Read Online A Vein of Deceit by Susanna Gregory - Free Book Online Page B

they had sold any pennyroyal recently.’
    Bartholomew regarded him guiltily. He had meant to make that enquiry himself, but too many patients had demanded his services
     that day, and he had had no time. ‘And had they?’
    ‘They say not, but I am not sure whether to believe them. They have lied to me in the past.’
    ‘Pennyroyal?’ asked Thelnetham, bemused. ‘Why would you want to know about that?’
    ‘Matt is interested in it,’ replied Michael vaguely. He glanced at Langelee, who was still staring out of the window. ‘Is
     anyone curious to know the outcome of my encounter with Gosse?’
    ‘I am,’ said Wynewyk, when Langelee made no reply. ‘What happened?’
    ‘He does not live alone,’ began Michael. ‘He has a sister, although you would not think they were related to look at them;
     he is small, while she is enormous. She is reputed to be a witch – although people tend to say that about anyone they do not
     like.’
    ‘They say it about Matthew,’ Thelnetham pointed out. ‘But he is very popular – among the lower class of citizen, at least.
     He is heartily reviled by persons of quality, of course.’
    ‘That is untrue!’ declared Wynewyk hotly, while Bartholomew regarded the Gilbertine in surprise. He knew not everyone approved
     of the way he practised medicine,but he had not been aware that he was ‘heartily reviled’. ‘He is very highly regarded among the town’s burgesses.’
    ‘Only because they are afraid to antagonise his brother-in-law,’ said Thelnetham acidly. ‘Oswald Stanmore is a powerful man,
     and no sane merchant wants to incur
his
displeasure.’
    ‘Gosse’s sister is named Idoma – not a lady I would like to meet on a dark night,’ Michael went on, cutting across Wynewyk’s
     retort. Bartholomew’s unorthodoxy was one of few subjects on which the Fellows could not agree, and there was almost certain
     to be a quarrel if they pursued it. ‘I do not recall when I last met a more unpleasant pair, and I am glad I took plenty of
     beadles with me.’
    ‘You did not fight them, did you?’ asked Thelnetham with a moue of distaste. ‘Blood is so difficult to remove from one’s habit.’
    ‘I would not know,’ replied Michael, regarding him askance. ‘I am usually careful not to spill any, especially my own.’
    ‘Did Gosse confess to attacking the Master?’ asked Wynewyk.
    ‘No,’ replied Michael. ‘He claims he was in the Cardinal’s Cap when Langelee was ambushed, and the landlord confirms this.
     Unfortunately, the tavern was busy, and the landlord cannot say whether Gosse was there
all
night. And the Cardinal’s Cap is not far from King’s Hall.’
    ‘Langelee said it was a scholar who attacked him,’ said Bartholomew. ‘Not Gosse and—’
    ‘Forget the matter, Brother,’ said Langelee, turning from the window at last. ‘It
was
a scholar, but it will transpire to be someone who does not want me to play in the next camp-ball game – some cheating villain
     from one of the rival teams. Pretend it did not happen.’
    ‘I most certainly shall not,’ declared Michael, horrified.‘An attempt was made to kill the Master of my College, and that is unacceptable. I will unmask this villain and he shall
     answer for his crime.’
    ‘Then do it after you have eliminated the annoyance represented by Gosse,’ said Langelee tiredly.
    Bartholomew frowned. ‘What annoyance?’
    ‘Several Colleges have been burgled recently,’ explained Langelee. ‘We all know Gosse is responsible, and the other heads
     of houses are beginning to ask why the Senior Proctor lets him roam free, doing as he pleases.’
    ‘Because my hands have been tied,’ Michael snapped. ‘Apparently, Gosse visited the town a few years back, and was convicted
     of theft. But he appealed the sentence, and clever lawyers got him acquitted. Then he sued, and Cambridge was forced to pay
     him a substantial sum in damages. The Mayor and his burgesses have informed me that it will not