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rage. He took many knights, lords and even the Earl of Lancaster,
     his own cousin, and executed them. Others he impoverished by taking their castles, their lands, their treasure. I tried at
     the time to propose that he should show some compassion, especially for the poor women whosuffered so much. The widows of his enemies were treated with appalling cruelty. He took all their property, even the dowers
     which they themselves brought to their marriages. All was removed and used to bolster the King’s coffers. Is it any surprise
     that many resent his behaviour, when he could be so harsh to them? And these same men, whom he deprived of livelihood and
     wealth, are wanderers now. They have no homes, no fixed dwellings. So if they decide to turn wolfshead and become outlaw,
     no one knows where they live. The whole nation is beginning to tear itself apart. When a land loses the benefit of the rule
     of the law, it grows ungovernable.’
    ‘You surely don’t truly believe that!’ Jeanne said quietly.
    ‘What will you do?’ Baldwin asked as the Bishop frowned at the mazer of wine in his hand.
    ‘I will do all I can to ensure that the realm is well governed, to protect the King, and to serve my diocese,’ Bishop Walter
     said.
    ‘When will the Queen return?’ Baldwin asked. He had been sent with his friend, Simon Puttock, to France to guard the Queen
     on her journey to see the French King.
    ‘She should be returning any time soon, I imagine,’ the Bishop said. ‘If not now, then when the King travels to Paris; he
     will no doubt bring her back. It is plain enough that she can achieve little there on her own. She has done her best, I suppose.’
    ‘The King will travel there?’ Jeanne asked.
    ‘He must go and perform his homage to his liege lord, the same as any other man,’ the Bishop said with a faint hint of acid
     in his tone. ‘Some men think that they need not comply with the wishes of their masters, but it is better that they realise
     sooner rather than later what their duties require. And the King holds his territories in Guyenne and the Agenais fromthe French King. If he wishes to retain his lands over there, he must pay homage. It is clear.’
    ‘Because the French King has the larger host,’ Baldwin said.
    ‘Yes. He has more knights and men-at-arms,’ the Bishop agreed, but without an answering smile.
    ‘Will you go with him?’ Jeanne asked.
    ‘Me? My dear Lady, I am too old to wander about the land of France. It is enough for me to make a lengthy journey across my
     diocese – and more than enough to have to attend the King’s councils. I seek no more long journeys, by land or by sea!’

Chapter Five
    Louvre, Paris
    The Procureur stood in the chamber again where the man had been killed.
    ‘What was he doing in here? Why was he not taken to the Cardinal’s chamber?’
    The servant shrugged. ‘If the man was unknown to the Cardinal, why should our master wish to see him?’
    ‘Philippe, you have a point. But why bring him up
here
?’ the Procureur repeated. There was no reason for it. This room was not even on the same floor as the Cardinal’s chamber.
    ‘What is this room usually used for?’ he asked suddenly.
    ‘It was used by a clerk, but he died last year, and it has remained empty ever since, I think. Why?’
    ‘It intrigues me.’
    Jean cast an eye all over the place from his vantage point near the door, and then he moved inside, inspecting the plain walls,
     the simple roof. There was nothing out of the ordinary or hidden here, he quickly decided.
    Perhaps there was something about the
location
of the chamber, then, that was significant. Jean went outside again and looked up and down the quiet corridor.
    ‘Philippe – how well do you know this area?’
    ‘I have hardly ever come up here. It’s not a part of the castle I have been asked to go to.’
    ‘I see,’ Jean said, and swore to himself. It was a problem,clearly, that this part of the castle was so quiet. It had