City of Devils: A Novel (16 page)

‘Critics also object that no criminal is a complete throwback to early man. But I do not claim that they are. According to Signor Darwin it is rare to find an anomaly that is completely isolated. Any anomaly may be associated with others, but total atavistic regression is impossible. But still when one considers the indications of the criminal type – asymmetry of the face, large ears, eye defects, fleshy lips, cheek pouches, abundant wrinkles, excessive arm length and so on, at least some of these are visible in the born criminal. The evidence is clear from my own work.’

On Lombroso went, tackling each and every complaint about his theories and in the process sounding every inch the rational and reasonable man he wanted them all to believe him to be. He gave the audience anecdotes to illustrate and entertain them; he smiled, laughed and cajoled until each and every one of them, including the hecklers, with the exception perhaps of Walter B. Horton, was completely under his spell. Even DeClichy was listening intently though he flinched occasionally whenever heredity or atavism were mentioned. It all sounded so convincing, James thought. That is, until you started to analyse Lombroso’s words more closely. Then he was not so sure. He looked at the stage. Lombroso was building to his climax, working the audience like a true showman.

‘Gentlemen, we are privileged to live in these times when science can take us to places that a few years ago were beyond our wildest dreams. Let us not then deny possibilities by scorn or derision; let us not turn away from the purity of scientific knowledge and replace it with limp social theories. We are at the dawn of a new age of discovery – let us embrace it as scientists and bring a new world where logic rather than emotion is paramount. Once we have identified a criminal we will be harsh, not cruel. We will no longer treat the guilty with anger and disdain but with understanding. All of this can be achieved – but only if we rely on science.’

The response was immediate. Each and every member of the audience rose to his feet and applauded. There were cheers and whistles and cries of bravo. Some people even stamped their feet. Lombroso stood before them smiling beatifically as if they were all his children and he was their teacher. James thought about what the professor had said and he was puzzled. It didn’t appear to make complete sense. His arguments seemed to have strayed far from the motion he was meant to be supporting. But then he thought back to that moment when he was as captivated by Lombroso as everyone else in the room – and he understood. It didn’t really matter what the man said to them. They wanted to believe him because at that moment they loved him, no matter what. That was his power, not his experiments or his theories, but his
personality.
And it held them all in his thrall. James could also see then why he might have enemies. Envy can produce hatred like no other emotion, except perhaps revenge.

DeClichy had grown paler as Lombroso’s speech went on, his lips narrowing until they were barely visible. James almost felt sorry for him. How could he possibly follow this? The doctor stood and moved over to the lectern. The room fell silent but for a few bouts of coughing and throat clearing. There was some shuffling as people began to leave.

Borelli stood up and looked sternly at them but to no avail. In a moment the room seemed no more than half full. ‘Dr DeClichy will now speak against the motion,’ he said.

DeClichy took a deep breath and began.

‘I would like to thank Professor Lombroso for his concessions, although I am bound to say they do not go far enough.’ His voice was quiet and faltering, a complete contrast to Lombroso’s booming oratory.

The audience began to mumble and whisper. DeClichy cleared his throat. ‘I may not be able to speak with the eloquence of our previous speaker but I still have plenty to say.’

‘Well say it then!’ cried a voice from the floor.

‘Yes, get on with it!’ said another.

DeClichy stared at them and drew himself up to his full height. ‘It may be comforting to believe that criminals are different from you and I, that they are atavistic throwbacks to more primitive times and that they have differing physical characteristics. But I am afraid that they are not. The sad truth is that they are
just
like us.’

‘Speak for yourself, DeClichy!’

‘Oh I do, Monsieur, I do. I came from a poor background but my parents saw to it that I was educated. Others I grew up with were not so lucky. My best friend when I was a child is now languishing in prison – a thief and a murderer brought to crime by circumstances, not biology.’

The audience was attentive now as DeClichy went on explaining his case, with quiet dignity. As James listened he felt torn. On the one hand Lombroso was so sure of his theories and such a compelling speaker that it was hard to disagree. And yet on the other, DeClichy also spoke eloquently, albeit in a different style. The stories he was telling about his upbringing were moving and had an authenticity that Lombroso could not match, even with his tales of criminals he had examined over the years.

