The Elephants Of Norwich Part 12

*Where were they?'

*Left outside my front door in a box.'

*Did this Clamahoc see who put them there?'

*No,' said the other, grimly, *and nor did anyone else. But I know who it was.'

*I hope that you're not going to say that it was the lord Mauger.'

*It's just the kind of taunt he would favour.'

*How can you be sure that it was a taunt?'

*What else could it be, my lord sheriff?'

*An act of penitence.' His companion snorted. *It could, Richard. Suppose that the killer repented of his savagery and returned the hands to lighten the burden on his conscience.'

Richard de Fontenel scowled. *I don't believe in penitent murderers. If the man was so conscience-stricken, why not confess his crime? No,' he insisted, *this was a gibe at me. Those hands were sent back to give me a deliberate shock.'

*Well, they weren't placed at your door by the lord Mauger. That I can affirm. Not long before your servant found that box, I was talking to Mauger at his house. He would never have been able to cover the distance here in time.'

*Then he must have sent that verminous steward of his.'

*Drogo was present throughout my visit.'

The other man was adamant. *Mauger had those hands delivered here somehow.'

*I don't agree,' said Bigot, *and neither do Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret. They came with me on my visit. Both are shrewd men, used to rooting out deceit and dishonesty. They came to the same conclusion that I did. Mauger is not the culprit.'

*Then he fooled all three of you.'

*My deputy is of the same mind. Olivier still believes that the most likely person is the man who was Hermer's a.s.sistant. What was his name?'

*Starculf.'

*He left here under a cloud, it seems.'

*We found him unreliable.'

*Why was that, my lord?'

*That's a private matter. Starculf had to go.'

*But he left embittered, vowing vengeance.'

*True,' admitted the other. *He did have cause to strike at Hermer, but why leave it so long? Why attack at this particular moment? Starculf has not been seen or heard of for months, my lord sheriff. I doubt that he's even still in the county. It would be too much of a coincidence if he returned to take his revenge at the precise moment when I had those gold elephants in my possession.' He gave a dismissive shrug. *How could he arrange to steal something he didn't know I owned?'

*We'd still like to speak with him.'

*Only one other person was aware that I'd acquired those elephants.'

*Mauger Livarot.'

*Exactly!'

*But how did he know, my lord?'

*The way that he gets to know everything,' sneered de Fontenel. *By means of bribery. My wedding gift vanished on the very day I showed it to the lady Adelaide. That was no accident.'

*According to you, Hermer made off with it.'

*He must have done.'

*Why?'

*Because he had the elephants on a platter when he left the room. The lady Adelaide and I talked alone at some length. Above an hour, probably. During that time,' de Fontenel a.s.serted, *Hermer must have sneaked off to deliver the takings to the man who put him up to the crime a" Mauger Livarot.'

*You really believe that your steward betrayed you?'

*What I believe is that Mauger used him then cast him aside.'

*Yet Hermer's body lies in your church. It'll be buried on your land.'

*I couldn't deny him that.'

*Even though you suspect him of being party to a conspiracy?' said Bigot. *I would have thought you'd want to burn the body or tear it to shreds.'

*That rage has pa.s.sed,' confessed the other, solemnly. *Hermer gave me good service for many years. I owe him something for that. Besides, there's an element of doubt. Not about Mauger's involvement,' he said, wagging a finger. *Only about Hermer. Part of me wants to believe that a loyal steward would never sink so low.'

*Olivier Romain reached the same conclusion.'

*All that your deputy can talk about is Starculf.'

*With good reason, my lord. He was disaffected when he left your estate.'

*The only way that he would have been drawn into this was as Mauger's agent.'

*Stop harping on the lord Mauger. He's innocent.'

*Not from where I stand!'

Bigot sighed wearily as they walked towards their horses. Four of the sheriff's men were already in the saddle. They waited while the two men exchanged their last words. Bigot recalled something that had been said earlier.

*You claim that n.o.body knew that you had those gold elephants.'

*n.o.body except Mauger.'

*What about the man who sold them to you?'

*I bought them abroad. In a private transaction.'

*Where did the transaction take place?'

*That's no concern of yours, my lord sheriff,' said de Fontenel, sharply. *Just do your office and get them back for me.'

