Farriers' Lane - Anne Perry [163]
Pitt bit his lip and felt abashed.
“That is less easy. Actually Charlotte came to the conclusion.” He looked at Drummond quickly, but did not see the impatience he expected. He drew breath and plunged on. “She had cultivated the acquaintance of Adah Harrimore, Prosper’s mother, and spent some time in conversation with her. We knew she had very deep feelings against Jews, but I assumed it dated from her belief that a Jew murdered her granddaughter’s husband in a particularly brutal and offensive way.” He pushed his hands deeper into his pockets, a comfort he would not have felt possible in front of any other superior.
“A great many people felt the same who didn’t even know him. But it seems her anti-Jewish feeling dates from long before that; in fact it has been there probably from childhood. She believes Jews are unclean, that they are responsible for the crucifixion of Christ.”
“They are,” Drummond exclaimed, his eyes troubled.
“Of course they are,” Pitt retorted exasperatedly. “Almost everyone in the entire story, good, bad and indifferent, including Christ Himself, was Jewish! So were Mary, and Mary Magdalene, and the apostles. All the Old Testament prophets as well.”
“I suppose so.” Drummond frowned as if the thought were new to him. “But what has that to do with Adah Harrimore, and still less to do with Prosper?”
“She subscribes to the view, held by several people,” Pitt explained with embarrassment, “especially prize stock breeders—I came across this when I was growing up in the country—if a good bitch gets out and gets with pup to a mongrel—”
“Pitt! For God’s sake, man,” Drummond exploded. “What the devil are you talking about?”
“That the bitch is ruined,” Pitt finished. “All her litters after that will be contaminated.”
“I suppose you know what you are talking about.”
“Yes. Adah Harrimore believed that a woman who had sexual congress with a Jew was contaminated ever after. Any further children would be damaged.”
“Why should that explain Prosper Harrimore murdering Kingsley Blaine?” Drummond said impatiently.
“Because Adah’s husband betrayed her with a Jewess while she was carrying Prosper—and he was born with a deformed leg and foot,” Pitt said wearily. “She believes it was a direct result of the connection with Jews. She taught Prosper that. He blames his deformity on his father’s acts. When he saw that Kingsley Blaine was about to betray his daughter—also with child—in exactly the same way, he took violent, passionate steps to prevent it, before his grandchild was deformed, and his daughter defiled for all future children.”
“Good God!” Drummond shook his head a little. “I didn’t know that. Is there any truth in it? Can breeding stock be—be spoiled like that?”
“No,” Pitt said furiously. “It’s vicious and superstitious rubbish. But there are ignorant people who believe it, and the Harrimores are among them. Old Adah actually said so to Charlotte.”
Drummond was abashed that he had credited it, even for a moment. There was a pink flush up his cheeks.
“She admitted it?” he said with surprise.
“She admitted that Jews were unclean, in her estimation,” Pitt answered. “And that was the cause of Prosper’s deformity.”
Drummond sighed. “But you have no proof, have you?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Well, you’d better see if you can get it. I think I’ll refrain from telling anyone about Aaron Godman until we have something conclusive.”
“I’ll do what I can. I’ll go back to the theater doorman and see if he can remember anything more clearly.” He walked over to the door and was about to open it when Drummond spoke again.
“Pitt.”
Pitt turned. “Yes sir?”
“When the case is closed I am going to resign. I have already told the assistant commissioner. I am recommending you to take my place. Before you argue, it will not be entirely a desk job. You can govern for yourself a great deal of what you do.” He smiled very slightly, but there was affection in it, and respect. “You won’t have anyone