Lynn Shepherd - Murder at Mansfield Park

"My own aim, entirely," said Maddox, with a smile."And in the pursuit of same, may I begin by examining the corpse?"

The two gentlemen absolutely started, and for a moment both seemed immoveable from surprise; but Edmund shortly recovered himself, and said in a hoarse voice, "You cannot possibly be in earnest, Mr Maddox. It is quite out of the question."

Mr Maddox frowned. "I assure you I am in the most deadly earnest, Mr Norris. The precise state of the body — the nature of the injuries, the advancement of putrefaction, and such like matters — are all of the utmost significance to my enquiries. It is the evidence , sir, the evidence, and without it, my investigation is thwarted before it even commences."

"You mistake me, Mr Maddox," said Edmund coldly, a deep shade of crimson overspreading his features. "It is out of the question, because the coffin has already been sealed. To open it again — to break open the shroud — would be a sacrilegious outrage that I cannot — will not — permit."

"I see," said Maddox, eyeing him coolly. "In that case, may I be permitted to speak to the person who laid out the corpse? It is a poor substitute, but in such a circumstance, secondhand intelligence is better than no intelligence at all."

Tom hesitated, and looked to his cousin. "What think you, Edmund? May we impose so much on Miss Crawford’s kindness?"

"Could such an importunate interview not wait a few days?" said Edmund, angrily. "It has been a distressing day for us all, and for none more so than Miss Crawford. She finished laying out the body not two hours ago."

"So much the better," replied Maddox. "The lady’s memory will be all the fresher for it. You would be surprised, Mr Norris, how quickly one’s powers of recall weaken and become confused, especially in cases such as this, when the mind is exerting itself to throw a mist over unpleasantness. We all believe our faculties of recollection to be so retentive, yet I have questioned witnesses who would swear to have seen things that I know, from my own knowledge, to be absolutely impossible. And yet they sincerely believe what they say. Which is why it is essential that I speak with this Miss Crawford without delay. There is not a moment to lose."

Edmund turned and went to the window, and remained there some moments. This did not fail to attract a considerable degree of interest from Mr Maddox, though he said nothing, and appeared to be absorbed merely in contemplating the set of family portraits that hung on the wall behind.

A moment later Edmund turned to face them; his features had assumed an air of grim determination, but his voice was steady.

"I will ask Miss Crawford to join us. I am sure you will find her to be both accurate and reliable in her observations."

He bowed hurriedly, and left the room. There was a short silence, in the course of which, Mr Maddox got up from his chair, and strolled with apparent unconcern towards the paintings.

"Is this the victim?" he asked.

"I beg your pardon?" said Tom, who had not been accustomed to such language as this.

"Fanny Price — is this her?"

"Yes," said Tom, stiffly, bridling at the familiarity. "That is indeed a likeness of Miss Price."

"And is it a good one?"

"I believe it is generally thought to be so. It was drawn some two years ago."

"I see," said Maddox, thoughtfully. "A handsome woman. A very handsome woman, if I may say so. And an heiress, into the bargain.Your Mr Norris was a lucky fellow. And to lose such a prize, in such a way — it would be a wonder if his life were not ruined. Would it not, Mr Bertram?"

Tom was saved from the necessity of a reply by the sound of the door opening, and the reappearance of Edmund, accompanied by Mary.

"I have explained the circumstances to Miss Crawford," he said, "and she has kindly agreed to answer any questions you may have. But I would beg you to recollect that we have already made more demands on her than we can claim any right to, and she is, as a consequence, quite exhausted. Pray do not tire her unnecessarily, or distress her without good reason."

Edmund made to take a seat, but Maddox prevented him. "I would much prefer to speak with Miss Crawford in private, Mr Norris."

"Why so? Surely that is not necessary?"

"In my experience, Mr Norris, people find it easier to be completely frank and open in their disclosures, when their family or acquaintances are not listening to every word they say. All the more so, when the questions to be asked are of such a delicate and, shall we say, squeamish nature. So if Miss Crawford permits —?"

Mary held his gaze for a moment, and he perceived the slightest lift of her head as she replied, with some self-possession, "Thank you for your concern, Mr Norris, but I am quite content. I will speak to Mr Maddox alone."

Mary had been both surprised and pleased when Edmund had sought her in the dining-parlour, but she had instantly perceived him to be wholly preoccupied by something that seemed to have little to do with her; his manner was distant, and had she not become well acquainted with his character and temper, she might have considered him to be almost uncivil. He had explained his errand in some haste, barely meeting her eye, and she could not tell if he was vexed or relieved when he met with a ready acquiescence to his request. He had asked her to accompany him with scarcely another word, and she had barely enough time to collect her wits before she was led into the presence of Charles Maddox.

When the door had closed behind the two gentlemen, Maddox directed her to a chair beside the fire, and took one facing her. It might have been accident, or design, but the seat he had chosen afforded him a clear view of her face in the light from the window, while his own features remained shadowed and obscure.

"Now, Miss Crawford," he began. "I am most grateful for your assistance in this sad affair. I am sure you are as anxious as any body to have it elucidated."

"I will do anything in my power to help."

"Quite so, quite so. Perhaps you might begin, then, by giving me your impressions of the corpse. In your own words, of course."

This was not what she had expected — in so far as she had expected anything — and she sat for a moment without speaking, wondering how, and where, to commence. She was aware that Maddox was eyeing her closely all the while, but before she had the chance to begin her relation, he took matters into his own hands.

"Perhaps it might expedite the business if I began by putting one or two questions of my own?"

Mary blushed in spite of herself; she had not thought to find an intellectual superior in such a man as this, but he already had the advantage of her.

"If you would be so good. I have no experience of such things, and do not know what, precisely, you wish to ascertain."

"Quite so. I would have been astonished if it had been otherwise," he replied with what he clearly believed to be an affable smile. "As far as I have been informed, Miss Price met her death as the result of an accident."

Mary shook her head. "That is simply not possible. Such injuries could not have been sustained in a simple fall."

"You say injuries, in the plural.Was that deliberate?"

Mary looked at him archly. "I am always most precise in my use of words, Mr Maddox. You may take it that what I say, I mean."

He bowed. "I am glad to hear it. Indeed, I wish more of my witnesses demonstrated such precision of thought. So, we may conclude her assailant inflicted more than one blow?"

Mary nodded. "Six, or seven, in my estimation."

"You saw evidence of that?"

"Not at first, but once I had washed the blood and dirt away, several distinct wounds became clearly visible. They were all close together on the left side."