Lamentation

‘Show him in.’ I put down my quill, frowning. He must have come to collect the Slanning papers. They were on the table next to my desk. I would have expected him to send a clerk, though. We had had a passage of arms a year before, and I knew things about Vincent Dyrick that gave him an interest in not pushing me too far. Nonetheless, he was a man who loved a fight. I could imagine Isabel looking for the most aggressive barrister available. Someone who did not mind acting for difficult clients with hopeless cases, so long as they paid well. That fitted Dyrick exactly. I knew from experience that he would be relentless in trying to make something of the case; probably even persuade himself that her cause was just.

Dyrick came in with his confident, athletic step, his green eyes sharp as ever in his thin, handsome face, strands of red hair showing under his coif. He bowed briefly and gave me his sardonic smile.

‘God give you good morning, Brother Shardlake.’

‘And you, Brother Dyrick. Please sit.’

He did so, folding his hands in his lap.

I continued, civil but unsmiling, ‘So, you have taken Mistress Slanning’s case? I have the papers ready.’

‘Good. It is an interesting matter.’

‘Hopeless, I think. But profitable.’

‘Indeed, yes.’ He smiled again. ‘Brother Shardlake, I know that you and I have reason to keep apart, but — well — sometimes by chance we will find ourselves on opposing sides in a case.’

‘My involvement in this one is over. Was it you who prompted her to complain to the Inn authorities?’ I asked abruptly. ‘The complaint is nonsense.’

He met my gaze. ‘Actually, since you ask, no. I told her she should concentrate on the case. But she was insistent.’

‘Mistress Slanning is certainly that.’ I thought, he is telling the truth there. As far as the case was concerned, there was no advantage in making a complaint, and while Dyrick would like to make trouble for me, neither would he push matters too far.

‘She is most displeased with your conduct of matters,’ he said in a tone of mock reproof.

‘I know.’ I pushed the bundle of documents over to him. ‘Here are the papers, and I wish you joy of them.’

He laid the bundle on his lap. ‘A lot of meat on this chicken,’ he said appreciatively. He switched his look to one of disapproval. ‘Mistress Slanning tells me you conspired against her with her brother’s lawyer, Master Coleswyn. You have been a guest at his house. Further, she claims that you guided her to an expert for an opinion on the wall painting at the centre of this case, who was unsympathetic. She says this man, Adam, was also in collusion with you and Coleswyn. It would help me in representing her if you could give me your response to those charges.’

For a brief moment I considered offering the sort of earthy response Barak might have made. Instead I spoke calmly. ‘You will find she chose the expert herself, from the list I provided, without asking my advice.’

He inclined his head. ‘Mistress Slanning also says that, like Coleswyn and her brother, you are an extreme religious radical. I fear she has insisted, despite my opposition, on raising that in court in September. I thought I should warn you.’

Dyrick fixed me with those cold green eyes. I answered, an edge in my voice, ‘I am no extreme radical, as you well know.’

He shrugged. ‘Well, it is nothing to me either way, but it is not the sort of accusation to have made in public these days. I should warn you, she has put that in her complaint to Lincoln’s Inn as well.’

‘You are right. It is not sensible to bandy around accusations of religious extremism in these days. For anyone.’ There was a warning note in my voice. Dyrick possessed a reckless streak, a lack of sensible judgement, and enjoyed making trouble for trouble’s sake.

He inclined his head again. ‘I thought the heresy hunt was over.’

‘One can never be sure.’

‘Well, perhaps you know more of that than I. You have contacts at court, I remember.’

‘Brother Dyrick,’ I began, ‘you must know this case is nonsense, the expert opinion clear and decisive. And my opponent Master Coleswyn, in case you are fishing for information about him, is a clever man, and a reasonable one. In my opinion both Isabel Slanning and Edward Cotterstoke have no aim other than to hurt each other. It would be in everyone’s interest if the matter were settled quickly.’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘I think you know as well as I, Brother Shardlake, that Mistress Slanning will never settle. Never.’ He was right. A picture came into my mind of Isabel’s face; lined, bitter, implacable.

Dyrick rose, slipping the file under his arm. He patted it smugly. ‘As I said, there is a lot of meat on this chicken. I came to tell you, I will fight it hard; but I will not encourage Mistress Slanning in throwing around accusations of heresy. I am well aware how dangerous that is. As for her complaint to the Inn, I will have to leave you to deal with that.’

I nodded. I was glad he had some sense at least.