Brother Cadfael 11: An Excellent Mystery

Heriet. It was his doing-Heriet and his hired murderer, some footpad paid for his work with the price of Julian's jewellery. Once we lay hands on him, he won't be able to deny it. I have proof, I have witnesses that he said himself she was dead!'
    'Come, now!' said Hugh, his eyes rounding. 'That's a large enough claim. You've been a busy man in the south, I see, but so have we here. Come, sit, and let's have the full story. But first, let's have those wet clothes off you, and find you a man who matches, before you catch your death.' He shouted for the servants, and sent them running for towels and coats and hose.
    'No matter for me,' protested Nicholas feverishly, catching at his arm. 'What matters is the proof I have, that fits only one man, to my mind, and he going free, and God knows where…'
    'Ah, but Nicholas, if it's Adam Heriet you're after, then you need fret no longer. Adam Heriet is safe behind a locked door here in the castle, and has been for a matter of days.'
    'You have him? You found Heriet? He's taken?' Nicholas drew deep and vengeful breath, and heaved a great sigh.
    'We have him, and he'll keep. He has a sister married to a craftsman in Brigge, and was visiting his kin like any honest man. Now he's the sheriff's guest, and stays so until we have the rights of it, so no more sweat for him.'
    'And have you got any part of it out of him? What has he said?'
    'Nothing to the purpose. Nothing an honest man might not have said in his place.'
    'That shall change,' said Nicholas grimly, and allowed himself to notice his own sodden condition for the first time, and to accept the use of the small chamber provided him, and the clothes put at his disposal. But he was half into his tale before he had dried his face and his tousled hair and shrugged his way into dry garments.
    '…never a trace anywhere of the church ornaments, which should be the most notable if ever they were marketed. And I was in two minds whether it was worth enquiring further, when the man's wife came in, and I knew the ring she was wearing for Julian's. No, that's to press it too far, I know-say rather I saw that it fitted only too well the description we had of Julian's. You remember? Enamelled all round with flowers in yellow and blue…'
    'I have the whole register by heart,' said Hugh dryly.
    'Then you'll see why I was so sure. I asked where she got it, and she said it was brought into the shop for sale along with two other pieces of jewellery, by a man about fifty years old. Three years back, on the twentieth day of August, for that was the day of her birth, and she asked the ring as a present, and got it from her husband. And the other two pieces, both sold since, they described to me as a necklace of polished stones and a silver bracelet engraved with sprays of vetch or pease. Three such, and all together! They could only be Julian's.'
    Hugh nodded emphatic agreement to that. 'And the man?'
    'The description the woman gave me fits what little I have been told of Adam Heriet, for till now I have not seen him. Fifty years old, tanned from living outdoor like forester or huntsman…You have seen him, you know more. Brown-bearded she said and balding, a face of oak…Is that in tune?'
    'To the letter and the note.'
    'And the ring I have. Here, see! I asked it of the woman for this need, and she trusted me with it, though she valued it and would not sell, and I must give it back - when its work is done! Could this be mistaken?'
    'It could not. Cruce and all his household will confirm it, but truth, we hardly need them. Is there more?'
    'There is! For the jeweller questioned the ownership, seeing these were all a woman's things, and asked if the lady who owned them had no further use for them. And the man said, as for the lady who had owned them, no, she had no further use for them, seeing she was dead!'
    'He said so? Thus baldly?'
    'He did. Wait, there's more! The woman was a little curious about him, and followed him out of the shop when he left. And she saw him meet with a young fellow who was lurking by the wall outside, and give something over to him - a part of the money or the whole, or so she thought. And when they were aware of her watching, they slipped away round the corner out of sight, very quickly.'
    'All this she will testify to?'
    'I am sure she will. And a good witness, careful and clear.'
    'So it seems,' said Hugh, and shut his fingers decisively over the ring. 'Nicholas, you must take some food and wine now, while this