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it desolate。〃
〃And what think folk of such talk； father？〃
〃Indeed； son； they know not what to think。 Most say that he is mad；
others say that he is inspired of God。 Yet others declare that he is a
wizard and that his familiar brings him tidings from Cathay； where
once he dwelt； or perchance； from hell itself。 These went to the
bishop； who summoned Sir Andrew and was closeted with him for three
hours。 Afterward he called in the complainers and bade them cease
their scandal of wizardry； since he was sure that what the holy Father
said came from above and not from below。 He added that they would do
well to mend their lives and prepare to render their account； as for
his part he should also； since the air was thick with doom。 Then he
gave his benediction to the old knight and turned away weeping； and
since that hour none talk of wizardry but all of judgment。 Men in
Dunwich who have quarrelled from boyhood； forgive each other and sing
psalms instead of swearing oaths； and I have been paid debts that have
been owing to me for years； all because of these sermons。〃
〃An awesome tale； truly；〃 said Hugh。 〃Yet like this bishop I believe
that what Sir Andrew says will come to pass； for I know well that he
is not as other men are。〃
That night； by special leave； Hugh waited on the King； and with him
Grey Dick； who was ever his shadow。
〃What is it now； Sir Hugh de Cressi？〃 asked Edward。
〃Sire； after the great battle； nigh upon a year ago； you told me that
I must serve you till Calais fell。 I have served as best I could and
Calais has fallen。 Now I ask your leave to go seek my enemyand yours
Sir Edmund Acour； Count de Noyon。〃
〃Then you must go far； Sir Hugh； for I have tidings that this rogue
who was not ashamed to wear another man's armour； and so save himself
from your sword； is away to Italy this six months gone； where； as the
Seigneur de Cattrina； he has estates near Venice。 But tell me how
things stand。 Doubtless that Red Eve of yoursstrangely enough I
thought of her at Crecy when the sky grew so wondrous at nightfallis
at the bottom of them。〃
〃That is so； Sire；〃 and he told him all the tale。
〃A strange case truly； Sir Hugh；〃 said the King when he had heard it
out。 〃I'll write to Clement for you both； but I doubt me whether you
and your Eve will get justice from him； being English。 England and
Englishmen find little favour at Avignon just now； and mayhap Philip
has already written on behalf of de Noyon。 At the best His Holiness
will shear you close and keep you waiting while he weighs the wool。
No； Red Eve is right： this is a knot soonest severed by the sword。 If
you should find him； de Noyon could scarce refuse to meet you； for you
shall fight him as the champion of our cause as well as of your own。
He's at Venice； for our Envoy there reported it to me； trying to raise
a fresh force of archers for the French。
〃You have leave to go； Sir Hugh； who deserve much more； having served
us well；〃 went on the King。 〃We'll give you letters to Sir Geoffrey
Carleon； who represents us there； and through him to the Doge。
Farewell to you； Sir Hugh de Cressi； and to you； Captain Richard the
Archer。 When all this game is played； return and make report to us of
your adventures； and of how de Noyon died。 The Queen will love to hear
the tale； and your nuptials and Red Eve's shall be celebrated at
Westminster in our presence； for you have earned no less。 Master
Secretary； get your tools； I will dictate the letters。 After they are
signed to…morrow； see them into the hands of Sir Hugh； with others
that I will give him for safe carriage； for alas I have creditors at
Venice。 Make out an open patent also to show that he and this captain
travel as our messengers； charging all that do us service to forward
them upon their journey。〃
Three days later Hugh and Grey Dick； in the character of royal
messengers from the King of England to the Doge of Venice； took
passage in a great vessel bound for Genoa with a cargo of wool and
other goods。 On board this ship before he sailed Hugh handed to his
father letters for Eve and for Sir Andrew Arnold。 Also he received
from him money in plenty for his faring； and bills of exchange upon
certain merchants of Italy； which would bring him more should it be
needed。
Their parting was very sad； since the prophecies of Sir Andrew had
taken no small hold upon Master de Cressi's mind。
〃I fear me greatly； dear son；〃 he said； 〃that we part to meet no more。
Well； such is the lot of parents。 They breed those children that
heaven decrees to them； with toil and thought and fears they rear them
