Hugh and Cadfael crossed the court to the gatehouse inconsidering silence. The carter had taken the shafts of hislightened cart and hauled it back through the arch of the gatehouseinto the Foregate. Evidently he had been paid for his trouble inadvance, and was content with his hire.

“It seems that one’s job is done,” said Hugh,watching him turn into the street. “No doubt you’llsoon hear what’s afoot from Brother Denis.”

His horse, the tall grey he perversely favored, was tethered atthe gatehouse; no great beauty in looks or temperament,hard-mouthed, strong-willed, and obstinate, with a profoundcontempt for all humanity except his master, and nothing more thanthe tolerant respect of an equal even for Hugh.

“Come up soon,” said Hugh with his toe in thestirrup and the reins gathered in his hand, “and bring me allthe gossip. Who knows, in a day or so you may be able to fit a nameto the face.”

Chapter Two

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Cadfael came out from the refectory after supperinto a light, warm evening, radiant with reflected brightness froma rosy sunset. The readings during the meal, probably chosen byPrior Robert in compliment to Canon Gerbert, had been from thewritings of Saint Augustine, of whom Cadfael was not as fond as hemight have been. There is a certain unbending rigidity aboutAugustine that offers little compassion to anyone with whom hedisagrees. Cadfael was never going to surrender his privatereservations about any reputed saint who could describe humankindas a mass of corruption and sin proceeding inevitably towards