'Read out the indictment!' Sir Henry bellowed. 'And make it quick!'

The clerk jumped up as nimble as a grasshopper and fairly gabbled out the indictment, that Alice Brokestreet had killed Nicholas Tayilour in the Merry Pig tavern within the octave of the Feast of the Assumption.

'How do you plead?' the clerk asked Alice.

'I wish to go on oath,' came the tart reply.

A book of the gospels was brought, the oath hastily administered.

'Well?' Sir Henry leaned forward.

'My lord.' Brokestreet closed her eyes as if reciting lines. 'I wish to plead for mercy from God, the King and my peers.'

'On what count?'

Athelstan could see Sir Henry was deeply interested in the unusual turn of the proceedings.

'I plead guilty,' Alice said. 'But I killed in self-defence. I wish to approve.'

'Do you know what that means?' 'Yes, my lord. I have committed a terrible crime but I know of another who has done worse.' 'Continue. But be specific'

'I accuse,' Brokestreet's voice rose, 'Kathryn Vestler, owner of the Paradise Tree, of the horrible murders of Margot Haden and Bartholomew Menster.'

Athelstan turned quickly. Mistress Vestler was sitting upright in shock.

'When did these murders occur?'

'Over two months ago, my lord.'

'And how do you know?'

'I helped bury their cadavers beneath an oak tree in Black Meadow which runs behind the tavern down to the Thames.'

'And how did these murders occur?'

'Margot was a chambermaid at the tavern. Bartholomew was a clerk of the records in the Tower. He was attracted to her and often visited the tavern. Mistress Vestler became jealous of their friendship. One night they stayed late, well after the chimes of midnight. I was roused from my sleep by Mistress Vestler.' She paused as her former employer began to weep noisily.