![神圣职责](/upload/mxprocms/20240613-1/b11cb0422dc94b94367eb07046852815.png)
AtMidsomerPriory,hometoasmallgroupofnuns,MotherThomasAquinasisstrangledand,shortlyafterwards,asetofsilverworth£60,000isfoundtobestolenfromthesafe.SisterCatherine,themostrecentmemberoftheorder,turnsouttobedescendedfromSirAnthonyVertue,whodonatedthepriorytothenunstwocenturiesearlierandBarnabylearnsthatiftheorderisendedshewillinheritthelandandbuildings.FatherBehan,whoheardthenuns’confessionsandhadlongexhortedMotherJulian,theprioress,tosellthepremises,isalsokilledandthemissingsilverturnsup,notstolenbutsoldbyMotherThomasAquinas.ThenBarnabylearnsofanatrocityinAfricathirtyyearsearlierwhereMotherJulianwasamissionary,whichcouldhelphimsolvethecasebutalsoputanendtothesacredtrust.
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