‘I’d have to speak to Heinfrid first, my lord,’ he said.
‘As long as you don’t tell him what you’ve been asked to do.’
‘Oh, no. But he can help me. Perhaps even provide a drawing.’
‘Excellent!’
‘Only when I see that,’ the goldsmith explained, ‘can I tell you how long it will take and how much it will cost. When do you want the pieces, my lord?’
‘As soon as possible!’
‘And I’m to work on them in secret?’
‘Discretion is absolutely vital.’
Judicael gave a nervous laugh. ‘I think I know why,’ he said, grinning. ‘It’s the reason you don’t want Heinfrid of Thetford to have the commission, isn’t it? He might spoil the surprise.’
‘What are you burbling about, man?’
‘Those gold elephants, my lord. You want to present them to the abbey, don’t you?’
Richard de Fontenel’s expression made him back away.
Anxious to make up lost ground, Drogo went off to find his master as soon as he had something to report. Mauger Livarot was at the rear of the house, testing a new shield he had had made, engaging in mock combat with one of his men and fending off his adversary’s sword with deft use of the shield. The steward waited until the clang of iron ceased and the two men stepped apart. He wished that he had not come upon his master when the latter had a weapon in his hand. After dismissing his man-at-arms with a rod, Livarot put down the shield and turned to his steward.
‘I hope you’ve brought no more bad tidings,’ he said.
‘No, my lord.’
‘Next time one of your spies is caught, leave him to rot where he lies.’
‘Yes, my lord. I’m sorry that I brought Clamahoc back here.’
‘What have you done with the man?’
‘Sent him on his way with food and a little money.’
‘More fool you!’ sneered the other. ‘You’re too soft-hearted, Drogo.’
‘That’s not a complaint you’ll be called on to make again,’ promised the steward. ‘But I’ve other news. I spoke to the man who trailed the two commissioners. They tracked down Jocelyn Vavasour somewhere near the coast.’
‘Why?’
‘That I can’t say, my lord. It was impossible to get close enough to overhear them. But the visit had an unexpected result, it seems.’
‘Unexpected?’
‘Yes, my lord,’ said Drogo. ‘The lord Jocelyn left with them.’
‘But he vowed to live as an anchorite.’
‘Something they told him made him abandon his hermetic life for a while.’
‘We must find out what it was, Drogo.’
‘They’ll be dining at the castle this evening. I’ve a man there who might overhear what we need to know. He’s among those who’ll be serving the guests.’
‘Is the lord Jocelyn at the castle as well?’
‘Apparently not,’ said the other. ‘The commissioners returned without him. They parted company with the anchorite on the way.’
‘Where did he go?’
‘We don’t know as yet.’
‘What of the lord sheriff?’ asked Livarot, sheathing his sword.
‘He and his men haven’t ridden into the city yet. As soon as they do, I’ll have a report on where they went and what they found. Meanwhile,’ said Drogo, allowing himself a smirk of self-congratulation, ‘I’ve search parties of our own in action. They, too, should be bringing back news before long.’
‘What I want brought back to me is two gold elephants.’
‘You’ll have them, my lord.’
‘I hope so,’ said Livarot. ‘I need them to honour a promise I gave once again this afternoon. I don’t care to disappoint a lady, Drogo. That means we must recover the missing animals before anyone else does. There are too many hounds in this chase - the lord sheriff, his deputy, royal commissioners, Richard de Fontenel - and my fear is that one of them may run the elephants to ground before us. That mustn’t happen!’
‘We’re doing all we can.’
‘At all events, they must never be returned to the lord Richard. Take note of that. My plans will be ruined if they are. They’re the key to everything.’
‘I understand that, my lord.’
‘Good.’ He cleared his throat and spat on the ground. ‘It’s such a pity that Clamahoc was caught. We need an eye on the lord Richard.’
‘We still have one,’ said Drogo, ready to part with what he thought would be the most intriguing piece of information. ‘There’s a lorimer in the main street below the castle whom I pay to watch who comes and goes. He can be useful at times. While he makes spurs for his customers, he keeps the whole street under surveillance. This afternoon, he saw someone call at a shop not far from his own.’
