*Surely, that can be left to the lord sheriff.'

*We feel obliged to help him.'

*No, Gervase,' she objected with sudden alarm, *it's far too dangerous.'

*We'll move with caution, I promise you.'

*But you're dealing with a brutal killer. I overheard some of the remarks made at the banquet. The victim was not merely killed. He was butchered to death.'

*Don't believe all the gossip,' he warned, keen to allay her fears. *At times like this, people always exaggerate. The murderer was callous, it's true, but he'll soon be caught and punished.'

*Why must you and Ralph join in the hunt?'

*Because we need to, my love. No more questions.'

He kissed her softly on the lips to terminate the conversation. A long pause ensued. Hearing the change in her breathing, he thought that his wife had drifted off to sleep and he began to doze off himself. Alys brought him awake again.

*Gervase?' she murmured.

*Yes?'

*Who was that dreadful man?'

*Which one?'

*The one who stormed into the hall in the middle of the banquet.'

*That's Richard de Fontenel. He has extensive holdings in the county. Ralph and I will have to see rather a lot of him, unfortunately. He'll have to show better manners in the shire hall or we'll have him removed.'

*He was so rude and frightening.'

*That's typical of the man, I'm told.'

*Could she really be thinking of taking such a brute as her husband?'

*Who?'

*The lady Adelaide,' she explained. *You must have seen her. She was that beautiful creature who sat beside Ralph.'

Gervase grinned. *I thought that was Golde.'

*The other side of him. You know full well the lady I mean. Every eye in the room was on her at some point. Her name is Adelaide. She's a rich widow and someone told me that she was considering a marriage proposal from the lord Richard.'

*He's a rough wooer, if tonight is anything to judge by.'

*She didn't appear to be surprised by his behaviour.'

*Perhaps she expected him, then,' he speculated. *It may even be that his performance in the hall was put on largely for her benefit. Perhaps he wanted to impress his future bride by showing her that he was a law unto himself.'

Alys was firm. *That certainly wasn't the case,' she said. *What woman in her right mind would be impressed with that crude behaviour? Besides, the lord Richard obviously didn't know that she'd even be at the table. His manner changed at once when he noticed her. He even had the grace to look apologetic.'

*You obviously watched him carefully.'

*I watched her, Gervase. The lady Adelaide was the person who interested me.'

*Why?'

*Because she held every man in thrall.'

*Not me, my love.'

*I saw you sneaking a look at her,' she said, nudging him with an elbow.

*Idle curiosity.'

*Well, my curiosity wasn't idle. I made a point of speaking to her as we left.'

*What did she say?'

*That banquets at the castle didn't always end so prematurely. She's clearly someone who's in her element on such occasions. I have to admit that she made me feel rather awkward and out of place.'

*Nonsense!'

*It's the truth, Gervase.' She snuggled into his shoulder. *But I'm glad that I went. I was enjoying it until the lord Richard burst in. That was why her comment was so odd.'

*Odd?'

*Yes. The lady Adelaide could see that I was dismayed by the commotion. She told me to make allowances for the intruder because he was the victim of a crime. The odd thing was the way that she said it.'

*I don't follow.'

*Everyone else was shocked and angry,' recalled Alys. *But not the lady Adelaide. Instead of being appalled at the bad behaviour of a friend, she sounded like a loyal wife apologising for an erring husband.'

Gervase propped himself up on his elbow to look down at her in the half-dark. *What else did the lady Adelaide tell you?' he asked.

Mauger Livarot pored over the doc.u.ments that were set out on the table in the parlour and smiled with satisfaction. Standing at his shoulder was his steward, Drogo, a small, stringy man in his fifties with darting eyes and a pale forehead that was visibly crisscrossed with tributaries of blue veins. Both of them looked up when they heard the approach of horses' hooves. Drogo went swiftly across to the window to peer out.

*Well?' asked Livarot.

*The lord sheriff and his men.'

*I expected them earlier than this.'

*Two strangers are riding with him.'

*Men of consequence?'

*The one most certainly is,' said Drogo as he looked at Ralph Delchard. *The other lacks any authority but he bears himself well.'

Livarot got up from his chair and joined his steward at the window. He watched as Roger Bigot and the two strangers dismounted before walking towards the house. A servant admitted them and conducted them straight to the parlour where there was an exchange of greetings and introductions were made. When he heard that two royal commissioners had come calling, Livarot's interest quickened.

