'Gilbert, the necklace was found in your hut.'

'Somebody put it there.'

'And Marina refused to meet you.'

'No, she didn't.'

Corbett's head snapped up. 'What?'

The young man smiled so slyly that Corbett had to pinch himself. Perhaps Gilbert was more intelligent, more cunning than he had thought.

'You met Marina?'

'Yes, at our usual place, the old oak on the moors. Marina met me twice. I put something there. When we were young we used to play there. Marina, me and Blanche.'

'The reeve's daughter?'

'Yes, the reeve's daughter.' Gilbert suddenly grasped Corbett's knee. 'Why did they kill Mother? Is she really dead? Will she go to heaven?'

Corbett gently removed the man's hand; it felt weak, slack.

'Are you in good health, Gilbert?' he asked.

'Will Mother be in heaven?'

'Yes, of course, she died with her face towards God. But, Gilbert, are you injured? Your hands are weak.'

'They have always been,' the young man replied. 'Mother said it was because of my birth. I am not as strong as I look. That's why Marina always trusted me.' Gilbert drew himself up and smiled. 'That's why I took the package to the old oak.'

'The package?' Corbett asked.

'Well, yes, a small letter, a scroll. A pedlar brought it from Bishop's Lynn. It had Marina's name on it because I read the markings. Every day I took it to the oak tree. Marina didn't come.' He smiled. 'But I did talk to her when I went to the Hermitage, even though they refused to let me. I told her I had a present for her.'

Gilbert's jaw fell slack. Corbett looked around the room. A jug of wine stood in the corner. He filled a battered cup and thrust it into Gilbert's hand.

Gilbert gulped some wine and went on, 'Marina came to the oak and I gave it to her.'

'The package?'

'Well, as I said, it was really a small scroll.' 'Did you know what was in it?'

'No, Marina put the scroll beneath her robe, kissed me on the cheek and left.'