I went to the room and found he was deeply asleep, composed. Beside him was the empty bed that had been the lad’s. The doctor’s hair was undisturbed and for a moment, stopped by a deep reluctance, I took in the image of him there. Such a curious man. When I woke him he thanked me and asked that I leave, and I realised from the sight of his bare shoulder that he was asking for privacy to dress.

‘I will be there presently,’ he said, as his eyes indicated the door. I went next door to check my father.

He was hard to rouse. It took several repetitions to explain to him what had occurred. The waft of alcohol was unbearable, his breath sour. He tried to hurry: but he was suffering. I told him there was nothing we could do now. I wanted him to comfort me, that was all. He did not realise it.

When we reached the scullery, the crowd separated a little to allow us in. The doctor stood over the body. His eyes found mine as we pushed our way forward. A cloth had been laid over Connolly’s face. His hands reached upwards slightly in death, appearing to protest at the indignity.

The doctor removed the cloth and probed with his fingers at Connolly’s neck. He pulled at his eyelids, looked in his mouth, brought his face down close to the dead convict’s and appeared to sniff carefully at his mouth and nose. He gently rotated the head from side to side, feeling at the sides of Connolly’s neck as he did so.

Apparently satisfied, he straightened up.

‘I conclude that this was a suicide,’ he pronounced. ‘There is no sign of trauma other than the broken neck. History of hapolic affection following the death of his twin, a common circumstance. The chair kicked away, I am told. The choice of the privy…a matter of shame, I suspect. I shall write a report on the matter for the special constable on Preservation.’ He turned to Smith. ‘You will bury him here?’

He received a nod of assent, nothing more. Somewhere outside, a rooster crowed.

‘Good. Be sure to place him at a remove from those Christian souls who have died in a state of grace. He has breached the fifth commandment and rejected God’s sacred gift of life. This body is evidence of mortal sin.’

The doctor looked around at those assembled.

‘Bring me water, please. I must wash my hands now.’

Tarenorerer, who had never taken a liking to the doctor, now glared at him in open contempt. He saw it but was unworried. He looked out the window, where the first glow of dawn had appeared.

‘Now then,’ he said. ‘What shall we do about breakfast?’

~

My father pondered a long time over the body, a hand tracing gentle curves over the lad’s head. Thoughts I could not even guess at.