13.5 Hùi-tî hoat-àn, siáng tit-tio̍h lī-ek?
[Carradine:] “Tio̍h. Lí tong-jiân tio̍h. Nā iâu-giân móa thiⁿ poe, Richard tiāⁿ-tio̍h ē chhut-bīn hóⁿ-jīn. Hô-hóng, chit-ê iâu-giân pí chhōa ti̍t-lú chò bó͘ koh-khah khióng-pò͘ neh.”
“Tio̍h; sū-si̍t-siōng, tī hit-ê nî-tāi, chí-iàu tit-tio̍h hí-khó, tō ē-sái kap ti̍t-lú kiat-hun. Chiū góa só͘ chai, hoān-sè chit-chūn mā ē-sái. He m̄-sī goán Yard ê gia̍p-bū. Ē-tàng khak-tēng ê sī, Richard nā khéng chiah hùi-khì khì hoán-pok kiat-hun ê liû-giân, nā chin-chiàⁿ ū bô͘-sat ê liû-giân, i tiāⁿ-tio̍h ē khai koh-khah chē khùi-la̍t khì ah-lo̍h he. Kiat-lūn chin bêng-hián: hit-sî kin-pún bô phó͘-phiàn ê liû-giân kóng gín-á sit-chong a̍h hông sat-hāi ê tāi-chì.”
“Put-kò sī tī Fens Pêⁿ-iûⁿ kap Franse tiong-kan lâu-tāng ê sèx sió chúi-kau.”
“Put-kò sī tī Fens Pêⁿ-iûⁿ kap Franse tiong-kan lâu-tāng ê sèx sió chúi-kau. Kui-ê kio̍k-sè khòaⁿ bē-chhut gín-á ū siáⁿ hó tam-iu ê. Góa ê ì-sù sī: tī kéng-chhat ê tiau-cha, lí ē khì chhōe hiâm-gî lâng ê hêng-ûi ū siáⁿ ī-siông. Sī án-chóaⁿ chóng-sī tī pài-sì àm khì khòaⁿ tiān-iáⁿ ê X, koat-tēng hit-àm m̄-khì? Sī án-chóaⁿ Y chiàu-siông bé óng-hôe phiò, soah hoán-siông bô iōng hôe-têng? Chhin-chhiūⁿ chit-khoán ê tāi-chì. M̄-koh tī Richard kè-sêng ông-ūi kàu i sí chit-tōaⁿ téx ê kî-kan, ta̍k-lâng ê hêng-ûi lóng kài chèng-siông. Cha-po͘ gín-á ê lāu-bú kiâⁿ-chhut pī-lān-só͘, kap Richard hô-kái. Cha-bó͘ gín-á hôe-ho̍k yin ê kiong-têng seng-oa̍h. Cha-po͘ gín-á tāi-khài mā kè-sio̍k he in-ūi lāu-pē kòe-sin chiām-thêng ê kong-khò. In ê chek-peh kap piáu hiaⁿ-tī chí-mōe tī Gī-hōe ū chit-ūi, tiōng-iàu kah York Tìn siá-phe hō͘ in. It-chhè lóng sī kài chèng-siông, hô-pêng ê kéng-siōng, sûi-lâng bô-êng ka-tī ê tāi-chì, oân-choân bô iàⁿ-jiah hián-sī ka-têng tiong tú hoat-seng kòe kiaⁿ-thiⁿ tāng-tē koh bô pit-iàu ê bô͘-sat.”
“Khòaⁿ khí-lâi góa iáu-sī ē-sái siá hit-pún chheh neh, Grant Ss.”
“Lí tong-jiân ē siá. Lí m̄-nā tio̍h kiù Richard mài hông húi-pòng, koh tio̍h sé-chheng Elizabeth Woodville ê o͘-miâ, its kóng yi ūi-tio̍h 700 merk nî-kim kap tin-thiap, khoan-iông thâi kiáⁿ ê oan-siû lâng ê chit-ê tāi-chì.”
