“Did I make it so obvious? I’m sorry, but it was always an anomaly. It didn’t belong here.”

“And in a hundred years it will be forgotten.”

“I doubt that; it will be part of the history of the Manor. And I don’t think anyone will ever forget your last private patient.”

He said, “Candace warned me about her. She never wanted her here. And if I had operated on her in London she wouldn’t have died and all our lives would be different.”

She said, “Different, but not necessarily better. Did you believe Candace’s confession?”

“The first part, killing Rhoda, yes, I did.”

“Murder or manslaughter?”

“I believe she did lose her temper, but she wasn’t threatened or provoked. I think a jury would return a verdict of murder.”

She said, “If the case ever came to court. Commander Dalgliesh hadn’t even enough evidence to make an arrest.”

“I think he was close to it.”

“Then he was taking a risk. What evidence had he? There were no forensics. Any one of us could have done it. Without the attack on Sharon and Candace’s confession, the case would never have been solved.”

“That is, of course, if it has been solved.”

Helena said, “You think she could be lying to protect someone else?”

“No, that’s ludicrous, and who would she do it for except her brother? No, she killed Rhoda Gradwyn and I think she intended to murder Robin Boyton, too. She’s admitted as much.”

“But why? What did he really know or guess that made him so dangerous? And before she attacked Sharon, was she really in any danger? If she was accused of murdering Gradwyn and Boyton, any competent lawyer could convince a jury that there was reasonable doubt. It was the attack on Sharon that proved her guilt. So why did she do it? She says it was because Sharon had seen her leaving the Manor on that Friday night. But why not lie about that? Who would believe Sharon’s story if Candace denied it? And that attack on Sharon—how could she hope to get away with it?”

George said, “I think Candace had had enough. She wanted an end.”

“An end to what? To continued suspicion and uncertainty, to the risk that someone might believe her brother was responsible, to clear the rest of us? That seems unlikely.”

“An end to herself. I don’t think she found her world worth living in.”

Helena said, “We all feel that at times.”

“But it passes, it isn’t real, we know it isn’t real. I’d have to be in constant unbearable pain, my mind failing, my independence gone, my job gone, this place lost to me before I felt that.”

“I think her mind was failing. I think she knew she was mad. Let’s go to the stone circle. She’s dead and now all I feel is pity for her.”