red eve-第26章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


messengers　from　his　Grace　King　Edward。〃

Now　Sir　Geoffrey　changed　his　tone。

〃Your　pardon　if　I　spoke　roughly；　Sir　Hugh；　but　we　poor　Envoys　have　to
do　with　many　rufflers　from　our　own　land。　Enter；　I　pray　you。　My
servants　will　see　to　your　gear　and　horses。　But　first；　what　is　the
trouble　between　you　and　these　fellows？〃

Hugh　told　him　briefly。

〃Ah！〃　he　said；　〃a　common　trick　with　foreigners。　Well　for　you　that
night　had　not　fallen；　since　otherwise　they　might　have　rowed　you　up
some　back　waterway　and　there　done　you　to　death。　The　canals　of　Venice
hide　the　traces　of　many　such　foul　deeds。　Mother　of　Heaven！〃　he　added；
〃why；　this　boatman　is　none　other　than　Giuseppe；　the　noted　bravo；〃　and
he　turned　and　in　Italian　bade　his　servants　seize　the　man。

But　Giuseppe　had　heard　enough。　Springing　into　the　water　he　swam　like　a
duck　for　the　farther　bank　of　the　canal；　and；　gaining　it；　ran　swiftly
for　some　alley；　where　he　vanished。

〃He's　gone；〃　said　Sir　Geoffrey；　〃and　as　well　hunt　with　a　lantern　for　a
rat　in　a　sewer　as　for　him。　Well；　we　have　his　boat；　which　shall　be　sent
to　the　magistrate　with　letters　of　complaint。　Only；　Sir　Hugh；　be
careful　to　wear　mail　when　you　walk　about　at　night；　lest　that　villain
and　his　mates　should　come　to　collect　their　fare　with　a　stiletto。　Now；
enter　and　fear　not　for　your　goods。　My　folk　are　honest。　God's　name！　how
fearful　is　this　heat。　None　have　known　its　like。　Steward；　give　me　your
arm。〃



An　hour　later　and　Hugh；　clad　in　fresh　garments　of　sweet　linen；　bathed
and　shaved；　sat　at　table　in　a　great；　cool　room　with　Sir　Geoffrey　and
his　lady；　a　middle…aged　and　anxious…faced　woman；　while　Grey　Dick　ate
at　a　lower　board　with　certain　of　the　Envoy's　household。

〃I　have　read　the　letters　which　concern　the　business　of　his　Grace　the
King；〃　said　Sir　Geoffrey；　who　was　toying　languidly　with　some　Southern
fruits；　for　he　would　touch　no　meat。　〃They　have　to　do　with　moneys　that
his　Grace　owes　to　great　bankers　of　this　city　but　does　not　yet　find　it
convenient　to　discharge。　I　have　seen　their　like　before；　and　to…morrow
must　deal　with　them　as　best　I　mayno　pleasant　business；　for　these
usurers　grow　urgent；〃　and　he　sighed。　〃But；〃　he　added；　〃the　King　says
that　you；　Sir　Hugh　de　Cressi；　whom　he　names　his　'brave；　trusty　and
most　well　beloved　knight　and　companion　in　war；'〃　and　he　bowed
courteously　to　Hugh；　〃have　another　business　which　he　commands　me　to
forward　by　every　means　in　my　power；　and　that　without　fail。　What　is
this　business；　Sir　Hugh？〃

〃It　is　set　out；　Sir　Geoffrey；　in　a　letter　from　his　Grace　to　the　Doge
of　Venice；　which　I　am　to　ask　you　to　deliver。　Here　it　is。　Be　pleased　to
read　it；　it　is　open。〃

The　Envoy　took　the　letter　and　read　it；　lifting　his　eyebrows　as　he　did
so。

〃By　St。　Mark；he's　the　right　saint　to　swear　by　in　Venice〃he
exclaimed　when　he　had　finished；　〃this　is　a　strange　affair。　You　have
travelled　hither　to　offer　single　combat　to　Edmund　Acour；　Count　of
Noyon　and　Seigneur　of　Cattrina。　The　Doge　is　urged　by　his　friendship　to
the　throne　of　England　to　bring　about　this　combat　to　the　death；　seeing
that　de　Noyon　has　broken　his　oath　of　homage；　has　plotted　to　overthrow
King　Edward；　has　fought　against　him　and　that　therefore　you　are　his
Grace's　champion　as　well　as　the　avenger　of　certain　private　wrongs
which　you　will　explain。　That's　the　letter。　Well；　I　think　the　Doge　will
listen　to　it；　because　he　scarce　dare　do　otherwise　who　wishes　no
quarrel　with　our　country　just　now　when　it　is　victorious。　Also　this　de
Noyon；　whom　we　call　Cattrina　here；　has　allied　himself　with　certain
great　men　of　the　Republic；　with　whom　he　is　connected　by　blood；　who　are
secret　enemies　to　the　Doge。　Through　them　he　strives　to　stir　up　trouble
between　Venice　and　England；　and　to　raise　mercenaries　to　serve　the　flag
of　France；　as　did　the　Genoese；　to　their　sorrow。　Therefore　I　think　that
in　the　Doge　you　will　find　a　friend。　I　think　also　that　the　matter；
being　brought　forward　with　such　authority；　the　Seigneur　de　Cattrina
will　scarcely　care　to　refuse　your　challenge　if　you　can　show　that　you
have　good　cause　for　quarrel　against　him；　since　in　such　affairs　the
Venetians　are　punctilious。　But　now　tell　me　the　tale　that　I　may　judge
better。〃

