By THE TIME we arrived back at Chancery Lane the sun was low. I told Joan to fetch us some food In my parlour I dropped grate, fully into my armchair; Barak collected some cushions together and sprawled inelegantly on the floor.
‘Well, where are we now?’ he asked. ‘This day’s nearly done. Then only ten more.’
‘We’ve had more new leads than answers so far. But that’s what I’d expect at the start of an investigation as complicated as this. We must visit that whore. And I think the goodwife is still holding something back. Is your man Smith staying with her?’
‘Till otherwise instructed.’ He retrieved his orange and sucked it noisily. ‘I told you she was a nasty old crow.’
‘It’s something to do with the apparatus. I don’t think they kept it in the house.’
‘Then where?’
‘I don’t know. Some warehouse? But there was nothing about any other property among their papers.’
‘You looked?’
‘Yes.’
I took the bottle from my pocket and handed it carefully to Barak. ‘There was a pool of this stuff on the floor. It’s almost colourless, has no smell, but if you taste it you get a kick like a mule.’
He unstoppered the bottle and sniffed the contents carefully, then put a little on his fingers. He touched it to his tongue and made a grimace, as I had. ‘Jesu, you’re right!’ he said. ‘It’s not Greek Fire, though. I told you, that had a fearsome stink.’
I took the bottle back, stoppered it and shook it gently, watching the colourless liquid swirl within. ‘I want to take this to Guy.’
‘So long as you’re careful what you tell him.’
‘God’s wounds, how many times do I have to tell you I will be?’
‘I’ll come with you.’
‘As you will.’
‘What exactly did you get out of the two lawyers?’
‘Marchamount and Bealknap both insist they were just middlemen. I’m not sure about Bealknap. He’s involved with Richard Rich in some way, though I don’t know whether it relates to Greek Fire. Incidentally, he has dealings with foreign merchants, says he represents them in negotiations with the Custom House. I saw some papers on his desk. Lord Cromwell will have access to the records of trade. Could someone in his office check them? I’ve too little time.’
Barak nodded. ‘I’ll send a note. I’ve been trying to remember where I’ve seen that arsehole Bealknap’s face before, but it hasn’t come to me. It was a long time ago, I’m sure.’
There was a knock and Joan entered with a tray. She clucked at the dusty state of our clothes and I asked her to lay out new ones upstairs. I winced at a spasm from my back as I bent to pour some beer.
‘You shouldn’t overtire yourself, sir,’ she said.
‘I’ll be all right when I’ve had some rest.’
As she left us, we both took welcome draughts of beer.
‘The Duke of Norfolk was in a confident mood today,’ I said. ‘Baiting reformers at the lunch. A friend of mine baited him back, he’ll be in trouble now.’
‘I thought lawyers were all reformers.’
‘Not all. And they’ll turn to follow the wind, just like everyone else in London, if Cromwell falls. From fear and hope of advancement.’
‘We’ve so little time,’ Barak said. ‘Are you sure we need to go to Barty’s with that librarian tomorrow? I agree you need to talk to him, but you could see him at his chantry.’
‘No. I need to see the roots of this, to go back to where it all started. Tomorrow we’ll go to Barty’s, then to see Guy and to the whorehouse in Southwark to see if that girl has anything to say. I’ve my interview with the Wentworths as well.’ I sighed.
‘Ten days.’ He shook his head.
‘Barak,’ I said, ‘I may be a melancholy man, but you have all the marks of a sanguine humour. You would rush at things too much if it was left to you.’
‘We need this finished. And don’t forget how we were followed yesterday,’ he added gloomily. ‘We might be in danger too.’
‘I know that only too well.’ I stood up. ‘And now I am going to look at more of those old papers.’
I left him and went up to my bedroom, reflecting how I had felt afraid when I walked alone to the Inn earlier. I had to admit that when I was out I felt safer with Barak, the man of the streets, around. But I wished I did not have the necessity.
Chapter Fourteen