The Elephants of Norwich

Chapter Ten

Ralph Delchard studied the animal with intense interest. Holding the wooden elephant in his hand, he turned it slowly around to examine it from all angles. Eustace Coureton was equally fascinated. The carving was crude and unfinished but the main features of the elephant’s physiognomy were all there. Jocelyn Vavasour had vanished into his hut. When he reappeared, he brandished an earlier attempt at woodcarving.

‘This is the first one that I did,’ he said, passing it to Ralph. ‘It will give you a clearer idea of what an elephant looks like.’

Ralph was intrigued. ‘Look at the size of that trunk!’ ‘And those ears!’ said Coureton, reaching out to touch them. ‘So large and yet so smooth. You’ve got a rare talent, Jocelyn.’

‘No,’ said the other modestly. ‘They’re poor copies of the originals.’

‘At least, they give us an idea of what we’re looking for.’

‘But for one thing, my lord. I wasn’t able to carve the cross that stood on the animal’s head. That was beyond me. I tried very hard,’ he said, sadly, ‘but my hand slipped and the knife cut the cross off at the base. I wasn’t patient enough. I’ll be much more careful with the second one.’

Ralph held them up side by side to compare them. He sighed with admiration. ‘Remarkable work!’

‘Wait until you see the originals, my lord,’ said Vavasour. ‘They capture the essence of the creature. The Venetian goldsmith who made them had actually seen elephants. His miniatures had a life to them.’

‘So do these, my friend.’

‘But they’re made of driftwood and not solid gold.’

‘It’s not the material,’ said Ralph, ‘it’s the way it’s shaped. Besides, these two carvings of yours have a glow all of their own.’

‘The wood dries that colour in the sun.’

‘So you have two gold elephants of your own,’ said Coureton with a chuckle. ‘When the second is finished, you’ll be able to present them to the abbey as well.’

‘No, my lord,’ said Vavasour, taking the two carvings from Ralph. ‘These are carved from memory rather than inspiration. The abbey deserves only the best. I carried them all the way from Rome with a papal blessing on them and I want them restored to their rightful place.’

‘They will be.’

‘What if the thief has already had them melted down?’

‘We’ve taken steps to prevent that,’ said Ralph. ‘I visited the three goldsmiths in Norwich myself and the lord sheriff has sent out word to every other one in the county. The moment they’re offered those miniatures for sale, they’re to report it to him or they’ll suffer the consequences.’

‘But the elephants may already have left Norfolk.’

‘True, but I think it unlikely.’

‘Why?’

‘Whoever stole them knew where to find them,’ Ralph explained. ‘Nothing else was stolen from the lord Richard’s strong room even though it was full of other treasures. Hermer the Steward was overpowered by someone who thus had possession of his keys. Had the thief simply wanted booty, he could have opened every chest in the strong room, but he didn’t. Do you follow my thinking here?’

‘Yes, my lord. You believe it to be someone who knew his way around the lord Richard’s manor house. Someone from the locality.’

‘And someone with a particular reason for wanting those gold elephants.’

‘That’s why the name of the lord Mauger had to be considered,’ said Coureton. ‘When they were taken from the abbey, they were destined to be a wedding gift to the lady whose hand he’s been seeking in marriage himself.’

Ralph explained the situation in detail. The anchorite listened intently throughout, interrupting only to clarify a point or to challenge an assumption. He was impressed by the way that the commissioners had thrown themselves wholeheartedly into the pursuit of a thief who was, in all probability, also a killer. After spending so long alone on the marshes, it took him some time to adjust to the workings of the world he had renounced so completely, but memories gradually surged back. He was able to furnish them with new information about the long feud that existed between Richard de Fontenel and Mauger Livarot, but it was his comment on the lady over whom the two men fought that was most illuminating.

‘How closely have you questioned the lady Adelaide?’ he asked.

‘We haven’t spoken to her at all,’ said Ralph.

‘You should, my lord.’

‘Why?’

‘There’s an odd coincidence here that you couldn’t be expected to see. But I’m more familiar with the people involved.’

‘Go on.’

‘I’ve no wish to malign the lady Adelaide,’ said Vavasour with emphasis. ‘She’s a good Christian with a charitable disposition and was a loyal wife to her late husband. But there’s an aspect of her character that’s a little less admirable. The lady Adelaide is fond of manipulating people for her own advantage.’

