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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 throne sat the Doge Dandolo； an imperial…looking
man； magnificently attired。 Guards stood like statues behind him；
while in front； talking together and moving from place to place； were
gathered all the great nobles of Venice； with their beauteous ladies。
From time to time the Doge summoned one or other of these； who was
called to him by a black…robed secretary。 Advancing with bows the
courtier talked to him a while； then was dismissed by a gracious
motion of the hand。
As the Englishmen entered this hall a herald called their names thus
from a written slip of paper：
〃The Cavalier Geoffrey Carleon； Ambassador of England。 The Cavalier
Hugh de Cressi； Messenger from the King of England； and the Captain
Richard Archer； his companion。〃
Now all talk was hushed and every eye turned to scan these strangers
of whose business； it would seem； something was already known。
〃A fine man；〃 said one lady to another of Hugh； 〃but why does he come
here in dinted armour？〃
〃Oh！ he is English and the English are barbarians who like to be ready
to cut some one's throat；〃 answered her companion。 〃But Holy Jesus！
look at the long fellow with the death's head who walks behind him；
and carries his luggage in a sack。 His face makes my back creep。〃
Fortunately neither Hugh nor Dick understood these and other such
sayings which Sir Geoffrey repeated to them afterward and therefore
walked on with their host unconcerned。 Once； however； Grey Dick nudged
his master and whispered in his ear：
〃Be glad； our man is here。 It is he who mocks us to those popinjays。
Nay； turn not to look； you will see plenty of his sweet face
presently。〃
Now they stood before the chair of state； from which the Doge rose；
and advanced two steps to greet the Ambassador of England。 When these
courtesies were over Sir Geoffrey presented Hugh to him； to whom he
bowed； and Dick； whose salute he acknowledged with a wave of his
jewelled hand。 Afterward they talked； all crowding round to listen；
Sir Geoff