The Guilt of Innocents by Candace Robb Read Free Book Online Page B

as Moses had the waters of the Red Sea. ‘Archer!’ he boomed. With his deep, strong baritone and his animated yet kindly face he seemed born to his calling. ‘So His Grace the Archbishop has taken an interest in our tragedy?’
    ‘I am not here at his request,’ said Owen. ‘But I’ve no doubt he will wish to have this resolved.’
    ‘He’s taken precious little interest in Chancellor Thomas’s concern about Nicholas Ferriby’s school,’ said Dame Agnes with a sniff.
    ‘Because it is a needless concern,’ said John in the tone of one tired of repeating himself, ‘and absurd to threaten him with excommunication. I agree with His Grace on that. Ferriby’s scholarshave no hope of entering St Peter’s.’ His smile was affectionate.
    Dame Agnes hesitated with a little frown, but then bobbed her head at a servant who had just joined them. He was out of breath and smelled of onions. ‘Watch the lads while we retire to my chamber, Stephen.’
    The servant grinned and thanked her. Owen guessed he was relieved to have a reprieve from chopping onions.
    Agnes’s chamber was a screened-off corner of the hall, large enough for a small bed, a table, a few stools, and a large trunk. She settled on the bed and gestured to them to take the stools.
    ‘I hoped you might tell me what the lads have said about their part in Drogo’s death,’ said Owen.
    ‘Death?’ Agnes whispered, looking over at Master John.
    ‘God grant him peace,’ said the schoolmaster, his face grave. ‘This is terrible news, Captain, and all the worse for my scholars’ part in the bumping and jostling that might have caused his fall. But how did he die? I understood his fellows quickly pulled him from the water.’
    ‘The blood, Master John,’ Dame Agnes murmured.
    John lifted his eyes to Owen. ‘I’d almost forgotten about that. What really did happen today?’
    ‘That is what I seek to discover,’ said Owen. ‘Why do you suppose your lads did not seek your help in retrieving young Hubert’s scrip?’
    A fond smile broke through the concern. ‘Their sense of adventure, Captain. The older ones love to lead.’
    ‘They should know better than to engage the bargemen. What is innocent fun to the lads is threatening to the bargemen’s livelihood. I’ve explained that to Jasper many times, but he was there this evening despite my warnings, and despite promising he’d not go to the staithe.’
    ‘He was not there long, I assure you. He’d stayed behind to copy a passage.’
    ‘But he did go.’
    ‘And this time it was not a game with the lads. They did find the scrip, but it was empty.’
    ‘They did retrieve it?’ Owen had not heard this. ‘How?’
    ‘When Geoffrey, one of the older scholars, demanded it, Drogo tossed the little purse to him, just like that, and then moved deeper into the crowd.’
    ‘I would talk to Geoffrey,’ said Owen, glancing at Dame Agnes.
    She was quick to understand. ‘I’ll fetch him at once.’ She slipped away.
    ‘But it was empty, you said.’ Owen thought about how the lad might have responded to that. ‘Did he charge after Drogo when he found it empty?’
    ‘I don’t think he realised at once that there was nothing in it,’ said Master John.
    ‘Where is the scrip now?’
    The grammar master produced it. It was thesize of Owen’s hand, clearly a woman’s scrip, and the pouch was indeed empty. ‘Keep it safe,’ he warned. ‘We may need it.’
    The grammar master nodded uneasily.
    ‘What else have you heard from the lads?’ Owen asked.
    ‘I heard about the poor man’s bleeding face, and about Nicholas Ferriby fleeing into the abbey grounds in fear of his life.’ Master John shook his head. ‘Foolish man. He is such a foolish man.’
    ‘The crowd was angry, or so I am told,’ Owen reminded him.
    ‘Yes, yes, they do say so.’ Master John nodded as he lowered his gaze to the unremarkable floor. ‘Yes.’
    ‘Abbot Campian advised him to retreat into the abbey.’ Owen wondered