Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon Page A

to hear Marvilli say, ‘. . . Dottor Pedrolli and his wife.’
    â€˜Sorry, Captain, could you say that again? I was thinking about something else.’
    Marvilli pleased Brunetti by showing no irritation that his listener’s attention had drifted away. ‘As I said, two of the other couples had been to the same clinic in Verona, a clinic that specializes in fertility problems. People are referred there from all over the country.’ He watched them register this and added, ‘About two years ago, the Pedrollis went to the same clinic for a joint exam.’ Brunetti had no idea how many clinics in the Veneto specialized in fertility problems and wondered whether this need be anything more than coincidence.
    â€˜And?’ Brunetti asked, curious as to how deeply and for how long the police might have concerned themselves with the clinic and with the lives of the people who went there as patients.
    â€˜And nothing,’ Marvilli said angrily. ‘Nothing. They had an appointment, and that’s all we know.’
    Brunetti forbore to ask whether the Carabinieri had kept both the Pedrollis and the clinic under surveillance and if so, to what extent. He wondered how, in fact, the Carabinieri had learned of their visit, and by what right, but the voice of patience whispered into his ear a list of the secrets open to the not inconsiderable skills of Signorina Elettra Zorzi, his superior’s secretary, and so he held close to his bosom his sense of righteous indignation at the thought of the invasion of a citizen’s privacy. He asked, ‘And did you find any connection to this clinic?’
    Marvilli pushed the plate away. ‘We’re working on it,’ he said evasively.
    Brunetti stretched his legs out under the table, careful not to nudge Marvilli’s. He slumped down slightly on the bench and folded his arms across his chest. ‘Let me think out loud, Captain, if I may.’ The glance Marvilli gave Brunetti was wary. ‘Hundreds of people must consult this clinic every year.’
    When Marvilli did not answer, Brunetti asked, ‘Am I right, Captain?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Good,’ Brunetti said and smiled as thoughMarvilli had confirmed in advance whatever theory he was about to propose. ‘Then the Pedrollis are among hundreds of people with similar problems.’ He smiled again at Marvilli, as though trying to encourage enthusiasm in a favourite pupil. ‘So how is it, I wonder, that the Carabinieri decided that Dottor Pedrolli – out of all the people who went for a consultation at this clinic – also adopted a child illegally? That is, if this middle man has not been arrested.’
    Marvilli hesitated too long before answering, ‘I wasn’t told.’
    After another pause, the Captain added, ‘I think that’s something you should discuss with Dottor Pedrolli.’
    A more brutal man than Brunetti, or a more unforgiving one, would have reminded Marvilli that Pedrolli was incapable of discussion in his current state. Instead, he surprised Marvilli by saying, ‘I shouldn’t have asked you that.’ Deciding to change the subject, Brunetti continued, ‘And the children? What’ll happen to them?’
    â€˜The same thing as to all of them,’ Marvilli said.
    â€˜Which is?’ Brunetti asked.
    â€˜They’ll be sent to an orphanage.’

6
    BRUNETTI GAVE NO sign of the effect Marvilli’s words had had on him and resisted the desire to exchange glances with Vianello. He hoped the Inspector would follow his example and say nothing that would lessen, or spoil, the easy communication they seemed to have established with the Captain.
    â€˜And then what?’ Brunetti asked professionally. ‘What happens to the children?’
    Marvilli could not disguise his confusion. ‘I told you, Commissario. We see that they’re taken to an orphanage, and then it’s the duty of the social