Читать книгу The Chapter of St Cloud - Marcus Attwater - Страница 8

The prior stood looking out of the window, his back to the young sister who had come to report to him. This part of the Chapterhouse overlooked the apple orchard, and he could see the abbot there enjoying the dappled sun, as yet unaware of any threat to his peace. If only it could stay that way!

'You are sure, Sarah?' he asked.

'Oh yes. It's gone beyond a proposal now. I spoke to him in the library today. He thinks he's not making much progress, but he's gone too far to stop.'

'Then we must make him stop.' Already his mind was looking for ways and means. This wasn't the first time they had been confronted with something like this, and usually it was easily dealt with. 'Could you scupper his chances with the Press?'

'I could try,' she said doubtfully, 'But that would not eliminate the risk, you know. It's an attractive project, on the face of it. He would take it to another publisher, and then I would not be there to keep an eye on it.'

Sarah was advisory editor to the local university press. Recently, a proposal had been received for a history of the Chapter of St Cloud. Their chapter. And for a variety of reasons, none of them were eager to ever see it in print. The prior was taking this very seriously.

'What does he know?'

'The usual stuff. He has read that old book of Poole's. He knows James Sutherland personally,' Sarah replied, 'And he has reached the point where he starts to find it strange that there isn't more to be found.'

'Will that discourage him sufficiently?'

'I'm afraid not. I think this one is good at what he does.'

The dangerous ones always were. That's what made them dangerous. The prior had rather hoped a little discouragement would go a long a way. But he had to make sure.

'We'll have him watched,' he told Sister Sarah, 'See what we can do about it.' Even to her, one of the most trusted, he would not give away too much of his thoughts.

'Do you want me to talk to him again?'

'I don't think so. Let him live in ignorance for a while.'

'All right. I'll send Lucas and Joseph to see you about this.'

Sarah left. The prior followed a moment later, knowing he had better inform the abbot of this development.

'Trouble brewing, my son?' the abbot asked, when he joined him in the orchard. The old man still had a sharp mind, he didn't miss much.

'Father,' the prior inclined his head politely, 'Just another inquisitive historian.'

'You think he is a threat?' The abbot did not appear to be much troubled.

'One that will be taken care of, I assure you.' As it always had been.

'What's his name?'

'Walsingham. Dominic Walsingham.'