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CHAPTER XVII
A MEETING
Hugh； Grey Dick； and David； trudged up and down through the streets of
Avignon。 All that long day they trudged seeking news and finding
little。 Again and again they asked at the inns whether a knight who
bore the name of Acour； or de Noyon； or Cattrina； was or had been a
guest there； but none whom they asked seemed to know anything of such
a person。
They asked it of citizens； also of holy priests； good men who；
careless of their own lives； followed biers or cartloads of dead
destined to the plague pit or the river that they might pronounce over
them the last blessings of the Church。 They asked it of physicians；
some few of whom still remained alive； as they hurried from house to
house to administer to the sick or dying。 But all of these either did
not answer at all or else shrugged their shoulders and went on their
melancholy business。 Only one of them called back that he had no time
to waste in replying to foolish questions； and that probably the
knight they sought was dead long ago or had fled from the city。
Another man； an officer of customs； who seemed half dazed with misery
and fear； said that he remembered the lord Cattrina entering Avignon
with a good many followers； since he himself had levied the customary
tolls on his company。 As for how long it was ago he could not say；
since his recollection failed himso much had happened since。 So he
bade them farewell until they met in heaven； which； he added；
doubtless would be soon。
The evening drew on。 Wearily enough they had trudged round the great
Roche des Doms； looking up at the huge palace of the Pope； where the
fires burned night and day and the guards watched at the shut gates；
that forbidden palace into which no man might enter。 Leaving it； they
struck down a street that was new to them； which led toward their
borrowed dwelling of the Bride's Tower。 This street was very empty
save for a few miserable creatures； some of whom lay dead or dying in
the gutters。 Others lurked about in doorways or behind the pillars of
gates； probably for no good purpose。 They heard the footsteps of a man
following them who seemed to keep in the shadow； but took no heed；
since they set him down as some wretched thief who would never dare to
attack three armed men。 It did not occur to them that this was none
other than the notary Basil； clad in a new robe； who for purposes of
his own was spying upon their movements。
They came to a large； ruinous…looking house； of which the gateway
attracted Grey Dick's sharp eyes。
〃What does that entrance remind you of； master？〃 he asked。
Hugh looked at it carelessly and answered：
〃Why； of the Preceptory at Dunwich。 See； there are the same arms upon
the stone shield。 Doubtless once the Knights Templar dwelt there。 Sir
Andrew may have visited this place in his youth。〃
As the words left his lips two men came out of the gateway； one of
them a physician to judge by the robe and the case of medicines which
he carried； the other a very tall person wrapped in a long cloak。 The
physician was speaking。
〃She may live or she may die；〃 he said。 〃She seems strong。 The pest；
you say； has been on her for four days； which is longer than most
endure it； she has no swellings； and has not bled from the lungs；
though； on the other hand； she is now insensible； which often precedes
the end。 I can say no more； it is in the hands of God。 Yes； I will ask
you to pay me the fee now。 Who knows if you will be alive to do so
to…morrow？ If she dies before then I recommend you to throw her into
the river； which the Pope has blessed。 It is cleaner burial than the
plague pit。 I presume she is your grand…daughtera beautiful woman。
Pity she should be wasted thus； but many others are in a like case。 If
she awakes give her good food； and if you cannot get thatwine； of
which there is plenty。 Five gold piecesthank you；〃 and he hurried
away。
〃Little have you told me； physician； that I did not know already；〃
said the tall hooded figure； in a deep voice the sound of which
thrilled Hugh to his marrow。 〃Yet you are right； it is in the hands of
God。 And to those hands I trustnot in vain； I think。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Hugh addressing him out of the shadow in which he stood；
〃be pleased to tell me； if you will； whether you have met in this town
a knight of the name of Sir Edmund Acour； for of him I am in search？〃
〃Sir Edmund Acour？〃 answered the figure。 〃No； I have not met him in
Avignon； though it is like enough that he is here。 Yet I have known of
this knight far away in England。〃