So　Hugh　told　him　all。

〃A　strange　story　and　a　good　cause；〃　said　Sir　Geoffrey　when　he　had
done。　〃Only　this　Cattrina　is　dangerous。　Had　he　known　you　came　to
Venice；　mayhap　you　had　never　lived　to　reach　my　house。　Go　armed；　young
knight；　especially　after　the　sun　sinks。　I'll　away　to　write　to　the
Doge；　setting　out　the　heads　of　the　matter　and　asking　audience。　The
messenger　shall　leave　ere　I　sleep；　if　sleep　I　may　in　this　heat。　Bide
you　here　and　talk　with　my　lady；　if　it　so　pleases　you；　for　I　would　show
you　my　letter　ere　we　bid　good…night；　and　the　thing　is　pressing。　We
must　catch　Cattrina　before　he　gets　wind　of　your　presence　in　Venice。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XI

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　CHALLENGE

How　long　is　it　since　you　have　seen　England；　Sir　Hugh？〃　asked　Dame
Carleon　languidly。

〃Some　eighteen　months；　lady；　although　in　truth　it　seems　more；　for　many
things　have　happened　to　me　in　that　time。〃

〃Eighteen　months　only！　Why；　'tis　four　long　years　since　I　looked　upon
the　downs　of　Sussex；　which　are　my　home；　the　dear　downs　of　Sussex；　that
I　shall　see　never　again。〃

〃Why　say　you　so；　lady；　who　should　have　many　years　of　life　before　you？〃

〃Because　they　are　done；　Sir　Hugh。　Oh；　in　my　heart　I　feel　that　they　are
done。　That　should　not　grieve　me；　since　my　only　child　is　buried　in　this
glittering；　southern　city　whereof　I　hate　the　sounds　and　sights　that
men　call　so　beautiful。　Yet　I　would　that　I　might　have　been　laid　at　last
in　the　kind　earth　of　Sussex　where　for　generations　my　forbears　have
been　borne　to　rest；〃　and　suddenly　she　began　to　weep。

〃What　ails　you；　lady？　You　are　not　well？〃

〃Oh；　I　know　not。　I　think　it　is　the　heat　or　some　presage　of　woe　to
come；　not　to　me　only；　but　to　all　men。　Look；　nature　herself　is　sick；〃
and　she　led　him　to　the　broad　balcony　of　the　chamber　and　pointed　to
long　lines　of　curious　mist　which　in　the　bright　moonlight　they　could
see　creeping　toward　Venice　from　the　ocean；　although　what　wind　there
was　appeared　to　be　off　land。

〃Those　fogs　are　unnatural；〃　she　went　on。　〃At　this　season　of　the　year
there　should　be　none；　and　these　come；　not　from　the　lagoons；　but　up
from　the　sea　where　no　such　vapours　were　ever　known　to　rise。　The
physicians　say　that　they　foretell　sickness；　whereof　terrible　rumours
have　for　some　time　past　reached　us　from　the　East；　though　none　know
whether　these　be　true　or　false。〃

〃The　East　is　a　large　place；　where　there　is　always　sickness；　lady；　or
so　I　have　heard。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　it　is　the　home　of　Death；　and　I　think　that　he　travels　to　us
thence。　And　not　only　I；　not　only　I；　half　the　folk　in　Venice　think　the
same；　though　why；　they　cannot　tell。　Listen。〃

As　she　spoke；　the　sound　of　solemn　chanting　broke　upon　Hugh's　ear。
Nearer　it　grew；　and　nearer；　till　presently　there　emerged　from　a　side
street　a　procession　of　black　monks　who　bore　in　front　of　them　a
crucifix　of　white　ivory。　Along　the　narrow　margin　which　lay　between　the
houses　and　the　canal　they　marched；　followed　by　a　great　multitude　of
silent　people。

〃It　is　a　dirge　for　the　dead　that　they　sing；〃　said　Dame　Carleon；　〃and
yet　they　bury　no　man。　Oh！　months　ago　I　would　have　escaped　from　this
city；　and　we　had　leave　to　go。　But　then　came　orders　from　the　King　that
we　must　bide　here　because　of　his　creditors。　So　here　we　bide　for　good
and　all。　Hush！　I　hear　my　husband　coming；　say　nothing　of　my　talk；　it
angers　him。　Rest　you　well；　Sir　Hugh。〃

