按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
twenty。〃
〃A gallantI meanan evil deed；〃 broke in the old warrior priest；
〃though once it happened to me in a place called Damascusbut you
both are wet； also。 Come into my chamber； I can furnish you with
garments of a sort。 And； Richard； set that black bow of yours near the
fire； but not too fire。 As you should know well； a damp string is ill
to draw with。 Nay； fear not to leave it； this is sanctuary； and to
make sure I will lock the doors。〃
Half an hour was gone by； and a very strange company had gathered
round the big fire in the guest…chamber of the Temple； eating with
appetite of such food as its scanty larder could provide for them。
First there was Red Eve in a woollen garment； the Sunday wear of
Mother Agnes for twenty years past and more； which reached but little
below her knees； and was shaped like a sack。 On her feet were no
shoes； and for sole adornment her curling black hair fell about her
shoulders； for so she had arranged it because the gown would not meet
across her bosom。 Yet； odd as it might be； in this costume Eve looked
wonderfully beautiful； perhaps because it was so scant and the
leathern strap about her waist caused it to cling close to her shapely
form。
By her stood Hugh； wearing a splendid suit of chain armour。 It had
been Sir Andrew Arnold's in his warlike years； and now he lent it to
his godson Hugh because； as he said； he had nothing else。 Also； it may
have crossed the minds of both of them that such mail as this which
the Saracens had forged； if somewhat out of fashion； could still turn
swordcuts。
Then there was Grey Dick； whose garments seemed to consist of a sack
with holes in it tied round him with a rope； his quiver of arrows
slung over it for ornament。 He sat by the fire on a stool； oiling his
black bow with a rind of the fat bacon that he had been eating。
All the tale had been told； and Father Arnold looked very grave
indeed。
〃I have known strange and dreadful stories in my time；〃 he said； 〃but
never； I think； one stranger or more dreadful。 What would you do now；
godson？〃
〃Take sanctuary for myself and Grey Dick because of the slaying of
John Clavering and others； and afterward be married by you to Eve。〃
〃Be married to the sister with the brother's blood upon your hands
without absolution from the Church or pardon from the King； and you
but a merchant's younger son and she to…night one of the greatest
heiresses in East Anglia！ Why； how may that be？〃
〃I blame him not；〃 broke in Eve。 〃John； whom I never loved； strove to
smoke us out like rats because he was in the pay of the Norman； my
Lord of Acour。 John struck Hugh in the face with his hand and
slandered him with his tongue。 John was given his life once； and
afterwards slain in fair fight。 Oh； I say； I blame him not； nor shall
John's blood rise between him and me！〃
〃Yet the world will blame him； and you； too； Eve； yes； even those who
love you both。 A while must go by； say a year。 At least I'll not marry
you at once； and cannot； if I would； with both your fathers living and
unadvised； and the sheriff waiting at the gate。 Tell me now； do any
know that you have entered here？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Dick； looking up from his bow。 〃The hunt came after us；
but I hid these two in a bush and led it away past Hinton to the
Ipswich road； keeping but just ahead in the snow and talking in three
voices。 Then I gave them the slip and returned。 They'll not guess that
we have come to Dunwich for a while。〃
〃And when they do even the boldest will not enter this holy sanctuary
while the Church has terrors for men's souls。 Yet； here you must not
stay for long； lest in this way or in that your lives pay the price of
it； or a bloody feud break out between the Claverings of Blythburgh
and the de Cressis of Dunwich。 Daughter Eve； get you to bed with old
Agnes。 You are so weary that you will not mind her snores。 To…morrow
ere the dawn I'll talk with you； and； meanwhile； I have words for
Hugh。 Nay； have no fear； the windows are all barred； and Archer Dick
shall watch the door。〃
Eve went； unwillingly enough； although she could scarcely walk；
flashing a good…night to her lover with her fine eyes。 Presently Grey
Dick also went to sleep； like a dog with one eye open； in the little
ante…chamber； near to the great door。
〃Now； Hugh；〃 said Father Arnold； when they were left alone； 〃your case
is desperate； for if you stay here certainly these Claverings will
have your blood。 Yet； if you can be got away safely； there is still a