‘Yes,’ said Ralph, nodding in agreement. ‘We’ve observed the way in which she’s keeping both suitors at arm’s length and playing them off against each other.’

‘It began with Geoffrey Molyneux, my lord. The lady Adelaide loved him dearly, I’ve no doubt, but that didn’t stop her from exploiting him. He doted on her. Since you’ve met her, I’m sure that you can understand why.’

‘Oh, yes!’ said Coureton. ‘Any husband would dote on her.’

‘The lord Geoffrey showered her with gifts. Her passion was for jewellery and he would travel hundreds of miles just to buy a particular necklace or brooch for her. Gold is the lady Adelaide’s weakness,’ continued Vavasour, looking down at the two carvings in his hand. ‘The lord Richard understood that only too well. He acquired those gold elephants because he knew they might be the one gift that would ensnare her.’

‘Not if she realised that they were stolen property, surely?’

The anchorite hesitated. ‘I can’t answer for that.’

‘You think that she would accept them in those circumstances?’ pressed Ralph.

‘All I can say is that she loves gold more than anything else in the world. And that, alas, even includes her children. Did you know that they’re being brought up in her parents’ household?’

‘No. She never mentioned the children to me.’

‘The lady Adelaide likes to see them if and when she wishes.’

‘Would you call her an uncaring mother, then?’

‘No, my lord. She seemed affectionate towards them on the few occasions I saw them all together. But she chooses not to have them living under her own roof. I find that a peculiar decision, especially now that she’s a widow. It comes back to what I said earlier.’ Vavasour added. ‘The lady Adelaide likes to exert control over people.’

‘Over men,’ said Ralph, bluntly.

‘It’s more difficult to do that with children plucking at the hem of your gown.’

‘All this is very interesting. I spoke to the lady at length myself and saw none of these defects. But as it happens, my wife went to visit her this morning. I dare say she’ll have discerned things about the lady Adelaide that are less flattering.’

‘There’s one last thing, my lord.’

‘Yes?’

‘You mentioned a man called Starculf.’

‘The lord sheriff is searching for him high and low.’

‘What did he tell you about the fellow?’

‘That he once served the lord Richard and was expelled from his estates.’

‘Do you know how Starculf came into his service in the first place?’

‘As a falconer.’

‘But who recommended him?’

‘I’ve no idea.’

‘The lady Adelaide,’ said the anchorite, softly. ‘That was the odd coincidence I referred to earlier. Starculf learned his skills on her estates. When her husband died, she offered the man to the lord Richard. It may just be that she had no need of a young falconer although, of course, he was soon promoted to a higher position.’

‘On the other hand,’ concluded Ralph, ‘she might have recommended the fellow to Richard de Fontenel for a purpose. To act as her intelligencer.’

‘Perhaps that’s why Starculf and Hermer fell out,’ suggested Coureton. ‘The steward realised that his assistant’s loyalties lay elsewhere.’

‘I don’t know about that, Eustace. What is obvious is that the lady Adelaide will bear closer examination. I’m keen to hear what Golde found out about her.’

‘Not as much as we’ve just done.’

‘No,’ said Ralph, turning to Vavasour. ‘Thank you, my friend. Our journey has been more than worthwhile. You’ve taught us what an elephant looks like and given us valuable insights about some of the people with whom we’re dealing.’ He gazed across the marshes to the rolling waves of the sea. ‘I never thought we’d harvest so much in this wilderness of yours.’

The anchorite smiled. ‘It’s no wilderness, my lord.’

‘But you’re completely alone.’

‘I have the birds, I have my Bible and I have God. That’s company enough for any man.’ He held up his carvings. ‘I have these as well.’

‘We won’t disturb you any longer,’ said Coureton.

‘I’m very grateful that you came.’

‘We felt that you deserved to know what happened to your generous gift to the abbey. Having met you, we can see why you venerate those gold elephants.’

‘And now,’ said Ralph, ‘we’ll get on with the task of finding them.’

‘Wait, my lord,’ said the anchorite, holding up a hand.

Jocelyn Vavasour was torn between the past and the present, reflecting on the person he once was and the strength he drew from the new life he had chosen to lead. He wrestled with his conscience for some time, searching the heavens for counsel. They could see the anguish in his face and the tension in his body. With great reluctance, he eventually came to a decision. He straightened his shoulders. After taking a nostalgic look around the marshes, he walked swiftly back to his hut.

‘Give me a few moments,’ he said. ‘I’m coming with you.’

