Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

saying that he had every possible reason to suspect that friar Tacitus was one of his community, he requested that he might be sent for.

To this Leon replied that none of that name belonged to his convent; that, therefore, the one so calling himself must either have his residence with some other brotherhood of the town, or have feigned an appellation for the

occasion.

In the course of investigation, however, it appeared that the Abbot's chaplain, called François, had, about eight days before the present time, on returning home from his daily rounds, complained of violent pangs in his bowels, and in spite of the efforts of the leech who attended him and the medicines administered, had died on the same night. "But," continued the old man, "there is not in our community, nor perhaps in the whole world, one whom I should less suspect than Brother François, of having committed the theft you mention; besides which, he was a Gascon, and his accent speaks so strongly for

his land of nativity, that it is impossible he could be the one who instructed you of it and led you to the recovery of the documents in question."

Admitting the truth of this, Robert then replied that, though he might not himself have stolen it, nor therefore have been the one who took him to its place of concealment, he might nevertheless have employed some one else to perform this latter act, and that, in truth, Tacitus had always taken pains to impress on his-Robert's-mind that he himself was not the culprit, but was only acting for another.

"Who then could this have been?" asked Leon, thoughtfully.

"Hic labor, hoc opus est. To answer this question would be to solve a problem, Abbot," replied D'Artois. "Know you of any person or persons whom Brother François was much. in the habit of frequenting?"

"No, my dear Lord, I was thinking on this -none-none; yet now that I recollect, there came hither about-how long ago?-five weeks -six-ay it was more than that—it must have

[ocr errors]

been full two months agone, a travelling friar -there be so many such arrive in the year's course that I confuse them in my mind-to crave hospitality and lodging, the while he went his rounds in the neighbourhood to demand alms for his convent. Well this friar lived on terms of the most intimate footing with my late chaplain."

"Ah!-how was this man hight, an't please you, holy Father?"

"John-Brother John,” replied the Abbot, "that is, such was he known by in his order; what may be his family appellation I wot not, but doubtlessly 'tis known amid the brethren,-here Polycarpe!" he continued, going towards the door and calling to one of the brethren, "hither!

"That which almost makes me fancy that my chaplain might have known of it,” said he, re-seating himself by D'Artois, "is that he had the key of the private chamber you describe,none but he and myself can enter therein without permission from us,—but then, whom did he introduce into it?—there lies the difficulty.

You have already seen each individual inhabiting these walls, and cannot recognize in any, the one you seek,-but here comes Polycarpe."

"Son Polycarpe! know you the name of the mendicant from St. Pierre, who came hither some two months gone by, and left us—as I think was told me about three weeks past, while I lay sick abed,-him who was so much with the late chaplain?"

"He was hight John, so please you, holy Father."

66

"Yes, so was he called midst us, but I want his other name-that of his family."

"I should know that also," Polycarpe replied, "I have heard it-Zin-Zin-ZanZannecq-ay it was that-Zannecq-Zannecq."

Zannecq!" exclaimed the Count, starting with surprise," what Zannecq is that?"

"He was own brother," replied Polycarpe, "to him who headed the Casselites when they rose against Count Louis."

[blocks in formation]

"Of him I slew at Cassel!-where wonneth he-of what convent is he?"

"Of that which is called St. Pierre, at the foot of Mount Cassel, and lies buried in the forest that is thereabouts, my Lord," Polycarpe replied. "I am told he taketh heavily to heart and beareth grievously his brother's death."

"At the foot of Mount Cassel!—why then belike 'twas he we saw beside the fount that day I did to death his rebel brother!"

"Nothing more certain, Sire, than this, for I have heard him say as much," replied Polycarpe.

"Now then I have him on the hip.-He is the man, my good Lord Abbot, who led me to yon chamber. I told you that I knew the voice, but could not tell where I before had heard it."

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »