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Tell him what I have not written in the letters〃and here he smiled
faintly〃that I think that few of his creditors in Venice will
trouble him at present； though afterward their heirs； if they have
left any； may do so。 Say； too； to the Doge； who； I believe； still
lives； that I send him my good wishes and respects。 Also that I grieve
that I have not been able to hand him my letters of recall in person；
since the King who summons me sends none。
〃So much for business； but there are two things more： I have no
relatives living save my wife's sister。 Therefore； Sir Hugh and
Captain Richard； I have made you my joint heirs with her； my testament
duly signed and witnessed is in that case with the other papers。 My
wealth is not great。 Still there are certain land and manors in
England； a sum of money placed with a merchant in London； whose name
you will find written in the testament； my plate and gold coin here；
though the former you may not be able to move。 Therefore I charge you
to bury it and return for it later on； if you can。 It is of value；
since all my life I have collected such trinkets。 I beg you to make
provision also for this good lad； David； should he be spared。〃
He paused a while； for he was growing very weak； then added：
〃Another thing is that I ask you； if it be possible； to row my body
out to sea and there sink it in deep water； deep； clean water； far
from this place of stench and pestilence； for I would not lie in the
common pit at last。 Now kneel down and pray for my passing soul； since
there is no priest to give me absolution； and I must seek it straight
from God。 Nay； thank me not。 I have done with the world and its
affairs。 Kneel down and pray； as I pray for you； that you may be
spared on earth and that we may meet again in heaven； where my wife
and others await me。〃
They obeyed； weeping； yes； even Grey Dick wept a little。 Presently
when they looked up they saw that Sir Geoffrey was dead； dead without
pain or sorrow。 Of the first he had suffered none for days； and the
second was far from him who wished to die。
Leaving the ancient woman in charge of the house； which she barred and
bolted； next morning they took a boat； and the three of them rowed the
body of the old knight a league out into the quiet sea。 There； after a
brief prayer； they cast him into the deep； weighted with stones； so
that he might never rise again。
Then they returned； not too soon； for they found thieves in the act of
breaking into the house； probably in search of food。 These miserable；
half…starved men they spared； though they could have killed them
easily enough。 They even gave them a pouch full of biscuit and dried
meat ere they dismissed them。 This they did quickly； since one of
them； as they could see； was already stricken by the plague and had
not long to live。 When they were gone； the old woman being out of the
house； whence she had fled on hearing the robbers； they collected all
Sir Geoffrey's and his lady's jewels and plate； of which there was
much； for he lived in state in Venice； as became an ambassador。 These
they buried in three large iron boxes beneath the flagstones of the
cellar； the safest place that they could find。 Having thrown the
excavated earth into the canal under cover of the dark； they replaced
these stones and strewed dust over them。
Wondering whether it would ever be their lot to look upon these chests
and their contents again； they left the cellar； to find the old woman
knocking at the back door of the house； whither she had returned；
frightened by the sights and sounds in the city。 They bade her bring
them food； which they needed much who had laboured so hard on that
sorrowful day； and after they had eaten took counsel together。
〃Seeing that all three of us are still in health； as if there is
anything in the promises of Murgh we should remain； is it not time；
master；〃 asked Grey Dick； 〃that we left this accursed Venice？ Now that
Sir Geoffrey is gone； there is naught to keep us here。〃
〃One thing I have to do first；〃 answered Hugh； 〃and it is to learn
whether Sir Edmund Acour； lord of Cattrina； is dead or living； and if
living where he hides himself away。 While Sir Geoffrey lay dying we
could not leave him to make search； but now it is otherwise。〃
〃Ay； master； though I think you'll find the task hard in this hive of
pestilence and confusion。〃
〃I have heard that the plague is at work in Cattrina's palace；〃 broke
in David； 〃but when I asked whether he were there or no； none could
tell me。 That is not a house where you'll be welcomed； Sir Hugh。〃
