“This chapter is concluded,” said the abbot, and ledthe way out. As he passed the visitor by, Brother Mark’s greyeyes, at liberty at last to sweep the assembly for other oldfriends, met Cadfael’s eyes, and returned his smile, beforethe young man turned and followed his superior. Let Radulfus havehim for a while, savor him, get all his news from him, and all thedetails that might complicate his coming journey, give him thebenefit of long experience and unfailing commonsense. Later on,when that was done, Mark would find his own way back to the herbgarden.

“The bishop has been very good to me,”said Mark, shaking off firmly the idea of any special preferencebeing shown him in his selection for this mission, “but so heis to all those close about him. There’s more to this thanfavor to me. Now that he’s set up Bishop Gilbert in SaintAsaph, the archbishop knows very well how shaky his position mustbe, and wants to make sure his throne is secured by every supportpossible. It was his wish—indeed his command—that ourbishop should pay the new man this complimentary visit, seeingit’s from his diocese most of Gilbert’s new see hasbeen lopped. Let the world see what harmony there is amongbishops—even bishops who have had a third of their territorywhipped from under their feet. Whatever Bishop Roger may bethinking of the wisdom of planting a Norman, with not a word ofWelsh, in a see nine-tenths Welsh, he could hardly refuse thearchbishop. But it was left to him how he carried out the order. Ithink he chose me because he does not wish to make too lavish andflattering a show. His letter is formal and beautifully executed,his gift is more than suitable. But I—I am a judicioushalf-measure!”