The bursar spread his arms. 'How c-could there be, w-when he helped himself? I am s-sorry—'
I nodded. 'All is in order now, in the counting house.
'Thank the Lord.'
I stood up. 'Very well. Please have all the account books for the last twelve months brought to my room in the infirmary. Oh, and those from the departments as well.'
'All the books?' The bursar could not have looked more aghast had I ordered him to remove his habit and parade naked in the snow. 'That would be very disruptive, it would bring the work of the counting house to a halt—'
'It will only be for one night. Maybe two.'
He seemed set to argue further, but Abbot Fabian interjected.
'We must co-operate, Edwig. The books will be brought to you as soon as they can be fetched, Commissioner.'
'I am obliged. Now, my lord Abbot, last night I visited that unfortunate novice. Young Whelplay.'
The abbot nodded seriously. 'Yes. Brother Edwig and I will be visiting him later.'
'I have the m-month's dole accounts to check,' the bursar muttered.
'Nevertheless, as my most senior official after Prior Mortimus, you must accompany me.' He sighed. 'As a complaint has been made by Brother
Guy—'
'A serious complaint,' I said. 'It appears the boy might have died—'
Abbot Fabian raised a hand. 'Rest assured, I shall investigate the matter fully.'
'Might I ask, my lord, what exactly is the boy supposed to have done, to earn such punishment?'
The abbot's shoulders set with tension. 'To be frank, Master Shardlake—'
'Yes, frankness, please—'
'The boy does not like the new ways. The preaching in English. He is much devoted to the Latin Mass, and the chant. He fears the chant will be put in English—'
'An unusual concern for one so young.'
'He is very musical, he assists Brother Gabriel with his service books. He is gifted, but has opinions beyond his station. He spoke out in Chapter, although as a novice he should not—'
'Not treasonable words, I hope, like Brother Jerome?'
'None of my monks, sir, no one, would speak treasonable words,' the abbot said earnestly. 'And Brother Jerome is not part of our community.'
'Very well. So Simon Whelplay was set to work in the stables, put on bread and water. That seems harsh.'
The abbot reddened. 'It was not his only failing.'
I thought a moment. 'He assists Brother Gabriel, you said. I understand Brother Gabriel has a certain history?'
The abbot fiddled nervously with the sleeve of his habit. 'Simon Whelplay did speak in confession of — certain carnal lusts. Towards Brother Gabriel. But sins of thought, sir, only thought. Brother Gabriel did not even know. He has been pure since the — the trouble two years ago. Prior Mortimus keeps a close eye, a very close eye, on such matters.'
'You have no novice master, do you? Too few vocations.'
'Numbers in all the houses have been falling for generations, since the Great Pestilence,' the abbot said in tones of gentle reasonableness. 'But with a revived religious life under the king's guidance, perhaps now our houses will be revitalized, more will choose the life—'
I wondered if he could really believe that, be so blind to the signs. The pleading note in his voice made me realize he could; he really thought the monasteries could survive. I glanced at the bursar; he had taken a paper from his desk and was studying it, divorcing himself from the conversation.
'Who knows what the future may bring?' I turned to the door. 'I am obliged to you, gentlemen. Now I must brave the elements again, to see the church — and Brother Gabriel.' I left the abbot looking after me anxiously, while the bursar examined his double-entries.
===OO=OOO=OO===