“What does more nearly concern this house,” saidRadulfus, “is certain conference I had with Bishop Henry ofWinchester in private. Knowing of the cure left vacant here at HolyCross, he recommended to me a priest of his own following, atpresent waiting for a benefice. I have talked with the man inquestion, and found him in every way able, scholarly and fitted foradvancement. His personal life is austere and simple, hisscholarship I have myself tested.”

It was a point powerful enough, by contrast with FatherAdam’s want of learning, though it would count for more withthe brothers here than with the folk of the Foregate.

“Father Ailnoth is thirty-six years of age,” saidthe abbot, “and comes rather late to a parish by reason ofhaving served as a clerk to Bishop Henry, loyally and efficiently,for four years, and the bishop desires to reward his diligence nowby seeing him settled in a cure. For my part, I am satisfied thathe is both suitable and deserving. But if you will bear with me sofar, brothers, I will have him called in to give account ofhimself, and answer whatever you may wish to ask him.”

A stir of interest, consent and curiosity went round the chapterhouse, and Prior Robert, surveying the heads nodding inanticipation and obeying the abbot’s glance, went out tosummon the candidate.

Ailnoth, thought Cadfael, a Saxon name, and reported as a fine,tall fellow. Well, better than some Norman hanger-on from thefringes of the court. And he formed a mental picture of a big youngman with fresh, ruddy skin and fair hair, but dismissed it in abreath when Father Ailnoth came in on Prior Robert’s heels,and took his stand with composed grace in the middle of the chapterhouse, where he could be seen by all.

He was indeed a fine, tall fellow, wide-shouldered, muscular,