К Сэнсом - Revelation

‘Those at least I can deal with. Very well, the court will set an early date for a hearing. But, Master Shardlake –’ He looked at me seriously. ‘These are deep waters. Politics and madness.’

‘I know, your honour.’

‘Tread carefully, for your client’s sake as well as your own.’

GIB WAS delighted at the result; his arrogance had gone and he was tearful with relief. He promised me undying gratitude and almost danced from the courtroom. The cases continued; it was a good day for me, I won all the cases I had listed. The court rose at four thirty, and as the day’s victors and vanquished walked away, I stood on the steps with Barak.

‘Bealknap looked sick,’ I said.

‘Sicker still after his case was thrown out.’

‘He has always been such a crafty rogue, but today he was pitiable. He will be a greater enemy than ever now.’

We looked across the quadrangle to the Painted Hall, where the Commons of Parliament were sitting. Candles had been lit, yellow flashes of light visible through the high windows. Barak grunted.

‘They say every bill the King has put before them is being passed this session.’ He spat on the ground. ‘Those members not in the King’s pocket already can be bought off with bribes and threats.’

I was silent, for I could not disagree.

‘Adam Kite’s folks will be pleased he has a hearing,’ he said.

‘Yes. Judge Ainsworth was nervous of taking on the Council, but he is an honest man. That reminds me, I did not tell you, I saw Lord Latimer’s funeral passing the day I went to the Bedlam. I saw the Lady Catherine Parr, or at the least I think it was her. She was in a big carriage.’

‘What was she like?’ Barak asked curiously.

‘Not a great beauty. But something arresting about her. I thought she looked frightened.’

‘Afraid to say yes to the King, perhaps, and afraid to say no.’

I nodded sadly, for the woman’s fear had impressed itself on me.

‘Well,’ I said. ‘I must catch a boat to Guy’s, learn what he has found. Will you go to Lincoln’s Inn and draw the orders for today’s cases? And write to the Kites, asking them to come and see me tomorrow?’

We walked back to Whitehall Stairs. A row of brightly made up whores had taken places by the gate into New Palace Yard, standing in a row to catch the eye of the MPs walking past when the house rose. As I passed two bent forward to show me ample cleavages.

‘They’re bold,’ I said. ‘They’ll be whipped at the cart’s tail if the authorities catch them.’

‘That won’t happen.’ Barak smiled wickedly. ‘The MPs would object. The chance of a bit of sport in the stewhouses is all that makes those long debates worthwhile for some.’

‘Maybe that is why they are granting all the King wants so quickly.’

IT WAS DARK by the time I arrived at Guy’s. His shop was closed, but he answered my knock. He invited me gravely to sit down. He sat opposite me in the consulting room, clasped his hands together and looked at me seriously. The candlelight emphasized the lines in his dark face.

‘How is poor Mistress Elliard?’ he asked.

‘Distraught. We are no further forward in investigating Roger’s murder. We can find no solicitor by the name of Nantwich, which was the name in the letters Roger was sent. It begins to look as though the killer sent them.’

‘And you? You look strained, Matthew. And recently you have seemed so well. You are still doing your back exercises?’

‘Yes. I cope, Guy. I always cope.’ I took a deep breath. ‘And I will try to have the stomach for whatever you have to tell me of your investigation of Roger’s body. But the less detail the better, please.’

‘I visited the place where the body is stored this morning. I took Piers –’

I frowned. The idea of Guy opening Roger, examining his innards, was horrible enough. But a stranger, a mere boy …

‘I am training him, Matthew. The licence I have to open bodies offers a unique chance to study human anatomy. He may be able to use it to help others in the future.’

I still did not like the notion. ‘What did you find?’ I asked.

‘So far as I could see, Master Elliard’s health at the time of his death was good.’

‘It always was. Till someone knocked him out and cut his throat.’

‘I don’t think he was knocked out,’ Guy said in the same grave, even tones. ‘Not as we understand that phrase.’

I looked at him, appalled. ‘You mean he was conscious when he went in there?’

‘Not that either. Have you ever heard of dwale?’

I shook my head.

‘There is no reason you should. It is a liquid compound of opium and certain other elements, such as vinegar and pig’s bile, which induces unconsciousness. Depending on how much is used it can bring relaxation, unconsciousness – or death. It has been used on and off for hundreds of years to render people unconscious before surgery.’

‘Then why have I never heard of it? That would save terrible pain.’

He shook his head. ‘There is a severe problem with it. The correct dose is very hard to determine, very hard indeed. It depends on many factors: the age of the ingredients, the size and age and health of the patient. It is very easy to give the patient too much and then the physician is left with a corpse. For that reason very few use it now. But I think Master Elliard’s killer did.’

‘Why?’

‘Let me show you something.’ He left the room, returning a moment later. I feared what dreadful thing he might return with, but it was only one of Roger’s boots. He laid it across his knee and brought the candle to it, illuminating a large dark stain.

‘This boot was dry, it must have been on the leg that was sticking out of the water. When I saw that stain I smelt it, then put my finger to it and tasted. The taste of dwale is quite distinctive.’ He looked at me. ‘The first stage after it is taken is nearly always a sense of euphoria, then unconsciousness. That explains your poor friend’s peaceful look.’

‘You said it is out of use now. So who would use it?’

‘Very few physicians or surgeons, because of the risks. Some of the unlicensed healers.’ He hesitated. ‘And there was a tradition of its use in certain monasteries.’

There was a moment’s silence. Then I said, ‘You used it, didn’t you?’

He nodded slowly. ‘Only when I thought the shock of severe surgery might kill a patient. And I have a long skill in determining dosages. But though it is not used now, the formula is well known among practitioners. It is no secret.’

‘But needs great skill to administer.’

He nodded. ‘The killer would not have wanted to give Roger a fatal dose. He meant to make that terrible display in the fountain. Drugged him so he would not wake even when his throat was cut.’

‘Did the body tell you anything else?’

‘No. The organs were otherwise all healthy. They might have been those of a younger man.’

‘You make it sound very impersonal, Guy.’

‘I have to be impersonal, Matthew. How else would I cope with the things I see?’

‘I cannot be impersonal. Not with this.’

‘Then perhaps it should be left to others to investigate.’

‘I have given Dorothy a promise. I am committed.’

‘Very well.’ For a moment Guy’s face took on that tired, strained look I had seen when I brought Roger to see him. ‘There was one thing, a lump on the back of his head. I think whoever your friend went to meet that night knocked him out. When he came round he was forced – somehow – to drink dwale. He passed out, and the killer brought him to Lincoln’s Inn.’

‘Across the fields and through the orchard door.’ I told him about the footprints Barak had followed. ‘Roger was a small man, but this brute must still be very strong.’