“You’ll have your house full for thefestival,” said Hugh, halting to watch the colored chaos, andtaking pleasure in it as candidly as did the children.

In the group gathered just within the gate there was a suddenripple of movement. The porter drew back towards the doorway of hislodge, and on either side people recoiled as if to allow passage tohorsemen, but there was no sharp rapping of hooves striking thecobbles under the arch of the gateway. Those who entered came onfoot, and as they emerged into the court the reason for making suchgenerous way for them became apparent. A long, flat handcart camecreaking in, towed by a thickset, grizzled countryman before, andpushed by a lean and travel-stained young man behind. The load itcarried was covered by a dun-colored cloak, and topped with abundle wrapped in sacking, but by the way the two men leaned andstrained at it, it was seen to be heavy, and the shape of it, aman’s height long and shoulder-wide, brought mortality tomind. A ripple of silence washed outward from it, and by degreesreached the spot where Hugh and Cadfael stood watching. Thechildren looked on great-eyed, ears pricked, at once awestrickenand inquisitive, intent on missing nothing.

“I think,” said Hugh quietly, “you have aguest who’ll need a bed somewhere else than in the guesthall.”

The young man had straightened up wincingly from stooping intothe weight of the cart, and looked round him for the nearestauthority. The porter came towards him, circling the cart andcoffin with the circumspect bearing of one accustomed toeverything, and not to be put out of countenance even by theapparition of death intruding like a morality play into the