Suffer the Little Children

afraid you have to speak, Dottore. For the tape’

‘Oh, I'm sorry. I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention.'

'Would you like me to repeat what I've just said?'

'No, that's not necessary. I understand what you said.'

'Before we begin, Dottore, would you like anything to drink? A glass of water? A coffee?' 'No, thank you.'

If you'd like to smoke, there's an ashtray there.'

Thank you, Cornmissario, but I don't smoke. But of course if either of you would like ...'

'Thank you, Dottbre. May we begin?'

'Of course.'               -

'On me morning of the sixteenth, did you visit the pharmacy of Dottor Mauro Franchi in Campo Sant'Angelo?'

‘Yes, I did.'

'Could you tell me why you went there?'

‘I wanted to speak to Dottor Franchi.'

'Was this for medical reasons, about a patient of yours, perhaps?'

'No. It was a personal matter.'

'Would you ... Excuse me, Dottore?'

‘I suppose in a way, yes, it was about a patient, but one of his, not mine. And while I was there, we also discussed a woman who was a customer of his, but not my patient.'

'Would you tell me who this woman was, Dottore?'

'I'd rather not. She really doesn't have anything to do with any of this.'

I'd prefer to be the judge of that, if I might, Dottore’

‘Yes, I'm sure you would, Comrnissario. But I'm afraid that, in this case, I believe I'm a better judge. So I'd prefer not to tell you her name’

'Would you tell me, then, why you wanted to speak to Dottor Franchi about her?'

'Hmm, I suppose there's no harm in that. I know her fidanzato, well, the man who was once her fidanzato. He's a friend of mine’

'What else can you tell me about her?'

'I was thinking how to put it. They were engaged, these two young people. But the mother of my friend somehow learned that the girl, the woman, had an illness that might be transmitted to their children. They wanted to have children, you see.'

'Excuse me, Dottore, but I'm not sure I understand why you would want to talk to Dottor Franchi about this.'

'Oh, didn't I tell you? Sorry, sorry. You see, they live, the young man and his mother, quite near to Campo Sant'Angelo.'

'And?'

'Don't you see, Commissario? Don't you see what happened?'

‘I’m afraid I can only ask questions, Dottore, not supply answers. I need the information from you, you see.'

'Of course. Then this isn't really a conversation, is it?'

'No, not really, Dottore’

‘It's easy to forget.'

‘Yes, I suppose it is’

'Where were we, Commissario?'

'You were telling me about where your friend and his mother live’

'Yes, of course. Just behind Campo Sant' Angelo. So Dottor Franchi would be their pharmacist. It was Dottor Franchi who told my friend's mother about the disease.'

'Do you have any certain knowledge of that, Dottore?'

'No, I suppose I don't, not certain knowledge. But during my conversation with Dottor Franchi, he said he thought he had a moral right to prevent evil, and help punish it. And that led me to believe that he did tell her, that he let my friend's mother know, and he knew how she would respond’

'Did he tell you that he did it, Dottore?'

'No, not directly. He did not. But any thinking person would understand what he was saying. Or, rather, the significance of what he said’

Is it correct to say that what Dottor Franchi said led you to believe that he revealed this information to the mother of the man this woman was going to marry?'

'Yes’

'What was your reaction to this, Dottore?'

'It angered me. The young woman has been ... has been very unwell as a result of the breakup with her fidanzato.'

'And the young man?'

'Ah, that's a different story.'

'What does that mean?' .

Tie's already engaged to another woman, and his new fidanzata is pregnant’

'Does the other woman, his former fidanzata, know this?'

‘I don't mean to be impolite, Commissario, but do you think it would be possible, in this city, for her not to know?'

'Of course. I understand what you mean. And what was her reaction to this news, do you know, Dottore?'

'She has grown more ... more unwell’ 'Anything else?'

'I think that's enough. I'd prefer not to say anything more’

'Of course, Dottore. You said that you were there to discuss a patient of Dottor Franchi's. Would you tell me who this patient is?'

'Was.'

‘I beg your pardon’

'Was, not is. He is no longer a patient of Dottor Franchi’

Has he moved?' Tn a sense, yes’

‘I’m afraid I don't follow you, Dottore.'

'My son, Commissario. My son Alfredo. He was a patient at Dottor Franchi's pharmacy. But he is no longer a patient there because he no longer lives with me.'

‘I see. Thank you, Dottore. Would you tell me why you went to speak to Dottor Franchi. about your son?'

'I'm afraid the answer is complicated, Commissario.'

Then take your time, if you need to’

‘Yes. Yes. Thank you. I'll try to do that. I could begin by saying I've worked at the Ospedale Civile for nine years. Paediatrics. But why am I telling you that? Of course you know that already. Twice in the past, that is, before this incident with the mother of my friend, I'd heard people say things about Dottor Franchi. That he gave certain information to people that they should not have ... well, that they had no right to have. It was medical information, things Dottor Franchi was said to have learned in the course of his work: about people's illnesses or weaknesses or diseases. At any rate, in some way that was never made clear or explained - and I must admit for the sake of honesty, was never confirmed - this information was said to come to the knowledge of certain other people’

'Are you talking about blackmail, Dottore?'

'Heavens, no. Nothing like that. He could no more commit blackmail, Dottor Franchi, than he could overcharge a client. He's an honest man, you see. And that's what's wrong with him. He's decided what good is, and what sin is, and when someone does something he believes to be sinful, he thinks that they should be punished for it. No, Commissario, I'm not speaking about specific things I know for a fact that he's done: I told you all I know is rumours and suggestions, the way people always say things. It's more that I know the sort of man he is, the way he thinks, and what he believes his obligations are - to maintain public morality. As I told you,