'Hunting down a brother barrister,' he said in a savage whisper, 'getting Cheapside stallholders to swear false statements – what is this about? What do you want?'

'You remember I have a commission from Lord Cromwell?'

'I told you all I knew about that matter. Which was next to nothing.' He waved a hand angrily. If he was lying he did it well.

'I want to know the nature of your connection with Sir Richard Rich, Bealknap.'

'That is none of your damned business,' he said stoutly. 'Yes, I have a commission from Sir Richard, I work for him. It is his business I have been on these last few days.' He raised a hand. 'And I will not be questioned about that. God's death, I'll go to Sir Richard now, I'll tell him of your pestering-'

'Brother Bealknap, if you do not answer my questions, I shall go to Lord Cromwell.'

'Then he can speak to Sir Richard.' Bealknap nodded grimly. 'There, you did not expect that, did you?' He reached for his robe. 'I shall go to him now. You are out of your depth, sir; you have been dabbling in matters that are beyond you.' He laughed in my face. 'Have you not realized that yet? Now, out of my chambers.' He threw open the door. Barak clenched his fists.

'Lord Cromwell can have you on the rack, you great bony arsehole.'

Bealknap laughed. 'I think not, though he might make your arses smart after my master and he have spoken. Now leave!' He waved at the door.

There was nothing left but to go. As soon as we were outside, the door was slammed in our faces.

We stood on the landing. Barak gave me a puzzled look. 'I thought he'd be terrified.'

'So did I.'

'Lord Cromwell, Richard Rich.' Leman gave me a sidelong look. 'I don't want any more to do with this, sir, I'm going back to my stall.' And with that he turned and hastened downstairs, without even asking for the rest of the money I had promised him.

Barak and I were left looking at each other. 'Well, that went well,' Barak said sarcastically.

'What can Rich have to say to Cromwell that will turn his anger on to us?' I shook my head. 'Cromwell is the chief secretary, Rich is a big fish but nowhere near that big.'

'And what does he know about Greek Fire?' Barak took a deep breath. 'I'm going to have to get word to the earl about this.' He began descending the stairs.

I followed him. 'Do you know where Cromwell is today?'

'Whitehall again. I'll ride there now. You go home and rest. You look like you need it. Do nothing till I return.'

I wondered if he and Cromwell might have things to say he did not want me to hear. But if he did, there was nothing I could do about that.

Chapter Thirty-four

IT WAS MORE THAN two hours before Barak returned. I waited for him in my parlour, looking out over the garden as the afternoon shadows began to lengthen. I was still exhausted after my terrifying experience of the night before, but though my eyes smarted with tiredness I could not rest. Thoughts chased each other round my head. What had Bealknap meant? What was it I should have realized? And what was I to do if my planned trip to St Bartholomew's proved successful and we actually found some traces of Greek Fire? My conversation with Guy nagged at me; I could not keep the broader implications of what I was doing from my mind. It would be better, surely, if nobody had Greek Fire. But Toky's master, whoever that was, had it already.

At length, tired of prowling round the room, I decided to go to the stables. As I stepped outside, I winced at the heat – it was hotter than ever – and became conscious that everything ached, my burned arm, my back, my eyes, my head.

Barak had collected Sukey, but Genesis stood quietly in his stall. He gave a whicker of recognition when he saw me. Young Simon was mucking out the stables.

'How is Genesis settling in?' I asked.

'Well enough, sir, he's a good horse. Though I miss old Chancery.'

'So do I. Genesis seems a placid beast.'

'He wasn't at first, sir. He was anxious in his stall, couldn't settle. I feared he might kick me.'

'Really?' I was surprised. 'He was no trouble to ride.'

'He's probably been well trained in Lord Cromwell's stables, sir, but I think he was used to larger quarters there.' Simon flushed as he mentioned the earl's name; it was a source of wonder to the boy that I was associated with so great a man.

'Maybe.'

'Master Barak told me he had his hair burned off last night in a fire.' The boy's eyes were wide with curiosity. 'Is he a soldier, sir? I sometimes think he looks like one.'

'No. Just a minor servant of the earl, like me.'

'I would like to be a soldier one day.'

'Would you, Simon?'

'When I'm older I shall train for the muster. Fight the king's enemies, who would invade our realm.'

From his words I guessed someone had been reading an official proclamation to him. I smiled sadly as I stroked Genesis's neck. 'Soldiering is a bloody trade.'

'But one has to fight the papists, sir. Oh, yes, I'd like to be a soldier or a sailor one day.'

I prepared to argue, but turned at the sound of hooves. Barak, looking tired and dusty, had come to a halt outside the stable. Simon ran out and took the reins.

'What news?' I asked.

'Let's go inside.'

I followed him back to the parlour. He ran a hand over his stubbly head, wrinkling the skin on his pate, then blew out his cheeks. 'The earl was fierce with me,' he said bluntly. 'Told me he'd had to waste half the morning persuading the coroner to keep the bodies they found at Queenhithe quiet for a few days. He was furious to hear your efforts to make Bealknap talk had sent him off to Rich.'

'I wasn't to know Rich could be a shield against Cromwell.'

'He can't. The earl was outraged at the very idea. He thinks Rich has been exaggerating his powers to Bealknap and Bealknap believed him. He's sending men out now to find Rich, find out what Bealknap meant. He says if Rich knows about Greek Fire he'll sweat it out of him one way or another. I don't envy friend Bealknap afterwards.'

I frowned. 'That doesn't sound right. Bealknap's every sort of rogue, but he's no fool where his own interests are concerned. He wouldn't have said what he did unless he knew he was safe. There's something we're not seeing.'

'Another thing the earl said: he knows how you like to find all the facts and lay them flat on the table before coming to a conclusion. He says there isn't time for that, you'll have to cut corners.'

I laughed bitterly. 'In dealing with an enemy as clever as ours and in a matter as complex and secret as this? Does he think I'm a miracle worker?'

'Maybe you'd like to ask him that. He was prowling around his office at Whitehall like a bear in the pit, ready to lash out. And he's scared. He says to go to Barty's now, today. It's a good time, with Rich taken in to be questioned. He wants that coffin opened.' Barak slumped down on the cushions. His face had a grey tinge under his tan; the events of last night were catching up with even his powerful constitution.

'How is your shoulder?' I asked.

'Sore. But better than it was. What about your arm?'

'The same. Bearable.' I pondered a moment. If I was to go to St Bartholomew's I wanted to go alone; if there was Greek Fire buried with the soldier, I would take it to Guy. Barak, I knew, would take it straight to Cromwell.

'I'll go over to Barty's on my own,' I said, my heart suddenly pounding fast. 'You're tired, you stay here.'

He looked at me in surprise. 'You look worse than I do.'

'I've had a chance to rest upstairs,' I lied, 'while you've been facing the earl in a bad temper. Let me go alone.'

'What if Toky's about?'

'I'll be all right.'

He hesitated, but to my relief relaxed deeper into the cushions. 'All right. Jesu, I don't think I've ever been so tired. The earl says Madam Neller will suffer for her betrayal once this matter is over.'