beds. But the vagabonds, always ready for mischief, stood their ground withsullen, sly faces, and had no intention of going far, and the more respectable,if they abated their noisy ardour, kept their bitter indignation. Cadfael knewmost of them. Perhaps Radulfus himself, though no Shrewsbury man by birth, wasbetter-read in them than they supposed. He kept his place, and bent his steady,menacing brow against them, forbidding action.

“My lord abbot,” ventured the fine young man, “if you will let us take himhence we will deliver him up to the law.”

To the nearest tree, thought Cadfael. And there were trees in plenty betweenhere and the river. He snipped at the wicks of his candles and let them flareafresh. The beard was still hovering in the shadows.

“That I cannot do,” said the abbot crisply. “If the law itself were here,there is no power can now take away this man from the sanctuary he has sought.You should know the right of it as well as I, and the peril, body and soul, toany who dare to breach that sanctuary. Go, take the pollution of your violenceout of this holy place. We have duties here which your presence in hatreddefiles. Go! Out!”

“But my lord,” bleated the angry young man, tossing his curled head butkeeping his distance, “you have not heard us as to the crime…”

“I will hear you,” said Radulfus with a snap, “by daylight, when you comewith sheriff or sergeant to discuss this matter calmly, and in proper form. ButI warn you, this man has claimed sanctuary, and the rights of sanctuary arehis, according to custom, and neither you nor any other shall force him awayout of these walls until the time of his respite is over.”

“And I warn you, my lord,” flared the youth, blazing red, “that should heventure a step outside, we shall be waiting for him, and what falls out of yourlordship’s lordship will be no concern of yours, or the church’s.” Yes,unquestionably he was moderately drunk, or he would never have gone so far, anordinary young burgess of the town, if a wealthy one. Even with an evening’swine in him, he blenched at his own daring, and shuffled back a pace or two.