n； why have we not been instructed？ The little saint is here； not in England。 She owes us the courtesy of kinsmen。 Dare you say she is turned traitor？ Is there not a church in Wales； a Celtic church such as she served？ What did she know of yours？ I do not believe she would speak to you and not to us。 You have been deceived by devils！ Winifred never said word！〃
A dozen voices took up the challenge； hallooing applause for their most articulate spokesman； who had put his finger on the very pulse of their resentment。 Even the very system of bishoprics galled the devout adherents of the old； saintly Celtic church； that had no worldly trappings； courted no thrones； but rather withdrew from the world into the blessed solitude of thought and prayer。 The murmur became a subdued rumbling； a thunder； a roar。 Prior Robert； none too wisely； raised his manding voice to shout them down。
〃She said no word to you； for you had left her forgotten and unhonoured。 She has turned to us for recognition； when she could get none from you。〃
〃That is not true；〃 said Rhisiart； 〃though you in your ignorance may believe it。 The saint is a good Welshwoman； and knows her countrymen。 We are not quick in respect to rank or riches； we do not doff and bow and scrape when any man flaunts himself before us。 We are blunt and familiar even in praise。 What we value we value in the heart； and this Welsh girl knows it。 She would never leave her own unfurnished； even if we have neglected to trim her grave。 It is the spirit that leans to us； and is felt by us as guardian and kin。 But these bones you e hunting are also hers。 Not ours； not yours！ Until she tells us she wills to have them moved； here they stay。 We should be damned else！〃
It was the bitterest blow of Prior Robert's life to know that he had met his match and overmatch in eloquence and argument； here in a half…barbaric Welsh landholder； no great lord； but a mere squireling elevated among his inferiors to a status he barely rated； at least in Norman eyes。 It was the difference between them that Robert thought in hierarchies； and Rhisiart thought in blood…ties； high and low of one mind and in one kinship； and not a man among them aware of inferiority； only of his due place in a united family。
The thunder was one voice now； demanding and assured； but it was one man who had called it into being。 Prior Robert； well aware that a single adversary confronted him； subdued his angry tones； and opted for the wisdom of the dove； and the subtlety of single bat。 He raised his long； elegant arms； from which the wide sleeves of his habit fell free； and smiled on the assembly； turning the smile at its most pelling and fatherly upon Rhisiart。
〃e Brother Cadfael； say this for me to the lord Rhisiart； that it is all too easy for us； who have the same devotion at heart； to disagree about the means。 It is better to speak quietly； man to man； and avoid the deformation of anger。 Lord Rhisiart； I beg you to e apart with me； and let us debate this matter in quietude； and then you shall have liberty to speak out what you will。 And having had my say fairly with you； I will say no word further to challenge what you have to impart to your people。〃
〃That is fair and generous；〃 said Rhisiart promptly to this offer； and stood forward with ingenuous pleasure from the crowd； which parted to let him through。
〃We will not take even the shadow of dissension into the church；〃 said Prior Robert。 〃Will you e with us into Father Huw's house？〃 All those bright； sullen； roused eyes followed them in through the low doorway； and clung there to wait for them to e forth again。 Not a man of the Welsh moved from his place。 They trusted the voice that had spoken for them hitherto to speak for them still。
In the small； wood…scented room； dark after the brightness of the day outside； Prior Robert faced his opponent with a calm and reasonable face。
〃You have spoken well；〃 he said； 〃and I mend your faith； and the high value you set on the saint； for so do we value her highly。 And at her own wish； for so we believe； we have e here； solely to serve her。 Both church and state are with us； and you know better than I the duty a nobleman of Wales owes to both。 But I would not willingly leave Gwytherin with a sense of grievance； for I do know that by Saint Winifred's departure Gwytherin's loss is great。 That we own； and I would wish to make due reparation。〃
〃Reparation to Gwytherin？〃 repeated Rhisiart； when this was translated to him。 〃I do not understand how。。。〃
〃And to you；〃 said Robert softly and matter…of…factly； 〃if you will withdraw your opposition； for then I feel sure all your fellows will do the same； and sensibly accept what bishop and prince decree。〃
It occurred to Cadfael as he interpreted this； even before the prior began the slow； significant motion of one long hand into the breast of his habit； that Robert was about to make the most disastrous miscalculation of his life。 But Rhisiart's face remained dubious and aloof； quite without understanding； as the prior drew from his bosom a soft leather bag drawn up with a cord at the neck； and laid it on the table； pushing it gently across until it rested against Rhisiart's right hand。 Its progress over the rough boards gave out a small chinking sound。 Rhisiart eyed it suspiciously； and lifted unprehending eyes to stare at the prior。 〃I don't understand you。 What is this？〃
〃It is yours；〃 said Robert； 〃if you will persuade the parish to agree to give up the saint。〃
Too late he felt the unbelieving coldness in the air； and sensed the terrible error he had made。 Hastily he did his best to recover some of the ground lost。 〃To be used as you think best for Gwytherin…a great sum。。。〃 It was useless Cadfael let it lie in silence。
〃Money！〃 said Rhisiart in the most extraordinary of tones； at once curious； derisory and revolted。 He knew about money； of course； and even understood its use； but as an aberration in human relations。 In the rural parts of Wales； which indeed were almost all of Wales； it was hardly used at all； and hardly needed。 Provision was made in the code for all necessary exchange of goods and services； nobody was so poor as to be without the means of living； and beggars were unknown。 The kinship took care of its helpless members； and every house was open as of right。 The minted coins that had seeped in through the marches were a pointless eccentricity。 Only after a moment of scornful wonder did it occur to Rhisiart that in this case they were also a mortal insult。 He snatched away his hand from the affronting touch； and the blood surged into his face darkly red； suffusing even the whites of his eyes。
〃Money？ You dare offer to buy our saint？ To buy me？ 1 was in two minds about you； and about what I ought to do； but now； by God； I know what to think！ You had your omens。 Now I have mine。〃
〃You mistake me！〃 cried the prior； stumbling after his blunder and seeing it outdistance him at every breath。 〃One cannot buy what is holy； I am only offering a gift to Gwytherin； in gratitude and pensation for their sacrifice…〃
〃Mine； you said it was；〃 Rhisiart reminded him； glowing copper bright with dignified rage。 〃Mine； if I persuaded。。。！ Not a gift！ A bribe！ This foolish stuff you hoard about you more dearly far than your reputations； don't think you can use it to buy my conscience。 I know now that I was right to doubt you。 You have said your say； now I will say mine to those people without； as you promised me I should； without hindrance。〃
〃No； wait！〃 The prior was in such agitation that he actually reached out a hand and caught his opponent by the sleeve。 〃Do nothing in haste！ You have mistaken my meaning indeed； and if I was wrong even to offer an alms to Gwytherin； I am sorry for it。 But do not call it…〃
Rhisiart withdrew himself angrily from the detaining clasp； and cut off the protest curtly； wheeling on Cadfael。 〃Tell him he need not be afraid。 I should be ashamed to tell my people that a prior of Shrewsbury tried to corrupt me with a bribe。 I don't deal in that kind of warfare。 But where I stand…that they shall know； and you； too。〃 And he strode out from them； and Father Huw put out a warning hand to prevent any of them from attempting to impede or follow him