‘Damnata,’ Barak said. ‘That means damned, condemned.’
‘It’s from Lucan,’ I said. ‘She had a volume of his in her room. ‘Furious by daylight, having been condemned.’ It refers to some Roman warriors who knew they were about to lose a battle and killed themselves rather than be condemned to defeat.’
Elizabeth sat back against the wall. The effort of writing seemed to have tired her, but her eyes darted between the three of us.
‘What does it mean?’ Joseph asked.
‘I think she means she would rather die by the press than be humiliated by going through a trial she would inevitably lose.’
Barak nodded. ‘That’s why she won’t speak. But that’s silly, girl. You’ll lose the chance to tell your story, maybe get off’
‘So if you were to plead, Elizabeth,’ I said slowly, ‘you would plead not guilty.’
‘I knew it,’ Joseph said. He wrung his hands. ‘Then tell us what happened, Lizzy. Don’t torment us with riddles, it’s cruel!’ It was the first time he had lost patience with her. I could not blame him. For answer Elizabeth only looked down at the words she had written. She shook her head very slightly.
I thought a moment, then bent closer to her, wincing as my knees cracked. ‘I have been to your uncle Edwin’s house, Elizabeth. I have spoken to your uncle and your grandmother, your cousins and the steward.’ I was watching to see if her look changed at the mention of any of those names, but she just continued staring angrily. ‘They all say you must be guilty.’ At that a bitter smile played round the corner of her mouth, the movement causing blood to seep from her cut lip. Then I leaned in close, so only she would hear, and said, ‘I think there is something down the well in the garden, where Ralph fell, that they are trying to hide.’
She shrank back, her eyes full of horror.
‘I propose to investigate it,’ I said softly. ‘And I have been told Ralph was a great worry to his mother. I will find the truth, Elizabeth.’
Then she spoke for the first time, her voice cracked from disuse. ‘If you go there, you will do naught but destroy your faith in Christ Jesus,’ she whispered. The words were followed by a fit of coughing; she doubled over, racked with it; Joseph brought a mug to her lips. She grasped it and swallowed, then sat forward, burying her head in her knees. ’
‘Lizzy!’ Joseph’s voice was trembling. ‘What did you mean? Tell us, please!’ But she would not lift her head.
I stood up. ‘I don’t think she’ll say any more. Come, let’s leave her for now.’ I looked round the Hole. There was a round depression in the filthy straw by the far wall where the old woman had lain.
‘She’ll be ill if she stays down here much longer,’ Barak observed. ‘After what she’s been used to no wonder her wits are affected.’
‘Lizzy, please tell us more!’ Joseph shouted, his control gone. ‘You are cruel, cruel! Unchristian!’
Barak gave him an exasperated look, and I put a hand on the farmer’s trembling shoulder. ‘Come, Joseph, come.’ I knocked at the door and the gaoler led us away, back to the main door. This time it was even more of a relief to be outside again.
Joseph was still agitated. ‘We can’t just leave her there, now she’s started to talk: We’ve only got eight days, Master Shardlake!’
I raised my hands. ‘I have an idea, Joseph. I can’t tell you what it is now, but I hope to find the key to this riddle soon.’
‘She has the key to the riddle, sir, Lizzy!’ He was shouting now.
‘She won’t give it to us. That’s why I’m following other channels!’
‘Other channels. Legal language. Oh, God, what did you say to her in there?’ He shook his head.
I did not want to tell him; it was better Joseph did not know I planned to break into his brother’s garden. I made my voice calm. ‘Joseph, give me till tomorrow. Trust me. And if you visit Elizabeth again, please, in Jesu’s name, do not harangue her. That will only make things worse.’
‘He’s right, you know.’ Barak said.
Joseph looked between us. ‘I haven’t any choice but to do as you say, have I? Though it’s driving me mad, sir, mad.’
We walked to the inn where we had left the horses. The way was narrow and Joseph walked a little way behind Barak and me, his shoulders slumped.
‘He’s near the end of his tether.’ I sighed. ‘But so am I.’
Barak raised his eyebrows. ‘Don’t you start playing the martyr. It’s bad enough with him and her.’
I looked at him curiously. ‘You had the measure of her in there. It was you got her to write that sentence.’
He shrugged. ‘I’ve had some experience of her way of thinking. When I ran away from home I felt all the world had turned against me. It took being arrested to bring me out of it.’
‘It hasn’t done that for her.’
He shook his head. ‘Something bad must have happened to drive her to those depths. Something the girl thinks will never be believed.’ He lowered his voice. ‘We’ll see what’s in that well tonight.’
Chapter Twenty-four