The man was a jeweler, Aldred guessed. He had a rack of neat, precise tools: awls, pliers, heavy trimming knives, and clippers with small blades and long handles. He looked about thirty, a plump little man with double chins, concentrating hard.

Not wanting to startle him, Aldred coughed.

The precaution was ineffective. The man jumped, dropped his tools, and said: “Oh, my God!”

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Aldred said. “I beg your pardon.”

The man looked frightened. “What do you want?”

“Nothing at all,” said Aldred in his most reassuring voice. “I saw the light and worried that something might be on fire.” He was improvising, not wanting to seem nosy. “I’m Brother Aldred, from Shiring Abbey.”

“I’m Cuthbert, a priest here at the minster. But visitors aren’t allowed in my workshop.”

Aldred frowned. “What are you so anxious about?”

Cuthbert hesitated. “I thought you were a thief.”

“I suppose you have precious metals here.”

Involuntarily Cuthbert looked over his shoulder. Aldred followed his gaze to an ironbound chest by the door into the house. That would be Cuthbert’s treasury, where he kept the gold, silver, and copper he used, Aldred guessed.

Many priests practiced different arts: music, poetry, wall painting. There was nothing strange about Cuthbert’s being a jeweler. He would make ornaments for the church, probably, and might have a profitable sideline in jewelry for sale: there was no shame in a clergyman making money. So why did he act guilty?

“You must have good eyes, to do such precise work.” Aldred looked at what was on the workbench. Cuthbert seemed to be engraving an intricate picture of strange animals into the silver disc. “What are you making?”

“A brooch.”

A new voice said: “What the devil are you doing, poking your nose in here?”

The man addressing Aldred was not partially bald in the usual way, but completely hairless. He must be Degbert Baldhead, the dean. Aldred said calmly: “My word, you folks are touchy. The door was open and I looked in. What on earth is the matter with you? It almost seems as if you might have something to hide.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Degbert said. “Cuthbert needs quiet and privacy to do highly delicate work, that’s all. Please leave him alone.”

“That’s not the story Cuthbert told. He said he was worried about thieves.”

“Both.” Degbert reached past Aldred and pulled the door so that it slammed, shutting himself and Aldred out of the workshop. “Who are you?”

“I’m the armarius at Shiring Abbey. My name is Aldred.”

“A monk,” said Degbert. “I suppose you expect us to give you supper.”

“And a place to sleep tonight. I’m on a long journey.”

Degbert was clearly reluctant, but he could not refuse hospitality to a fellow clergyman, not without some strong reason. “Well, just try to keep your questions to yourself, he said, and he walked away and entered the house by the main door.

Aldred stood thinking for a few moments, but he could not imagine the reason for the hostility he had experienced.