〃Still I will make bold to knock at his doors to…morrow；〃 answered
Hugh。 〃Now let us seek what we all needsleep。〃
So on the following morning shortly after sunrise Hugh and Grey Dick；
guided by David； took boat and rowed through most fearful scenes and
sounds to the Palazzo Cattrina； a splendid but somewhat dilapidated
building situated in a part of the city that； like itself； had seen
more prosperous times。 The great doors of the place set in a marble
archway stood half open。 Over them were cut the cognizance of the
floating swan； and beneath； in letters of faded gold； the titles of
Acour； de Noyon； and Cattrina。 No wonder they were open； since the
porter's lodge was occupied only by a grisly corpse that lay rotting
on the floor； a heavy key in its hand。 The courtyard beyond was empty
and so； save for a dead horse； were the stables to the right。 Passing
up the steps of the hall that also stood open； they entered。
Here the place was in confusion； as though those who dwelt there had
left in haste。 The mouldering remains of a meal lay on the broad oak
table； a great dower…chest inlaid with ivory； but half filled with
arms and armour； stood wide。 A silver crucifix that had hung above was
torn down and cast upon the floor； perchance by thieves who had found
it too heavy to bear away。 The earthquake had thrown over a carved
cabinet and some bowls of glazed ware that stood upon it。 These lay
about shattered amidst shields and swords thrown from the walls； where
pictures of saints or perchance of dead Cattrinas hung all awry。 In
short； if an army had sacked it this stately hall could scarce have
seemed more ruined。
Hugh and Dick crossed it to a stairway of chestnut wood whereof every
newel…post was surmounted by the crest of a swan； and searched the
saloons above； where also there was wreck and ruin。 Then； still
mounting the stair； they came to the bed…chambers。 From one of these
they retreated hastily； since on entering it hundreds of flies buzzing
in a corner advised them that something lay there which they did not
wish to see。
〃Let us be going。 I grow sick；〃 exclaimed Hugh。
But Dick； who had the ears of a fox； held up his hand and said：
〃Hark！ I hear a voice。〃
Following the sound； he led his master down two long corridors that
ended in a chapel。 There； lying before the altar； they found a man
clad in a filthy priest's robe； a dying man who still had the strength
to cry for help or mercy； although in truth he was wasted to a
skeleton； since the plague which had taken him was of the most
lingering sort。 Indeed； little seemed to be left of him save his
rolling eyes； prominent nose and high cheekbones covered with yellow
parchment that had been skin； and a stubbly growth of unshaven hair。
Dick scanned him。 Dick； who never forgot a face； then stepped forward
and said：
〃So once more we meet in a chapel； Father Nicholas。 Say； how has it
fared with you since you fled through the chancel door of that at
Blythburgh Manor？ No； I forgot； that was not the last time we met。 A
man in a yellow cap ripped off your mask in a by…street near the Place
of Arms one night and said something which it did not please you to
hear。〃
〃Water！〃 moaned Nicholas。 〃For Christ's sake give me water！〃
〃Why should I give you water in payment for your midnight steel yonder
in the narrow street？ What kind of water was it that you gave Red Eve
far away at Blythburgh town？〃 asked Dick in his hissing voice which
sounded like that of an angry snake。
But Hugh； who could bear no more of it； ran down to the courtyard；
where he had seen a pitcher standing by a well； and brought water。
〃Thank God that you have come again；〃 said the wretched priest； as he
snatched at it； 〃for I cannot bear to die with this white…faced devil
glaring at me；〃 and he pointed to Grey Dick； who leaned against the
chancel wall； his arms folded on his breast； smiling coldly。
Then he drank greedily； Hugh holding the pitcher to his lips； for his
wasted arms could not bear its weight。
〃Now；〃 said Hugh； when his thirst was satisfied； 〃tell me； where is
your master； Cattrina？〃
〃God or the fiend can say alone。 When he found that I was smitten with
the plague he left me to perish； as did the others。〃
〃And as we shall do unless you tell me whither my enemy has gone；〃 and
Hugh made as though to leave the place。
The priest clutched at him with his filthy； claw…like hand。
〃For Christ's sake do not desert me；〃 he moaned。 〃Let one Christian
soul be near me at the last ere the curse of that wizard with the
yellow cap is fulfilled on me。 For the sake of Jesus； stay！ I'll tell
all I kno