Wiliam Monk 01 - The Face of a Stranger

eyes wide. "Gor'—it must 'a' bin. When I thinks of it now!"
    "It might have," Monk agreed cautiously. "It's possible. Would you know him if you saw him again?"
    Grimwade's face fell. "Ah, there you 'ave me, sir; I
    don't think as I would. Yer see, I didn't see 'im close, like, when 'e was down 'ere. An' on the stairs I only looked where I was goin', it bein' dark. 'E 'ad one o' them 'eavy coats on, as it was a rotten night an' rainin' somethin' wicked. A natural night for anyone to 'ave 'is coat turned up an' 'is 'at drawn down. I reckon 'e were dark, that's about all I could say fer sure, an' if 'e 'ad a beard, it weren't much of a one."
    "He was probably clean-shaven, and probably dark." Monk tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. He must not let irritation push the man into saying something to please him, something less than true.
    " 'E were big, sir," Grimwade said hopefully. "An' 'e were tall, must 'ave bin six feet. That lets out a lot o' people, don't it?"
    "Yes, yes it does," Monk agreed. "When did he leave?"
    "I saw 'im out o' the corner o' me eye, sir. 'E went past me window at about 'alf past ten, or a little afore."
    "Out of the corner of your eye? You're sure it was him?"
    " 'Ad ter be; 'e didn't leave before, ner after, an' 'e looked the same. Same coat, and 'at, same size, same 'eight. Weren't no one else like that lives 'ere."
    "Did you speak to him?"
    "No, 'e looked like 'e was in a bit of an 'urry. Maybe 'e wanted ter get 'ome. It were a beastly rotten night, like I said, sir; not fit fer man ner beast."
    "Yes I know. Thank you, Mr. Grimwade. If you remember anything more, tell me, or leave a message for me at the police station. Good day."
    "Good day, sir," Grimwade said with intense relief.
    Monk decided to wait for Scarsdale, first to tax him with his lie about the woman, then to try and learn something more about Joscelin Grey. He realized with faint surprise that he knew almost nothing about him, except the manner of his death. Grey's life was as blank an outline as his own, a shadow man, circumscribed by a few
    physical facts, without color or substance that could have induced love or hate. And surely there had been hate in whoever had beaten Grey to death, and then gone on hitting and hitting him long after there was any purpose? Was there something in Grey, innocently or knowingly, that had generated such a passion, or was he merely the catalyst of something he knew nothing of—and its victim?
    He went back outside into the square and found a seat from which he could see the entrance of Number 6.
    It was more than an hour before Scarsdale arrived, and already beginning to get darker and colder, but Monk was compelled by the importance it had for him to wait.
    He saw him arrive on foot, and followed a few paces after him, inquiring from Grimwade in the hall if it was indeed Scarsdale.
    "Yes sir," Grimwade said reluctantly, but Monk was not interested in the porter's misfortunes.
    "D' yer need me ter take yer up?"
    "No thank you; I'll find it." And he took the stairs two at a time and arrived on the landing just as the door was closing. He strode across from the stair head and knocked briskly. There was a second's hesitation, then the door opened. He explained his identity and his errand tersely.
    Scarsdale was not pleased to see him. He was a small, wiry man whose handsomest feature was his fair mustache, not matched by slightly receding hair and undistinguished features. He was smartly, rather fussily dressed.
    "I'm sorry, I can't see you this evening," he said brusquely. "I have to change to go out for dinner. Call again tomorrow, or the next day."
    Monk was the bigger man, and in no mood to be summarily dismissed.
    "I have other people to call on tomorrow," he said, placing himself half in Scarsdale's way. "I need certain information from you now."
    "Well I haven't any—" Scarsdale began, retreating as if to close the door.
    Monk stepped forward. "For example, the name of the
    young woman who visited you the evening Major Grey was killed, and why you lied to us about her."
    It had the result Monk had wished. Scarsdale stopped dead. He fumbled for words, trying to decide whether to bluff it out or attempt a little late conciliation. Monk watched him with contempt.
    "I—er," Scarsdale began. "I—think you have misunderstood—er . . ."He still had not made the decision.
    Monk's face tightened. "Perhaps you would prefer to discuss it somewhere more discreet than the