Hugh Corbett 13 - Corpse Candle by Paul Doherty Read Free Book Online Page B

other,’ Corbett narrowed his eyes, ‘is quite famous, often quoted by the spiritual writers: a saying of the Roman writer Seneca. “Anyone can take away a man’s life but no one his death”.’ He gazed round, they all stared blankly back. ‘These were the last words Abbot Stephen wrote. He was apparently fearful of something.’ Corbett paused. ‘What did he mean about “Seeing through a glass, darkly”? Whilst the quotation from Seneca seems to indicate that he was expecting death?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Prior Cuthbert retorted tartly. ‘Sir Hugh, I can’t say what was in our abbot’s mind that night.’
    ‘Can anyone?’ Corbett asked expectantly but no one answered. ‘Ah well!’ Corbett threw the piece of parchment down. ‘We were talking of the Abbot’s blood. Was it fresh or congealed?’
    ‘It was congealed.’ Aelfric spoke up.
    The rest of the brothers agreed.
    ‘So, Abbot Stephen had been dead for some time?’
    ‘Naturally,’ Hamo snapped. ‘As the blood had congealed.’
    ‘What’s your name?’ Ranulf interrupted.
    ‘Hamo.’
    ‘And you are sub-prior?’ Ranulf smiled at his master.
    ‘You know both my name and my office.’
    ‘Yes I do, Brother, just as you know my Lord Corbett’s name and office. You will keep your tone respectful.’
    Corbett, standing behind the brothers, crossed his arms and stared at the floor. He and Ranulf had held so many investigations. He felt like an actor in a play. They assumed their roles without even thinking. Ranulf, who regarded it as his own private privilege to tease and mock his solemn master, was very keen not to allow anyone else to do likewise. Hamo muttered an apology.
    ‘So, there was nothing wrong?’ Corbett came back and sat down, beating his hands on top of the desk. ‘This room has no other door, the windows were locked, no secret passageways exist yet someone came here and thrust a dagger deep into your Abbot’s chest.’ Corbett didn’t wait for the chorus of agreement. ‘The Abbot was sitting slumped, yes?’
    ‘I’ve told you that,’ Prior Cuthbert declared.
    ‘And his hands?’
    ‘They were down by his side.’
    ‘And there was no disturbance? Nothing else appeared wrong?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘But the dagger was Abbot Stephen’s?’
    ‘Ah, that’s right,’ Hamo said. ‘Only one thing I noticed. Abbot Stephen had taken his old war belt out of the coffer. It lay on the floor. His dagger sheath was empty.’
    ‘Fetch me this dagger!’ Corbett insisted.
    Prior Cuthbert snapped his fingers at Perditus who left and came back holding a folded cloth. Corbett undid the cloth and took the dagger out. It had been cleaned and polished. The hilt was of steel, the handle specially wrought so as not to slip in the hand, its blade was long, ugly and sharp. Corbett wore something similar: close up, a thrust from such a weapon was deadly. He sat for a while balancing the dagger in his hand before putting it down on the table.
    ‘Had the doors really to be forced?’ he asked.
    ‘I was there!’ the Prior exclaimed. ‘So were Hamo, Aelfric and Brother Dunstan. We went straight to the Abbot’s corpse.’
    ‘No one wandered off?’ Corbett insisted.
    ‘Of course not! We were shocked at what we saw.’
    Corbett stared down at the dagger and hid his unease. Before this meeting had begun, he had carefully inspected this chamber as well as the outside. The door was locked and the window closed. How could anyone get in?
    ‘And none of you?’ he asked, voicing his concern, ‘know how the assassin entered this chamber or how he left?’
    The row of monks shook their heads. Corbett caught a gleam of triumph in Prior Cuthbert’s eyes. You know I am trapped, Corbett reflected, and can make no sense of this. He stared towards the door. It was heavy oak, its outside was reinforced with metal studs and hung on thick leather hinges. It would take hours for someone to prise it free.
    ‘What if someone had come through a window?’