I thought a moment, then bent closer to her, wincing as my knees cracked. 'I have been to your uncle Edwin's house, Elizabeth. I have spoken to your uncle and your grand-mother, your cousins and the steward.' I was watching to see if her look changed at the mention of any of those names, but she just continued staring angrily. 'They all say you must be guilty.' At that a bitter smile played round the corner of her mouth, the movement causing blood to seep from her cut lip. Then I leaned in close, so only she would hear, and said, 'I think there is something down the well in the garden, where Ralph fell, that they are trying to hide.'
She shrank back, her eyes full of horror.
'I propose to investigate it,' I said softly. 'And I have been told Ralph was a great worry to his mother. I will find the truth, Elizabeth.'
Then she spoke for the first time, her voice cracked from disuse. 'If you go there, you will do naught but destroy your faith in Christ Jesus,' she whispered. The words were followed by a fit of coughing; she doubled over, racked with it. Joseph brought a mug to her lips. She grasped it and swallowed, then sat forward, burying her head in her knees.
'Lizzy!' Joseph's voice was trembling. 'What did you mean? Tell us, please!' But she would not lift her head.
I stood up. 'I don't think she'll say any more: Come, let's leave her for now.' I looked round the Hole. There was a round depression in the filthy straw by the far wall where the old woman had lain.
'She'll be ill if she stays down here much longer,' Barak observed. 'After what she's been used to no wonder her wits are affected.'
'Lizzy, please tell us more!' Joseph shouted, his control gone. 'You are cruel, cruel! Unchristian!'
Barak gave him an exasperated look, and I put a hand on the farmer's trembling shoulder. 'Come, Joseph, come.' I knocked at the door and the gaoler led us away, back to the main door. This time it was even more of a relief to be outside again.
Joseph was still agitated. 'We can't just leave her there, now she's started to talk. We've only got eight days, Master Shardlake!'
I raised my hands. 'I have an idea, Joseph. I can't tell you what it is now, but I hope to find the key to this riddle soon.'
'She won't give it to us. That's why I'm following other channels!'
'Other channels. Legal language. Oh, God, what did you say to her in there?' He shook his head.
I did not want to tell him; it was better Joseph did not know I planned to break into his brother's garden. I made my voice calm. 'Joseph, give me till tomorrow. Trust me. And if you visit Elizabeth again, please, in Jesu's name, do not harangue her. That will only make things worse.'
'He's right, you know.' Barak said.
Joseph looked between us. 'I haven't any choice but to do as you say, have I? Though it's driving me mad, sir, mad.'
We walked to the inn where we had left the horses. The way was narrow and Joseph walked a little way behind Barak and me, his shoulders slumped.
'He's near the end of his tether.' I sighed. 'But so am I.'
Barak raised his eyebrows. 'Don't
I looked at him curiously. 'You had the measure of her in there. It was you got her to write that sentence.'
He shrugged. 'I've had some experience of her way of thinking. When I ran away from home I felt all the world had turned against me. It took being arrested to bring me out of it.'
'It hasn't done that for her.'
He shook his head. 'Something bad must have happened to drive her to those depths. Something the girl thinks will never be believed.' He lowered his voice. 'We'll see what's in that well tonight.'
I SAID FAREWELL TO JOSEPH, promising I should have news for him tomorrow. As I rode down Cheapside to the Guildhall I wondered again what might be down that well. I had to ride carefully to avoid the small boys playing in the puddles, squelching joyously with their bare feet in the ooze even as the puddles shrank around them. I thought of the sun's fire turning the water to vapour, drawing it upwards from the earth through the hot air. Earth, air, fire, water: the four elements that, combined in a million ways, made up everything under the moon. But what was the combination that produced Greek Fire?
Arriving at the Guildhall, I left Chancery in the stables and went to find Vervey in his shaded office. He was studying a contract with leisurely carefulness, and I found myself envying his peaceful routine. He welcomed me warmly and I gave him the opinion I had written out the previous evening. He read it, nodding occasionally, then looked up at me.
'You are hopeful, then, of a victory in Chancery?'
'Ay, though it may be a year before we get there.'
He looked at me meaningfully. 'We may need to take more than the usual fee to the Six Clerks' Office up at the Domus.'