Drogo the Steward was not entirely without compassion. When he recovered from the shock of finding Clamahoc in the middle of the copse, he carried the man back to his horse and led it slowly homeward, wondering what he might say to his master and speculating on how it would be received. The message was as vivid as the blood on the servant’s back. Clamahoc had been unmasked as a spy. Retribution had been severe. Richard de Fontenel had ensured that he would never tell tales of any kind again. When they reached the manor house, Drogo took his passenger around to the stables and propped him against some sheaves of hay. After reviving the wounded man with a cup of water, he washed away the blood from around his mouth. When he tried to clean the raw wounds on his back, however, he sent Clamahoc into convulsions. The howls of pain were heard by Mauger Livarot as he returned on horseback from his visit.

Leaping down from the saddle, he came to the stables to investigate. ‘Who’s this?’ he demanded, looking down at the tortured figure.

‘Clamahoc, my lord,’ said his steward.

‘Your man in the lord Richard’s household?’

‘I fear that he’s been discovered.’

‘How?’

‘I’m not quite sure, my lord.’

‘Well, ask him!’ ordered Livarot.

‘He can’t tell us,’ said the steward. ‘His tongue was cut out.’

‘What?’

‘This is how I found him at the place where we arranged to meet. The truth was beaten out of him before he was silenced for ever. Look at the marks on his back, my lord. It’s a wonder that the poor fellow’s still alive.’

‘Why did you bring him here?’

‘He was our man, my lord.’

‘ Your man, Drogo,’ corrected the other harshly. ‘He was never mine. And in that state, he’s no use to either of us.’

‘That’s not his fault.’

‘Of course it is. He was found out.’

‘Only after he’d given us good service.’

‘Horses and dogs give me good service,’ said Livarot with callous indifference, ‘but when they grow old or lame, I nevertheless have them put down at the earliest opportunity. I don’t carry burdens.’

‘Clamahoc is not exactly a burden.’

‘What else is he?’

‘Proof of the lord Richard’s brutality.’

Livarot snorted. ‘As if we needed another example of that!’

‘We should report this to the lord sheriff and have the lord Richard arraigned.’

‘On what charge?’

‘Attempted murder.’

‘Talk sense, man,’ said the other, grabbing his steward to shake him. ‘No murder was attempted here or you’d have found a dead body awaiting you. If everyone who had a servant whipped was reported to Roger Bigot, half the landowners in the county would be held to account. The lord Richard did no more than I’d have done in his place.’

‘But he cut out the man’s tongue!’

‘Can you prove that?’ Livarot pointed at the servant. ‘Can he?’

‘It’s self-evident, my lord.’

‘All that’s evident to me is that this idiot let himself be caught and got his just deserts. Knowing his master, I’d say that Clamahoc got off lightly.’

The servant groaned in agony on the ground. Drogo took pity on him. ‘He needs a doctor, my lord.’

‘Not at my expense!’

‘Those wounds need to be dressed.’

‘Don’t look to me for sympathy, Drogo. You may feel sorry for the wretch but he’s little short of a traitor to me. He betrayed us. Not only have we lost the advantage we had over the lord Richard, he’ll want his revenge. And there’ll be nobody to warn us when he’s coming next time.’ He kicked the servant hard and produced another cry of distress. ‘Get rid of him.’

‘Can’t he stay here until he recovers?’

‘No!’

‘But he’s in no fit state to travel.’

‘That’s not my problem,’ said Livarot coldly. ‘Get rid of him.’ After kicking the wounded man again, he marched out of the stable.

Anxious to hear their news, Gervase Bret was waiting for them in the bailey when they returned late that afternoon. Ralph Delchard and Eustace Coureton dismounted from their horses and removed their iron helms. Both were perspiring freely and their tunics were covered in dust. Their horses were led away by ostlers.

‘Well?’ asked Gervase. ‘Did you find Jocelyn Vavasour?’

‘Unfortunately, no,’ said Ralph.

‘Oh.’

‘What we found instead was Jocelyn the Anchorite. He’s turned his back on everything he stood for and vowed to pass a contemplative life among the birds. He lives in the remotest part of the marshes.’

‘I admire the man,’ said Coureton. ‘What he’s done shows rare courage.’

‘Courage or stupidity?’

‘A little of both, perhaps, but there’s a fine line to be drawn between the two. Be honest, Ralph. Both of us have done impulsive things in battle that were afterwards viewed as acts of bravery. Had they failed, we’d have been condemned for our stupidity.’