*When are you bidden?' asked Ralph Delchard, interested to hear the news.

*Tomorrow,' said Golde.

*Did the invitation extend to me?'

*No, Ralph. Nor to Gervase.'

*A pity. I'd rather like to see where the lady Adelaide lives.'

*Be honest,' she teased. *All you'd like to see is the lady Adelaide herself.'

*Not for the reason you think, my love. I enjoy her company, I won't deny it, but that's not why I'd seek it out. Two men are vying for her hand in marriage. One of them has been robbed of the wedding gift intended for her and his steward has been murdered. That's why I'd like to speak with the lady Adelaide again,' he said, kissing her on the forehead. *To find out more about her relations.h.i.+p with the lord Richard than she was prepared to divulge at the banquet.'

*Does she still have a relations.h.i.+p with him? I'd have thought that his behaviour last night ended all hopes he had of marrying her. He was raging.'

*Ira furor brevis est.'

Golde was taken aback. *What did you say?'

*"Anger is a short madness",' he replied airily. *It's from the Roman poet, Horace. You didn't know that your husband was a Latin scholar, did you?'

*I think you've been talking to the lord Eustace.'

*How did you guess?' He gave a ripe chuckle. *As for the lady Adelaide, you'll be able to judge for yourself if she's cast the lord Richard aside as a suitor. He's no worse than her other swain, the lord Mauger.'

*A beautiful woman can't always choose the men who're attracted to her.'

*Tell that to the lady Adelaide,' he said, cheerily. *But I must away, my love.'

They were in their chamber at the castle. Golde had just shown him what she had bought that morning and told him of the invitation. Ralph had no time to linger. After giving her another kiss, he moved towards the door. *You went to market this morning,' he said, *and now it's my turn.'

*What are you after?'

*Gold!'

He let himself out and went down the stairs. Minutes later, he was riding alone through the main gate, with directions from the captain of the guard. There were three goldsmiths in Norwich and he intended to visit them all. The first could be discounted at once. He had been sick with fever for over a week and his shop was closed. The second had been offered nothing to buy or melt down and was a man of such patent honesty that Ralph wasted no more time questioning him. It was when he called on the last of the three that he sensed he might make more progress.

Judicael the Goldsmith was a portly man with heavy jowls, rounded shoulders and flabby hands. He was older and more prosperous than either of his two rivals. His shop was larger, his apparel richer and his manner more confident. When he saw Ralph entering his premises, he rubbed his palms and gave an unctuous smile.

*Good morning, my lord,' he said.

*Are you Judicael?'

*Yes, my lord. What can I do for you?'

*I'd like your help.'

*Certainly. I keep a very large stock. Rings, brooches, necklaces, bangles.' His voice took on a confiding note. *I take it that we're talking about a gift for a lady?'

*We are,' confirmed Ralph.

*Good. What would you like to see?'

*Two gold elephants.'

Judicael's face went blank. *Elephants, my lord?'

*Do you know what elephants are?'

*Well, yes, of course. Not that I've ever seen one in the flesh. But I have an idea of what they look like. You want me to make two elephants? Is that my commission?'

*No,' said Ralph, irritated by his manner. *Your commission is simply to give me the answers I need. I'm not here to buy anything.'

*Oh, I'm disappointed to hear that.'

*My errand is more important than your disappointment.'

*Is it, my lord? Why is that?'

*I'll ask the questions. Now, has anyone brought any gold elephants to you?'

*No, my lord.'

*I'm told they're so big,' explained Ralph, using his fingers to give some idea of dimensions. *Made of solid gold, with a crucifix on each head. Has anything like that been brought to your shop?'

*Nothing at all, my lord.'

*Are you sure?'

*Absolutely sure.'

*So you weren't asked to melt them down?'

*No, my lord.'

*But you do buy the occasional gold item?'

*Only if I have proof of owners.h.i.+p,' said Judicael firmly. *Otherwise, I turn it away. I'm a respectable goldsmith, my lord. I don't trade in stolen goods.'

Ralph was not persuaded by the claim. Judicael was too sleek and plausible. There was an evasive look in the man's eye. Ralph tried to press him.

*Where is your stock kept?'