*You're most welcome,' he said with a smile that barely stopped short of ingratiation. *I thought that I'd have to give evidence before you at the shire hall. It's heartening to see that the whole matter can be settled in the privacy of my own home.'

*We've not come here to discuss any property claims,' explained Ralph. *The lord sheriff was kind enough to ask our help on a separate a" but perhaps related a" subject.'

*And what might that be?'

*The murder of Richard de Fontenel's steward.'

*Murder!' echoed the other.

His surprise appeared to be genuine but the news provoked no reaction from Drogo. The older man simply lurked watchfully in the background. The sheriff gave them a terse account of the events surrounding the discovery of the body.

*I can see why you came to me,' said Livarot, wearily. *To interrogate me. Richard no doubt thinks that I'm the killer.'

*That was the kindest thing he called you, my lord,' said Ralph.

The other man grinned. *He and I have never been kindred spirits.'

*This is a serious business,' Bigot reminded him. *There are some questions we need to ask you and it will save us all time if I put them bluntly.'

*Be as blunt as you wish, my lord sheriff,' said Livarot, indicating the seats, *but at least be comfortable while you speak.' He waited until they sat down, then lowered himself into a chair opposite them, leaving Drogo on his feet alone. *Now,' he went on, composing his features into a token solemnity, *ask what you must.'

*Are you involved in any way in the murder?' said Bigot crisply.

*No, my lord sheriff.'

*Where have you been for the last couple of days?'

*Here on my estates.'

*You've not left them for any reason?'

*Only for a morning's hunting,' admitted the other. *Oh, and I did pay an important call on a friend yesterday afternoon.'

*May we know his name?'

*It was a lady, my lord sheriff. I think you'll guess who she might be. Talk to her, if you wish. I'm sure that the lady Adelaide will tell you exactly when I arrived at her house and when I departed. As for my movements on the estate,' he went on, turning to his steward, *Drogo will confirm that I was here for the vast majority of the time and I can call a dozen other witnesses who'll say the same.'

*Tenants of yours?' asked Ralph.

*Yes, my lord, but honest men who'll not speak up for me simply because they pay their rent into my coffers. I won't pretend that I'm distressed to hear of Hermer's death. I never liked the fellow so he'll not be mourned here. But that doesn't mark me out as his executioner.' An oily smile spread. *Given the choice, I'd far sooner kill his master but I'm too G.o.d-fearing to do anything like that.'

*What do you know of a theft from the lord Richard's house?' said Bigot.

*I know that it has nothing to do with me.'

*But you're aware of the crime?'

*The lady Adelaide mentioned it to me.'

*Did she tell you what was stolen?'

*Two gold elephants that were destined to be a wedding present to her. If she accepted the hand of Richard de Fontenel, that is. The lady Adelaide was spared that fate, fortunately for her.'

*And fortunately for you as well,' noted the sheriff, bluntly.

*Luck has always sat on my shoulder.'

*Is it only a case of luck?' asked Ralph.

*What else might it be, my lord?'

*The profit of calculation.'

Livarot stiffened. *Are you accusing me of the theft?'

*Of course not. I merely point out the interesting coincidence that you stand to gain a great deal from it.' He ran an appraising eye over his host. *Though I doubt if the same can be said for the lady Adelaide.'

*Don't rush to judgement on that score.'

Ralph beamed. *I'd never do that, my lord.'

*May I ask a question?' intervened Gervase, turning to Livarot. *You told us a moment ago that you didn't like Hermer.'

*I loathed the man,' confessed the other.

*Why?'

*Because he was working with Richard de Fontenel to dispossess me of land that's rightfully mine. Drogo and I were going through the deeds once again when you arrived, Master Bret. My claim is incontrovertible.'

*That remains to be decided, my lord.'

*At the appropriate time,' added Ralph.

Gervase was tenacious. *Tell us more about Hermer.'

*I scarcely knew the fellow.'

*You knew him well enough to loathe him.'

*Naturally,' replied Livarot. *He was the lord Richard's creature. I'd hate anyone who was employed by that unprincipled rogue.'

*Did you ever meet Hermer?'

*A number of times, Master Bret.'

*Describe him to us.'