Death in the Peerless Pool by Deryn Lake Read Free Book Online Page A

terrible scene depicting conditions within the asylum.
    Thinking it better not to argue, the Apothecary said, ‘Tell me about Hannah. Was she a married woman?’
    â€˜No, Sir. She lived alone in Ratcliff Row.’
    â€˜Where’s that?’
    â€˜Not far from Pest House Row, near to the French Hospital.’
    â€˜My God,’ said the Goldsmith, jumping to his feet. ‘Do you realise where that is, John?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Pest House Row runs directly behind the Fish Pond.’
    â€˜That’s right,’ put in Forbes, ‘it does.’ His eyes glistened. ‘You say that Hannah met her end in that very place?’
    â€˜Indeed she did.’
    â€˜Then she wouldn’t have far to go, would she?’
    The Apothecary considered for a moment, then changed the conversation’s direction. ‘Did Hannah have any particular friends that you know of? Either on the staff or outside the hospital?’
    Forbes looked thoughtful. ‘No, she didn’t. The fact was that she kept herself very much to herself. Spoke to few; did her duty; befriended no one but fell out with none. She had a way with her, if you understand me, that seemed to discourage comradeship. She was alone and happy like that.’
    â€˜Obviously an austere woman,’ John stated with just a hint of a smile.
    â€˜Very. There was some that were quite nervous of her.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Only because of that. Because of her forbidding manner.’
    â€˜Might one of the inmates be sufficiently afraid of her to be driven to commit murder?’
    Forbes screwed up his face to hide the fact that he was grinning. ‘They hate all us warders, but her they hated most of all.’
    John stood up, indicating that the interview was at an end. ‘Mr Forbes, I must thank you. You have been most helpful. However, I’m afraid there is one other thing.’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜If no kith or kin can be found, then someone who knew Hannah Rankin well will be asked to identify the body. Would you be willing to do so?’
    Forbes gulped. ‘If nobody else is available, I suppose I must.’
    â€˜I will inform Mr Fielding.’
    They walked back down the corridor together, listening to the wail of the wretched patients, glimpsing through one open door a half-naked man, his hands on his genitals.
    â€˜Stop that!’ bellowed Forbes, but the poor creature continued, totally oblivious of the world beyond his own pathetic needs. Very sobered, the two friends stepped through the heavily fortified front door and into the fresh air of the garden beyond, where both drew a deep breath.
    â€˜God grant that I never end in such a place,’ Samuel said morosely.
    â€˜Amen to that,’ John answered with feeling. He looked around him and saw that the beautiful girl, Petronelle, had started a meaningless solitary walk, wandering in circles, going nowhere, without purpose. Looking up, she caught his eye and began to head in his direction.
    â€˜Only a shilling,’ she said sadly.
    â€˜Not now, my dear,’ the Apothecary answered.
    Petronelle burst into tears. ‘But I need the money to buy food.’
    John shook his head. ‘No, they feed you here.’
    She looked at him, very puzzled. ‘Do they? What place am I in?’
    â€˜You’re in hospital,’ Samuel replied kindly. ‘Where they look after you.’
    Very briefly, a look of cunning came into Petronelle’s eye. ‘Some do, some don’t,’ she answered.
    Thinking of the warders’ attitude as personified by Forbes, John inwardly shuddered at the thought of cruelty being meted out to such a delicate creature.
    â€˜Who is unkind to you?’ he asked, determined to take the matter up with Dr Crow himself, should it prove necessary.
    Petronelle took his arm, her lovely face staring up into his. ‘She’s gone now,’ she whispered.
    â€˜Who? Who’s