“Yes,” said Cadfael, viewing with philosophical detachment what Brother Markcontemplated with excitement and wonder, “the world and his wife will be here,either to buy or sell.” And he eyed his young friend attentively, for the boyhad seen little enough of the world before entering the order, being thrustthrough the gates willy-nilly at sixteen by a stingy uncle who grudged him hiskeep even in exchange for hard work, and he had only recently taken his finalvows. “Do you see anything there to tempt you back into the secular world?”

“No,” said Brother Mark, promptly and serenely. “But I may look and enjoy,just as I do in the garden when the poppies are in flower. It’s no blame to menif they try to put into their own artifacts all the colours and shapes God putinto his.”

There were certainly a few of God’s more charming artifacts among the throngof visitors moving about the great court and the stable-yard, young women asbright and blooming as the poppies, and all the prettier for being in a highstate of expectation, looking forward eagerly to their one great outing of theyear. Some came riding their own ponies, some pillion behind husbands orgrooms, there was even one horse-litter bringing an important dowager from thesouth of the shire.

“I never saw it so lively before,” said Mark, gazing with pleasure.

“You’ve not lived through a fair as yet. Last year the town was under siegeall through July and into August, small hope of getting either buyers orsellers into Shrewsbury for any such business. I had my doubts even about thisyear, but it seems trade’s well on the move again, and our gentlefolk arehungrier than ever for what they missed a year ago. It will be a profitablefair, I fancy!”