'How long was she with you?'
'Not long, a few months. She was hard-working enough, but I found her withdrawn, a little surly. I believe she trusted Brother Alexander, but no one else. I was preoccupied with putting the infirmary in order; he had left it in a poor state. I took less notice of her than I should.'
'Did she say anything about unwanted attentions from the monks?'
He frowned. 'No. But one day I came in and found her struggling with one of the brethren, in the corridor outside her door. She had the room Alice occupies now, at the end of the corridor. He was trying to embrace her, making lewd remarks.'
'Who was it?'
'Brother Luke, the launderer's assistant. I sent him away and complained to the abbot, though Orphan did not want trouble made. Abbot Fabian said he would speak to Luke. He told me it was not the first time. After that Orphan seemed more friendly, though she still spoke little. Then, not long after, she vanished.'
'No one else troubled her that you know of?'
'Not that I saw. But, as I say, she did not confide in me.' He smiled sadly. 'I don't think she ever became used to my strange colouring. Not surprising, I suppose, for a girl from a small town.'
'And afterwards Alice came.'
'Yes, and I resolved to win her trust from the beginning. That, at least, I believe I have done.'
'You are treating Brother Jerome. What would you say is the state of his mind?'
He looked at me carefully. 'As well as a man can be who, for good or ill, devoted his life to demanding ideals and a harsh way of life, and then was tortured into a betrayal of them. His mind is sore troubled, but he is not mad, if that is what you mean.'
'Well, it seems madness to me further to weaken a wasted body by wearing a hair shirt. Tell me, does he ever talk of his time in the Tower?'
'No. Never. But he was grievously racked. That I can swear to.'
'He told me about that. More too, but I think it was just tales to vex me.' Brother Guy did not respond. I stood up and as I did so a spasm ran through my back. I winced, grasping the table.
'What is the matter?'
I took deep breaths. 'I twisted something as I rose. I will suffer for days now.' I gave him a bitter smile. 'You and I both know what it is like to have people stare at us as oddities, eh, Brother? But at least your appearance is a natural phenomenon, it does not cause you pain. And there is a land where it is normal.'
===OO=OOO=OO===
Mark had changed into his spare shirt and doublet and was sitting on my bed. His face looked drawn.
'Are you all right?' I asked gruffly.
He nodded. 'Yes, sir. That poor creature—'
'I know. I am sorry you were put through that. It was a fearful shock. I had no idea—'
'No. Nobody could have known—'
'Mark, we need to put our — differences — aside. We have one aim in common, I think. To find the cruel murderer at large in this place.'
He stared at me. 'Of course, sir. How could you ever doubt that?'
'I don't, I don't. Listen, I have been thinking. The only reason Gabriel's habit could have been thrown in the pond was because it was soaked in blood. The murderer wore it to kill Singleton, then threw it in there with the sword.'
'Yes. But — Brother Gabriel, the killer?' He shook his head.
'Why not? Why shouldn't he be? I thought you despised him as a pederast?'
'I do.' He thought a moment. 'But — I cannot see him as a murderer. He seems a man of — strong affections, if you can call them that, but not one who would willingly do harm. Or be bold enough to strike.'
'Oh, he can be bold enough when he wants. And he has very strong affections. Violently strong. And where there are violent affections there may perhaps be violent hatreds too.'