‘The lord Jocelyn’s case is surely different,’ said Gervase. ‘What he’s done is no sudden or impulsive move. He must have brooded on it for a long time.’

‘Months, by the sound of it, Gervase.’

‘Then he’s shown the courage of his convictions. There’s no folly involved. Did he seem unhappy or rueful?’

‘Quite the opposite. He was at ease with himself.’

Ralph scratched an itch on his neck. ‘That’s more than I am,’ he complained. ‘This is no weather for a hauberk. I was almost roasted alive. Come with us, Gervase. I need to change. We’ll talk on the way.’

The three of them walked in the direction of the keep, Gervase between his two colleagues. Holding back his own news, he poured out a steady stream of questions.

‘Was the journey worthwhile?’ he said.

‘Yes,’ said Ralph. ‘It opened our eyes.’

‘In what way?’

‘Jocelyn the Anchorite told us all sorts of interesting things.’

‘About whom?’

‘Almost everyone involved in this inquiry,’ said Coureton. ‘But principally about the lady Adelaide. She’s an intriguing woman.’

‘Alys and Golde discovered a few things about her themselves.’

‘I was hoping they would,’ said Ralph. ‘We must compare our findings.’

‘Was the lord Jocelyn upset to hear about the theft from the abbey?’ said Gervase.

‘Horrified, but glad to be made aware of the crime.’

‘I had a feeling that he might be.’

‘It was the one thing that could have got him out of there, Gervase.’

‘Out of where?’

‘His lonely hut in the marshes,’ explained Ralph, as they ascended the rough timber steps to the keep. ‘He wants to join in the hunt. He came with us.’

‘Then where is he?’

‘We dropped him off on the way back at the house of some friends.’

‘Yes,’ added Coureton. ‘We offered to wait for him but he insisted on travelling alone. He was hoping to borrow a horse from his friends.’

‘Only a horse?’

‘What do you mean, Gervase?’

‘Well, I know that he’s an anchorite who yearns for solitude, but it’s dangerous to ride alone through open country. Might he not also want to borrow some weapons?’

Jocelyn Vavasour made good speed. Unencumbered by armour and riding a fresh horse, he rode south by a different route taken by the two commissioners who had visited him, eager to act on his own without help or supervision. The theft of the holy elephants had stung him badly and spurred him to leave the hut on the marshes where he led his life of self-denial. Since he had brought the gift from Rome in the first place, he felt it his duty to reclaim it on behalf of the abbey and, though he had given Ralph Delchard and Eustace Coureton some guidance, he had not told them everything that might help them. There were lines of inquiry that he wanted to reserve for himself. Riding at a canter throughout the afternoon, he reflected on the details of the theft again, mortified that the treasure he had bestowed on the abbey of St Benet had led to a cruel murder.

His mind had been eased by his penitent existence but the instincts of a soldier had not entirely deserted him. When he saw a stand of oak trees ahead of him, he knew that it would be an inviting place for an ambush and remained vigilant. His alertness saved him. Three men awaited the traveller, lurking in the shadows and seeing a lone rider as easy prey. Though the unkempt stranger did not look as if he would be carrying much money, he sat astride a fine horse that would fetch a good price. They took up their positions. As the anchorite plunged in under the overhanging branches, he found his way blocked by a fallen tree that had been dragged across the track. He slowed his horse to a trot. The robbers pounced at once. One man grabbed the reins of the horse, the second threatened the rider with a dagger and the third tried to haul him from the saddle.

Vavasour reacted violently. Kicking away the man who tried to pull him off, he swung his horse sharply round so that its rump knocked the man with the dagger hard and sent him rolling into the undergrowth. When he saw his confederates lying dazed on the ground, the man holding the reins let go and took flight. Vavasour went after him, overhauling him quickly and delivering a kick to the back of his neck that sent him somersaulting over the grass. He brought his horse to a halt and leaped down from the saddle to run back to the man. Shaken by his fall, the latter hauled himself up and pulled out his dagger to thrust at Vavasour, but the weapon was instantly twisted from his grasp and tossed harmlessly into a ditch. When the man tried to escape, he was held by the shoulders. The anchorite pulled him close and spoke with controlled anger.

‘You’ve committed a sin, my friend,’ he said. ‘Ask for forgiveness.’

‘Who are you?’

‘Someone who bears his own burden of sin.’

