The Foxes of Warwick by Edward Marston

Author:Edward Marston [Marston, Edward]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General, Bright Dart
ISBN: 9780312280888
Google: jKFqxM58m8QC
Amazon: 0312280882
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2002-02-20T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Gervase Bret was in the chapel when he heard the commotion.

During his time as a novice at Eltham Abbey, the habit of prayer had been firmly inculcated in him and, though he had chosen not to take the cowl, preferring instead a secular existence which permitted such delights as marriage and freedom of movement, he remained regular in his devotions. He was not alone as he kneeled before the altar. Brother Benedict, who seemed almost to have taken up residence in the chapel since their arrival at the castle, was also there, lying prostrate on the cold paving stones in an attitude of complete abnegation. When the noise filtered in from the bailey, Gervase heard it at once but the monk seemed beyond reach, lost in communion with his Maker and impervious to any sound but that which would signal the end of the world.

When Gervase went out of the door the full clamour hit him.

The whole bailey seemed to be alive. Voices yelled, soldiers ran to and fro, horses were brought from the stables, hounds were loosed from the kennels and the castle gates were being flung wide open to allow a mass exodus. Standing in the middle of it all, imposing order on the chaos, was the tall figure of Henry Beaumont, wearing helm and hauberk and directing operations with a brandished sword. He barked commands at Richard the Hunter, who nodded obediently and ran to his horse. Gervase was baffled. Something more than a day’s hunting was afoot.

Dodging a troop of riders, he hurried across to the constable.

‘What has happened, my lord?’ he said.

‘The prisoner has escaped!’ hissed the other.

‘Boio?’

‘He got out of the dungeons in the night and made off.’

‘But how?’ said Gervase. ‘Was he not closely guarded?’

‘He should have been!’

‘And securely locked in his cell?’

‘One of the guards on duty last night saw fit to leave his post,’

growled Henry, puce with rage. ‘He will not do that again! While one guard was away the other was tricked into opening the cell door.’

‘What did Boio do?’

‘Overpowered him then left him bound and gagged.’

‘But how can that be, my lord? The prisoner was shackled.

Brother Benedict was shocked when he saw the way you had him chained up.’

‘And rightly so! He is a dangerous felon.’

‘Hobbled by those fetters, he would hardly be able to move.’

‘He had got free of them.’

‘Free?’

‘And from his manacles.’

‘Was the man’s strength so great?’

‘He did not tear his bonds asunder. A file was used.’

‘But how could he get hold of such a thing?’

‘That is what I wish to know,’ said Henry vengefully, ‘and the first person I will question is Brother Benedict.’

Gervase blenched. ‘You cannot suspect him, surely?’

‘I can and do, Master Bret.’

‘Benedict is a holy man.’

‘With foolish notions about the prisoner’s innocence. Apart from the guards he is the only person who went into that cell with Boio. The sleeves of his cowl would easily hold a file.’

‘You malign him, my lord.’

‘Who else could have helped the prisoner?’

‘I do not know.’

But even as he spoke, Gervase realised that there was another possibility.

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