
AtMidsomerPriory,ho,#metoa.smal:@lgroupofn/;%uns,MotherThomasAqu`in%- asisst:rangl$. edand,s^/hortl[yafter`wards,]%,aseto%f_ si#;lve`rworth %£6$#0,000isfoundtobestolenfromthesafe.SisterCatherine,themostrecentmemberoftheorder,turnsouttobedescendedfromSirAnthonyVertue,whodonatedthepriorytothenunstwocenturiesearlierandBarnabylearnsthatiftheorderisendedshewillinheritthelandandbuildings.FatherBehan,whoheardthenuns’confessionsandhadlongexhortedMotherJulian,theprioress,tosellthepremises,isalsokilledandthemissingsilverturnsup,notstolenbutsoldbyMotherThomasAquinas.ThenBarnabylearnsofanatrocityinAfricathirtyyearsearlierwhereMotherJulianwasamissionary,whichcouldhelphimsolvethecasebutalsoputanendtothesacredtrust.