Brother Cadfael 11: An Excellent Mystery

witnesses provide - for robbery, if not for murder. Yes, murder! How else did you get possession of her jewellery? And if you did not connive at her death, then where is she now? She never reached Wherwell, nor was she expected there, it was quite safe to put her out of the world, her kin here believing her safe in a nunnery, the nunnery undisturbed by her never arriving, for she had given no forewarning. So where is she, Adam? On the earth or under it?'
    'I know no more than I've told you,' said Adam, setting his teeth.
    'Ah, but you do! You know how much you got from the silversmith - and how much of it you paid over to your hired assassin, outside the shop. Who was he, Adam?' demanded Hugh softly. 'The woman saw you meet him, pay him, slither away round the corner with him when you saw her standing at the door. Who was he?'
    'I know nothing of any such man. It was not I who went there, I tell you.' His voice was still firm, but a shade hurried now, and had risen a tone, and he was beginning to sweat.
    'The woman has described him, too. A young fellow about twenty, slender, and kept his capuchon over his head. Give him a name, Adam, and it may somewhat lighten your load. If you know a name for him? Where did you find him? In the market? Or was he bespoken well before for the work?'
    'I never entered such a shop. If all this happened, it happened to other men, not to me. I was not there.'
    'But Julian's possessions were, Adam! That's certain. And brought by someone who much resembled you. When the woman sees you in the flesh, then I may say, brought by you. Better to tell us, Adam. Spare yourself a long uncovering, make your confession of your own will, and be done. Spare the silversmith's wife a long journey. For she will point the finger, Adam. This, she will say when she sets eyes on you, this is the man.'
    'I have nothing to confess. I've done no wrong.'
    'Why did you choose that particular shop, Adam?'
    'I was never in the shop. I had nothing to sell. I was not there…'
    'But this ring was, Adam. How did it get there? And with neckless and bracelet, too? Chance? How far can chance stretch?'
    'I left her a mile from Wherwell…'
    'Dead, Adam?'
    'I parted from her living, I swear it!'
    'Yet you told the silversmith that the lady who had owned these gems was dead. Why did you so?'
    'I told you, it was not I, I was never in the shop.'
    'Some other man, was it? A stranger, and yet he had those ornaments, all three, and he resembled you, and he knew and said that the lady was dead. Here are so many miraculous chances, Adam, how do you account for them?'
    The prisoner let his head fall back against the wall. His face was grey. 'I never laid hand on her. I loved her!'
    'And this is not her ring?'
    'It is her ring. Anyone at Lai will tell you so.'
    'Yes, they will, Adam, they will! They will tell the court so, when your time comes. But only you can tell us how it came into your possession, unless by murder. Who was the man you paid?'
    'There was none. I was not there. It was not I…'
    The pace had steadily increased, the questions coming thick as arrows and as deadly. Round and round, over and over the same ground, and the man was tiring at last. If he was breakable at all, he must break soon.
    They were so intent, and strung so taut, like overtuned instruments, that they all three started violently when there was a knock at the door of the cell, and a sergeant put his head in, visibly agape with sensational news. 'My lord, pardon, but they thought you should know at once…There's word in town that a boat sank today in the storm. Two brothers from the abbey drowned in Severn, they're saying, and Madog's boat smashed to flinders by a tree the lightning fetched down. They're searching downstream for one of the pair…'
    Hugh was on his feet, aghast. 'Madog's boat? That must be the hiring Cadfael told me of…Drowned? Are they sure of their tale? Madog never lost man nor cargo till now.'
    'My lord, who can argue with lightning? The tree crashed full on them. Someone in Frankwell saw the bolt fall. The lord abbot may not even know of it yet, but they're all in the same story in the town.'
    'I'll come!' said Hugh, and swung hurriedly on Nicholas. 'God knows I'm sorry, Nick, if this is true. Brother Humilis - your Godfrid - had a longing to see his birthplace at Salton again, and set out with Madog this morning, or so he intended - he and Fidelis. Come with me! We'd best go find out the truth of it. Pray God they've made