“You’re probably right. I went up to the nunnery, and they wouldn’t let me in. But I’ll be here for a few days. I’ll send a message in, and if she wants to see me, I imagine she’ll find a way of doing so. But at least I know she’s safe. It’s a real stroke of luck, running into you like this. You’ll be able to give me the rest of the news. I had no idea what I might find here, so as you see, I came in this morning quietly, alone with my servant.”

“Quietly is right. I thought you were thieves. You’re lucky I didn’t cut you down and ask questions afterwards.”

It was the old Dinias, the bullying note there again, an immediate response to my mild, excusing tone.

“Well, I wasn’t taking any risks till I knew how the family stood. I went off to St. Peter’s—I waited till dusk to do that—then I came to take a look round here. Is the place empty then?”

“I’m still living here. Where else?”

The arrogance rang as hollow as the empty colonnade, and for a moment I felt tempted to ask him for hospitality and see what he would say. As if the thought had struck him at the same moment he said quickly: “Cornwall, eh? What’s the news from there? They say Ambrosius’ messengers are scuttling across the Narrow Sea like waterflies.”

I laughed. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve been leading a sheltered life.”

“You picked the right place.” The contempt that I remembered so well was back in his voice. “They say old Gorlois spent the winter snugged down in bed with a girl barely turned twenty, and left the rest of the kings to play their own games out in the snow. They say she’d make Helen of Troy look like a market-woman. What’s she like?”

“I never saw her. He’s a jealous husband.”

“Jealous of you?” He laughed, and followed it with a comment that made Cadal, behind me, suck in his breath. But the jibe had put my cousin back in humour, and off his guard. I was still the little bastard cousin, and of no account. He added: “Well, it would suit you. You had a peaceful winter, you with your goatish old Duke, while the rest of us tramped the country after the Saxons.”

So he had fought with Camlach and Vortimer. It was what I had wanted to know. I said mildly: “I was hardly responsible for the Duke’s policy. Nor am I now.”

“Hah! It’s as well for you. You knew he was in the north with Vortigern?”