The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [311]
The Abbot did not speak, and remained at his post as they made their reverences in due course and moved on. He stood with the Council of Fathers while each of the remaining guests stepped up and bent, and did his duty. His eyes, from the first moment, had remained on the article the Fleming had noticed and to which, he was certain, his remarks appertained. An ostrich egg. An ostrich egg cleaned and mounted, in the manner of those which hung from the ceiling. An ostrich egg filled with gold grains.
That, at least, was what appeared to be the object of contention. There was another egg, from the same donor, as the Abbot happened to know. But that held nothing at all but a small inlaid box with some flakes of soap in it.
Comely virgin-martyr, intoned the brethren, watching avidly. By thy godly wisdom didst thou vanquish the enemy.
The last pilgrim stooped and fumbled, the last ducat or two shivered its way down with the rest.
Decked in grace and virtue, O Ekaterina, thou camest with joy to thine Immortal Bridegroom; O maid of God.
‘My lord Abbot?’ said the Sacrist.
‘They have gone? Lock the Coffin,’ said the Abbot. ‘But give me the key.’
‘He raised his voice,’ Jan Adorne said. ‘My father. In the Abbot’s quarters. I’m supposed to be training for the Church.’
‘I’m sure it will be all right,’ Kathi said. The Abbot’s small set of rooms was nowhere near the guest-quarters. ‘The Abbot will make allowances. M. de Fleury looked very calm, and Friar Lorenzo is with them.’ Meester Reyphin was wrapping up all his blessed rings and Lambert was biting the places where his nails ought to be. Dr Tobias and M. le Grant, who had also come out of their chamber, stood together by the gallery rails talking in low voices. Everyone smelled of incense.
Jan said, ‘But what did he see in the Coffin? What were they talking about?’
They were supposed to be in the Refectory for a celebration after the ceremony, and carving their names. The ceremony that was supposed to make her feel better. She felt sick, and wondered if they were still expected to climb the mountain. The two mountains. Jan said, ‘Don’t you know what is happening?’
Addressed, Dr Tobias turned round. She saw that he and M. le Grant had reached some decision. The doctor said, ‘It’s to do with gold, Jan. There was some of our Company’s African gold in the Coffin. The three mule-loads of gold that were stolen. We came here, and so did your father, to look for it.’
Kathi closed her eyes. Now the poem would never get done. Jan said slowly, ‘My father is here on holy pilgrimage.’
‘We know,’ said Dr Tobias. He gave her a worried glance. ‘We know his prime object. The other matter is minor. In fact, the gold may not be here at all. There is a lot of it to hide. The person who took it may have passed through, and simply left some as an offering. Nicholas – M. de Fleury said your father could have it. That is, he won’t claim it himself.’
‘What has it to do with my father?’ said Jan.
Kathi said, ‘We’ll know, won’t we, when they come out? Come on. You’ve got two stanzas yet, and the painting. I’ll come and help you.’
Within the Abbot’s quarters, the dispute had reached a very similar point, and the echoes of Anselm Adorne’s voice rang round the low walls, striking the interleaved ikons like mallets. His eyes looked fevered.
The Abbot said, ‘God is here. You have no need to cry to Him. I will hear the truth, and He will advise.’
Brother Lorenzo translated, using Latin for decorum, rather than the Italian dialect of their journey from Cairo. Brother Lorenzo said, ‘My lord Abbot understands that the gold in the Coffin, unique in character, was previously stolen. It happens. A thief repents. M. de Fleury has no wish to remove it. Are you saying it has some value for you?’
‘I am saying,’ said Anselm Adorne, ‘that within these walls, were I to search, I should find all the rest of the gold. Or were I to ask M. de Fleury, he could