The other was aghast. ‘But you’ve no weapon to defend yourself.’

Vavasour took him by the scruff of his neck and pitched him back down the track. ‘I don’t need one when I have God to do that for me,’ he said.

A combination of cold water on his face and a warm welcome from his wife helped to revive Ralph Delchard after his long ride. When he joined Gervase Bret in the hall for some refreshment, he was wearing a clean tunic and a bright smile. The two men settled down opposite each other at the table and picked at the food set out for them.

‘Golde has just told me about her visit this morning,’ said Ralph. ‘She felt that the lady Adelaide only wanted them there as a means of checking up on us.’

‘Alys was of the same mind.’

‘Perhaps it’s time that one of us went calling, Gervase.’

‘I think that you’re the more suited to that task,’ said the other with light irony. ‘You and the lady Adelaide are already acquainted to some degree. Besides,’ he went on, reaching for his mug of ale, ‘I want to pay my respects elsewhere.’

‘To whom?’

‘Olova.’

‘But you’ve already spoken to her.’

‘I know, Ralph, but the circumstances were wrong. A second visit will yield much more, I’m certain. Did Golde mention it to you?’

‘No. Why should she?’

‘Because I’d like to take her with me.’

When he explained his reasons for wanting to do so, Ralph gave his approval at once. Ordinarily, he tried not to involve his wife in work that befell him in the course of an assignment, but he felt that this was a special case.

‘Golde’s father was a Saxon thegn,’ he said. ‘She’ll be able to talk to this woman on her own terms. In fact, she may get more out of her than you could, Gervase.’

‘No question of that.’

‘Then it’s settled. As long as you take a sizeable escort.’

‘I will, Ralph, though I won’t ride up to Olova’s house with them this time. But tell me more about your encounter with the anchorite. What sort of man is he?’

‘A holy fool.’

‘Did he explain why he had renounced all his possessions?’

‘Yes,’ said Ralph, munching a piece of bread. ‘Eustace pressed him on that point. I think that the solitary life has a sneaking attraction for our colleague. He could quote Horace at the birds all day long. Though I doubt that he’d have the same skill as a woodcarver.’

‘Woodcarver?’

Ralph explained that they had seen wooden replicas of the two elephants that had been stolen from the abbey. He also gave a fuller account of his conversation with the anchorite and speculated on where the man would begin his own search for the stolen property. Gervase waited until he had heard every detail.

‘Now I can tell you what I found out,’ he said with quiet excitement.

‘How was the lord Richard?’

‘Less than welcoming until I introduced Brother Daniel. When he realised that I’d brought the man who actually discovered the corpse of his steward, he showed much more interest. He even managed to display a muted affection for Hermer.’

‘That’s more than anyone else seems to do, Gervase.’

‘I know.’

‘Did you challenge the lord Richard about the theft from the abbey?’ ‘I was more tactful than that. He denied that his gold elephants were the same ones that had been taken but he obviously knew that they were. He was even obliging enough to tell us who stole them for him.’

‘Starculf.’

‘That was a false name, given to mislead them at the abbey. When he gave us a description of Starculf, I knew that it couldn’t possibly have been him.

‘Then who was it?’

‘Who else?’ said the other. ‘Hermer.’

Ralph was astonished. ‘Are you sure?’

‘More or less. The description you got from the sacristan certainly fits him. And what better guise for Hermer to take on than that of a man he disliked enough to have dismissed? When the theft was uncovered, suspicion naturally fell on Starculf.’

‘A clever ruse, Gervase.’

‘But an expensive one. It cost Hermer his life.’

‘You think that was the motive for his murder?’

‘I believe that the theft of those elephants was instrumental in bringing it about,’ said Gervase, piecing it together in his mind. ‘Someone wanted them enough to kill for them. Who knew that they’d gone astray?’

‘Only the monks in the abbey. The crime wasn’t reported.’

‘I can’t believe that a Benedictine would commit a murder. In any case, the only reason that a monk would reclaim those elephants would be in order to restore them to the abbey. What we’re looking for is someone who’s outraged enough by the theft to take revenge on the thief, even to the extent of cutting off the hands that actually stole those holy objects. And yet,’ he continued, drinking some ale, ‘greedy enough to hold on to the booty himself. In short, we’re looking for a human contradiction, Ralph.’

‘A monk with a streak of wickedness in him?’

‘A killer with a keen moral sense.’

‘Where’s the morality in murder?’