“Tong-jiân, góa bē kā chheh siá liáu, lâu he bô kái-koat. Siōng-bô góa tio̍h ū chi̍t-ê koan-hē hit nn̄g-ê gín-á āu-lâi án-chóaⁿ ê lí-lūn.”
“Lí ē ū lah.”
Carradine ê un-hô ba̍k-kng ùi Thames Hô téng he ná mî-á ê sè-lúi hûn-ang sóa-khui, kō͘ gî-būn ê ba̍k-sek khòaⁿ Grant.
“Sī án-chóaⁿ hit-chióng kháu-khì?” i mn̄g. “Sī án-chóaⁿ lí khòaⁿ khí-lâi ná thau-chia̍h cream ê niau-á [the àm-sóng]?”
“Hmh, lí bô tī-leh hit kúi-kang, góa it-ti̍t àn-chiàu kéng-chhat pān-àn ê lō͘-sòaⁿ teh su-khó.”
“Kéng-chhat ê lō͘-sòaⁿ?”
“Tio̍h. Siáng tit-tio̍h lī-ek, téngx hiah-ê. Lán í-keng hoat-hiān, gín-á sí tùi Richard lâi kóng, chi̍t-sut-á hó-chhù to bô. Só͘-í lán kè-sio̍k koan-chhat, tī chit-chióng chêng-hêng, siáng tit-tio̍h lī-ek? Che tō sī ‘Ông-khoân Hoat-àn’ hoat-hui chok-iōng ê só͘-chāi.”
“He ‘Ông-khoân Hoat-àn’ kap bô͘-sat ū siáⁿ koan-hē?”
“Henry VII chhōa hit nn̄g-ê cha-po͘ gín-á ê tōa-chí Elizabeth chò bó͘.”
“Tio̍h.”
“Sī ūi-tio̍h an-tah York Phài, hō͘ in chiap-siū i kè-sêng ông-ūi.”
“Tio̍h.”
“Kā ‘Ông-khoân Hoat-àn’ hùi-tî, i hō͘ Elizabeth hôe-ho̍k hun-seng-chú ê ha̍p-hoat sin-hūn.”
“Tong-jiân.”
“Tān, it-tàn gín-á lóng ū ha̍p-hoat sin-hūn, hit nn̄g-ê cha-po͘ gín-á ê kè-sêng sūn-sī chū-tōng pâi tī Elizabeth thâu-chêng. Sū-si̍t-siōng, hùi-tî ‘Ông-khoân Hoat-àn,’ Henry VII téng-î chū-tōng hō͘ hit-ê tōa-hàn cha-po͘ gín-á chiâⁿ-chò England Kok-ông.”
Carradine ê chi̍h tiak chi̍t-siaⁿ, gû-kak kheng ba̍k-kiàⁿ āu-bīn ê ba̍k-chiu hoaⁿ-hí kah teh siám-kng.
“Só͘-í,” Grant kóng, “góa kiàn-gī lán chiàu chit-tiâu lō͘-sòaⁿ tiau-cha lo̍h-khì.”
“Tong-jiân. Lí su-iàu siáⁿ-mih?”
“Góa siūⁿ boeh chai-iáⁿ chēx koan-hē Tyrrel ê jīn-chōe chū-pe̍k. Tān siú-sian, mā sī chòe tiōng-iàu ê, góa boeh chai-iáⁿ iú-koan ê lâng ê hoán-èng, in ū hoat-seng siáⁿ tāi-chì? M̄-sī thiaⁿ kóng ê, sī chin-chiàⁿ ê sū-si̍t. Tō ná chhiūⁿ lán tiau-cha tī Edward hut-jiân sí-bông liáu Richard kè-sêng ông-ūi ê àn-lē án-ne.”
“Chin hó. Lí boeh chai siáⁿ-hòe?”
“Góa boeh chai-iáⁿ hiah-ê York Phài kè-sêng-jîn, Richard pàng in oa̍h kah hóx, seng-koaⁿ hoat-châi ê lâng, āu-lâi lóng án-chóaⁿ ah? Múi chi̍t-ê lâng lóng ài-boeh chai. Lí ū hoat-tō͘ pang góa chò bô?”