Finally the speech came to a close with a dignified summary of his ideas and how they differed from those of Lombroso. He sat down and Borelli got to his feet, presumably to ask Lombroso if he wished to reply. Before he could speak Horton rose and turned to face the audience.

Ottolenghi looked at James, a puzzled expression on his face. No one had expected this. Was Horton going to speak in support of Lombroso or DeClichy? It occurred to James that despite his conversations with the man he had no idea what, if anything, Horton actually believed in. James looked over to DeClichy who was leaning forward intently, almost as if he was urging Horton on.

Borelli looked irritated. ‘Dr Horton, the speakers have a right to reply before we hear from the floor!’

Lombroso got up. ‘I don’t mind, if DeClichy doesn’t.’

DeClichy nodded his agreement, as did Borelli.

‘Very well, Dr Horton?’

Horton smiled slyly. ‘Professor Lombroso is not the only one who wishes to depart from the motion. You see, I believe that criminals are indeed born not made. When we know this as certainly as the professor has us believe, then surely it is our duty to act on this knowledge – this pure, scientific, sure knowledge.’

Horton seemed to be spitting out the words with such venom it was hard to know if he was sincere or simply being sarcastic. DeClichy was frowning, apparently as confused as the rest of them.

‘Our duty then is to catch these born criminals, lock them up and throw away the key. That or to execute them, publicly and in all kinds of unpleasant ways in order to deter their brothers.’ Horton paused and smiled as if savouring the possibility. ‘Alternatively, the incarcerated can still be useful. Medical science always needs subjects, after all. Even we surgeons need practice. They could be experimented on for the furtherance of science. But they must all be exterminated eventually, let us make no mistake about that. We must purify ourselves by extinguishing the impure. For, after all, that is what the criminal race is – is it not? Impure, dirty, filthy even. Something we need to expunge from our ranks.’ He paused for effect. The room was completely silent.

‘Humanity needs to be cleansed,’ he went on. ‘Then we can truly engage with free will, for those who remain will be rational and able to consider the disadvantages of criminal behaviour, with the sure knowledge that any such act will be dealt with severely. Social factors are not the reason for the depravity of crime. It is heredity, race, atavism. Criminals are savages. We know this thanks to Professor Lombroso.’ Horton looked over to Lombroso who stared back, as if startled, as many others seemed to be, by what he was hearing.

‘His painstaking experiments have shown us the way. Not only that but now, due entirely to Professor Lombroso and his . . . admirable work . . . we know who to target. We know who is the criminal and who is not. We know then exactly, certainly, surely, scientifically, who we need to eliminate. We know who must die.’

Horton looked around, smiling his empty smile. James had felt a slight shiver go down his spine as he listened to him speak. The words seemed horribly familiar, for James had heard something similar uttered before, by his father in an unguarded moment and, indeed, by others in the scientific community. He was as appalled now as he had been then and it seemed that he was not alone. A sea of bemused faces looked up at Horton whose eyes glinted with satisfaction. James waited for him to laugh, to say it was all a joke and that it was the only way to get attention after Lombroso’s virtuoso performance. But Horton said nothing, and then James remembered his comment at the salon. He said it would not be dull and so it had proved. On and on the silence went. It felt as if it might go on forever for no one knew how to break it.

At last Borelli stood up and went over to the lectern. ‘Very interesting, Dr Horton. You have given me, given all of us who are engaged in scientific research, a salutary reminder of what our theories might persuade others to do in our name. We should be grateful for your words and never forget them.’ He glanced towards Lombroso who nodded sagely.

Borelli looked over to Lombroso. ‘You have the right of reply, Professor. I’m sure you wish to exercise it – and you, Dr DeClichy, of course.’ De Clichy shook his head. ‘I see,’ Borelli said. ‘So, Professor, it is for you to comment.’

Lombroso nodded. ‘I will address my comments to Dr Horton’s ideas as you all know my view on those of Dr DeClichy.’

