“Wat, repeat thy story,” said Hamlyn quietly. “I have kept thy proof safely, though truly until this day I knew not what it was worth.”
Thus adjured Wat, though finding it hard to keep down his excitement, told what he had to tell straightforwardly and well. He related how, having his suspicions raised, he had warned Hugh to beware of Roger, and how on the day of Gervase’s illness the design had disappeared. That then it had come into his mind to advise Hugh to draw it again, to place a date upon it and give it into Mistress Prothasy’s keeping. That she had held it safely until Master John Hamlyn took it from her, and that from the day of the date Hugh had never had it in his hands nor so much as seen it.
This was all, but with the board before them, it was evidence which could hardly be strengthened, and if more were needed, Roger’s white, fear-stricken face supplied it. There was a significant silence, broken at last by the bishop’s voice.
“Where is Hugh Bassett?” he asked.
“Now, in good sooth, was ever anything so foolish as that he should have hidden himself as he hath done?” whispered the provoked Wat to his neighbour. But at that moment the circle of interested citizens opened, and Hugh, looking flushed and disturbed, came forward, while behind him were Elyas and Joan.
“Hugh Bassett,” said the bishop, pointing to the board, “is that thy work?”
“Ay, my lord,” he answered in a low voice.
Again a pause.
“Thou hast heard the relation of its keeping?”
“Nay, my lord, I have but this moment come into the church.”