“Tong-jiân. He sī ki-pún tek.”
“Góa koh siūⁿ boeh ke liáu-kái Tyrrel chit-ê lâng. Góa sī kóng i ê pún-lâng. I sī siáng, chò kòe siáⁿ-hòe.”
“Góa ē khì chò.” Carradine khiā khí-lâi, bē-su boeh chhiong-hong ê khì-sè, chi̍t-sî hō͘ Grant kiò-sī i boeh liú gōa-thò ah. “Grant Ss, góa chin kám-siā lí it-chhè che... che...”
“Che chin chhù-bī koh hó-sńg?”
“Tán lí khong-ho̍k chhut-īⁿ, góa boeh... góa boeh... góa boeh chhōa lí khì London Thah se̍hx leh.”
“Put-jû chē chûn khì Greenwich óng-hôe. Goán chit-ê tó-kok Bîn-cho̍k tùi kiâⁿ-chûn kài jia̍t-chêng neh.”
“In kó͘-kè lí tio̍h koh gōa-kú chiah ē-tit lo̍h bîn-chhn̂g, lí chai bô?”
“Tāi-khài tī lí chah kè-sêng-jîn kap Tyrrel ê siau-sit koh tńg-lâi chìn-chêng, góa tō í-keng ē-sái lo̍h-chhn̂g ah neh.”
--
13.5 廢除法案, siáng 得著利益?
[Carradine:] “著. 你 當然著. 若謠言 滿天飛, Richard 定著會 出面否認. 何況, 這个謠言 比 娶姪女 做某 閣較恐怖 neh.”
“著; 事實上, tī 彼个年代, 只要 得著許可, tō 會使 kap 姪女 結婚. 就 我 所知, 凡勢 這陣 mā 會使. He 毋是 阮 Yard ê 業務. 會當 確定 ê 是, Richard 若肯 chiah 費氣 去反駁 結婚 ê 流言, 若 真正有 謀殺 ê 流言, 伊 定著會 開 閣較濟 氣力 去 壓落 he. 結論 真明顯: 彼時 根本無 普遍 ê 流言 講 囡仔 失蹤 a̍h hông 殺害 ê 代誌.”
“不過是 tī Fens 平陽 kap Franse 中間 流動 ê sèx 小水溝.”
“不過是 tī Fens 平陽 kap Franse 中間 流動 ê sèx 小水溝. 規个局勢 看袂出 囡仔 有啥 好擔憂 ê. 我 ê 意思 是: tī 警察 ê 調查, 你 會去揣 嫌疑人 ê 行為 有啥 異常. 是按怎 總是 tī 拜四暗 去看電影 ê X, 決定 彼暗 毋去? 是按怎 Y 照常買 往回票, 煞 反常 無用 回程? 親像 這款 ê 代誌. 毋過 tī Richard 繼承王位 到 伊 死 chit 段 téx ê 期間, 逐人 ê 行為 lóng kài 正常. 查埔囡仔 ê 老母 行出 避難所, kap Richard 和解. 查某囡仔 回復 姻 ê 宮廷生活. 查埔囡仔 大概 mā 繼續 he 因為 老爸過身 暫停 ê 功課. In ê 叔伯 kap 表 兄弟姊妹 tī 議會 有職位, 重要 kah York 鎮 寫批 hō͘ in. 一切 lóng 是 kài 正常, 和平 ê 景象, 隨人 無閒 ka-tī ê 代誌, 完全 無影跡 顯示 家庭中 拄 發生過 驚天動地 koh 無必要 ê 謀殺.”
“看起來 我猶是 會使寫 彼本冊 neh, Grant Ss.”
“你當然 會寫. 你毋但 著 救 Richard 莫 hông 誹謗, koh 著 洗清 Elizabeth Woodville ê 烏名, its 講她 為著 700 merk 年金 kap 津貼, 寬容 刣囝 ê 冤仇人 ê 這个 代誌.”