up from infancy； learning to love them more than their own souls； for
their sakes fighting a hard world。 Then the sons go forth； north and
south； and the daughters find husbands and joys and sorrows of their
own； and both half forget them； as is nature's way。 Last of all those
parents die； as also is nature's way； and the half forgetfulness
becomes whole as surely as the young moon grows to full。 Well； well；
this is a lesson that each generation must learn in turn； as you will
know ere all is done。 Although you are my youngest； I'll not shame to
say I have loved you best of all； Hugh。 Moreover； I've made such
provision as I can for you； who have raised up the old name to honour；
and who； as I hope； will once more blend the de Cressis and the
Claverings； the foes of three generations； into a single House。〃
〃Speak not so； father；〃 answered Hugh； who was moved almost to tears。
〃Mayhap it is I who shall die； while you live on to a green old age。
At least know that I am not forgetful of your love and kindness；
seeing that after Eve you are dearer to me than any on the earth。〃
〃Ay； ay； after Eve and Eve's children。 Still you'll have a kind
thought for me now and then； the old merchant who so often thwarted
you when you were a wayward ladfor your own good； as he held。 For
what more can a father hope？ But let us not weep before all these
stranger men。 Farewell； son Hugh； of whom I am so proud。 Farewell； son
Hugh；〃 and he embraced him and went across the gangway； for the
sailors were already singing their chanty at the anchor。
〃I never had a father than I can mind；〃 said Grey Dick aloud to
himself； after his fashion； 〃yet now I wish I had； for I'd like to
think on his last words when there was nothing else to do。 It's an
ugly world as I see it； but there's beauty in such love as this。 The
man for the maid and the maid for the manpish！ they want each other。
But the father and the motherthey give all and take nothing。 Oh；
there's beauty in such love as this； so perhaps God made it。 Only；
then； how did He also make Crecy Field； and Calais siege； and my black
bow； and me the death who draws it？〃
The voyage to Genoa was very long； for at this season of the year the
winds were light and for the most part contrary。 At length； however；
Hugh and Dick came there safe and sound。 Having landed and bid
farewell to the captain and crew of the ship； they waited on the head
of a great trading house with which Master de Cressi had dealings。
This signor； who could speak French； gave them lodging and welcomed
them well； both for the sake of Hugh's father and because they came as
messengers from the King of England。 On the morrow of their arrival he
took them to a great lord in authority； who was called a Duke。 This
Duke； when he learned that one was a knight and the other a captain
archer of the English army and that they both had fought at Crecy；
where so many of his countrymenthe Genoese bowmenhad been slain；
looked on them somewhat sourly。
Had he known all the part they played in that battle； in truth his
welcome would have been rough。 But Hugh； with the guile of the
serpent； told him that the brave Genoese had been slain； not by the
English arrows； for which even with their wet strings they were quite
a match （here Dick； who was standing to one side grinned faintly and
stroked the case of his black bow； as though to bid it keep its
memories to itself）； but by the cowardly French； their allies。 Indeed
Hugh's tale of that horrible and treacherous slaughter was so moving
that the Duke burst into tears and swore that he would cut the throat
of every Frenchman on whom he could lay hands。
After this he began to extol the merits of the cross…bow as against
the long arm of the English； and Hugh agreed that there was much in
what he said。 But Grey Dick； who was no courtier； did not agree。
Indeed； of a sudden he broke in； offering in his bad French to fight
any cross…bow man in Genoa at six score yards； so that the Duke might
learn which was the better weapon。 But Hugh trod on his foot and
explained that he meant something quite different； being no master of
the French tongue。 So that cloud passed by。
The end of it was that this Duke； or Doge； whose name they learned was
Simon Boccanera； gave them safe conduct through all his dominion； with
an order for relays of horses。 Also he made use of them to take a
letter to the Doge of Venice； between which town and Genoa； although
they hated each other bitterly； there was at the moment some kind of
hollow truce。 So having drunk a cup of wine with him they bade him
farewel