‘He may have seen it as an act of divine retribution.’

‘Are you saying that God instructed him to kill and mutilate Hermer?’

‘No, Ralph. I’m just wondering if the man we’re after confuses good and evil so much that he’s unable to tell the difference between them. In meting out punishment for one crime, he doesn’t accept that he’s committing an even more heinous one. By all accounts,’ added Gervase, ‘Hermer wasn’t a weak man. In order to overpower him, his attacker would have had to be strong and trained to fight.’

‘A soldier?’

‘With a warped sense of right and wrong.’

Ralph sighed. ‘There are plenty of those to choose from, Gervase. God knows, I’ve met enough of them in my time and so have you. Where do we begin?’

‘Let’s consult with the lord sheriff first. This is, after all, his investigation.’

‘But it has such a direct bearing on the work that brought us here.’

‘We still need his permission before we take independent action,’ said Gervase. ‘I can’t see any reason why he’ll object to my speaking with Olova once more and he can hardly stop you from paying a visit to the lord Richard.’

‘I’m looking forward to that encounter. I’ve a complaint to make.’

‘About what?’

‘The way he barged into the hall the other night when I was in the middle of eating. It gave me indigestion, Gervase. And it upset the ladies. Yes,’ he said with feeling. ‘A meeting between Ralph Delchard and Richard de Fontenel is long overdue.’

Judicael the Goldsmith was scrutinising a gold ring when the customer came into his shop. As soon as he saw who his visitor was, he jumped to his feet and gave an obedient smile, flapping his hands about and emitting a mirthless laugh.

‘Good day, my lord.’

‘Good day to you,’ grunted the other.

‘What can I do for you?’

‘First of all, you can tell me exactly what you told him.’

‘Who, my lord?’

‘The man who came asking after a pair of gold elephants.’

Judicael took a step backwards and ran his tongue slowly over dry lips. Richard de Fontenel was glowering at him with cold hostility and he needed to appease him at once. The man was pulsing with impatience.

‘His name is Ralph Delchard, my lord,’ he said, ‘and he’s a royal commissioner, lately arrived in Norwich in connection with the Great Survey that’s been set in motion.’

‘I know all about that,’ said the other irritably. ‘Just tell me what happened, man. And don’t you dare leave anything out, or you’ll soon regret it.’

Judicael cringed in fear. ‘Yes, my lord.’

In a quavering voice, he recounted all that had passed between himself and Ralph Delchard, hoping to mollify his companion but only succeeding in deepening the man’s frown. Richard de Fontenel did not like what he heard. When the goldsmith finished, his visitor leaned in close to him.

‘Nobody else must know what I’m about to say to you, Judicael.’

‘I understand, my lord.’

‘As far as you’re concerned, I never even came into your shop.’

‘No, my lord.’

‘If one word of this conversation ever gets out,’ said the other, darkly, ‘I’ll come looking for you in person. Do you hear? Ralph Delchard and the other commissioners are only in Norwich for a short while. When they leave, I’ll still be here.’

Mouth agape, Judicael nodded obligingly. ‘Yes, my lord.’

‘Who was the man who first told you of those elephants?’

‘His name is Heinfrid. He’s a goldsmith from Thetford.’

‘And he actually visited the abbey of St Benet?’

‘Yes, my lord. Heinfrid was invited to take on a commission by the abbot. He has a good reputation. Bishop William has employed him before now.’

‘So this Heinfrid was able to give you a good description of those elephants?’

‘As exact as only a craftsman could give.’

‘What was your reaction?’

‘Curiosity, my lord. Followed by a natural envy.’

‘Did you wish that you’d created such beautiful objects?’

‘Yes, I did. Very much so.’

‘Then you may have your opportunity,’ said de Fontenel. ‘How long would it take you to make something very similar to the elephants described by your friend?’

‘It’s not a question of time but of ability, my lord. I’d be unequal to the task.’

‘Nonsense!’

‘I would. I have great skills but they’re no match for a Venetian goldsmith. The only man who could even begin to design what you want is Heinfrid. After all, he’s seen and held the objects. Why not approach Heinfrid, my lord?’

‘Because I want you to have the commission.’

‘Heinfrid is the better man.’

‘He’s also worked for Bishop William and been employed by the abbey. I want nobody with those connections,’ said the other, firmly. ‘I need someone I can trust, Judicael. Someone who’ll work in secret and do exactly what I want.’ He gave him a conciliatory smile. ‘Set your price. It’ll be paid in advance.’