‘Who was it?’
‘Richard de Fontenel.’
‘What was he doing in Norwich?’
‘Visiting a goldsmith.’
Mauger Livarot raised his eyebrows in surprise. The steward gave a snigger.
‘I thought you’d be interested to hear that, my lord,’ he said.
Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret were still in the hall when Eustace Coureton joined them. Having taken off his armour, he now wore a fresh tunic and mantle. Though he had a contented smile, he moved rather stiffly and was grateful to lower himself on to a bench near his colleagues.
‘My old bones are starting to creak,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘I had difficulty climbing the stairs to my chamber.’
‘Have you been asleep?’ asked Ralph.
‘No, I refreshed myself by reading for a little while.’
‘Horace, no doubt.’
‘Cicero, actually. A more cunning politician.’
‘Too cunning for his own good in the end,’ noted Gervase. ‘He was executed.’
‘Not before he wrote some sublime speeches and essays.’
‘Spare us any quotations from them,’ said Ralph, holding up his hands. ‘Gervase and I have been comparing what each of us found out today. It’s mystifying to me.’
‘What is?’ asked Coureton.
‘The more information we gather, the further away we seem from the man we’re after. As for those tiny elephants, we might as well search for an ant in a cornfield. They’re so easy to conceal. They could be anywhere.’
‘I was musing on them as well, Ralph. We came to Norwich to settle a dispute between two human elephants. At least, that’s how Richard de Fontenel and Mauger Livarot seem to me. Big, strong, ungainly creatures who trample everyone in their way and who bellow aloud while they’re doing so. Instead of which,’ he said, resignedly, ‘we’re spending our time in pursuit of two small fourfooted elephants and I’m coming to the view that it might be safest for everyone if they’re never found.’
‘Why do you say that?’ asked Gervase.
‘I’ll tell you later. I don’t wish to upset Ralph.’
‘With what?’
‘Another Latin quotation.’
‘Oh, go on,’ sighed Ralph. ‘I’ll steel myself to bear it.’
‘Aurum irrepertum et sic melius situm.’
‘Cicero?’
‘Horace.’
‘I feared that it might be. Will someone tell me what it means?’
‘I’ll try,’ said Gervase. ‘My translation would be, “Gold undiscovered, and all the better for being so.” Is that close enough, my lord?’
‘I can’t fault it,’ said Coureton. ‘I know that those elephants were blessed by the Pope and brought all the way from Rome but they’re leaving havoc in their wake. Our friend, the anchorite, must be regretting he ever bought them.’
‘They’re holy treasures.’
‘That hasn’t stopped them being stolen.’
‘Twice, my lord. First from the abbey and then from the lord Richard.’
‘Did you tell him they’d have to be returned to Abbot Alfwold?’
‘Yes,’ said Gervase. ‘A look of panic came into his eyes. There�
�s no way that he can use them as a wedding gift now. Indeed, if we can prove that he ordered them to be stolen, he won’t be in a position to marry anyone.’
Gervase went on to tell Coureton about his earlier visit, abbreviating detail that Ralph had already heard. The old soldier heard it all with philosophical calm. The three men were discussing the implications of what they had learned when the door opened and Roger Bigot came in. Hot, dusty and tired from several hours in the saddle, he gave them a weary greeting and stood with his hands on his hips.
‘I hope that your day has been more fruitful than ours,’ he said.
‘Very fruitful, my lord sheriff,’ said Ralph, cheerily. ‘We not only found Jocelyn the Anchorite, we spurred him into joining the search for those elephants.’
‘It was Gervase who made the most crucial discovery,’ said Coureton. ‘When he called on the lord Richard, he found out who stole the objects from the abbey.’
Bigot was startled. ‘The lord Richard confessed?’
‘On the contrary,’ explained Gervase. ‘He swore that he bought the wedding gift from a merchant in France. But he unwittingly gave me the name I wanted. It wasn’t Starculf who spent the night at the abbey and made off with their treasures.’
