The Relic Murders(42)

'Of course.' Pasteler picked up the largest amethyst. 'Notice how they are cut, Benjamin: how many sides to this amethyst are there?'



"There must be at least seven or eight,' Benjamin replied.



'Precisely,' Pasteler declared. 'This one is at least three hundred years old and has been cut in that way. Stay there!'



Pasteler went away. He brought back a small wax candle light. He struck a tinder, lit this and held the amethyst up against the flame. I peered over Benjamin's shoulder and caught my breath. The gem was many-sided, the lines crossed and within I could see a cross glowing. Benjamin studied it intently.



'And would this happen with any amethyst?'



'If it was pure and many-sided with lines and sides crossing,' the goldsmith replied, 'yes, it's possible. It's a well-known trick in this type of stone.'



Benjamin thanked him and we went and stood out in Cheapside.



'I think I have it, Roger,' he declared. 'The Orb of Charlemagne is surmounted by an amethyst. However, Henley's entry talks not only of a cross, as we've just seen, but the Cross of our Saviour.



I suspect very few actually know what this cross is like. The amethyst on the Orb of Charlemagne may be unique: by some cut of the stone and trick of the light, one can not only see a cross but the figure of Christ nailed to it.'



'And Henley would know that, but not the likes of Egremont?'



Benjamin grinned. 'You know the world of relic selling: Henley, perhaps, stumbled on the secret and that is why he wrote the word, Saviour, in Greek. People like our Lord Theodosius would look for a cross, Henley would look for the figure of Christ.' Benjamin sighed. 'It must be the answer - that alone accounts for Henley's use of Ixthus.'



'I agree,' I replied. 'So, when Egremont inspected the Orb at Berkeley's, he and anyone else would see the cross and think it was genuine. Henley knew otherwise. When he saw nothing but a simple cross in the amethyst shown to him, he knew it was false.'



'I think so,' Benjamin declared. 'And he'd tell as much to whoever stole the Orb. Henley would then laugh at the way the thief had been duped. He had his throat cut for his pains, as well as to silence him for ever.'



We went to a nearby tavern for something to eat and drink. We then collected our horses from the stables and rode slowly back to Malevel.

We expected to find it deserted but Kempe and his men were waiting: the soldiers lounged outside, Kempe sprawled in the keeper's small office.



‘I tried to go up to your chambers,' he explained, 'but that bloody hound stopped me! You've got to come with me. We've found Berkeley.'



'Where?' Benjamin asked.

'Amongst the ruins just north of the Tower. He's had his throat cut and he was tortured before he died.'



Above us, Castor had obviously heard me and began to howl mournfully.



'How long has he been dead?' Benjamin asked.

'A few hours perhaps,' Kempe replied.



Benjamin walked outside and stared at Malevel Manor as if, through very thought, he could discern what had happened there. Kempe and I followed him out.

'We are to go now,' Sir Thomas repeated. He glanced at me. 'I suppose the bloody dog has to be fed?'



'Don't speak ill of your betters,' I retorted.



Kempe just smirked.



'The King offered me two gold coins to find out how you placated the beast,' he commented.



'Well, both you and he will have to wait, won't they?'



'Sir Thomas.' Benjamin came back. 'Sir Thomas,' he repeated. 'Before Roger and I go riding over the heathland to inspect some poor man's corpse, I have a question for you. You said that there was a way of knowing the Orb of Charlemagne was genuine?'



'That's correct.'



'And the clue lies in the amethyst? If you hold it up against the flame you can see, inside the diamond, the faint outline of a cross and Our Saviour's body on it?'



'That's true,' Kempe replied, his face full of surprise. 'How did you find out?'



Benjamin just shrugged. 'And you are sure,' Benjamin persisted, 'that the Orb which was given to Lord Egremont was the genuine one?' I saw a shift in Kempe's eyes, a slight flicker: his tongue came out to wet his upper lip, all the signs I’ ve gathered over the years of a man about to lie.



'But that's ridiculous,' he stammered. 'Of course the Orb was genuine!'



'In which case,' I spoke up, 'you will not deny us the right to inspect the replica?'



'Of course, at an appropriate time and away from prying eyes.'



'Good!' Benjamin declared. 'And I have other requests, Sir Thomas.' He pointed at the manor. 'I want a guard left here.' He tapped his pouch. 'The windows are all shuttered and I hold the keys to the doors. No one is to go in there without my permission. Agreed?'



Kempe shouted an order at the captain of his guard telling him to leave four men.



'They can use the gatehouse,' I declared. 'My master and I, not to mention Castor, are moving to the Flickering Lamp.'