The Devil's Domain

, Genoa , Venice . Last year he was in Germany performing certain tasks for his masters back in Paris .’
    ’Such as?’ Athelstan asked.
    ’Spying, trading in secrets and, above all, murder. A clerk from the French chancery ostensibly went on pilgrimage to the shrine of the Three Wise Men at Cologne . What he didn’t tell his masters in Paris was that he took certain secrets with him and sold them to the burghers of Cologne . These were trade secrets: information which could allow someone to control the market in wines. Great rivalry exists between the vineyards of France and those of Germany . The clerk was well rewarded. Of course, he couldn’t return to Paris but, on the receipt of his ill-gotten gains, he set himself up in some estate, a pleasant house overlooking Cologne Cathedral. One afternoon he was found swimming in his own carp pond, a garrotte string round his neck. The city council had no proof, but the whisper in the merchant community was that Mercurius had paid this French traitor a house visit.’ Gervase sipped at his wine. ’Now, Sir Maurice here caused a great stir when he took the St Sulpice and St Denis. The French believed that we had a spy high in their councils. No, no.’ He held out his hand. ’I must be more precise. They believed that one of the senior officers on board ship was in the pay of the English court.’
    ’And is that true?’ Sir John barked.
    ’Jack, Jack.’ Gervase shifted his head. ’You may ask but you know I won’t answer. Suffice to say the French believed that.’
    ’And they have sent Mercurius to London ?’
    ’Precisely: that’s the news our merchant brought.’
    ’But there are always French spies in London.’ Cranston ’s face showed his annoyance at these subtle, silken treacheries. ’And a Frenchman is a Frenchman wherever he goes.’
    ’I didn’t say he was French,’ Gervase replied. ’We know a great deal about Mercurius. He’s not French or Gascon but English. A clerk in the Bishop of Norwich’s household, he joined a free company and went to France . He was captured. Now the French have a way with freebooters, they just hang them out of hand. Mercurius, whose real name was Richard Stillingbourne, entered into a deal with his new masters: in return for his life and a bag of silver he was released. He led the French back to where his free company was quartered and organised their slaughter. Mercurius has a passion and skill for killing as other men do for riding a horse or singing a song. Now, my belief is that the French have sent him into England and that he is responsible for the death of Serriem at Hawkmere.’
    ’And so he could be anyone?’ Athelstan asked.
    ’He could be one of the parishioners. He might even be Aspinall, the physician. One of the servants, a chapman, a tinker, a guard. He’s a master of disguise. He can appear stooped and aged, the beggar on the comer, or haughty and arrogant.’ Gervase grinned at Sir Maurice. ’Even the young knight with a falcon on his wrist.’ He spread his hands in mock innocence. ’Even a humble clerk.’
    ’Would de Fontanel know of this?’ Athelstan asked.
    Gaunt shook his head. ’The French envoy has taken a house in Adel Lane ; it’s watched day and night. No stranger has approached it.’
    ’And de Fontanel?’
    ’He never goes out.’ Gaunt smirked. ’He might be frightened. My guard dogs know him, the foppish way he dresses, the ridiculous hat!’
    ’He’s only a minor envoy,’ Gervase added. ’Sent to vex and irritate. Mercurius will answer only to the Chancellor in Paris .’
    ’If the French believe,’ Gaunt continued, ’that there is a traitor among those men at Hawkmere, Mercurius will kill him.’ Gaunt leaned forward, his face drawn with excitement.
    For a moment he reminded Athelstan of a wolf he had seen in the Tower, the sharp, pointed face, the hooded, unblinking eyes, the hunched shoulders.
    ’I have prayed,’ Gaunt said, ’that one day, Mercurius will enter our web. The French have whistled up a dance and dance we must but, Sir Jack, Brother Athelstan, and you Master Gervase, I want Mercurius’ head. He is more important than all the ships the French can muster in the Narrow Seas .’
    ’But he’s not only here for that, is he?’ Athelstan pointed across at Sir Maurice. ’They also hold you responsible for the loss of their ships. I am not threatening you,’ Athelstan continued, Gervase now nodding his head. ’Mercurius could also be in