‘Then who was it?’
‘Hermer.’
‘He used a false name?’
‘Yes, my lord sheriff. So that no trail would lead to his master. I don’t think that Starculf went anywhere near the abbey of St Benet.’
‘He did, Master Bret. That’s the one thing we did learn.’
‘Oh?’
‘Several sightings have been made of him in the county. Starculf is here without any doubt. I feel it,’ he said, ruefully. ‘Someone is hiding him.’
Chapter Eleven
Gervase Bret was slightly concerned about his wife. When the visitors dined with their hosts that evening in the hall, Alys was unusually subdued and had little appetite for the rich fare that was served. Though she assured her husband that she was well, he sensed that she was putting on a brave face in order to conceal some malady. Once back in their chamber, however, Alys seemed to recover her spirits at once. She was bright, talkative and almost exuberant. Seeing the anxiety in his eyes, she gave him a kiss and squeezed his arms by way of reassurance.
‘Stop worrying about me, Gervase,’ she said. ‘I feel fine.’
‘You didn’t appear so in the hall.’
‘That was only because I was so shy. You must remember that this is in the nature of an adventure to me. I’ve never stayed in a castle before as the guest of a sheriff and his wife. I know they’ve both been very hospitable but I feel a little overwhelmed.’
‘You’ve no need to be, Alys.’
‘I’m taking time to get used to the honour.’
‘It’s no more than you deserve, my love,’ he said, fondly. ‘Make the most of it in the same way that Golde does. She’s always completely at her ease.’
‘I do admire her for that, but I’m more reserved than Golde. It was the same when we visited the lady Adelaide. Golde was quite relaxed while I found it an effort to join in the conversation.’
‘Why?’
‘The lady Adelaide has that effect on me, Gervase. She’s so beautiful.’
‘Beside you, she’s practically invisible,’ he said, loyally.
Alys laughed. ‘That’s not what Ralph thinks–or any of those men who were at the banquet on our first night here. The lady Adelaide enchanted them all in a way that I could never match. It’s very sweet of you to flatter me,’ she said, beaming gratefully, ‘but I won’t pretend that I can compete with her. And it wasn’t just the lady herself. It’s the house where she lives. It’s sumptuous, Gervase.’
‘Golde found that ostentation rather tasteless.’
‘It overpowered me. I felt so small and insignificant.’
‘Well, you’re neither of those things to me,’ he said, enfolding her in his arms. I’ll admit I had grave doubts about asking you to join me on this visit but they’ve all faded away now. I’m so glad that you came.’
‘Are you?’
‘Very glad, my love.’
‘Does that mean I can ride out with you tomorrow?’
‘Tomorrow?’
‘Yes,’ she said, smiling. ‘Golde has offered to go with you to the Henstead hundred and I want to come as well.’
Gervase hesitated. ‘That might not be such a good idea, Alys.’
‘Why not?’
‘To begin with, it’s a taxing ride.’
‘No more taxing than the ride from Winchester to Norwich.’
‘I don’t think you’ve fully recovered from that yet.’
‘Of course I have.’
‘I’d rather you stayed here and rested.’
‘But I don’t want to rest,’ she said, breaking away from his embrace. ‘I’ve seen little enough of you during the day since we got here. All that I want to do is to ride beside you, Gervase. If you can take Golde, why reject your own wife?’
‘It’s not a case of rejection.’
‘Then what is it?’
‘Diplomacy, my love.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘But you were there when I explained it,’ he reminded her. ‘I have to speak to the Saxon woman Olova again.’
‘You don’t think she was responsible for the crime, surely?’
‘No, but I’m convinced she’s holding back information that may be valuable to us. She wouldn’t divulge it in the presence of lord Eustace but she may do so to another Saxon woman like Golde.’
Alys grew petulant. ‘What you’re saying is that I’d be in the way.’
‘Not at all.’
‘Your own wife would be an embarrassment to you.’
