The Gallows Murders

rest of my bemused companions. 'He was always boasting about what he did in his glorious past. Now I rejected it because Quicksilver is a liar, born and bred.'
    "What on earth has this got to do with the matter in hand?' Vetch snapped.
    I explained. 'Quicksilver is well past his sixtieth year. However, he once told me that he visited the Tower when the Princes were imprisoned here. He talked of secret passageways and chambers. I dismissed this as mere ranting, but I also noticed he kept his hands and wrists always covered. No matter what he did or where he went, his wrists were always hidden.'
    Benjamin clapped me on the shoulder. 'Of course, Roger.' He squeezed my shoulder, his face wreathed in smiles. 'According to beloved Uncle, Greene had an ugly scar on his wrist. You are saying Greene and Quicksilver are one and the same?'
    'I do,' I replied. 'Sir Edward,' I glanced at the constable, who slumped, half-bored, in his chair, 'of your goodness, please send a message to Under-sheriff Pelleter in Catte Street. Ask him to inform his bailiffs and criers throughout the city that a charlatan known as Dr Quicksilver is to be arrested immediately'
    Kemble's fat face threatened to turn sour, clearly resentful at having to take orders from the likes of me.
    'Do it!' Benjamin ordered. 'And it must be done quickly. Master Shallot and I are to meet the under-sheriff very soon; there's no time to lose!'
    Kemble nodded at Vetch, who hastened from the chamber.
    'And what about us?' Mallow wailed. 'If Sakker is hunting us, how safe can we be?'
    ‘You are in the Tower,' I snarled, 'the king's principal fortress. You should heed my master's advice. Go nowhere by yourself
    We'd best go,' Snakeroot whispered. Wormwood at least deserves a Christian burial.'
    ‘Your numbers are declining, Master Mallow,' Spurge taunted.
    The chief executioner stopped and gazed hatefully at the King's surveyor of works.
    'Oh, don't worry about that, Master Spurge. Haven't you heard the old proverb: for every villain there'll always be a hangman?' And, with his two apprentices trailing behind him, Mallow strode out of the chamber.
    Benjamin waited until he had gone, then whispered for the piece of parchment Mistress Undershaft had given us. I passed this to him and he tossed it to the constable.
    'Sir Edward, does that drawing mean anything to you?'
    Kemble opened the parchment, smoothing it out on the table-top.
    'A rough drawing of the Tower,' he muttered. 'And the letter ‘T". Master Daunbey, what is this nonsense?' 'Master Spurge?' Benjamin asked.
    The surveyor grabbed the piece of parchment, studied it, shook his head and passed it back. 'What does it mean?' Kemble asked.
    ‘I don't know, Sir Edward, but when I find out…' And Benjamin rose, indicating for me to follow him from the chamber.
    ‘I think I know who the assassin is,' Benjamin whispered as we went down the stairs and out into the sunlight. 'Roger.' He gently tapped my chin. 'Close your mouth or you'll catch flies!' ‘You know who the assassin is?' I gasped. 'So do you,' Benjamin replied. 'It's Master Spurge!' 'Spurge!' I exclaimed.
    'He's the surveyor, Roger. He knows all the secret entrances.'
    'But we've seen his map, Benjamin,' I replied. There was nothing hidden there. Remember when the villain collected the gold in the city, when I was pushed into the wolf-pit, when Horehound was crushed to death; Spurge was always elsewhere.'
    'Of course he was.' Benjamin linked his arm through mine and walked me back across the green to our chamber. "What I am saying is that there must be a secret gate or postern-door which Spurge deliberately omitted from that map: probably overlooking the moat or the river. Somehow or other, Spurge struck up an unholy alliance with this Sakker, whom he can bring in and out of the Tower whenever he so wishes. Sakker was watching you that day near the wolf-pit. He also killed Undershaft, Horehound and Hellbane, as well as poor Wormwood. He collected the gold at St Paul's. He also delivered those blackmailing letters and proclamations to frighten the King.'
    'Two cheeks on the same arse,' I replied. 'Spurge and Sakker working together.' I squinted at the clear blue sky. 'But how would they meet?' I replied. ‘Why should they trust each other? Sakker may enter the Tower secretly, but this is a close community, people would recognise a stranger. And, above all, where on earth did they get those seals from?'
    Benjamin paused, finger to his lips. 'Roger, do you