“Speak to
me, Brother Blaine,” said Sister Agatha Chrustie. “Unburden that pain.”
“I can’t
tell ye what I don’t know, Sister Chrustie. My memory is somewhat rusty.”
“You were
heard talking in your sleep. Hardly surprising, as it must be a terrible secret
to keep.”
“It’s just a
vision of the man who was slain. A nightmare I’ve been havin’ again and again.”
“But surely
if you’ve been having this recurring nightmare, it’s absolute proof that you
were there.”
“I can’t
honestly swear that I wasn’t there, but killin’ a man, I wouldn’t dare. What
about the other pair?”
“You know as
well as I do that they’re not here, but it is very suspicious that they felt
the need to disappear. Or perhaps they are dead too. Did they threaten to
expose you?”
“No, that’s
not true!”
“Come on,
Brother Blaine. Don’t pretend. The guilt is making you go round the bend.”
“It has to
be Borium and Truman, don’t ye see? That’s why they decided to flee.”
“Would it be
fair to say that you can’t control your aggression?”
“It
sometimes happens after a drinkin’ session.”
“Maybe your
aggravation was caused by being in a state of intoxication. And where is
Ilirium? Is he also dead due to your drunken delirium?”
“No, Ilirium
was sold. I think it was because he was gettin’ too cold.”
“You’re not
making much sense. Who would commit such an offence?
“It was me.
The poor man was tied naked to a tree.”
“And how did
that come to be?”
“Borium and
Truman involved me in their tomfoolery.”
“Ah, so they
had everyone think that he was dead, and when Grover requested the body, they
had to use the brother instead. Brother Blaine, I’ll be frank. I don’t think
that you are guilty of murder, but you took part in their prank. And for that
association, your punishment will be flagellation.”
“To where do
I go for the punishment and pain?”
“To Maude
the bawd in Brothel Lane. Tell her you would like to see Mistress Paine.”
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