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and therefore impossible.’
    Alan was visibly shocked. ‘Lord help us!’ he exclaimed, crossing himself. He gazed at Bartholomew. ‘If you want to write that
     sort of seditious nonsense, please do not do it here. This is a holy place, where every thought and deed is dedicated to God.’
    ‘Even murder?’ muttered Bartholomew.
    Alan did not hear him. ‘I am lucky in my own physician. Brother Henry de Wykes is a god-fearing and sensible fellow, who would
     never offend our holy Church.
He
harbours no irreverent notions.’
    The priory’s physician sounded dull and tedious, and Bartholomew was surprised when Michael smiled fondly. ‘Henry was kind
     to me when I was a novice. You will like him, Matt.’
    ‘Michael tells me that you wish to read books in Ely that are unavailable in Cambridge,’ said Alan to Bartholomew. ‘However,
     I should warn you that while you are here you will almost certainly hear de Lisle criticised by my monks. He is not popular
     in the priory.’
    ‘Why not?’ asked Bartholomew. He immediately wished he had not spoken, suspecting that a good part of their antipathy was
     due to the fact that the Pope had appointed de Lisle as Bishop of Ely when the monks themselves had elected Alan.
    Alan looked modest. ‘No particular reason,’ he said, ‘although his personality does not help. He is arrogant and condescending,
     and that kind of attitude does not win friends. He is no better and no worse than most bishops I know, although I wish one
     of my monks had not taken it upon himself to throw in his lot quite so fully with such a man.’
    He turned his piercing gaze on Michael, who shuffled his feet uncomfortably. ‘I have been in de Lisle’s service for five years,
     and during that time I have done nothing morethan keep the University in order on his behalf,’ said Michael defensively. ‘It is important that
someone
is working for the Church there.’
    ‘I agree,’ said Alan softly. ‘And you have done well. But now de Lisle has asked you to exonerate him from a charge of murder:
     that has nothing to do with the Church or your beloved University. I will not prevent you from acting as his agent, Michael
     – although as your Prior, I could – but I do not want my monastery associated with any fall from grace de Lisle might take.’
    ‘De Lisle will not fall—’ began Michael.
    Alan raised a hand that was calloused and scarred from years of working with stone. ‘I know you hope your fortunes will rise
     by aligning yourself with de Lisle, and your success may well reflect favourably on our Order. But the Bishop might equally
     prove to be a dangerous ally. Be vigilant, and do not allow him to drag you down with him, should you fail to prove him innocent.’
    ‘I shall do my best,’ said Michael stiffly.
    ‘It is a pity you responded to his summons in the first place,’ Alan went on with a sigh. ‘It would have been better if you
     had avoided the issue altogether, and remained safely in Cambridge.’
    ‘But I did not know what he wanted,’ objected Michael. ‘All I received were two messages, each instructing me to come immediately.’
    Alan did not seem impressed. ‘Really, Michael! I expected more guile from you! You should have guessed that there was something
     amiss when de Lisle carefully omitted to mention the reason for these abrupt summonses.’
    ‘Well, it is done now, and I shall have to do the best I can,’ said Michael, a little sulky at the reprimand. ‘If he is innocent,
     I shall prove it for him.’
    ‘I suppose stranger things have come to pass,’ said Alan enigmatically. He turned to Bartholomew with a smile. ‘But let us
     talk of more pleasant things. What do you hope to find in our meagre library, Doctor?’
    ‘It is not meagre,’ said Bartholomew enthusiastically. ‘It has all the works of Avicenna, as well as Serapion’s
Brevarium
, Pietro d’Abano’s fascinating
Conciliaton
, Isaac Iudeaus’s
Liber Febrium
—’
    ‘A lot of books