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enter。 Here he lay sick of his hurts and unable to get out until that
very afternoon； the widow Rebecca； whom they had saved； nursing him
all the while。
〃Did you hear aught of us？〃 asked Dick。
〃Ay； at first that you were holding Dead Bride's Tower bravely。 So as
soon as I might； I came to join you there if I could win in and you
still lived。 But they told me that you had fallen at last。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Dick； 〃well； as it chances it was not we who fell； but that
tale is long。 Still； David； you are a brave lad who would have come to
die with us； and my master will thank you when he can give his mind to
such things。 Say； did you hear aught else？〃
〃Ay； Dick； I heard two days ago that the French lord； Cattrina； whom
Sir Hugh was to have fought at Venice； had left Avignon； none knew why
or whither he went。〃
〃Doubtless because of the plague and he wished to go where there was
none；〃 answered Dick。
But Hugh groaned again； thinking to himself that Acour would scarcely
have left Avignon if Eve were still alive within its walls。
After this they went on in silence； meeting very few and speaking with
none； for the part of the great city through which they passed seemed
to be almost deserted。 Indeed in this quarter the pest was so fearful
that all who remained alive and could do so had fled elsewhere；
leaving behind them only the sick and those who plundered houses。
〃One thing I forgot to say；〃 said David presently。 〃The Jews told me
that they had certain information that the notary knave Basil was paid
by the lord Cattrina to lead us to that square where the fires burned
in order that we might be murdered there。 Further； our death was to be
the signal for the massacre of all the Jews； only； as it chanced；
their plan went awry。〃
〃As will Basil's neck if ever I meet him again；〃 muttered Grey Dick
beneath his breath。 〃Lord！ what fools we were to trust that man。 Well；
we've paid the price and； please God； so shall he。〃
They turned the corner and rode down another street； till presently
David said：
〃Halt！ yonder is the house。 See the cognizance above the gateway！〃
Hugh and Dick leapt from their horses； the latter bidding David lead
them into the courtyard and hold them there。 Then they entered the
house； of which the door was ajar； and by the shine of the moon that
struggled through the window…places； crept up the stairs and passages
till they reached those rooms where Sir Andrew and Eve had lodged。
〃Hist！〃 said Dick； and he pointed to a line of light that showed
beneath the closed door。
Hugh pushed it gently and it opened a little。 They looked through the
crack； and within saw a man in a dark robe who was seated at a table
counting out gold by the light of a lamp。 Just then he lifted his
head； having felt the draught of air from the open door。 It was the
notary Basil！
Without a word they entered the room； closing and bolting the door
behind them。 Then Dick leapt on Basil as a wolf leaps； and held him
fat； while Hugh ran past him and threw wide the door of that chamber
in which Eve had lain sick。 It was empty。 Back he came again and in a
terrible voice； said：
〃Now； Sir Notary； where are the lady Eve and Sir Andrew her guardian？〃
〃Alas； Sir Knight；〃 began the knave in a quavering voice； 〃both of
them are dead。〃
〃What！〃 cried Hugh supporting himself against the wall； for at this
terrible news his knees trembled beneath him； 〃have you or your patron
Cattrina murdered them？〃
〃Murdered them； Sir Knight！ I do murder？ I； a Christian and a man of
peace！ Never！ And the noble lord of Cattrina； Count de Noyon！ Why； he
wished to marry the lady； not to murder her。 indeed he swore that she
was his wife。〃
〃So you know all these things； do you； villain？〃 said Grey Dick；
shaking him as a terrier shakes a rat。
〃Sir Knight；〃 went on the frightened fellow； 〃blame me not for the
acts of God。 He slew these noble persons； not I； I myself saw the
lovely lady carried from this house wrapped in a red cloak。〃
〃So you were in the house； were you？〃 said Grey Dick； shaking him
again。 〃Well； whither did they carry her； thief of the night？〃
〃To the plague pit； good sir； where else in these times？〃
Now Hugh groaned aloud； his eyes closed； and he seemed as though he
were about to fall。 Grey Dick； noting it； for a moment let go of the
notary and turned as though to help his master。 Like a flash Basil
drew a dagger from under his dirty robe and struck at Dick's back。 The
