He could question Weston, who had undoubtedly been Overbury’s jailer; and if Overbury had been poisoned, could this have happened without the knowledge of Sir Gervase Helwys who, after all, as Lieutenant of the Tower, should know what was happening to his prisoners.

If he were going to look for reasons for Overbury’s death he would more likely find them among the people of some position rather than the underlings.

Sir Gervase had become chief suspect in the mind of Sir Ralph Winwood; and while he was pondering this the Earl of Shrewsbury invited him to his house at Whitehall.

By a strange coincidence, Shrewsbury told him that he wanted him to meet, among others, Sir Gervase Helwys, the Lieutenant of the Tower, a man of many qualities, added Shrewsbury, but stopped short, seeing the expression which crossed Winwood’s face.

“You do not agree?” asked Shrewsbury.

“I am in no hurry to meet that man … at a friend’s table.”

“But what is this? I do not understand?”

“First,” said Winwood, “I would like to know that he is not involved in an unpleasant scandal.”

“What scandal?”

“I am thinking of the death of Sir Thomas Overbury. There is a rumor that he died by foul means and as Helwys was Lieutenant of the Tower at that time it seems likely that he was involved.”

“But this is shocking,” cried Shrewsbury.

And when Winwood left him he called at once on Helwys and told him of his conversation with Winwood.

Helwys was horrified. His one idea was to absolve himself from blame. He knew that there had been something very suspicious about Overbury’s death and had been prepared to keep silent in order to please important people. Now he felt the need to break that silence to please Sir Ralph Winwood.