Let Us Ask the Maiden

"Let Us Ask the Maiden"
Season	2
Episode	11
Airdate	May 13, 2009
Writer	Jason Sherman
Director	Harvey Crossland
Guests	Albert Schultz as Isaac Begelman Kristopher Turner as Sam Fineman
Recurring	Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Higgins Sarah Allen as Enid Jones
Previous	Murdoch.com
Next	Werewolves

"Let Us Ask the Maiden​" is the eleventh episode of the second season of the Murdoch Mysteries and the twenty-fourth episode of the series. It first aired on May 13, 2009.

Summary

Detective Murdoch investigates the death of a young man, Nathan Siebold, who died just after prayers at his synagogue. Dr. Ogden concludes that he died of blood poisoning as a result of a consistent and lengthy exposure to arsenic. Nathan worked for Isaac Begelman and there was obviously an attachment between him and Begelman's daughter Devra. She however had another suitor in the form of Dr. Simon Goldberg. As Murdoch delves into the case, he comes to believe that Devra was forcibly being kept away from Nathan against her will and that she too is suffering from arsenic poisoning. When Sam Fineman, Nathan's best friend, is severely beaten by Isaac's goons for forming a union, the case begins to make sense and sends Murdoch down a different line of inquiry.

Character Revelations

• William and Julia share their knowledge and appreciation of poetry: "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth/For thy love is better than wine."
• Constable Crabtree makes $1.20 a day.
• William realizes he still loves Julia and has difficulty in communicating that to Enid.

Continuity

• William Murdoch's memories of being with Julia Ogden begins again.

Historical References

• This episode takes place in Toronto 1896 – Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 1819 - 1901) is Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and Empress of India.
• The Ward was an area of Toronto bound by College Street, Queen Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue that saw a large influx of Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe in the 1890s. Over the twentieth century, the Jewish community eventually moved out west while an incoming wave of Italian immigrants moved in. Eventually, they established themselves and moved away to what is now known as Little Italy. The Ward was then occupied primarily by Chinese immigrants, and the Ward was home to the first Chinatown. Over time, more land was purchased by developers and the Ward was demolished, the land being used to build condominiums in what is now known as Toronto's Discovery District.
• The title of this episode is from Genesis 24:1-67 when Abraham’s servant Eliezer proposes to take Rebecca back to Canaan to marry Isaac, but he is told by Rebecca’s family (Abraham’s cousins, who were not into his new religion): ‘Let us ask the maiden.’ This tradition prevents forced and arranged marriages.

Literary Quotes and References

• The Book of Zohar
• Song of Solomon

Cast

Main Cast

Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch
Hélène Joy as Julia Ogden
Thomas Craig as Thomas Brackenreid
Jonny Harris as George Crabtree

Recurring Cast

Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Higgins
Sarah Allen as Enid Jones

Guest Cast

Albert Schultz as Isaac Begelman
Kristopher Turner as Sam Fineman
Sam Malkin as Rabbi Dinitz
Bethany Jillard as Devra Begleman
Jonathan Walker as Simon Goldberg
Michael Bodnar as Jerzy Piezlowski
Derek Moran as Nathan Siebold

Gallery

Murdoch trying to write a letter

Try flowers instead

At the Ward

Devra goes to Nathan's body

Devra accuses the Rabbi

Explaining Rebecca and Let Us Ask the Maiden

Dr. Odgen needs another test

Murdoch and the chalkboard

William returns to the book

Behold, my love, thou art fair,

thy love is better than wine