blow was well aimed； nor could an unprotected man on whom it fell have
escaped death。 But although Basil did not see it because of Dick's
long cloak； beneath this cloak he wore the best of mail； and on that
mail the slender dagger broke； its point falling harmless to the
ground。 Next instant Dick had him again in his iron grip。 Paying no
further heed to Hugh； who had sunk to the floor a huddled heap； he
began to speak into the lawyer's ear in his slow； hissing voice。
〃Devil；〃 he said； 〃whether or no you murdered Red Eve and Sir Andrew
Arnold the saint； I cannot say for certain； though doubtless I shall
learn in time。 At least a while ago you who had taken our money；
strove to murder both of us； or cause us to be torn in pieces upon
yonder square where the fires burned。 Now； too； you have striven to
murder me with that bodkin of yours； not knowing； fool； that I am safe
from all men。 Well； say your prayers； since you too journey to the
plague pit； for so the gatherers of the dead will think you died。〃
〃Sir；〃 gasped the terrified wretch； 〃spare me and I will speak〃
〃More lies；〃 hissed Dick into his ear。 〃Nay； go tell them to the
father of lies； for I have no time to waste in hearkening to them。
Take your pay； traitor！〃
A few seconds later Basil lay dead upon the floor。
Grey Dick looked at him。 Kneeling down； he thrust his hands into the
man's pockets； and took thence the gold that he had been hiding away
when they came upon him； no small sum as it chanced。
〃Our own come back with interest；〃 he said with one of his silent
laughs； 〃and we shall need monies for our faring。 Why； here's a
writing also which may tell those who can read it something。〃
He cast it on the table； then turned to his master； who was awakening
from his swoon。
Dick helped him to his feet。
〃What has passed？〃 asked Hugh in a hollow voice。
〃Murgh！〃 answered Dick； pointing to the dead man on the floor。
〃Have you killed him； friend？〃
〃Ay； sure enough； as he strove to kill me；〃 and again he pointed； this
time to the broken dagger。
Hugh made no answer； only seeing the writing on the table； took it up；
and began to read like one who knows not what he does。 Presently his
eyes brightened and he said：
〃What does this mean； I wonder。 Hearken。〃
〃Rogue； you have cheated me as you cheat all men and now I follow
her who has gone。 Be sure； however； that you shall reap your
reward in due season。
〃de Noyon。〃
〃I know not；〃 said Dick； 〃and the interpreter is silent；〃 and he
kicked the body of Basil。 〃Perhaps I was a little over hasty who might
have squeezed the truth out of him before the end。〃
〃'Her who is gone；'〃 reflected Hugh aloud。 〃'Tis Red Eve who is gone
and de Noyon is scarcely the man to seek her among passed souls。
Moreover； the Jews swear that he rode from Avignon two days ago。 Come；
Dick； let that carrion lie； and to the plague pit。〃
An hour later and they stood on the edge of that dreadful place；
hearing and seeing things which are best left untold。 A priest came up
to them； one of those good men who； caring nothing for themselves；
still dared to celebrate the last rites of the Church above the poor
departed。
〃Friends；〃 he said； 〃you seem to be in trouble。 Can I help you； for
Jesus' sake？〃
〃Perchance； holy Father；〃 answered Hugh。 〃Tell us； you who watch this
dreadful place； was a woman wrapped in a red cloak thrown in here two
or three days gone？〃
〃Alas； yes；〃 said the priest with a sigh； 〃for I read the Office over
her and others。 Nay； what are you about to do？ By now she is two
fathoms deep and burned away with lime so that none could know her。 If
you enter there the guards will not let you thence living。 Moreover；
it is useless。 Pray to God to comfort you； poor man； as I will； who am
sure it will not be denied。〃
Then Dick led； or rather carried； Hugh from the brink of that awesome；
common grave。
CHAPTER XIX
THE DOOM
It was the last night of February； the bitterest night perhaps of all
that sad winter； when at length Hugh de Cressi； Grey Dick； and David
Day rode into the town of Dunwich。 Only that morning they had landed
at Yarmouth after a long； long journey whereof the perils and the
horrors may be guessed but need not be written。 France； through which
they had passed； seemed to be but one vast grave over which the wail
of those who still survived went up without cease to the cold；
unpitying heavens。
Here in England the tale was still the same。 Thus in the great seaport
of Yarmouth scarcely enough people were left alive to inter the
unshriven dead； nor of these would any stay to speak with th