Next there came the rumble of Bernard’s deeper, less-clear baritone.
Alan stopped as if he had walked into glass. After a moment, he quietly closed the door behind him. Moving on silent feet to the partially open door that led into Bernard’s room, he took up a position that was out of view and prepared to listen.
Hugh’s voice was even clearer this close up. Alan listened as he told Bernard, “I think that John Rye had dangerous information about the earl’s murder and he tried to use it to extort money from someone. Instead of paying up, however, the man killed Rye. If it was the same man who killed de Beauté-and I think it was-he wouldn’t hesitate at another murder. He got rid of the man he sent to deliver his message to the earl fast enough.”
“You may very well be right,” Bernard replied. From this closer vantage point, Alan could hear the man’s deep voice more clearly. “John Rye tried to get William of Roumare to pay for his information and was unsuccessful. It would only be natural for him to turn next to the actual man who did the deed.”
“So I think,” said Hugh tersely.
Bernard began to cough. Alan heard movement in the room and the sound of water being poured. Hugh must be offering Bernard a drink, he thought. Finally, when Bernard had recovered his breath, he said, “Well, your first suspicion appears to have been the right one. William of Roumare was behind the death of de Beauté all along.”
This comment was met by silence. Alan’s brain was in a whirl as he tried to understand this sudden introduction of William of Roumare into the picture. He frowned in concentration as he tried to sort out what he was hearing, so that he could relay it correctly to Richard.
Finally Hugh said, “If Roumare was involved, Bernard, then why didn’t he buy off Rye?”
“Exactly what information do you think Rye offered him?” Bernard countered.
“John Rye was in the castle serving out his knight’s fee at the time of the murder. I am guessing that he saw who gave the groom the message that summoned you to the Minster. After the groom turned up murdered as well, Rye must have realized that he had a valuable piece of information. That is when he left Lincoln with the excuse that his wife was ill and went to visit his cousin, Roumare.”
Alan was concentrating so intently on the conversation in Bernard’s room that he scarcely remembered to breathe. But why would William of Roumare want to kill the Earl of Lincoln? he thought in confusion.
“It seems to me that if Roumare was indeed involved in the earl’s murder,” Hugh went on, “he would have bought off John Rye. Instead, he turned him away.”
Bernard replied matter-of-factly, “He turned him away because he knew there was nothing concrete that could connect the murderer to him. There can be little doubt that Roumare was the one who paid the assassin, but I will wager you that he did it in such a way that he would not be implicated. That is why he would not bribe Rye to keep quiet.”
“That could be what happened,” Hugh conceded, but he did not sound convinced.
“It must be what happened,” Bernard said firmly. “Roumare is the only man with sufficient motive to want de Beauté dead. The whole kingdom knows he wants to be the Earl of Lincoln, and now that de Beauté is dead, he probably will be.”
So that is it, Alan thought, enlightened. It made sense, he thought, mulling this new information over in his mind. Roumare was a much more likely culprit in the earl’s death than was Bernard Radvers, who had gained nothing by the death of de Beauté.
“Unfortunately, I have no proof of any of this,” Hugh was saying grimly.
“It doesn’t matter,” Bernard replied. “We have only to bring forth before the chief justiciar the information you learned from Rye, and establish the possibility that Rye may have been murdered by the same man who killed the earl. That information will save me, Hugh. I was under arrest when John Rye was killed.”
“I suppose,” Hugh said discontentedly.
Bernard grunted as he shifted in the bed. “Don’t look so gloomy, lad! You’ve done what you promised. You’ve saved my life. I should think you would be rejoicing.”
“I will rejoice when you are declared innocent,” Hugh returned.
Suddenly his voice sounded much closer. Alan flattened himself against the wall, afraid that Hugh had moved nearer to the doorway. “I would feel happier if I could be certain that these murders really were connected to Roumare,” Hugh confessed. “As it is…I simply am not convinced.”
“If? What do you mean, if?” Bernard sounded oddly angry. “Who else besides Roumare could possibly have benefited from the death of the earl?”
Hugh didn’t reply.
“Hugh.” Bernard’s voice was sharp and worried. “Please don’t tell me you are still trying to fix the blame on Richard Canville!”
Alan felt as if someone had punched him hard in the stomach. His fists clenched at his sides, and his nostrils widened as he sucked in air.
Richard? he thought. How could anyone, even Hugh, possibly suspect Richard?
“I haven’t eliminated him,” Hugh said. His voice seemed to come from right next to the door.
Bernard raised his voice as if talking to someone across the room from him. “If you try to cast suspicion on Richard, you will make yourself a laughingstock. I know you don’t like Richard. Perhaps you even have cause for not liking Richard. Perhaps Richard is not quite as perfect as everyone thinks he is. But he is not a murderer, Hugh! For God’s sake, what reason would he have to murder the Earl of Lincoln?”
“Do you remember that I told you Edgar Harding came to me and accused the sheriff of embezzling from the market stall rents?”
“Aye, I remember.” Bernard sounded cautious.
“Well, I have proof that Harding was right.”
A heavy silence was Bernard’s only reply.
Alan’s teeth bit into his lower lip until they drew blood.
Hugh went on relentlessly. “The sheriff is collecting more money from the market stalls than he declares on the tax rolls. I talked to the shopkeepers and found out that they are in fact paying considerably more than what Gervase told me.”
More silence from Bernard.
Alan felt sick to his stomach.
At last Bernard said heavily, “If that is so, he will not be the first sheriff to do such a thing. But I am surprised. And disappointed. I thought better of Gervase.”
“Think of this,” Hugh said. “Perhaps it is not Gervase who is behind the scheme. Perhaps it is Richard.”
Alan didn’t know if he wanted to run into Bernard’s room and scream denials at Hugh, or just run away.
“Why do you say that?” Bernard asked.
“The man who collects the stall rent is Theobold Elton, and he seems to be a good friend of Richard’s. Richard also appears to have a good deal more money than I would expect him to have. He keeps a squire. He has a very expensive horse. And Alan told me he found Richard in the sheriff’s office late one night, going over the tax books.”
Alan remembered that meeting. He remembered how upset Richard had seemed at the unexpected appearance of his squire. He shut his eyes and shook his head in vigorous denial.
“What are you suggesting, then?” Bernard said grimly. “That the earl discovered the cheat and threatened to expose it and so Richard killed him?”
“Aye.” Hugh’s voice seemed to come from Bernard’s bedside once again.
“And just how would the earl discover the cheat?” Bernard demanded. “I am quite sure he didn’t go around asking the merchants how much rent they paid for their stalls!”
“I don’t know how he discovered it,” Hugh replied steadily. “But it is entirely possible that he did. The word was that he and Gervase were not on good terms. Perhaps this was one of the reasons for their falling-out.”