Tombland

Boleyn said, ‘I understand that you frequently visit the cockpit at Coslany, and afterwards the tavern nearby.’

‘I do, sir. Most Saturdays.’

‘Were you there on the twelfth of May?’ Boleyn was back in his stride now.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Do you remember my sons being there that night?’

‘I do. I did not speak to them, but they were there with some friends. I remember them talking and joking, and something was said about a trick with a key. Later there was a panic because Gerald had left his doublet with his purse on a bench. The place was crowded and they pushed and shoved to get to it, knocking a couple of people’s drinks over. But they said nothing had been taken. They looked relieved.’

‘They definitely mentioned a trick with a key?’

‘They did. They and their friends, when they get to drinking, they talk loudly.’

‘Thank you,’ Boleyn said, almost sorrowfully.

‘One more thing, if I may,’ Chawry said. ‘The horse Midnight has always been difficult. Several stable boys have come and gone, but Simon Scambler was the only one who could handle him. Now Midnight is back to the way he was.’

‘Thank you, Chawry,’ Boleyn said. ‘And now –’ he took up his notes, which trembled in his hands – ‘I would like to recall my sons one final time.’ Eyes followed the twins as they returned once more to the witness box, now looking a little put-upon. Boleyn swallowed, and again was silent a moment.

‘We must proceed,’ Reynberd said, irritated. ‘We have been here near forty-five minutes already.’

‘I apologize, my Lord.’ Collecting himself, Boleyn looked at his sons. ‘My steward has shown you lied about Scambler’s treatment of my horse.’

‘His word against ours,’ Gerald said flatly. ‘And he is your employee.’

‘Do you deny you were at the Coslany cockpit on the twelfth of May, and afterwards in the tavern joked with some friends of yours about a trick with a key?’

‘We were staying the night with our grandfather, and we had lost the key to his house. That was all we were talking about.’

Barnabas said, ‘And we realized Gerald had left his purse, with his money, on the bench. Like you said, he got it back. And found Grandfather’s key there.’

‘How long was it missing, out of your sight?’

The boy shrugged. ‘Perhaps half an hour or so.’

Boleyn said, ‘Is it not true that you stole the stable key because you intended to let out the horse and have Scambler blamed? That you told your friends so, and also your grandfather?’

Gerald turned to Barnabas. ‘He’s dreaming.’

‘And did not your grandfather advise you that your father would realize you had done it if Scambler had marks of injury? He dissuaded you, and you returned the key. But someone could have briefly stolen it, or made a wax impression to take to Snockstobe later, could they not?’

Both twins stared directly at me. I took a deep breath. If they were to tell the court that we had got this information out of them in the course of a fight, Nicholas and I would be in serious trouble with the Bar. But they would look like fools, and their pride would not allow that. Reynberd asked Boleyn, ‘How can you possibly know what your sons’ grandfather said to them?’

Boleyn took a deep breath. ‘I am sorry, your Honour, I may not reveal the source of that information.’

Reynberd raised his eyes to the ceiling. ‘Yet more hearsay.’

‘My Lord, my sons have not yet answered my question.’

Gerald spoke then, quietly and intently, but with a vicious undertone. ‘None of this is true. It is a story made up by Chawry and our father. Our grandfather will confirm we had no conversation about any key.’

Reynolds rose in his seat. ‘Certainly I do,’ he said.

‘For the rest, our friends will confirm that there was no talk of a jest with a key.’

‘Yes,’ Boleyn said heavily. ‘The same friends who gave you an alibi for the night of your mother’s death.’

Barnabas leaned forward and snarled, ‘You won’t trap us, Father, into being hanged for what you did! Our mother came back and you killed her. You’ve got Chawry, and that crazy Scambler, to lie for you.’ He looked at Scambler. ‘Eh, Sooty? I hear you got sacked recently.’ Scambler shrank away and Barnabas looked back at his father. ‘We’ll be there tomorrow, to see you take the short drop.’

‘We’ll enjoy every minute!’ Gerald laughed shrilly.

The twins, as I had hoped, had lost control – but not when confronted with the story about the key. The jury and the public nonetheless looked at them with disgust; even the judges were taken aback by their outburst. ‘Enough!’ Gatchet shouted. ‘You are in contempt of this court; were it not for your bereavement, I would have you in the cells! Step down, now!’