shaft that you may shoot more deadly than any that ever left Grey
Dick's quiver。 But yesterday I told you for your comfortwhen we
spoke of his wooing of Red Evethat this Norman； for such he is；
although his mother was English and he was English born； is a traitor
to King Edward； whom he pretends to serve。〃
〃Ay； and I said as much to him this afternoon when he prated to me of
his knightly honour； and； though I had no time to take note of faces；
I thought he liked it little who answered hotly that I was a liar。〃
〃I am sorry； Hugh； it may put him on his guard； or perhaps he'll pay
no heed。 At least the words are said； and there's an end。 Now hearken。
I told neither you nor any one all the blackness of his treachery。
Have you guessed what this Acour is here to do？〃
〃Spy out the King's power in these parts； I suppose。〃
〃More than that〃and he dropped his voice to a whisper〃spy out a
safe landing…place for fifty thousand Normans upon our Suffolk coast。
They are to sail hither this coming summer and set the crown of
England upon their Duke John； who will hold it as vassal to his sire；
Philip of France。〃
〃God's name！ Is that true？〃
〃Ay； though in such a devil's business that Name is best left out。
Look you； lad； I had warning from overseas； where； although I am now
nothing but a poor old priest of a broken Order； I still have friends
in high places。 Therefore I watched and found that messengers were
passing between Acour and France。 One of these messengers； a priest；
came a week ago to Dunwich； and spent the night in a tavern waiting
for his ship to sail in the morning。 The good wife who keeps that
tavernask not her namewould go far to serve me。 That night this
priest slept sound； and while he slept a letter was cut from the
lining of his cassock； and another without writing sewn there in place
of it； so that he'll never know the difference till he reaches John of
Normandy； and then not where he lost it。 Stay； you shall see；〃 and he
went to the wall and from some secret place behind the hangings
produced a writing； which he handed to Hugh； who looked at it； then
gave it back to him； saying：
〃Read it to me； Father； English I can spell out； but this French
puzzles my eyes。〃
So he read； Hugh listening eagerly to every word：
My Lord Duke：
This by a faithful hand that you know to tell you all goes well
with your Grace's business； and with that of your royal father。
While pretending to hunt or hawk I have found three places along
this seaboard at any one of which the army can land next summer
with little resistance to fear； for though the land is rich in
cattle and corn； the people are few。
These places of which I have made survey have deep water up to the
beach。 I will tell you of them more particularly when I return。
Meanwhile I linger here for sundry reasons； which you know； hoping
to draw those of whom you speak to me to your cause； which； God
aiding me； I shall do； since he of England has wronged one of them
and slighted the others； so that they are bitter against him； and
ready to listen to the promises which I make in your name。
As an excuse for my long stay that has caused doubts in some
quarters； I speak of my Suffolk lands which need my care。 Also I
court the daughter of my host here； the Knight of Clavering； a
stubborn Englishman who cannot be won； but a man of great power
and repute。 This courtship； which began in jest； has ended in
earnest； since the girl is very haughty and beautiful； and as she
will not be played with I propose； with your good leave； to make
her my wife。 Her father accepts my suit； and when he and the
brother are out of the way； as doubtless may happen after your
army comes； she will have great possessions。
I thank your Grace for the promise of the wide English lands of
which I spoke to you； and the title that goes with them。 These I
will do my best to earn； nor will I ask for them till I kneel
before you when you are crowned King of England at Westminster； as
I doubt not God will bring about before this year is out。 I have
made a map of the road by which your army should march on London
after landing； and of the towns to be sacked upon the way thither。
This； however； I keep； since although not one in ten thousand of
these English swine can read French； or any other tongue； should
it chance to be lost； all can understand a map。 Not that there is
any fear of loss； for who will meddle with a priest who carries
credentials signed by his Holiness himself。
I do homage to your Grace。 This written with my hand from
Blythburgh； in Suffolk； on the twentieth day of February； 1346。