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 has the key to the riddle, sir, Lizzy!' He was shouting now.

'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 you start playing the martyr. It's bad enough with him and her.'

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.'

Chapter Twenty-four

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.'

'That may help get the matter listed more quickly. I am going to look at Bealknap's property this morning, by the way. The Chancery judge will want to know all the circumstances of the nuisance.'

'Good, good. The council places the highest priority on this. Some of these tenements in the old monastic properties are shocking. Hovels of cheap wood, unsanitary and a fire risk too, with everywhere as dry as tinder.' He looked out of his window at the clear blue sky. 'If a fire breaks out people may not be able to get enough water from the conduits to quench it. Then the Common Council will be blamed. We're trying to stop leaks in the pipes, but some of them run miles from the streams.'

'I know of a man who is working on repairing the conduits. Master Leighton.'

'Yes. I have a note to chase him, he was supposed to bring our contractors some new pipes but he hasn't appeared. Do you know him?'

'Only by repute. I hear he is a skilled man.'

Vervey smiled. 'Ay, he's one of the few founders who knows that type of work. A skilled fellow.'

Probably a dead fellow, but I could not tell him. I changed the subject. 'I wonder if I might have a look at your library while I am here. Perhaps borrow one or two books if you have them?'

He laughed. 'I can't see that we would have anything Lincoln's Inn does not.'

'It's not legal works I'm after. Some Roman history. Livy and Plutarch, Pliny.'

'I will prepare a note for the librarian. I heard about your friend Godfrey Wheelwright and the Duke of Norfolk.'

It was safe to speak, for Vervey was known as a reformist. 'Godfrey should be more careful.'

'Ay, the times grow dangerous again.' Although we were alone, he lowered his voice. 'There's a pair of Anabaptists booked for burning at Smithfield next weekend unless they repent. The council has been asked to help with the arrangements, ensure all the apprentices attend.'

'I hadn't heard.'

He shook his head sadly. 'I fear for the future. But come, let me do this note.'

I had a niggling fear the books might be gone from the Guildhall library too, but they were all there, on the shelf. I grasped them eagerly. The librarian was one of those fellows who believes books should be kept on shelves, not read, but with the aid of Vervey's note I was able to get past him. He watched sourly as I put the volumes in my satchel. As I walked down the Guildhall steps I felt a little pleased with myself, for the first time in days. Then I almost walked straight into Sir Edwin Wentworth.

Elizabeth's other uncle seemed to have aged even in the few days since I had seen him, his face lined and drawn with suffering. He was still dressed in black. Beside him walked his elder daughter Sabine, while the steward Needler followed behind, some large account books under one arm.

Sir Edwin pulled up short at the sight of me. For a second he looked as though he had been struck. I touched my cap and made to pass, but he stepped into my path. Needler passed his books to Sabine and stood protectively beside his master.

'What are you doing here?' Sir Edwin's face reddened and his voice trembled with anger. 'Making enquiries about my family?'

'No,' I said mildly. 'I have a case on with the Common Council.'

'Oh, yes, you lawyers have your long fingers in every pie, don't you? You crookbacked churl. How much is Joseph paying you for keeping that murderess alive?'