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hollow truce。 So having drunk a cup of wine with him they bade him
farewell。
Next morning the horses arrived； and with them two led beasts to carry
their baggage； in charge of a Genoese guide。 So they departed on their
long ride of something over two hundred English miles； which they
hoped to cover in about a week。 In fact； it took them ten days； for
the roads were very rough and the pack…beasts slow。 Once； too； after
they had entered the territory of Venice； they were set on in a defile
by four thieves； and might have met their end had not Grey Dick's eyes
been so sharp。 As it was he saw them coming； and； having his bow at
hand； for he did not like the look of the country or its inhabitants；
leaped to earth and shot two of them with as many arrows； whereon the
other two ran away。 Before they went； however； they shot also and
killed a pack…beast； so that the Englishmen were obliged to throw away
some of their gear and go on with the one that remained。
At length； on the eleventh afternoon； they saw the lovely city of
Venice； sparkling like a cluster of jewels； set upon its many islands
amid the blue waters of the Adriatic。 Having crossed some two miles of
open water by a ferry which plied for the convenience of travellers；
they entered the town through the western gate； and inquired as best
they could （for now they had no guide； the Genoese having left them
long before） for the house of Sir Geoffrey Carleon； the English Envoy。
For a long while they could make no one understand。 Indeed； the whole
place seemed to be asleep； perhaps because of the dreadful heat； which
lay over it like a cloud and seemed to burn them to the very bones。
Perplexed and outworn； at last Hugh produced a piece of gold and held
it before a number of men who were watching them idly； again
explaining in French that he wished to be led to the house of the
English ambassador。 The sight of the money seemed to wake their wits；
for two or three of the fellows ran forward quarrelling with each
other； till one of them getting the mastery； seized Hugh's tired horse
by the bridle and dragged it down a side street to the banks of a
broad canal。
Here he called something aloud； and presently two men appeared rowing
a large； flat…bottomed punt from a dock where it was hidden。 Into this
boat the horses and pack…beast were driven； much against their will。
Hugh and Dick having followed them； the three Italians began to punt
them along the canal； which was bordered with tall houses。 A mile or
so farther on it entered another canal； where the houses were much
finer and built in a style of which they had never seen the like； with
beautiful and fantastic arches supported upon pillars。
At length to their great joy they came opposite to a house over the
gateway of which； stirless in the still air； hung a flag whereon were
blazoned the leopards of England。 Here the boatmen； pulling in their
poles； save one to which they made the punt fast in mid…stream； showed
by their gestures that they desired to be paid。 Hugh handed the piece
of gold to the man who had led them to the boat； whereon he was seized
with a fit of uncontrollable fury。 He swore； he raved； he took the
piece of gold and cast it down on the bilge…boards； he spat on it and
his two companions did likewise。
〃Surely they are mad；〃 said Hugh。
〃Mad or no； I like not the looks of them；〃 answered Dick。 〃Have a
care； they are drawing their knives；〃 and as he spoke one of the
rogues struck him in the face； while another strove to snatch away the
pouch that hung at his side。
Now Grey Dick awoke； as it were。 To the man who had tried to take his
pouch he dealt such a buffet that he plunged into the canal。 But him
who had struck him he seized by the arm and twisted it till the knife
fell from his hand。 Then gripping his neck in an iron grasp he forced
him downward and rubbed his nose backward and forward upon the rough
edge of the boat； for the Italian was but as a child to him when he
put out his strength。
In vain did his victim yell for mercy。 He showed him none； till at
length wearying of the game； he dealt him such a kick that he also
flew over the thwarts to join his fellow…bully in the water。
Then seeing how it had gone with his companions who； sorely damaged；
swam to the farther side of the canal and vanished； the third man； he
whom they had first met； sheathed his knife。 With many bows and
cringes he pulled up the pole and pushed the punt to the steps of the
house over which the flag hung； where people were gathering； drawn by
the clamour。
〃Does Sir Geoffrey Carleon dwell here？〃 asked Hugh in a loud voice；
whereon a gentleman with a pale face and a grizzled beard who appeared
to be sick； for he was leaning on a staff； hobbled from out the porch；
saying：
〃Ay； ay； that is my name。 Who are you that make this tumult at my
gates？ Another turbulent Englishman； I'll be bound。〃
〃Ay； sir； an Englishman called Sir Hugh de Cressi； and his companion；
Richard the Archer； whom these rogues have tried to rob and murder；
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。〃