Gervase was pleased to be riding beside the monk, even though the latter’s shortcomings as a horseman were all too apparent. It gave the young commissioner an opportunity to ask about the discoveries of the previous day. Having already heard Ralph’s version of events, he wanted to see if it tallied with that of Brother Daniel.
‘Did you enjoy the visit to the abbey?’ he asked.
‘Very much.’
‘Why?’
The monk needed no more invitation. He gave a detailed account of the journey, the architecture of the abbey and the people they met within it. Nothing he said contradicted Ralph’s version but it was considerably embellished. The monk may have said little but he had looked and listened with care.
‘What did you make of the sacristan?’ asked Gervase.
‘He was far too trusting. He should never have been taken in by a guest.’
‘We’re not absolutely certain that’s what happened, Brother Daniel.’
‘What other explanation is there?’ said the monk. ‘Someone stole those gold elephants from the abbey. They didn’t stampede out of there of their own accord. They were taken by Starculf and given to the lord Richard.’
‘Even though Starculf swore revenge against his former master?’
‘An intermediary must have been involved. Hermer, perhaps.’
‘Starculf hated the man.’
‘Those elephants came into the lord Richard’s possession somehow.’
‘Yes,’ said Gervase. ‘That’s why we’re going to see him. But we must be sure not to accuse him of anything, Brother Daniel. That will get us nowhere. We must try to draw information out of him by more subtle means.’
‘I’ll leave the talking to you.’
‘Watch his reactions.’
‘From what I’ve heard about the lord Richard,’ said Daniel, worriedly, ‘you’d be well advised to watch how close his hand gets to his sword. He’s inclined to violence.’
‘Only if he’s provoked. Ours will be a softer approach.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’
Men were working in the fields as they drove past. They looked up briefly at the passing visitors before returning to their work. Sheep were the only animals on view, scuttling out of their way with noisy protests. When the travellers got to the manor house, a servant met them at the door. They were soon conducted into the empty parlour. While Gervase took a swift inventory, Daniel clicked his tongue at the ostentatious display of wealth in the room.
Richard de Fontenel swept into the parlour, more puzzled than irked by their unannounced visit. Gervase performed the introductions but that only deepened the lines in their host’s forehead.
‘Why have a royal commissioner and a monk come to see me?’ he wondered.
‘We come in other guises, my lord,’ explained Gervase. ‘I’m helping the lord sheriff to solve the crimes that have occurred here and Brother Daniel is the person who actually stumbled on the dead body of your steward.’
‘I shudder whenever I recall it,’ said Daniel.
‘What exactly happened?’ pressed de Fontenel, interested to hear. ‘Why did you look into that derelict house in the first place and what state was Hermer in when you saw him?’
Brother Daniel took a deep breath before he told his story once again. Gervase was grateful to him. He could see the effort that it was costing the monk but the grim details were lapped up by their host. When they were offered seats, the visitors began to feel more welcome. Richard de Fontenel wanted to know everything that the monk could tell him, making him repeat some parts of his narrative. Beneath the man’s simmering anger, Gervase could sense a real affection for the dead steward.
‘Thank you,’ said de Fontenel at length. ‘I’m glad to hear it all from your own lips, Brother Daniel. It was good of you to come here.’
‘That wasn’t the only reason for our visit, my lord,’ said Gervase, taking over. ‘I’m here on the lord sheriff’s behalf to talk about the theft that took place.’
‘Well?’
‘I understand that the objects stolen were extremely valuable.’
‘They were solid gold, Master Bret, and fashioned in Italy.’
‘Is that where you bought them?’ asked Gervase, softly.
‘Not exactly.’
‘Then how did they come into your hands?’
‘Does that matter?’
‘I’m afraid it does, my lord.’
‘A merchant sold them to me,’ said de Fontenel briskly. ‘When I was in Normandy, I heard that this man had something very special to sell and it was exactly what I needed at that particular time. So I bought the elephants from him.’
‘In Normandy?’
‘Further south than that, Master Bret.’
‘When was this, my lord?’
‘Quite recently.’
‘Could you be more specific, please?’
‘It must have been — what? — ten or twelve days ago. I only returned to England earlier this week. The two elephants were a gift. Before I could present them to the person for whom they were intended, they were stolen and my steward was murdered.’
‘Let’s just concentrate on the elephants,’ suggested Gervase. ‘Would you describe the merchant from whom you bought them as an honest man?’
‘Of course.’
‘You had no reason to doubt him?’
‘Why should I?’
‘Because what he sold you, my lord, was stolen property.’
‘Never!’
‘It was,’ maintained Gervase, ‘and I think that your memory may be at fault with regard to the precise time of the purchase. Ten or twelve days ago, you said.’
‘That’s when it was, Master Bret.’
‘Somewhere in France.’
‘Do you have any proof to the contrary?’
‘I don’t, my lord, but Brother Daniel has.’
‘Yes,’ said the monk, taking up his cue. ‘I had the pleasure of visiting the abbey of St Benet at Holme yesterday. According to Brother Joseph, the sacristan, those gold elephants belonged to them and were regarded as holy objects. Unfortunately, they were stolen from the abbey church at the very time you claim to have bought them in France.’
Richard de Fontenel’s face was ashen. There was a long pause before he spoke. ‘I think there’s been a mistake,’ he said at last. ‘The elephants that I bought didn’t come from Holme. They may have been similar to the ones stolen from the abbey but they couldn’t possibly have been the same ones.’
‘We believe that they might be, my lord,’ said Gervase.
‘But that’s impossible!’
‘On the face of it, yes. The objects could hardly have been taken from the abbey and sold in France on the same day. As far as I’m aware, elephants don’t fly.’
‘Don’t jest with me, Master Bret.’
‘I’m in earnest, my lord.’
Brother Daniel nodded vigorously. ‘Theft of holy treasures is an abomination.’
‘I didn’t steal them!’ shouted de Fontenel.
‘Nobody is suggesting that you did, my lord,’ said Gervase. ‘Our fear is that you were the victim of an unscrupulous merchant. In which case, the transaction between the two of you must have taken place more recently than you have told us.’
‘Well, yes, that’s true,’ mumbled the other. ‘I can’t be precise about the date.’
‘It would have taken days for them to reach you in France.’
‘I’m aware of that, Master Bret,’ said de Fontenel through gritted teeth. ‘But I’m still not convinced that the gift I bought in good faith came from the abbey of St Benet. Who gave you the idea that it did?’
‘Judicael the Goldsmith.’
‘He’s never seen my elephants.’
‘He hasn’t seen the ones at the abbey either,’ said Gervase, patiently, ‘but he had a very clear description of them from a goldsmith who had. That description matched in every detail the one you gave to the lord sheriff. The objects are quite unique. There’s no room for error here.’
‘There must be!’
‘Two holy treasures are stolen from an abbey and you buy identical objects shortly afterwards? No, my lord. That would be far too great a coincidence. In any case,’ said Gervase, blithely, ‘the matter will soon be resolved.’
‘How?’
‘When the elephants are recovered, the abbot and sacristan will be able to identify them as belonging to the abbey. You’ll be allowed to examine them yourself, of course, but there’ll be an even more important witness.’