[Roger the Chapman 05] - Eve of Saint Hyacinth by Kate Sedley Page B

in the pay of Charles of Burgundy's Spy-Master General, and the man already mentioned that evening, Ralph Boyse, whose mother had been a Frenchwoman and who could, just possibly, be guilty of a dual allegiance.
    'But in God's name,' I expostulated, 'if you know, or even suspect, that these men are up to no good, why do you not advise the duke's steward to dismiss them?' Here a page arrived with a tray bearing a bottle of malmsey and three beakers, which he placed on the table and then withdrew. Timothy Plummer poured out a measure of wine, carefully tasted it, then filled the beakers to the brim before answering my question.
    'That would be very poor strategy. A foolish thing to do if you think about it carefully. At least we know who these men are and can keep them in our eye. If it suits us, we can even give them false information to pass on to their masters. But dismiss them and they would only be replaced by other agents, perhaps more skilful at concealment.' Once before, I had been given a glimpse of the spider's web of intrigue and constant double-dealing which surrounded kings and princes and had not liked it then any more than I liked it now. Even on such brief acquaintance I could well imagine the petty jealousies, the back-biting, the factions, the whispering and the strife which tore at the very foundations of every European court, and had no wish to be part of such a world. But if Richard of Gloucester's life was truly in danger, then I had no choice except to do whatever lay within my power to protect him, however reluctant I might be to get involved.
    For, from our very first meeting, he had commanded my heart.
    'Very well,' I told Timothy Hummer, 'I accept that the enemy you know is better than the one you don't. But you haven't yet explained why you believe the duke to be in mortal peril.'
    'Thaddeus Morgan brought me the news at the beginning of May, while we were on our way south from Middleham.
    He was heading north to Yorkshire, when he heard that the duke and his levies had reached Northampton and were resting there for two or three days. He therefore sought me out, so as to warn me of a very strong rumour circulating among the Brotherhood that an order had gone out for Duke Richard's death.'
    'Wait,' I said, holding up a hand. 'Who or what are the Brotherhood?'
    It was Lionel Arrowsmith who answered. 'The Brotherhood, also sometimes known as the Fraternity, is a network of vagabonds, rogues and petty criminals from the stews and sewers of every country throughout the length and breadth of Europe and probably beyond. These men sell information for money and are invaluable as spies, provided that you pay them well.'
    Timothy Plummer nodded. 'No one knows who the fountain-head is, nor even if there is one, nor where the organization begins and ends. No man goes by his proper name, and each has two other Brothers - one on his right hand and one on his left, so to speak - with whom he shares information, gathered from Heaven alone knows what sources; a rag-bag of rumour and gossip from which every man picks such items as he thinks he can sell, and for which he believes he can find a customer. And that is the sum total of my knowledge of the Brotherhood and probably as much as anyone knows. Thaddeus Morgan, or whatever his rightful name was, was known to my predecessor, His Grace's previous Spy-Master, and was necessarily made known to me. And very useful he's been,' he added bitterly, 'worth his weight in gold. He will be sorely missed.'
    'Someone else will no doubt take his place,' Lionel said drily, 'once his death becomes noised abroad. You have only to wait patiently, Tim, and you will be approached.
    As, of course, will be the Spy-Masters of King Edward, my lord Rivers, His Grace of Clarence...'
    'I don't understand,' I interrupted. 'You mean that all these people know that Duke Richard's life is under threat? Why then does the king do nothing about it?'  
    'No, no!' Timothy Hummer finished his wine and