The Dean, when summoned to the Chapter House room, came with his dignity pulled about him like a cope. He bowed curtly to Lomas, nodded to Makepeace, and ignored Nichols entirely.

“I assume,” he said, “that you have discovered something new in Mr Sturmey’s… relics, and wish now to confront me with it.”

“You assume correctly,” Lomas said. “Please sit, Mr Dean.”

Kilbey sat. His eyes went at once to the black book on the table. He flinched slightly, then recovered.

“So,” he said. “The prodigal returns.”

“It does,” Lomas said. “Though not, I assure you, by its own choice. A chorister found it where Mr Sturmey had hidden it and, after some days of guilty reflection, brought it—via his mother&...

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