“So will every brother in this house,” agreedCadfael fervently. “Barring Jerome, perhaps, he’s inhigh feather when Prior Robert is left in charge, and a fine timehe’s had of it all these weeks since the abbot was summonedto Winchester. But Robert’s rule is less favoured by the restof us, I can tell you.”

“How long is it he’s been away now?” ponderedHugh. “Seven or eight weeks! The legate’s keeping hiscourt well stocked with mitres all this time. Maintaining his ownstate no doubt gives him some aid in confronting hers. Not a man tolet his dignity bow to princes, Henry, and he needs all the weighthe can get at his back.”

“He’s letting some of his cloth disperse now,however,” said Cadfael. “By that token, he may have gota kind of settlement. Or he may be deceived into thinking he has.Father Abbot sent word from Reading. In a week he should be here.You’ll hardly find a better witness.”

Bishop Henry had taken good care to keep the direction of eventsin his own hands. Calling all the prelates and mitred abbots toWinchester early in April, and firmly declaring the gathering alegatine council, no mere church assembly, had ensured hissupremacy at the subsequent discussions, giving him precedence overArchbishop Theobald of Canterbury, who in purely English churchmatters was his superior. Just as well, perhaps. Cadfael doubted ifTheobald had greatly minded being outflanked. In the circumstancesa quiet, timorous man might be only too glad to lurk peaceably inthe shadows, and let the legate bear the heat of the sun.

“I know it. Once let me hear his account of what’sgone forward, down there in the south, and I can make my owndispositions. We’re remote enough here, and the queen, Godkeep her, has gathered a very fair array, now she has the Flemings