The goldsmith was tempted. Rubbing his hands together, he took a moment to examine the implications. Refusal of the commission would be dangerous, yet acceptance also brought hazards. He feared his customer’s reaction if the work were not exactly to his taste and specification. Greed, however, slowly got the better of apprehension.

‘I’d have to speak to Heinfrid first, my lord,’ he said.

‘As long as you don’t tell him what you’ve been asked to do.’

‘Oh, no. But he can help me. Perhaps even provide a drawing.’

‘Excellent!’

‘Only when I see that,’ the goldsmith explained, ‘can I tell you how long it will take and how much it will cost. When do you want the pieces, my lord?’

‘As soon as possible!’

‘And I’m to work on them in secret?’

‘Discretion is absolutely vital.’

Judicael gave a nervous laugh. ‘I think I know why,’ he said, grinning. ‘It’s the reason you don’t want Heinfrid of Thetford to have the commission, isn’t it? He might spoil the surprise.’

‘What are you burbling about, man?’

‘Those gold elephants, my lord. You want to present them to the abbey, don’t you?’

Richard de Fontenel’s expression made him back away.

Anxious to make up lost ground, Drogo went off to find his master as soon as he had something to report. Mauger Livarot was at the rear of the house, testing a new shield he had had made, engaging in mock combat with one of his men and fending off his adversary’s sword with deft use of the shield. The steward waited until the clang of iron ceased and the two men stepped apart. He wished that he had not come upon his master when the latter had a weapon in his hand. After dismissing his man-at-arms with a rod, Livarot put down the shield and turned to his steward.

‘I hope you’ve brought no more bad tidings,’ he said.

‘No, my lord.’

‘Next time one of your spies is caught, leave him to rot where he lies.’

‘Yes, my lord. I’m sorry that I brought Clamahoc back here.’

‘What have you done with the man?’

‘Sent him on his way with food and a little money.’

‘More fool you!’ sneered the other. ‘You’re too soft-hearted, Drogo.’

‘That’s not a complaint you’ll be called on to make again,’ promised the steward. ‘But I’ve other news. I spoke to the man who trailed the two commissioners. They tracked down Jocelyn Vavasour somewhere near the coast.’

‘Why?’

‘That I can’t say, my lord. It was impossible to get close enough to overhear them. But the visit had an unexpected result, it seems.’

‘Unexpected?’

‘Yes, my lord,’ said Drogo. ‘The lord Jocelyn left with them.’

‘But he vowed to live as an anchorite.’

‘Something they told him made him abandon his hermetic life for a while.’

‘We must find out what it was, Drogo.’

‘They’ll be dining at the castle this evening. I’ve a man there who might overhear what we need to know. He’s among those who’ll be serving the guests.’

‘Is the lord Jocelyn at the castle as well?’

‘Apparently not,’ said the other. ‘The commissioners returned without him. They parted company with the anchorite on the way.’

‘Where did he go?’

‘We don’t know as yet.’

‘What of the lord sheriff?’ asked Livarot, sheathing his sword.

‘He and his men haven’t ridden into the city yet. As soon as they do, I’ll have a report on where they went and what they found. Meanwhile,’ said Drogo, allowing himself a smirk of self-congratulation, ‘I’ve search parties of our own in action. They, too, should be bringing back news before long.’

‘What I want brought back to me is two gold elephants.’

‘You’ll have them, my lord.’

‘I hope so,’ said Livarot. ‘I need them to honour a promise I gave once again this afternoon. I don’t care to disappoint a lady, Drogo. That means we must recover the missing animals before anyone else does. There are too many hounds in this chase — the lord sheriff, his deputy, royal commissioners, Richard de Fontenel — and my fear is that one of them may run the elephants to ground before us. That mustn’t happen!’

‘We’re doing all we can.’

‘At all events, they must never be returned to the lord Richard. Take note of that. My plans will be ruined if they are. They’re the key to everything.’

‘I understand that, my lord.’

‘Good.’ He cleared his throat and spat on the ground. ‘It’s such a pity that Clamahoc was caught. We need an eye on the lord Richard.’

‘We still have one,’ said Drogo, ready to part with what he thought would be the most intriguing piece of information. ‘There’s a lorimer in the main street below the castle whom I pay to watch who comes and goes. He can be useful at times. While he makes spurs for his customers, he keeps the whole street under surveillance. This afternoon, he saw someone call at a shop not far from his own.’

