened, and he moved from the window and stood straighter.
'What can she possibly have to do with my daughter's death?'
'Was she raped, Sir Basil?'
Basil's eyes widened. Distaste registered sharply in his face, then another, more thoughtful expression. 'I have no idea!'
Monk controlled himself with great difficulty. 'Did she come to you and say that she was?'
A slight smile moved Basil's mouth, and his hand at his side curled and uncurled.
'Inspector, if you had ever kept a house with a large staff, many of them young, imaginative and excitable women, you would hear a great many stories of all sorts of entanglements, charges and countercharges of wrongs. Certainly she came and said she had been molested-but I have no way of knowing whether she really had or whether she had got herself with child and was trying to lay the blame on someone else-and get us to look after her. Possibly one of the male servants forced his attentions-' His hands uncurled, and he shrugged very faintly.
Monk bit his tongue and stared at Basil with hard eyes.
'Is that what you believe, sir? You spoke with the girl. I believe she charged that it was Mr. Kellard who assaulted her. Presumably you also spoke with Mr. Kellard. Did he tell you he had never had anything to do with her?''
'Is that your business, Inspector?' Basil said coldly.
'If Mr. Kellard raped this girl, yes, Sir Basil, it is. It may well be the root of this present crime.''
'Indeed? I fail to see how.' But there was no conciliation in his voice, and no outrage.
'Then I will explain it,' Monk said between his teeth. 'If Mr. Kellard raped this unfortunate girl, the fact was concealed and the girl dismissed to whatever fate she could find, then
that says a great deal about Mr. Keilard's nature and his belief that he is tree to force his attentions upon women, regardless of their feelings. It seems highly probable that he admired Mrs. Haslett, and may have tried to force his attentions upon her also.'
'And murdered her?' Basil was considering it. There was caution in his voice, the beginning of a new thought, but still heavily tinged with doubt.”Martha never suggested he threatened her with any weapon, and she perfectly obviously had not been injured-'
'You had her examined?' Monk asked baldly.
Temper flashed in Basil's face. 'Of course I didn't. Whatever for? She made no claim of violence-I told you that.'
'I daresay she considered it of no purpose-and she was right. She charged rape, and was dismissed without a character to live or die in the streets.'' As soon as he had said it he knew his words were the result of temper, not judgment.
Basil's cheeks darkened with anger. 'Some chit of a maid gets with child and accuses my daughter's husband of raping her! For God's sake, man, do you expect me to keep her in the house? Or recommend her to the houses of my friends?' Still he remained at the far side of the room, glaring at Monk across the table and the chair. 'I have a duty both to my family, especially my daughter and her happiness, and to my acquaintances. To give any recommendation to a young woman with a character that would charge such a thing of her employer would be completely irresponsible.'
Monk wanted to ask him about his duty toward Martha Rivett, but knew that such an affront would very probably cause him just the sort of complaint that Runcorn would delight in, and would give Runcorn an excuse for censure, perhaps even removal from the case.
'You did not believe her, sir?' He was civil with difficulty. 'Mr. Kellard denied having any relationship with her?'
'No he didn't,' Basil said sharply. 'He said she had led him on and was perfectly willing; it was only later when she discovered she was with child she made this charge to protect herself-and I daresay to try and force us to care for her, to stop her spreading about such a story. The giri was obviously of loose character and out to take a chance to profit from it if she could.'
'So you put an end to it. I assume you believed Mr. Kel-lard's account?'
Basil looked at him coldly. 'No, as a matter of fact I did not. I think it very probable he forced his attentions on the girl, but that is hardly important now. Men have natural appetites, always have had. I daresay she flirted with him and he mistook her. Are you suggesting he tried the same with my daughter Octavia?''
'It seems possible.'
Basil frowned. 'And if he did, why should that lead to murder, which is what you seem to be suggesting? If she had struck at him, that would be understandable, but why should he kill her?'
'If she intended telling people,' Monk replied. 'To rape a maid is apparently acceptable, but would you have viewed it with the same leniency had he raped your daughter? And would Mrs. Kellard, if she knew?'
Basil's face was scored with deep lines, now all dragged downward with distaste and anxiety.
'She does not know,' he said slowly, meeting Monk's eyes. 'I trust I make myself plain, Inspector? For her to be aware of Myles's indiscretion would distress her, and serve no purpose. He is her husband and will remain so. I don't know what women do in your walk of life, but in ours they bear their difficulties with dignity and silence. Do you understand me?'
'Of course I do,' Monk said tartly. 'If she does not know now, I shall not tell her unless it becomes necessary- by which time I imagine it will be common knowledge. Similarly may I ask you, sir, not to forewarn Mr. Kellard of my knowledge in the matter. I can hardly expect him to confess to anything, but I may learn quite a lot from his first reaction when I speak to him about it.'
'You expect me to…' Basil began indignantly, then his voice faded away as he realized what he was saying.
'I do,' Monk agreed with a downward turn of his mouth. 'Apartfrom the ends of justice towards Mrs. Haslett, you and I both know that it was someone in this house. If you protect Mr. Kellard to save scandal-and Mrs. Kellard's feelings- you only prolong the investigation, the suspicion, Lady Moi-dore's distress-and it will still come down to someone in the house in the end.'
For a moment their eyes met, and there was intense dislike-and complete understanding.
'If Mrs. Kellard needs to know, I will be the one to tell her,' Basil stated.
'If you wish,' Monk agreed. 'Although I would not leave it too long. If I can learn of it, so may she-'
Basil jerked upward.”Who told you? It damned well wasn't Myles! Was it Lady Moidore?'
'No, I have not spoken to Lady Moidore.'
'Well, don't stand there, man! Who was it?'
'I prefer not to say, sir.'
'I don't give a damn what you prefer! Who was it?'
'If you force me, sir-I decline to say.'
'You-you what?' He tried to outstare Monk, and then realized he could not intimidate him without a specific threat and that he was not prepared at this point to make one. He looked down again; he was not used to being defied, and he had no ready reaction. 'Well pursue your investigation for the moment, but I will know in the end, I promise you.'
Monk did not force his victory; it was too tenuous and the temper between them too volatile.
'Yes sir, very possibly. Since she is the only other person you are aware of having known of this, may I speak with Lady Moidore, please?'
'I doubt she can tell you anything. I dealt with the affair.'
'I'm sure you did, sir. But she knew of it, and may have observed emotions in people that you did not. She would have opportunities not afforded you, domestic occasions; and women are more sensitive to such things, on the whole.'
Basil hesitated.
Monk thought of several arguments: the quick ending of the case, some justice for Octavia-and then caution argued that Octavia was dead and Basil might well think that saving the reputations of those alive was more important. He could do nothing for Octavia now, but he could still protect Araminta from deep shame and hurt. Monk ended by saying nothing.
'Very well,' Basil agreed reluctantly. 'But have the nurse present, and if Lady Moidore is distressed, you will
