'Aye, sir.' There was still something withdrawn about his tone. A shaft of pain ran through my hump as I heaved myself up; I could not go on like this.
'No more noises this morning?' I asked. I had not intended to bait him, but it was coming to annoy me the way my words seemed to slide from him like water from a duck.
'As a matter of fact, I did think I heard something a few minutes ago,' he said coldly. 'It's gone now.'
'I have been thinking on what Jerome said yesterday. You know he is mad. It is possible he himself believes the stories he told us, and that that made them sound — credible.'
Mark met my gaze. 'I am not sure he is mad at all, sir. Only in great agony of soul.'
I had hoped Mark would accept my explanation; though I did not realize it then, I needed reassurance.
'Well, one way or the other,' I said sharply, 'what he says had no bearing on Singleton's death. It may even have been smoke to hide something he does know. And now we must press on.'
'Yes, sir.'
By the time I was shaved and dressed Mark had gone down the hall to breakfast. As I approached the kitchen, I heard his voice and Alice's.
'He should not make you labour so,' Mark was saying.
'It makes me strong,' Alice replied in a voice lighter than any I had heard her use. 'I will have arms thick and strong as yours one day.'
'That would be meet for no lady.'
Feeling a pang of jealousy, I coughed and went in. Mark was at table, smiling at Alice as she manoeuvred stone urns into a row. They did indeed look heavy.
'Good morning. Mark, would you take those letters to the abbot's house? Tell him I will keep the deeds for now.'
'Of course.' He left me with Alice, who set bread and cheese on the table. She seemed in better spirits this morning and made no reference to our conversation the night before, asking me only if I fared well that morning. I was a little disappointed at the formality of the question, for her words the evening before had gladdened my heart, although I was glad I had withdrawn my hand; there were enough complications here.
Brother Guy came in. 'Old Brother August needs his pan, Alice.'
'At once.' She curtsied and went out. Outside, the bells began tolling loudly. They seemed to echo round my skull.
'Commissioner Singleton's funeral will be in half an hour.'
'Brother Guy,' I said, suddenly awkward, 'may I consult with you, professionally?'
'Of course. Any assistance I can give.'
'I am having trouble with my back. Since the long ride here it pains me where — where it protrudes.'
'Would you like me to look?'
I took a long, deep breath. I hated the thought of a stranger seeing my deformity, but I had been suffering ever since the journey from London and was starting to become anxious some lasting damage might have been done. 'Very well,' I said, and began to remove my doublet.
Brother Guy went behind me and I felt cool fingers on my back, probing the knotted muscles. He grunted.
'Well?' I asked anxiously.
'Your muscles have gone into a spasm. They are very knotted. But I can see no damage to your spine. With time and rest your back should ease.' He stepped round and studied my face with a cool professional gaze as I dressed again.
'Does your back often give you much pain?'
'Sometimes,' I said shortly. 'But there is little to be done about it.'
'You are under much strain. That never helps.'
I grunted. 'I have not slept well since coming here. But who is to wonder at that?'
His large brown eyes studied my face. 'Were you well before?'
'My dominant humour is melancholy. These last few months I have felt it growing, I fear the balance of my humours is becoming undermined.'
He nodded. 'I think you have an overheated mind, not surprising after what you have witnessed here.'
I was silent a moment. 'I cannot help feeling responsible for that boy's death.' I had not meant to confide in him so, but Brother Guy had a way of drawing one out despite oneself.
'If anyone is responsible it is I. He was poisoned while under my care.'