was in when he was found. Tell me the truth.’
‘I wasn’t there when the lord sheriff went to investigate.’
‘But he must have told you what he saw.’
Romain nodded sadly. ‘The killer left nothing to chance.’
‘In other words, Hermer was butchered.’
‘That’s what I heard.’
They were standing in the hall of the manor house, a long room with an oaken floor. A table stood at the far end. Swinging on his heel, de Fontenel marched the full length of the room as he tried to subdue the rage that was building inside him. His efforts were in vain. With a loud bellow, he used an arm to dislodge everything that stood on the table, sending goblets and platters clattering to the floor. He turned to face his visitor.
‘Were my gold elephants found on him?’ he asked.
‘No, my lord.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘There was nothing of value on his person. Or so I’m told.’
‘Then where are those miniatures?’
‘The lord sheriff is more interested in finding the murderer first,’ said Romain. ‘In solving that crime, he believes, we will also solve the other.’
‘Then you must seize Mauger Livarot at once,’ insisted de Fontenel, striding back down the hall. ‘He’s behind all this. He bribed Hermer to steal the two elephants from me then had him hacked to death by way of reward. Mauger is the culprit. I’ve said that all along. If you’d had the sense to listen to me at the start, my steward might still be alive and those elephants would be back under lock and key.’
‘That’s pure supposition, my lord.’
‘Don’t argue with me, man!’ yelled the other. He raised an arm as if about to strike, but Olivier Romain held his ground. The sheriff’s deputy was a stocky man of medium height, a conscientious officer who took his work with intense seriousness. Still only thirty, he had a composure and fearlessness that made de Fontenel hesitate. The older man lowered his arm and glowered at him. Romain did not flinch. His voice was calm.
‘You’re blaming the messenger for bringing bad tidings, my lord.’
‘I blame the lord sheriff,’ snarled the other.
‘He’s not culpable here.’
‘Yes; he is. A robbery takes place yet he refuses to take charge of the case and fobs me off instead with his deputy. A murder occurs and he sends you to report the matter to me. Why isn’t Roger Bigot here himself? What does it take to get him off his backside at the castle?’
‘The lord sheriff is already making inquiries,’ said Romain, defensively.
‘His place is here, breaking the news to me. I want to know exactly when and how my steward was discovered. I also expect to be told that Mauger has been arrested and thrown into a dungeon for his heinous crimes.’
‘If the lord Mauger is guilty, he’ll be taken in due course.’
‘Why the delay?’
‘Evidence has to be gathered, my lord.’
‘The man hates me,’ said de Fontenel, jabbing a finger at him. ‘He’s stolen my land, he’s trespassed on my estate, he’s done everything he can to annoy or obstruct me. Now he’s trying to wreck a marriage that is very dear to my heart. How much more evidence do you need, Olivier?’ He gesticulated wildly. ‘Mauger is a thief and murderer. Take him.’
‘The lord sheriff means to interview him first thing tomorrow.’
‘Why wait until then?’
‘You’ll have to ask him that.’
‘Save valuable time and put him in chains this very evening.’
‘I don’t make the decisions,’ said the other, reasonably. ‘I simply carry out orders. You needed to be told about the fate of your steward and that’s why I rode out here post haste. It’s bleak news, my lord, and I offer you my sincere condolences.’
‘What use are they!’ Richard de Fontenel stormed around the
‘I wasn’t there when the lord sheriff went to investigate.’
‘But he must have told you what he saw.’
Romain nodded sadly. ‘The killer left nothing to chance.’
‘In other words, Hermer was butchered.’
‘That’s what I heard.’
They were standing in the hall of the manor house, a long room with an oaken floor. A table stood at the far end. Swinging on his heel, de Fontenel marched the full length of the room as he tried to subdue the rage that was building inside him. His efforts were in vain. With a loud bellow, he used an arm to dislodge everything that stood on the table, sending goblets and platters clattering to the floor. He turned to face his visitor.
‘Were my gold elephants found on him?’ he asked.
‘No, my lord.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘There was nothing of value on his person. Or so I’m told.’
‘Then where are those miniatures?’
‘The lord sheriff is more interested in finding the murderer first,’ said Romain. ‘In solving that crime, he believes, we will also solve the other.’
‘Then you must seize Mauger Livarot at once,’ insisted de Fontenel, striding back down the hall. ‘He’s behind all this. He bribed Hermer to steal the two elephants from me then had him hacked to death by way of reward. Mauger is the culprit. I’ve said that all along. If you’d had the sense to listen to me at the start, my steward might still be alive and those elephants would be back under lock and key.’
‘That’s pure supposition, my lord.’
‘Don’t argue with me, man!’ yelled the other. He raised an arm as if about to strike, but Olivier Romain held his ground. The sheriff’s deputy was a stocky man of medium height, a conscientious officer who took his work with intense seriousness. Still only thirty, he had a composure and fearlessness that made de Fontenel hesitate. The older man lowered his arm and glowered at him. Romain did not flinch. His voice was calm.
‘You’re blaming the messenger for bringing bad tidings, my lord.’
‘I blame the lord sheriff,’ snarled the other.
‘He’s not culpable here.’
‘Yes; he is. A robbery takes place yet he refuses to take charge of the case and fobs me off instead with his deputy. A murder occurs and he sends you to report the matter to me. Why isn’t Roger Bigot here himself? What does it take to get him off his backside at the castle?’
‘The lord sheriff is already making inquiries,’ said Romain, defensively.
‘His place is here, breaking the news to me. I want to know exactly when and how my steward was discovered. I also expect to be told that Mauger has been arrested and thrown into a dungeon for his heinous crimes.’
‘If the lord Mauger is guilty, he’ll be taken in due course.’
‘Why the delay?’
‘Evidence has to be gathered, my lord.’
‘The man hates me,’ said de Fontenel, jabbing a finger at him. ‘He’s stolen my land, he’s trespassed on my estate, he’s done everything he can to annoy or obstruct me. Now he’s trying to wreck a marriage that is very dear to my heart. How much more evidence do you need, Olivier?’ He gesticulated wildly. ‘Mauger is a thief and murderer. Take him.’
‘The lord sheriff means to interview him first thing tomorrow.’
‘Why wait until then?’
‘You’ll have to ask him that.’
‘Save valuable time and put him in chains this very evening.’
‘I don’t make the decisions,’ said the other, reasonably. ‘I simply carry out orders. You needed to be told about the fate of your steward and that’s why I rode out here post haste. It’s bleak news, my lord, and I offer you my sincere condolences.’
‘What use are they!’ Richard de Fontenel stormed around the
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