'Are they all local?' Corbett whispered.

'It depends what you mean by local,' Nettler replied. 'There are about four from the local village, others from further afield.'

Corbett studied the young men and women. He knew the life of back-breaking work they had escaped from and wondered what they'd think of the Holy Land after the cold dampness of England. He also caught their concern and heard the name Marina whispered. Gurney walked over and began a conversation with one young man whom he recognized. Nettler moved across to hover anxiously. Suddenly Master Joseph straightened like a hunting dog, ears straining.

'What's that?' he asked.

The room fell silent. Then Corbett heard it too – a pounding on the outer gate and Ranulf's voice. Master Joseph hurried out. Nettler told the other Pastoureaux to stay where they were. Corbett, Gurney and Monck followed Master Joseph out. They hurried across the yard. Master Joseph unbarred the gate. Ranulf pushed him aside.

'Master!' he called. 'Sir Simon!'

'What's the matter, man?' Gurney snapped.

'One of your servants – a huntsman or a verderer – has found the body of a girl. She's been murdered!'

'Oh, Lord help us!' Master Joseph's face paled. 'Oh, God forfend that! Master Nettler, stay here!'

Gurney had already hurried on to where Father Augustine and the physician stood by their horses. With them was a man dressed in a dirty brown leather jacket and leggings pushed into high riding boots. Gurney turned to him.

'Thomas, what is it?'

The man turned. His usually tanned, bearded face was now pale, his eyes had a haunted look.

'Further along the moors I was out looking for poachers' snares. There's a girl's body.' The man hawked and spat. 'You'd best come and see!'

He took off in a long loping run, Master Joseph hurrying behind him. The rest collected their horses and followed. They travelled about a mile across the moor and there, in a dip in the land just before a small copse, lay the girl's corpse. Her brown robe was thrust back over her young breasts, her legs spreadeagled, her hose pulled down about her ankles. The physician dismounted and went over to study the corpse. Corbett went with him.