〃Was it at Blythburgh； in Suffolk； perchance？〃 asked Hugh。
〃Ay； at Blythburgh in Suffolk； but who are you that speak in English
and know of Blythburgh in Suffolk？〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Hugh； 〃what do you here； Sir Andrew Arnold？〃
The old man threw back his hood and stared at him。
〃Hugh de Cressi； by Christ's holy Name！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Yes； and
Richard the archer； also。 The light is bad； I did not see your faces。
Welcome； Hugh； thrice welcome；〃 and he threw his arms about him and
embraced him。 〃Come； enter my lodgings； I have much to say to you。〃
〃One thing I desire to learn most of all； Father； the rest can wait。
Who is the sick lady of whom you spoke to yonder physicianshe that；
he thought； was your grand…daughter？〃
〃Who could it be； Hugh； except Eve Clavering。〃
〃Eve！〃 gasped Hugh。 〃Eve dying of the pest？〃
〃Nay； son： who said so？ She is ill； not dying； who； I believe； will
live for many years。〃
〃You believe； Father； you believe！ Why this foul plague scarce spares
one in ten。 Oh！ why do you believe？〃
〃God teaches me to do so；〃 answered the old knight solemnly。 〃I only
sent for that physician because he has medicines which I lack。 But it
is not in him and his drugs that I put my trust。 Come； let us go in
and see her。〃
So they went up the stairs and turned down a long passage； into which
the light flowed dimly through large open casements。
〃Who is that？〃 asked Hugh suddenly。 〃I thought that one brushed past
me； though I could see nothing。〃
〃Ay；〃 broke in the lad David； who was following； 〃and I felt a cold
wind as though some one stirred the air。〃
Grey Dick also opened his lips to speak； then changed his mind and was
silent； but Sir Andrew said impatiently：
〃I saw no one； therefore there was no one to see。 Enter！〃 and he
opened the door。
Now they found themselves in a lighted room； beyond which lay another
room。
〃Bide you here； Richard； with your companion；〃 said Sir Andrew。 〃Hugh；
follow me； and let us learn whether I have trusted to God in vain。〃
Then very gently he opened the door； and they passed in together；
closing it behind them。
This is what Hugh saw。 At the far end of the room was a bed； near to
which stood a lamp that showed； sitting up in the bed； a beautiful
young woman； whose dark hair fell all about her。 Her face was flushed
but not wasted or made dreadful by the sickness； as happened to so
many。 There she sat staring before her with her large dark eyes and a
smile upon her sweet lips； like one that muses on happy things。
〃See；〃 whispered Sir Andrew； 〃she is awakened from her swoon。 I think
I did not trust in vain； my son。〃
She caught the tones of his voice and spoke。
〃Is that you； Father？〃 she asked dreamily。 〃Draw near； for I have such
a strange story to tell you。〃
He obeyed； leaving Hugh in the shadow； and she went on：
〃Just now I awoke from my sleep and saw a man standing by my bed。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 Sir Andrew said； 〃the physician whom I sent for to see
you。〃
〃Do physicians in Avignon wear caps of red and yellow and robes of
black fur and strings of great black pearls that； to tell truth； I
coveted sorely？〃 she asked； laughing a little。 〃No； no。 If this were a
physician； he is of the sort that heals souls。 Indeed； now that I
think of it； when I asked him his name and business； he answered that
the first was the Helper； and the second； to bring peace to those in
trouble。〃
〃Well； daughter； and what else did the man say？〃 asked Sir Andrew；
soothingly。
〃You think I wander；〃 she said； interpreting the tone of his voice and
not his words； 〃but indeed it is not so。 Well； he said little； only
that I had been very ill； near to death； in truth； much nearer than I
thought； but that now I should recover and within a day or two be
quite well and strong again。 I asked him why he had come to tell me
this。 He replied； because he thought that I should like to know that
he had met one whom I loved in the city of Venice in Italy； one who
was named Hugh de Cressi。 Yes； Father； he said Hugh de Cressi； who；
with his squire； an archer； had befriended him thereand that this
Hugh was well and would remain so； and that soon I should see him
again。 Also he added that he had met one whom I hated； who was named
the lord of Cattrina； and that if this Cattrina threatened me I should
do wisely to fly back to England； since there I should find peace and
safety。 Then； suddenly； just before you came in； he was gone。〃
〃You have strange dreams； Eve；〃 said Sir Andrew； 〃yet there is truth
in their madness。 Now be strong lest joy should kill you； as it has
done by ma