“It’s what I myself was thinking,” agreed theporter, “though it would have been more to the general mind,I fancy, if a local man had been advanced to the vacancy. Still,it’s what a man is that counts, not his name nor where hecame from. No doubt the lord abbot knows his business best.”And he went off briskly, probably to whisper the news into one ortwo other discreet ears before Compline. Certainly several of thebrothers came to the next morning’s chapter alreadyforewarned and expectant, alertly waiting for the new man to befirst heralded, and then produced for inspection. For though it wasvery unlikely that anyone would raise objections to a man chosen byAbbot Radulfus, yet the whole chapter had rights in thepresentation to the living, and Radulfus was not the man toinfringe its privileges.

“I have made all possible haste to return to you,”the abbot began, when the normal routine matters had been quicklydealt with. “In brief, I must report to you of the legatinecouncil held at Westminster, that the discussions and decisionsthere have brought the Church back into full allegiance to KingStephen. The King himself was present to confirm the establishmentof this relationship, and the legate to declare him blessed by thecountenance of the Apostolic See, and the followers of the Empress,if they remain recalcitrant, as enemies of King and Church. Thereis no need,” said the abbot, somewhat drily, “to gointo further detail here.”

None, thought Cadfael, attentive in his chosen stall,conveniently sheltered behind a pillar in case he nodded off whenmaterial matters became tiresome. No need for us to hear the spiralmanipulations by which the legate extricated himself from all hisdifficulties. But beyond doubt, Hugh would get a full account ofall.