‘Every day if I can manage it. I find that it gives me the peace and quiet that I need to consider the ills of the world.’
‘And does the world have many ills?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘You would know the answer to that question, Inspector, better than perhaps anyone.’
‘I have also found that there is a great deal of kindness and consideration.’
‘Indeed there is,’ replied the monk smiling. ‘And how are your investigations proceeding?’
‘You have heard about poor Miss Weston?’
‘A terrible thing; I have prayed for her soul.’
‘We sought to arrest the perpetrator last night, a bargeman by the name of Billy, but unfortunately he sustained a fatal injury whilst attempting to escape,’ said Ravenscroft, shading his eyes from the bright sun.
‘How awful.’
‘Were you acquainted with either of these two persons, Brother Jonus?’
‘Miss Weston would often bring her son to the cathedral grounds in the mornings. I would see her sitting on the seat down there by the tree, whilst her son played on the green. They seemed to be quite content and happy. I believe that she also attended services in the cathedral on a Sunday. She was engaged as a parlour maid in Sir Arthur Griffith’s residence.’
‘Did you ever notice whether she met anyone, whilst sitting on the green?’
The monk thought hard. ‘I don’t believe so.’
‘Did she ever confide in you?’
‘Alas no; I’m afraid I cannot help you there.’
‘What about Billy?’
‘Ah, Billy, he was different. When he wasn’t off on one of his journeys or drinking at the Diglis, he could often be found loitering around the main entrance to the cathedral.’
‘Oh, what was he doing there?’
‘Begging, I’m afraid. He would try and accost the visitors on their way in and out of the building, asking them for money. It was all quite embarrassing, I’m afraid. Sometimes I would go and give him some food and drink, on condition that he stopped his pleadings.’
‘And did he?’
‘He was generally quite accommodating. Of course, I was always careful not to give him any money. Occasionally, he would go off delivering some cargo along the river or the canal and we would not see him for several days. Then he would return and spend all his money in the taverns, before becoming destitute once more.’
‘Did he ever confide in you, Brother?’
‘Yes, on a number of occasions. He was a very unhappy man, I believe. Always sorry for how life had treated him, and how he had missed his opportunity when he had been younger,’ said the monk sadly.
‘He never mentioned anyone in particular?’
‘No. There was no one in his life.’
‘Do you not think it is strange, Brother Jonus, that Billy, Miss Weston and indeed Nicholas Evelyn, all led lonely, isolated lives? Billy toiling alone on his old barge, Miss Weston and her son living in unappealing-rooms in Glovers Lodging-house, and Nicholas Evelyn spending all his working life in the cathedral library — living separate existences, day after day, year after year, making no friendships, confiding in no one, and yet each seeming as though they were waiting for some startling event that would free them from the worlds they had created for themselves.’
‘I can see, Inspector, that you have given this case a great deal of thought. Perhaps each of us is trying to escape from the world of our own creation. The future can often seem more appealing than the present, but it is the past that defines our immediate state. Sometimes it takes a degree of purpose to break the chains.’
Ravenscroft smiled at the old man’s words, and turned away from the sun.
‘And what is it that you seek, my son?’ asked the monk. ‘How is it possible that you might change your world?’
Ravenscroft stood in silence for some moments, knowing that the wise old brother was waiting patiently for him to speak.
‘There have been two occasions in my life, when I had the opportunity to change direction. Many years ago there was a young lady, whom I held in great esteem and affection, but at the time I failed to realize the strength of my feelings towards her. Eventually she decided to leave for Australia and I never saw her again. It was only after she had left that I began to acknowledge the foolishness of my indecision, and I began to regret the opportunity which I had missed.’
‘It is often the case that we do not realize the value of what we have until we have lost it — but please forgive my interruption. There has also been a recent event that preys on your mind?’
‘Last year I had cause to visit Malvern, and whilst engaged in my investigations there, I met a young lady whom I thought the fairest, loveliest creature that I had ever seen. My feelings towards this young lady, were I felt, acceptable to her, and I was able to assist both her and her brother. After the conclusion of the case, I had resolved to offer her my hand in marriage. I wanted us to be together, and for both our lives to change for the better.’
Ravenscroft paused and, clearing his throat, looked away into the distance.
‘Unfortunately there were a number of problems that stood in our way. A number of years previously she had formed an attachment to a young gentleman who had used her ill. She had found herself with child and he had deserted her in her hour of need. The child — he is now six years of age — is all of her life. She is very protective towards him and will do nothing that will cause him any harm or upset. That is most commendable. I admire her determination and resolve, and would not in any way seek to come between mother and son. She could not bring herself to acknowledge the strength of her feelings towards me, for fear that the lives of her child and herself might once again be placed in danger. During my investigations I had incurred the displeasure of her brother, whom I had considered for a while as being the guilty person in the crime I was attempting to solve. Although he was eventually proved innocent of any crime, he, nevertheless, did not look upon our possible union with any degree of enthusiasm.’
‘And what did you do, my son?’ asked the monk.
‘I–I walked away. I realized that I had little chance of success so I returned to London, tried to involve myself in my work, and trusted that in time, I would forget all about the woman who had so captured my heart.’
‘And did you?’
‘For a while, but I soon realized that I could never extinguish what I truly felt and yet I had to accept that I was powerless to alter the situation. Now that I have returned once more to Worcestershire, I find myself turning towards the Malverns and realizing that beyond the hills, there lies a small welcoming town, where everything that I have ever desired lies waiting, but I cannot reach out to acquire that which I desire above all other. So you see Brother Jonus, once this case is over, I will go back to my lonely room, in a dingy street in that forgotten part of London, where the sun seldom penetrates and where I will be alone with my thoughts for company. Is it not a sad tale, Brother Jonus, that I tell? Perhaps in time, I will become like Evelyn and Billy and poor Ruth Weston, forgotten by everyone and deservedly so.’
The two men stood in silence for some minutes, each alone with his own thoughts and memories.
‘And yet you know in your heart, my son, that you have the power to change all that,’ said the monk slowly.
‘How, Brother, how? What is it that I must do? I have no desire to bring harm to Lucy by reappearing in her life. I could not expect her to place me before her own son. That would be so cruel and unjust. I have no right to do it.’
‘Perhaps you are more afraid of your own rejection?’ suggested the monk. For a moment their eyes met, before Ravenscroft turned away suddenly. ‘I must go. I have detained you longer than I should,’ he said, walking towards the entrance to the steps.
‘Then I wish you well, my son, both with your professional undertaking and with your personal endeavours.’
Ravenscroft turned back and shook the monk’s hand before beginning the long descent back down to the floor of the cathedral.