There was a murmur of approval from the audience. James looked over to DeClichy who looked somewhat crestfallen. He had spoken so eloquently and yet Lombroso had managed to dismiss his ideas in a sentence. It seemed unnecessarily unpleasant, somehow, like kicking a sick dog.

Lombroso rose to general applause. ‘I must admit that Dr Horton’s address has given me food for thought. It is of course important for us to consider not only the nature of criminals but what our conclusions mean for criminal justice and society generally. It has long been my view that for most offenders it is better to keep them out of our prisons.’

There were some mutterings of agreement. Lombroso raised his hand to quieten them and continued.

‘But for the atavistic born criminal, who, by his very nature, is completely resistant to reform, I can only suggest permanent incarceration. The natural result of that would be to reduce, albeit gradually, the not inconsiderable proportion of criminality that stems from heredity factors.’

A smattering of applause greeted this, although James found himself unable to join in. Lombroso inclined his head graciously to acknowledge it and then went on.

‘I did however find some of the good doctor’s points somewhat hard to swallow. I believe that he went too far with his apparent suggestions of wholesale extermination of the criminal classes. I was even a little shocked.’

Someone laughed inappropriately, perhaps overcome by the air of tension that was in the room. Lombroso looked puzzled for a moment, shook his head slightly and continued.

‘But Professor Borelli, as we have come to expect of him, has seen more clearly what the doctor has been trying to do for us. The good Dr Horton has made the most affecting and significant speech that I think I have ever heard in all my years of practice. For he has issued us with a warning that, as Borelli so rightly says, we must never forget. As scientists we work diligently on our theories trying to prove that such and such is the case and sometimes we become obsessive. It is true that I am as guilty of that as any of you here today. This can lead us to forget ourselves, our families and friends. But most disturbingly it can lead us to forget one thing that we should never, ever forget.’

He paused and looked round at all of them as if he was familiar with each and every one of his audience individually. Perhaps, thought James, he was. After all, his celebrity was such that everyone wanted to know him even if the feeling was not always reciprocated. He went on.

‘The one thing that we must not allow to become buried beneath our theories is this. Science has consequences and they are our responsibility. May I therefore thank Dr Horton on the behalf of all scientists everywhere. You have shown us where our work might lead and for that we will be forever in your debt.’

Then the applause began. Horton grinned joylessly and began to laugh as if he hadn’t meant anything that he had said to be taken at face value. James saw DeClichy staring at Horton, not with dislike but some other emotion – alarm perhaps? It wasn’t surprising, thought James. Horton would worry anyone. He fought his way through the crowd to DeClichy.

‘Doctor?’

DeClichy turned and looked at him in surprise. ‘It’s Dr Murray, is it not?’ he said in perfect English. It seemed strange to James to hear his native tongue spoken in this alien environment but it was welcome.

‘I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your arguments. They were very well put.’

DeClichy bowed slightly in acknowledgement. ‘Thank you. It is much appreciated. But I think you may be in somewhat of a minority.’ He smiled wryly.

‘Dr Horton should not have upstaged you like that. It was badly done!’

‘You are kind, Dr Murray, but it is my own fault. I should not have allowed his interruption to go on for so long. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go. There is something I must attend to. Perhaps I will see you later at the reception?’

James nodded and watched him push through the crowds almost unnoticed, almost as if he had never spoken at all. A decent man, he thought, self-effacing, the kind of person one could trust.

The applause had died away and people began to assemble in groups to chatter about what they had just heard. Lombroso came down from the platform and made his way over to James and Ottolenghi. It took him a while for it seemed that everybody in the hall wished to speak to him, offering words of encouragement and congratulation. Eventually he reached them.

‘So, Murray, what did you think of that?’ he asked.

‘I thought it was . . .’ He paused trying to think of what to say. ‘. . . extraordinary, Professor.’

Lombroso stared at him for a moment, as if wondering how to take this. Then he smiled. ‘Thank you, thank you – but more importantly, dear boy, did you learn something from it?’