Deynman
had to look away to prevent himself from laughing out loud.
‘The new Fellows must listen carefully to the statutes and ordinances made over time by the Masters and scholars,’ said Kenyngham,
reciting the familiar words without much interest.
‘I am sorry Langelee did what he did,’ said Bartholomew softly to Michael.
‘So am I,’ said Michael. ‘I was looking forward to being Master of Michaelhouse. Unfortunately, Kenyngham’s announcement was
sudden, and I did not have the opportunity to prepare myself properly. Langelee acted before I could put my own plan into
action.’
‘And what plan was that?’ asked Bartholomew warily.
Michael puffed out his cheeks, noting the uneasiness in his friend’s face. ‘Nothing as underhand as the trick Langelee played
on me. I was merely going to suggest the election be postponed for a month, to allow Clippesby and Suttone to make their decisions
with the benefit of knowing each of the candidates.’
‘And during the interim, you would have ensured that only one candidate was able to stand?’ asked Bartholomew.
Michael nodded, unabashed. ‘It would have been done with discretion and cunning – not like Langelee, who has all the subtlety
of a mallet in the groin – and no one would have known that it was I who started the rumours that besmirched the reputations
of the others.’
‘Then you made a grave error of judgement, Brother. You assumed that your rivals would be equally subtle in their strategies,
but you should have known Langelee and William better than that. Runham did: he is a clever man, but he saw such tactics would
not work, and he engaged in the same kind of brazenness employed by Langelee and William.’
‘All right, all right. You do not have to rub it in,’ said Michael irritably. ‘I admit I was ill-prepared. This is all Kenyngham’s
fault. He could not have resigned at a worse time, when I have the Bene’t death and Brother Patrick’s murder to investigate.
My Junior Proctor is in Ely, and I am overwhelmed with work.’
‘What is this business with Master Heytesbury of Merton?’ asked Bartholomew curiously. ‘Offering Oxford something at Cambridge’s
expense does not sound like something you would do, but that letter was definitely in your handwriting.’
Michael gave a grim smile. ‘Of course I am doing nothing that would damage Cambridge – quite the contrary, in fact. Say nothing
to anyone else, but my Bishop and I devised a scheme whereby we would sacrifice a fewsmall properties in exchange for some information that will gain us a good deal more.’
‘Now that
does
sound like you.’
Michael sighed. ‘Thank you. But Langelee’s interference may have destroyed all hopes of a successful outcome, not to mention
the fact that the delicate nature of the arrangements meant that I could not justify why I was dealing with Heytesbury at
all. But in time my plan will become known, and then he will be revealed as the fool he is. Meanwhile, I must suffer in silence.
But I will have my revenge on Langelee, never you fear.’
Bartholomew knew perfectly well that Michael would not readily forgive Langelee for thwarting him in his ambitions, and that
Langelee would pay dearly. He just hoped he would not have to play a part in it – wittingly or otherwise. Contemplating the
ways in which Langelee would be forced to pay the price for his actions seemed to put Michael in a better mood, and he even
began to enjoy himself.
‘The new Fellows shall also swear not to intrigue or promote litigation contrary to the utility of the house,’ droned Kenyngham,
reading from the dog-eared copy of the statutes and ordinances.
‘That is my favourite one,’ whispered Michael to Bartholomew. ‘It says that intriguing and promoting litigation are perfectly
acceptable, just as long as they are not to the detriment of the College. Our founder was blessed with a stroke of a genius
when he wrote
had to look away to prevent himself from laughing out loud.
‘The new Fellows must listen carefully to the statutes and ordinances made over time by the Masters and scholars,’ said Kenyngham,
reciting the familiar words without much interest.
‘I am sorry Langelee did what he did,’ said Bartholomew softly to Michael.
‘So am I,’ said Michael. ‘I was looking forward to being Master of Michaelhouse. Unfortunately, Kenyngham’s announcement was
sudden, and I did not have the opportunity to prepare myself properly. Langelee acted before I could put my own plan into
action.’
‘And what plan was that?’ asked Bartholomew warily.
Michael puffed out his cheeks, noting the uneasiness in his friend’s face. ‘Nothing as underhand as the trick Langelee played
on me. I was merely going to suggest the election be postponed for a month, to allow Clippesby and Suttone to make their decisions
with the benefit of knowing each of the candidates.’
‘And during the interim, you would have ensured that only one candidate was able to stand?’ asked Bartholomew.
Michael nodded, unabashed. ‘It would have been done with discretion and cunning – not like Langelee, who has all the subtlety
of a mallet in the groin – and no one would have known that it was I who started the rumours that besmirched the reputations
of the others.’
‘Then you made a grave error of judgement, Brother. You assumed that your rivals would be equally subtle in their strategies,
but you should have known Langelee and William better than that. Runham did: he is a clever man, but he saw such tactics would
not work, and he engaged in the same kind of brazenness employed by Langelee and William.’
‘All right, all right. You do not have to rub it in,’ said Michael irritably. ‘I admit I was ill-prepared. This is all Kenyngham’s
fault. He could not have resigned at a worse time, when I have the Bene’t death and Brother Patrick’s murder to investigate.
My Junior Proctor is in Ely, and I am overwhelmed with work.’
‘What is this business with Master Heytesbury of Merton?’ asked Bartholomew curiously. ‘Offering Oxford something at Cambridge’s
expense does not sound like something you would do, but that letter was definitely in your handwriting.’
Michael gave a grim smile. ‘Of course I am doing nothing that would damage Cambridge – quite the contrary, in fact. Say nothing
to anyone else, but my Bishop and I devised a scheme whereby we would sacrifice a fewsmall properties in exchange for some information that will gain us a good deal more.’
‘Now that
does
sound like you.’
Michael sighed. ‘Thank you. But Langelee’s interference may have destroyed all hopes of a successful outcome, not to mention
the fact that the delicate nature of the arrangements meant that I could not justify why I was dealing with Heytesbury at
all. But in time my plan will become known, and then he will be revealed as the fool he is. Meanwhile, I must suffer in silence.
But I will have my revenge on Langelee, never you fear.’
Bartholomew knew perfectly well that Michael would not readily forgive Langelee for thwarting him in his ambitions, and that
Langelee would pay dearly. He just hoped he would not have to play a part in it – wittingly or otherwise. Contemplating the
ways in which Langelee would be forced to pay the price for his actions seemed to put Michael in a better mood, and he even
began to enjoy himself.
‘The new Fellows shall also swear not to intrigue or promote litigation contrary to the utility of the house,’ droned Kenyngham,
reading from the dog-eared copy of the statutes and ordinances.
‘That is my favourite one,’ whispered Michael to Bartholomew. ‘It says that intriguing and promoting litigation are perfectly
acceptable, just as long as they are not to the detriment of the College. Our founder was blessed with a stroke of a genius
when he wrote
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