‘Who was it?’

‘Richard de Fontenel.’

‘What was he doing in Norwich?’

‘Visiting a goldsmith.’

Mauger Livarot raised his eyebrows in surprise. The steward gave a snigger.

‘I thought you’d be interested to hear that, my lord,’ he said.

Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret were still in the hall when Eustace Coureton joined them. Having taken off his armour, he now wore a fresh tunic and mantle. Though he had a contented smile, he moved rather stiffly and was grateful to lower himself on to a bench near his colleagues.

‘My old bones are starting to creak,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘I had difficulty climbing the stairs to my chamber.’

‘Have you been asleep?’ asked Ralph.

‘No, I refreshed myself by reading for a little while.’

‘Horace, no doubt.’

‘Cicero, actually. A more cunning politician.’

‘Too cunning for his own good in the end,’ noted Gervase. ‘He was executed.’

‘Not before he wrote some sublime speeches and essays.’

‘Spare us any quotations from them,’ said Ralph, holding up his hands. ‘Gervase and I have been comparing what each of us found out today. It’s mystifying to me.’

‘What is?’ asked Coureton.

‘The more information we gather, the further away we seem from the man we’re after. As for those tiny elephants, we might as well search for an ant in a cornfield. They’re so easy to conceal. They could be anywhere.’

‘I was musing on them as well, Ralph. We came to Norwich to settle a dispute between two human elephants. At least, that’s how Richard de Fontenel and Mauger Livarot seem to me. Big, strong, ungainly creatures who trample everyone in their way and who bellow aloud while they’re doing so. Instead of which,’ he said, resignedly, ‘we’re spending our time in pursuit of two small fourfooted elephants and I’m coming to the view that it might be safest for everyone if they’re never found.’

‘Why do you say that?’ asked Gervase.

‘I’ll tell you later. I don’t wish to upset Ralph.’

‘With what?’

‘Another Latin quotation.’

‘Oh, go on,’ sighed Ralph. ‘I’ll steel myself to bear it.’

‘Aurum irrepertum et sic melius situm.’

‘Cicero?’

‘Horace.’

‘I feared that it might be. Will someone tell me what it means?’

‘I’ll try,’ said Gervase. ‘My translation would be, “Gold undiscovered, and all the better for being so.” Is that close enough, my lord?’

‘I can’t fault it,’ said Coureton. ‘I know that those elephants were blessed by the Pope and brought all the way from Rome but they’re leaving havoc in their wake. Our friend, the anchorite, must be regretting he ever bought them.’

‘They’re holy treasures.’

‘That hasn’t stopped them being stolen.’

‘Twice, my lord. First from the abbey and then from the lord Richard.’

‘Did you tell him they’d have to be returned to Abbot Alfwold?’

‘Yes,’ said Gervase. ‘A look of panic came into his eyes. There’s no way that he can use them as a wedding gift now. Indeed, if we can prove that he ordered them to be stolen, he won’t be in a position to marry anyone.’

Gervase went on to tell Coureton about his earlier visit, abbreviating detail that Ralph had already heard. The old soldier heard it all with philosophical calm. The three men were discussing the implications of what they had learned when the door opened and Roger Bigot came in. Hot, dusty and tired from several hours in the saddle, he gave them a weary greeting and stood with his hands on his hips.

‘I hope that your day has been more fruitful than ours,’ he said.

‘Very fruitful, my lord sheriff,’ said Ralph, cheerily. ‘We not only found Jocelyn the Anchorite, we spurred him into joining the search for those elephants.’

‘It was Gervase who made the most crucial discovery,’ said Coureton. ‘When he called on the lord Richard, he found out who stole the objects from the abbey.’

Bigot was startled. ‘The lord Richard confessed?’

‘On the contrary,’ explained Gervase. ‘He swore that he bought the wedding gift from a merchant in France. But he unwittingly gave me the name I wanted. It wasn’t Starculf who spent the night at the abbey and made off with their treasures.’

‘Then who was it?’

‘Hermer.’

‘He used a false name?’

‘Yes, my lord sheriff. So that no trail would lead to his master. I don’t think that Starculf went anywhere near the abbey of St Benet.’

‘He did, Master Bret. That’s the one thing we did learn.’

‘Oh?’

‘Several sightings have been made of him in the county. Starculf is here without any doubt. I feel it,’ he said, ruefully. ‘Someone is hiding him.’