Prince of Darkness

heads almost touched. 'Suicide,' she hissed.
    Corbett's heart sank in despair. Not the same old theory!
    'Then why was she cloaked and hooded?' he asked. 'Surely someone else would have heard her cry or the noise of her fall? After all, both you and the late Sister Martha were here.'
    'Oh, yes.' The nun leaned back triumphantly. 'But we went for our sleep. We always do. One of the lay sisters brings us some food. Anyway, this building's old, it groans and creaks all the time.'
    Corbett bit his lip in despair. If they were unable to hear Lady Eleanor fall, how could they be so sure no one entered the convent building? But did that matter? Lady Eleanor would hardly let anyone slip into her room.
    'Yet the hood on her head was not disturbed?' he asked despairingly.
    The nun's eyes narrowed and Corbett sensed any closer questioning would arouse suspicion.
    'Oh,' Dame Elizabeth snapped, I don't know why people keep gossiping about that This place is dank and cold. On an autumn evening it's quite customary for a lady to dress against the chill.'
    'And you saw her?' he asked smilingly. 'You and Sister Martha, God rest her soul.'
    'That's right. Dame Martha was here in this room. She always was, God rest her. We used to sit and watch the ' sisters getting ready for Compline.' She pointed to the window. 'Over there. Now -' Dame Elizabeth squirmed in her chair and popped a sugared sweetmeat into her mouth so fast Corbett hardly saw it '- we were sitting there and we saw Lady Eleanor pass. She was dressed in a cloak and hood, walking as if to go behind the church. We called out and she turned, shouting she was going for a walk, and waved at us.'
    'You're sure of that?'
    'Of course. She turned and waved her hand.' 'And Dame Martha saw that?' 'Oh. yes.'
    'And Dame Martha was your friend?'
    'Well, I helped the poor thing. She was a yeoman's daughter, you know,' she added patronisingly. 'Who?'
    'Dame Martha: her education was incomplete so I would often help her. She still had a great deal to learn about the spiritual life and I was only too willing to assist' The old nun shook her head. 'I was always telling her she needed to mortify herself, pray more.'
    'And now she is dead?'
    'Yes, God rest her. I found her body.'
    Corbett leaned forward.
    'How did it happen?'
    'Well, the old dear's mind had turned. She wanted to see the Prioress, said she knew something about Lady Eleanor's death. I told her she should bathe, prepare herself well.' She smiled thinly. 'Dame Martha was not particular in her personal habits.'
    'What did she know about Lady Eleanor's death?'
    'Oh, she talked about something she had seen. "Sinistra non dextra", she kept chanting. "The left not the right!" Silly old thing! I don't know what she meant so don't ask me. Anyway, I thought she was a long time bathing so I went over. The chamber door was unlocked and I went in.' The old nun paused in mock sorrow. 'Dame Martha was in the bath, her legs sticking out like two thin sticks, her face under the water.'
    'Did you notice anything untoward?'
    'No, nothing, except I nearly slipped when running out of the room. There was a trail of water right to the door.'
    'Anything else?'
    'No,' she snapped. 'Why should there be?'
    Corbett shook his head sympathetically and neatly turned the conversation back to the hoof of an elk and the blood of the weasel before rising, bidding farewell, and making the most solemn assurances that if Dame Elizabeth would be so gracious as to welcome him, he would definitely call again.
    Closing the door on the old nun's grateful acceptance of his offer, Corbett strode back to the top of the stairs and with one look dismissed her vapid outpourings. If the Lady Eleanor had committed suicide there was no need to throw herself downstairs. A fall from a window or even over the balustrade of this gallery would have been just as effective. Corbett went along the darkened galleries to Lady Eleanor's chamber these were large rooms next to each other, occupying one side of the convent house. They were unlocked but he found nothing of interest as they had already been stripped of all furniture and hangings. He sighed and tiptoed downstairs. He'd hoped Dame Agatha was waiting but glimpsed only a grey-garbed lay sister scurrying past the foot of the stairs. Corbett walked slowly towards the main door.
    'Master Clerk!'
    Corbett allowed himself a half smile before he turned.
    'What is it, Dame Agatha?'
    'You found Dame Elizabeth well?'
    'I