“And you wish me to provide it?” the beadle grinned.
“Aye.”
“Who is the man?”
“Thomas atte Bridge. Do you know him?”
“Him of the Weald? His brother slain in the forest?”
“The same.”
“Them of the Weald are the bishop’s men.”
“Aye. But if he takes Lord Gilbert’s game he’ll face Lord Gilbert’s justice.”
“You want me to watch the Weald as well as town after curfew?”
“Aye. Thomas atte Bridge lives in the second hut on the west side of the lane. It can be easily seen from the bridge across Shill Brook. But so will you, should you watch from the bridge. Best make your way down the stream and watch from the opposite bank. You’ll be lost in the thickets there.”
“An’ among t’nettles, too,” the beadle grimaced.
“It will be worth a few stings to you if you help me prove the fellow’s guilt.”
“And what if I prove his innocence?”
“Small chance of that, I think, for early yesterday morn, while you and others of the town lay yet in your beds, I followed the scent of roasting meat to his hut.”
John nodded in agreement. “Where would he find flesh to roast this season?”
“Aye. And the man you saw crossed the meadow from the Weald into the west wood.”
“He did,” the beadle confirmed.
“If we are alert, and do not give Thomas cause to suspect we know of his work, we will have him.”
“Be he the man who attacked you at Alvescot Churchyard, he is surely on guard already. Else why cross the meadow and lose himself in the wood rather than make his way along the road?”
“Aye, he is some worried already. But not so much that he has lost his taste for Lord Gilbert’s game, I think. And this is why we shall catch him. It may be difficult to begin a transgression. But even more difficult to abandon a sin and the reward it brings.”
“Aye,” John smiled. “If I knew of a way to put a haunch of venison on my table this eve I should be loath to give up the deed what put it there.”
“Just so. Greed has damaged many men, lords and commons. It will, soon or late, betray Thomas atte Bridge, I think.
“You need not be much entangled in this business,” I continued, “beyond observing who is about at night. Should you see Thomas atte Bridge — or any other man — set out for Alvescot and the forest to the west, send your wife next day to Wilfred, the porter. She must tell him to give me a message. She should say you are ill and cannot leave your bed to watch and warn. I will leave the castle at curfew to take your place and meet you here, before your house, to hear what you have seen.”
I am not a superstitious man, but the next day was Friday, the thirteenth day of June. I had no wish to test fate, so abjured the oaken arms of the tree along the Alvescot road where I had spent a fruitless night.
I hoped each day to receive from Wilfred the message that John Prudhomme was ill. Three days later, Monday afternoon, Wilfred stopped me as I passed the gatehouse and told me the beadle was too ill to perform his duty that evening.
“Hmmm…I will see to it myself, be his illness brief. You must open the gate and portcullis for me at midnight, when I return.”
Venus again hung over the forest, a dot of light in the darkening sunset, when I bid Wilfred good eve and set out with the ash pole for Mill Street and the town. I did not expect to need the club, but preparation is a great part of any victory. And if curious eyes should see me cross Shill Brook, they would see also the pole and be assured I had armed myself for watch and warn. They would not think a staff necessary for consulting with John Prudhomme.
I found the beadle sitting on a bench at his door. In the dark I nearly missed him, for what little light came from the new crescent moon and fading twilight left the front of his house in shadow.
“You have news for me?” I asked as the beadle stood.
“Aye…but not as you’d expect, I guess.”
“What, then?”
“Last night, when I was near finished with me rounds, I did as you said an’ walked along t’bank of Shill Brook ’til I was near opposite the hut you spoke of. ’Twas third night I did so.”
“And are there nettles there?”
“Aye,” he said ruefully, “there are.”
“What else did you find?”
“As you thought, Thomas atte Bridge left his hut last night when all was silent an’ dark.”
“And stole across the meadow to his path through the wood to the road and Alvescot,” I completed the beadle’s tale.
“Nay…went t’other way.”
“What other way?” I asked, puzzled.
“Crossed the bridge an’ went through town, quiet like. Moved from one shadow to the next. ’Twas dark last night; no moon.”
“And did he carry with him a sack?”
“Aye, he did. But odd thing is, ’twasn’t empty. Was a lump in the bottom.”
“He did not carry the sack to fetch game, but took something with him from his hut?”
“Aye, so it appeared.”
“Where did he take this stuff in his sack?”
“Went through town on the High Street an’ up Bushey Row to the lane what leads to St Andrew’s Chapel.”
“Did you follow?”
“Aye. Had t’duck into bushes more’n once when I thought he stopped and turned t’listen, to see if he was followed.”
“You think he knew he was seen?”
“Nay.”
“So in the sack he must have carried cords and sticks for new snares,” I guessed. “Did he go into the wood behind the chapel to lay them?”
“Nay. Don’t know what he could’ve been about. Didn’t leave road ’til he was past t’wood, then went through the gate an’ into t’chapel yard.”
This was a new and unforeseen thing. Then I remembered that an earlier beadle had gone down this same path some months before. And that man was surely slain by the brother of the man who now walked the lane late at night. Did they travel to the same place? For the same purpose?
“Did Thomas enter the chapel?”
“Aye, think so. Didn’t get close enough t’see, but heard hinges squeal.”
“Was he long in the chapel?”
“Nay. I thought as how he was in t’chapel I’d hurry to t’yard an’ hide behind t’wall. Maybe I’d hear ’im speak to priest. But he was out near as soon as he was in.”
“And where did he then go?”
“Back to town, same way as he come. Only thing is, I think t’sack was empty. Wasn’t enough light to see well, But t’sack is light-colored, like, so if there’s a lump in the bottom a man can see.”
“So on his way to the chapel Thomas carried a sack with something in it, but ’twas empty when he went to his home?”
“Aye. Went straight to the Weald an’ his own hut an’ shut the door. I watched from near the bridge for a while, but he must’ve gone to ’is bed. Never saw ’im again.”
“You have done well…although I admit I have no guess what it is you have discovered.”
The beadle’s thoughts must have paralleled my own. His next words spoke his suspicion and worry. “Alan was found along t’road to chapel. Did he follow another man with a sack that night, you think?”
“I thought ’twas a beast which drew him from town, when he was first found. But ’twas not. I will tell you a thing which you must tell no other, not even your wife. Not yet. Henry atte Bridge slew Alan.”
“You are sure of this?” John replied with surprise. Even in the dim starlight I saw his eyebrows rise.
“Aye. And now Henry’s brother travels the same lane in the dark of night, and the new beadle sees and follows.”
“Would Thomas do to me as Henry did to Alan?”
“He might, did he know what you have seen.”
“So I must speak of this to no one, not even my wife,” John whispered.
“Aye, until I can sort out this business you must appear ignorant of all we have spoken of this night.”
“I am no scholar,” John chuckled. “Seeming ignorant is a thing I can do well. God has granted me the skill.”
“Do not seek to learn more of Thomas atte Bridge. Complete your rounds tomorrow night as if all was as should be. We must not give Thomas cause to suspect us. I will devise some way to learn what the fellow is about.”