Brother Cadfael 11: An Excellent Mystery

It rang so hideously true, and named Adam Heriet almost beyond doubt. She who had owned them was dead. Ornaments were of no further concern to her.
    Out of the chill rage that consumed him he heard the woman, roused now and eager, saying: 'No, but that's not all! For it so chanced I followed the man out when he left, but softly, not to be seen too soon.' Had he given her an appraising look, smiled, flashed an admiring eye, to draw her on a string? No, not if he had anything to hide, no, he would rather have slid away unobtrusively, glad to be rid of his winnings for money. No, she was female, curious, and had time on her hands to spare, she went out to see whatever was to be seen. And what was it she saw? 'He slipped along to the left here,' she said, 'and there was another man, a young fellow, pressed close against the wall there, waiting for him. Whether he gave him the money, all of it or some of it, I could not be sure, but something was handed over. And then the older one looked over his shoulder and saw me, and they slipped away very quickly round the corner into the side street by the market, and that was all I saw of them. And more than I was meant to see,' she reflected, herself surprised now that she came to see more in it than was natural.
    'You're sure of that?' asked Nicholas intently. 'There was a second with him, a younger man?' For the three innocents from Lai had been left waiting in Andover. If it had not been true, one or other of them, the simpleton surely, would have given the game away at once.
    'I am sure. A young fellow, neat enough but homespun, such as you might see hanging around inns or fairs or markets, the best of them hoping for work, and the worst hoping for a chance to get a hand in some other man's pouch.'
    Hoping for work or hoping to thieve! Or both, if the work offered took that shape - yes, even to the point of murder.
    'What was he like, this second?'
    She furrowed her brow and considered, gnawing a lip. She was in strong earnest, searching her memory, which was proving tenacious and long. 'Tallish but not too tall, much the older one's height when they stood together, but half his bulk. I say young because he was slender and fast when he slipped away, and light on his feet. But I never saw his face, he had the capuchon over his head.'
    'I did wonder,' said the silversmith defensively. 'But it was done, I'd paid, and I had the goods. There was no more I could do.'
    'No. No, there's no blame. You could not know.' Nicholas looked again at the bright ring on the woman's finger. 'Madam, will you let me buy that ring of you? For double what your husband paid for it? Or if you will not, will you let me borrow it of you for a fee, and my promise to return it when I can? To you,' he said earnestly, 'it is dear as a gift, and prized, but I need it.'
    She stared back at him wide-eyed and captivated, clasping and turning the ring on her finger. 'Why do you need it? More than I?'
    'I need it to confront that man who brought it here, the man who has procured, I do believe, the death of the lady who wore it before you. Put a price on it, and you shall have it.'
    She closed her free hand round it defensively, but she was flushed and bright-eyed with excitement, too. She looked at her husband, who had the merchant's calculating, far-off look in his eyes, and was surely about to fix a price that would pay the repairs of his shop for him. She tugged suddenly at the ring, twisted it briskly over her knuckle, and held it out to Nicholas.
    'I lend it to you, for no fee. But bring it back to me yourself, when you have done, and tell me how this matter ends. And should you find you are mistaken, and she is still living, and wants her ring, then give it back to her, and pay me for it whatever you think fair.'
    The hand she had extended to him with her bounty he caught and kissed. 'Madam, I will! All you bid me, I will! I pledge you my faith!' He had nothing fit to offer her as a return pledge, she had the better of him at all points. Her husband was looking at her indulgently, as one accustomed to the whims of a very handsome wife, and made no demur, at least until the visitor was gone. 'I serve here under FitzRobert,' said Nicholas. 'Should I fail you, or you ever come to suppose that I have so failed you, complain to him, and he will show you justice. But I will not fail you!'
    'Are you so ready to say farewell to my gifts?' asked the silversmith, when Nicholas was out of sight. But he sounded amused