‘That’s not the case at all,’ he insisted. ‘It’s just that you’re likely to make Olova feel uncomfortable and that wouldn’t serve our purpose at all.’
‘Then I’ll make sure that she doesn’t even see me. It’s easily done. When we get there, I’ll stay completely out of sight.’
‘No, Alys.’
‘You just don’t want me to go, do you?’ she challenged.
‘It wouldn’t be appropriate, that’s all.’
‘Is it more appropriate for me to stay here on my own?’
‘I’m afraid it is.’
‘So you’re forbidding me.’
‘Of course not.’
‘Then why do I feel so hurt and neglected?’
Gervase fell silent as he struggled with the dilemma. To leave his wife behind on the morrow would make her upset and resentful. Taking her with him, however, involved a number of risks, not least of which was that she would distract him from the work in hand. Gervase knew that he would not be able to concentrate properly if he was worrying about his wife’s safety and comfort. He thought about the sad, pale, uncommunicative woman who had sat beside him in the hall earlier on. Alys might be in a more buoyant mood now but a long ride that began at dawn would be an ordeal for someone who never enjoyed the most robust health. His wife was putting him to the test. He had to be firm.
‘I’m sorry, Alys,’ he said calmly, ‘but you’ll have to remain here.’
‘Why?’
‘Because that’s what I’ve decided. You promised that you wouldn’t interfere with my work if I let you come to Norfolk with us and you’re been scrupulous in keeping that promise until now. There’s a conflict here between duty and pleasure. You know which one I must choose.’
‘Yes,’ she said, gloomily. ‘You’re always so dutiful.’
‘I have to be, Alys. This is no enjoyable ride into the country that we make tomorrow. It’s part of a search for the truth about a serious theft and a brutal murder.’
‘I know that.’
‘And since Olova is also implicated in one of the disputes that we have to settle in the shire hall, it impinges on my work as a royal commissioner. We were appointed by the King himself. He expects diligence and commitment from us.’
>
Alys was deflated. ‘It might have been better if I hadn’t come at all.’
‘That’s not true.’
‘But I’ll be so lonely tomorrow.’
‘Visit the market again. Or take the opportunity to rest.’
‘If you say so,’ she agreed with a disconsolate nod.
‘And you won’t be wholly alone. Brother Daniel will be here.’
‘What about Ralph? Is he going with you?’
‘No,’ said Gervase with a smile. ‘He’ll be confronting another redoubtable woman. Ralph will be calling on the lady Adelaide tomorrow. He thinks it’s high time that she knew the truth about the wedding gift she was offered.’
‘The two gold elephants?’
‘The lord Richard didn’t buy them in France at all. They were deliberately stolen from the abbey of St Benet, much to the chagrin of the man who brought them back from Rome–Jocelyn Vavasour, soldier turned anchorite.’
‘He’s the man that Ralph and the lord Eustace tracked down today.’
‘Yes. He’s engaged in a hunt of his own now.’
When he first saw the visitor, Brother Joseph did not even recognise him. Hirsute and ragged, the man knelt in prayer in the empty church and looked more like a beggar than anything else. Compline had long since ended another day at the abbey and most of the monks had retired to their dormitory, but the sacristan had stayed behind to putaway all the vestments and holy vessels before sitting in contemplation beside the chest in which the valuables were kept. A scuffling noise had alerted him to the presence of someone in the abbey church. Taking the candle with him, Joseph went quietly into the church and walked silently down the nave. The circle of light suddenly included an unknown man, kneeling in submission before the altar and reciting a prayer to himself in Latin. It was only when the visitor rose to leave and turned to face him that the sacristan had an idea of who he might be.
‘Bless my soul!’ he said, holding up the candle. ‘Is that you, my lord?’
‘I answer to no title, Brother Joseph,’ said Vavasour. ‘I’m plain Jocelyn now.’
‘You’ve changed so since we last met.’
‘Outwardly, perhaps. Inwardly, I’m still the same miserable penitent.’
‘When did you arrive?’
‘Shortly after Compline.’
The Elephants of Norwich Page 20
