were not done at once. He had sat three hours last night with ... and
... and ... and ..., [It would be interesting to know who were these
persons.] and they had all declared the same thing. But he said nothing
of the whipping of Master Richard, and I truly believe that he knew
nothing of it.

So the hour for the questioning was fixed at noon, and the place to be
in my lord cardinal's privy parlour.

* * * * *

Now that morning, as I told you, I was no more than usually heavy. I
remembered Master Richard's name before God upon the altar, and at ten
o'clock I went to dinner in the parsonage. It was a very bright hot
day, and I had the windows wide, and listened to the bees that were very
busy in the garden. I remember that I wondered whether they knew aught
of my dear lad, for I hold that they are very near to God, more so than
perhaps any of His senseless creatures, and that is why Holy Church on
Easter Eve says such wonderful things about them, and the work that they
do. [This refers to the _Exultet_ sung by the deacon in the Roman rite
on Holy Saturday.]

For they fashion first wax and then honey. It is the wax that in the
church gives light and honour to God, and it is to the honey-comb that
God's Word is compared by David. [Sir John continues in this strain for
a page or two.]....

It is not strange then that I thought about the bees, and the knowledge
that they have.