A Masterly Murder Read Online Free PDF

Langelee in alarm. ‘He sounds like one of those thinking types.’
    ‘This is a University,’ replied Michael under his breath. ‘We are supposed to harbour “thinking types” in our Colleges.’
    ‘Lincoln,’ mused William, regarding Suttone with suspicion. ‘That is a heathen place, I hear.’
    ‘It cannot be heathen,’ said Bartholomew, smiling. ‘It has a magnificent cathedral.’
    ‘So does Paris,’ replied William, pursing his lips as ifno more needed to be said on that matter. He turned his attention back to Suttone. ‘Runham’s book-bearer comes from Lincoln.
     You may find you have mutual acquaintances.’
    ‘Excellent!’ began Suttone. ‘I will …’
    ‘I hardly think that my wine-loving book-bearer and a Carmelite friar would have
     enjoyed the same company,’ said Runham dryly.
    ‘Especially not now,’ muttered Michael, exchanging a glance with Bartholomew as they both thought about the sorry figure found
     dead on the river bank.
    ‘Actually, Justus is—’ began Bartholomew.
    ‘Runham is right. Justus is a man more fond of taverns than churches,’ said Langelee,
     reaching for his own cup, as if in sympathy. ‘So, unless you like your ale, Suttone, I doubt you will have come across each
     other.’
    ‘And John Clippesby, our second new Fellow, hails from Huntingdon,’ said Kenyngham, speaking quickly before the conversation
     ran away from his introductions completely. ‘He will teach astronomy and music.’
    ‘
Music?
’ queried William in disapprobation, making it sound like some disgusting vice. ‘We have never had anyone teaching music at
     Michaelhouse before.’
    ‘Then it is about time someone started,’ said Father Paul, smiling sightlessly to where he thought the Dominican might be
     located. ‘Music can be a wonderful thing.’
    The other Fellows said nothing, but none of them looked at Michael, whose choir had managed to put most of them off that most
     noble of arts. The students murmured their own greetings to the two newcomers, to which Suttone responded with a friendly
     smile and Clippesby’s intense face assumed the kind of expression he might have used had someone accused him of molesting
     his mother. Bartholomew wondered whether he was entirely sane – it would not be the firsttime that a madman had been foisted on the University by an Order that did not know what else to do with him. Needless to
     say, Kenyngham did not notice Clippesby’s strange reaction to the students’ affable greetings, and continued with his announcement.
    ‘Masters Suttone and Clippesby will be formally admitted to the Society of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, the Blessed Virgin
     Mary and St Michael – to give us our official name – on Saturday evening. That is in two days … no three days …’ He
     frowned in thought.
    ‘It is the day after tomorrow, Master,’ said William irritably. ‘Today is Thursday.’
    Kenyngham nodded his thanks. ‘And we will celebrate the occasion with a feast.’
    Michael almost choked. ‘A feast? You cannot just snap your fingers and have a feast! It takes planning and preparation to
     arrange a decent feast. All we will have on Saturday will be more of this miserable bread and a double helping of this even
     more miserable stew. We need at least a week to organise something worthwhile.’
    ‘And I should like to take this opportunity to give you a little more news,’ Kenyngham went on, oblivious to Michael’s displeasure.
     ‘I propose to resign as Master of Michaelhouse on Saturday. Our two new members can join our other Fellows – Brother Michael,
     Fathers William and Paul, Doctor Bartholomew, and Masters Runham and Langelee – in selecting one of their number to become
     our next Master.’
    Predictably, the gentle, unassuming Kenyngham was surprised and dismayed by the chaos that erupted following his announcement,
     and was bewildered by the raised voices and objections to his proposed retirement. It took some time to