“當然, 我袂 kā 冊 寫了, 留 he 無解決. 上無 我著有 一个 關係 hit 兩个囡仔 後來 按怎 ê 理論.”
“你會有 lah.”
Carradine ê 溫和目光 ùi Thames 河 頂 he ná 棉仔 ê 細蕊 雲尪 徙開, kō͘ 疑問 ê 目色 看 Grant.
“是按怎 彼種口氣?” 伊問. “是按怎 你看起來 ná 偷食 cream ê 貓仔 [teh 暗爽]?”
“Hmh, 你 無 tī-leh hit 幾工, 我一直 按照 警察 辦案 ê 路線 teh 思考.”
“警察 ê 路線?”
“著. Siáng 得著利益, téngx hiah-ê. 咱 已經發現, 囡仔死 對 Richard 來講, 一屑仔 好處 to 無. 所以 咱 繼續觀察, tī 這種情形, siáng 得著利益? Che tō 是 ‘王權法案’ 發揮 作用 ê 所在.”
“He ‘王權法案’ kap 謀殺 有啥 關係?”
“Henry VII 娶 hit 兩个 查埔囡仔 ê 大姊 Elizabeth 做某.”
“著.”
“是為著 安搭 York 派, hō͘ in 接受 伊 繼承王位.”
“著.”
“Kā ‘王權法案’ 廢除, 伊 hō͘ Elizabeth 回復 婚生子 ê 合法身份.”
“當然.”
“但, 一旦囡仔 lóng 有 合法身份, hit 兩个 查埔囡仔 ê 繼承順序 自動 排 tī Elizabeth 頭前. 事實上, 廢除 ‘王權法案,’ Henry VII 等於 自動 hō͘ 彼个 大漢 查埔囡仔 成做 England 國王.”
Carradine ê 舌 擉一聲, 牛角框 目鏡 後面 ê 目睭 歡喜 kah teh 閃光.
“所以,” Grant 講, “我建議 咱 照 chit 條路線 調查 落去.”
“當然. 你需要 啥物?”
“我想欲 知影 chēx 關係 Tyrrel ê 認罪自白. 但 首先, mā 是 最重要 ê, 我欲 知影 有關 ê 人 ê 反應, in 有發生 啥代誌? 毋是 聽講 ê, 是真正 ê 事實. Tō ná 像 咱調查 tī Edward 忽然 死亡了 Richard 繼承王位 ê 案例 án-ne.”
“真好. 你欲知 啥貨?”
“我欲 知影 hiah-ê York 派 繼承人, Richard 放 in 活 kah hóx, 升官發財 ê 人, 後來 lóng 按怎 ah? 每一个人 lóng 愛欲知. 你有法度 幫我做 無?”
“當然. He 是 基本 tek.”
“我 koh 想欲 ke 了解 Tyrrel 這个人. 我是講 伊 ê 本人. 伊是 siáng, 做過 啥貨.”
“我會去做.” Carradine 徛起來, 袂輸 欲衝鋒 ê 氣勢, 一時 hō͘ Grant 叫是 伊欲 鈕外套 ah. “Grant Ss, 我真 感謝你 一切 che... che...”
“Che 真趣味 koh 好耍?”
“等你 康復 出院, 我欲... 我欲... 我欲 𤆬你 去 London 塔 se̍hx leh.”
“不如 坐船去 Greenwich 往回. 阮這个 島國民族 對行船 kài 熱情 neh.”
“In 估計 你著 koh 偌久 才會得 落眠床, 你知無?”
“大概 tī 你扎 繼承人 kap Tyrrel ê 消息 koh 轉來 進前, 我 tō已經 會使 落床 ah neh.”
--
13.5
‘Yes. Of course you’re right. Richard would have made a public denial of the rumour if the rumour was general. After all, it was a much more horrifying one than the one that he was going to marry his niece.’
