'I didn't rob them, Brother, I was just holding it.'

Bladdersniff dug deep into his own purse. He took out a handful of bronze and silver coins and thrust these into Athelstan's hand.

'Anything else?' the friar demanded.

The beadle was about to refuse but three more coins appeared from his purse.

'If I march you up the church, master beadle, and put your hands on the sanctuary stone, would you say "That's all"?'

'I'll take the oath now, Brother.'

'Good!'

Athelstan sifted the coins of gold, silver and copper. He picked up a rather shabby medal on the side of which was a cross, on the reverse what looked like an angel with outstretched wings.

'Who had this?'

Bladdersniff pointed to the black-haired corpse. The Dominican slipped the coins into his own wallet.

'If I remember the law, the goods and chattels of such murdered victims belong to the parish until they are claimed. These will go into the common fund.'

Athelstan studied the corpse of the younger man. He was dressed only in chemise and leggings.

'The shirt is of good linen,' Athelstan remarked. 'Leggings of blue kersey but where's his jerkin, his cloak, his boots and belt?'

'Brother, I assure you,' Bladdersniff protested, 'and Pike and Watkin are my witnesses, that's how we found him.'

Athelstan sat down on the steps and brought his hands together in prayer.

'Oh my Lord!'

He looked sharply to the left. Benedicta had come out of the cemetery and now stopped, mouth gaping, hands half-raised at this terrible sight. She walked forward like a dream wanderer, her dark hair peeping out from beneath the blue veil, her olive-skinned face pale. The beautiful dark eyes of the widow woman studied the three corpses.

'You shouldn't be here, Benedicta,' Athelstan said.

'No, no.'

Benedicta came over and sat beside him on the steps. She pulled her brown cloak more firmly about her as if the sight of these corpses chilled her blood, blotted out the light and warmth of the sun. Athelstan caught a faint whiff of the perfume she wore, distilled herbs, sweet and light, a welcome contrast to the horrors before him. He felt her close beside him and drew strength from her warmth, her quiet support. He smiled to himself. For a moment he felt like a man being joined by his loving wife.