Study of Murder, The (Five Star Mystery Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and I bided my time in the back garden behind the hall. A wooden bench near the house looked over the backlands. There was a vegetable garden, privies, and some open space, as well as a small cottage, a servant’s I guessed. The gardener tended to the vegetables while I looked on.
    Some of the fellows kicked a pig’s bladder around the backspace, as breakfast was finished and they were between lectures. I idly listened to voices wafting out of an open window behind. It seemed they were arguing, about what I could not be sure. At least it was not Donald’s voice, I thought, enjoying the moment of leisure and the rare September sunshine. My eyes closed, and I drifted off.
    I woke as someone sat down next to me. I opened my eyes to see Phillip Woode.
    “I am sorry,” he said. “I did not mean to disturb you.”
    I shrugged my shoulders. “I am just waiting on young Donald. It is no disturbance,” but I was not ready for what he said next.
    “It is so unfair!” he exploded.
    “What is?” I asked, recognizing his voice as one of the ones I had heard from the window.
    “I have always wanted to be a physician. But I cannot attend lectures at other schools until I have my baccalaureate. And I have prepared, I am ready, but that man will not hear my disputation. He refuses to approve me.”
    “Why not just attend the lectures?” I asked, curious as to how these things worked.
    “No, one must be matriculated. That is, the master accepts you and writes your name on his list of approved students. And the master at the other school refuses to accept me until Clarkson approves me.” He glanced at me. “I know the work, I know the arguments, but when it comes to
disputio
, my wits leave me. I can think of nothing to refute the arguments, and my memory takes flight. I know I could be a good physician, but I shall never even get the chance to try.”
    He took a deep breath, struggling for control. “When I think of all my father has sacrificed, to get me here. And I am such a dullard, my wits leave me. Clarkson has said if I cannot dispute properly, he will send me away.”
    “And could you not then attend the medical lectures?”
    Phillip shook his head. “No. The founder of the school here funds me. There are sixteen of us poor scholars.” He looked at me and gave a wry grin. “You can see why it is that I prefer the tavern. Wine lends me wit.”
    “You could dispute when drunk.”
    “Perhaps that might be best. But I am sorry, I have taken your time with my troubles.”
    “It is no problem,” I answered. “But here is my charge.” Donald emerged from the hall and kicked at a clod of dirt on the pathway. “Let us see how his meeting with his tutor went.”
    “Ah, yes,” said Phillip. “Well, I must be away to prepare for this afternoon’s disputes.” And he left.
    “How did it go?” I asked Donald.
    Donald appeared nonchalant. “He’s very learned.”
    “Oh?” I said.
    “He didn’t like my Latin, and bade me study. I hate rhetoric. And grammar. It’s dull, and there’s no point. And I had to wait some time to see him. He wants me to attend lectures. Like a commoner.”
    “Well, that is why your father sent you here, is it not?”
    Donald scowled and kicked at a clump of grass. “I might as well be back at Dumbarton.”
    “Och,”
I said, “surely it’s not as bad as all that. You’re no longer a hostage, and your own grandfather is the royal King of Scotland.” Donald didn’t reply. “Come,” I continued, for I was feeling hungry myself, “let’s go into town, to that tavern. I could do with some food, and you’ve had nothing to eat today yet.”
    Donald assented, and we left the college and made our way into town and down to the tavern. It seemed unnaturally quiet, and Mistress Jakeson served us our ale with red eyes. Again, we did not see Jonetta, and now I wondered at it.
    “Where is your daughter?” I asked, as she brought us bowls of stew.
    Mistress Jakeson stared at me