‘Yes; actually you could get a dispensation to marry your niece in those days. Perhaps you still can, for all I know. That’s not my department at the Yard. What is certain is that if Richard went to such lengths to contradict the marriage rumour then he most certainly would have gone to much greater lengths to put a stop to the murder one, if it had existed. The conclusion is inevitable: there was no general rumour of disappearance or foul play where the boys were concerned.’
‘Just a thin little trickle between the Fens and France.’
‘Just a thin little trickle between the Fens and France. Nothing in the picture suggests any worry about the boys. I mean: in a police investigation you look for any abnormalities in behaviour among the suspects in a crime. Why did X, who always goes to the movies on a Thursday night, decide on that night of all nights not to go? Why did Y take a return half as usual and very unusually not use it? That sort of thing. But in the short time between Richard’s succession and his death everyone[Pg 174] behaves quite normally. The boys’ mother comes out of sanctuary and makes her peace with Richard. The girls resume their court life. The boys are presumably still doing the lessons that their father’s death had interrupted. Their young cousins have a place on the Council and are of sufficient importance for the town of York to be addressing letters to them. It’s all quite a normal, peaceful scene, with everyone going about their ordinary business, and no suggestion anywhere that a spectacular and unnecessary murder has just taken place in the family.’
‘It looks as if I might write that book after all, Mr Grant.’
‘Most certainly you will write it. You have not only Richard to rescue from calumny; you have to clear Elizabeth Woodville of the imputation of condoning her sons’ murder for seven hundred merks a year and perks.’
‘I can’t write the book and leave it in the air like that, of course. I’ll have to have at least a theory as to what became of the boys.’
‘You will.’
Carradine’s mild gaze came away from the small woolly clouds over the Thames and considered Grant with a question in it.
‘Why that tone?’ he asked. ‘Why are you looking like a cat with cream?’
‘Well, I’ve been proceeding along police lines. During those empty days while I was waiting for you to turn up again.’
‘Police lines?’
‘Yes. Who benefits, and all that. We’ve discovered that it wouldn’t be a pin’s-worth of advantage to Richard[Pg 175] that the boys should die. So we go on looking round to see who, in that case, it would benefit. And this is where Titulus Regius comes in.’
‘What has Titulus Regius got to do with the murder?’
‘Henry VII married the boys’ eldest sister. Elizabeth.’
‘Yes.’
‘By way of reconciling the Yorkists to his occupation of the throne.’
‘Yes.’
‘By repealing Titulus Regius, he made her legitimate.’
‘Sure.’
‘But by making the children legitimate he automatically made the two boys heir to the throne before her. In fact, by repealing Titulus Regius he made the elder of the two King of England.’
Carradine made a little clicking sound with his tongue. His eyes behind their horn-rims were glowing with pleasure.
‘So,’ said Grant, ‘I propose that we proceed with investigation along those lines.’
‘Sure. What do you want?’
‘I want to know a lot more about that confession of Tyrrel’s. But first, and most of all, I’d like to know how the people concerned acted. What happened to them; not what anyone reported of anyone. Just as we did in the case of Richard’s succession after Edward’s unexpected death.’
‘Fine. What do you want to know?’
‘I want to know what became of all the York heirs that Richard left so alive and well and prosperous. Every single one of them. Can you do that for me?’
‘Sure. That’s elementary.’
[Pg 176]‘And I could bear to know more about Tyrrel. About the man himself, I mean. Who he was, and what he had done.’
‘I’ll do that.’ Carradine got up with such an on-with-the-charge air that for one moment Grant thought that he was actually going to button his coat. ‘Mr Grant, I’m so grateful to you for all this—this——’
‘This fun and games?’
‘When you’re on your feet again, I’ll—I’ll—I’ll take you round the Tower of London.’
‘Make it Greenwich-and-back by boat. Our island Race have a passion for the nautical.’
‘How long do they reckon it will be before you’re out of bed, do you know?’
‘I’ll probably be up before you come back with the news about the heirs and Tyrrel.’
--
[Pg 177]
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