〃Truly　that　lady　has　a　cheerful　mind；〃　grumbled　Grey　Dick；　when　she
had　gone；　leaving　them　alone　upon　the　balcony。　〃Ten　minutes　more　of
her　and　I　think　I　should　go　hang　myself；　or　squat　upon　these　stones
and　howl　at　the　moon　like　a　dog　or　those　whimpering　friars。〃

Hugh　made　no　answer；　for　he　was　thinking　of　his　father's　tale　of　the
prophecies　of　Sir　Andrew　Arnold；　and　how　they　grew　sad　in　Dunwich
also。　In　truth；　like　Lady　Carleon；　he　found　it　in　his　heart　to　wish
that　he　too　were　clear　of　Venice；　which　he　had　reached　with　so　much
toil。

〃Bah！〃　he　said　presently；　〃this　place　stinks　foully。　It　puts　me　in
mind　of　some　woman；　most　beauteous　indeed；　but　three　days　dead。　Let　us
go　in。〃



On　the　following　morning；　while　they　sat　at　breakfast；　there　came　a
messenger　from　the　Doge　of　Venice；　whose　name　Hugh　learned　was　Andrea
Dandolo；　bearing　a　letter　sealed　with　a　great　seal。　This　letter；　when
opened；　was　found　to　be　from　some　high　officer。　It　stated　that　the
Doge　would　hold　a　Court　at　noon；　after　which　it　was　his　pleasure　to
receive　the　English　knight　who　came　as　a　messenger　from　the　mighty
monarch；　King　Edward；　and　to　talk　with　him　on　matters　set　out　in　the
letter　of　Sir　Geoffrey　Carleon。　The　writing　added　that　the　Seigneur　of
Cattrina；　who　in　France　was　known　as　the　Count　de　Noyon　and　in　England
as　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　would　be　present　at　the　Court　and　doubtless　ready
to　answer　all　questions　that　might　be　put　to　him。

〃Then　at　last　we　shall　come　face　to　face；〃　said　Hugh；　with　a　fierce
laugh。

〃Yes；　master；〃　put　in　Dick；　〃but　you've　done　that　several　times　before
and　always　ended　back　to　back。　Pray　the　Saints　such　may　not　be　the
finish　of　this　meeting　also。〃

Then　he　turned　and　went　to　clean　his　master's　armour；　for　in　this
martial　dress；　notwithstanding　the　great　heat；　Hugh　determined　to
appear　before　the　Doge。　It　was　good　armour；　not　that；　save　for　the
sword；　which　Sir　Arnold　had　given　him；　whereat　the　Court　at　Windsor
had　laughed　as　out　of　date；　but　mail　of　a　newer　fashion；　some　of　it；
from　the　bodies　of　knights　who　fell　at　Crecy；　after　which　battle　such
wares　had　been　cheap。

Still；　Dick　could　have　wished　that　it　had　been　better　for　so　fine　an
occasion；　seeing　that　it　was　marked　with　many　a　battle　dint　and　that
right　across　the　Cressi　cognizance；　which　Hugh　had　painted　on　his
shield　after　he　was　knighteda　golden　star　rising　from　an　argent
oceanwas　a　scar　left　by　the　battle…axe　of　a　Calais　man…at…arms。
Moreover　Hugh；　or　rather　Dick；　took　with　him　other　armour；　namely；
that　of　the　knight；　Sir　Pierre　de　la　Roche；　whom　Hugh　had　killed　at
Crecy　thinking　that　he　was　Edmund　Acour；　whose　mail　Pierre　wore。

For　the　rest；　Dick　clad　himself　in　his　uniform　of　a　captain　of　archers
of　King　Edward's　guard；　wearing　a　green　tunic　over　his　mail　shirt；　and
a　steel…lined　cap　from　which　rose　a　heron's　plume；　pinned　thereto　with
his　Grace's　golden　arrow。

All　being　ready　they　started　in　a　painted　barge；　accompanied　by　Sir
Geoffrey　Carleon；　who　wore　his　velvet　robe　of　office；　and　grumbled　at
its　weight　and　warmth。　A　row　of　some　fifteen　minutes　along　the　great
canal　brought　them　to　a　splendid　portal　upon　the　mole；　with　marble
steps。　Hence　they　were　conducted　by　guards　across　a　courtyard；　where
stood　many　gaily　dressed　people　who　watched　them　curiously；　especially
Grey　Dick；　whose　pale；　sinister　face　caused　them　to　make　a　certain
sign　with　their　fingers；　to　avert　the　evil　eye；　as　Sir　Geoffrey
explained　to　them。　Leaving　this　courtyard　they　went　up　more　steps　and
along　great　corridors　into　the　finest　apartment　that　they　had　ever
seen。　It　was　a　glitter　of　gold　and　marble；　and　rich　with　paintings。

Here　on　a　kind　of　thron