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I do homage to your Grace。 This written with my hand from
Blythburgh； in Suffolk； on the twentieth day of February； 1346。
Edmund of Noyon。
Father Arnold ceased reading； and Hugh gasped out：
〃What a fool is this knave…Count！〃
〃Most men are； my son； in this way or in that； and the few wise profit
by their folly。 Thus this letter； which he thought so safe； will save
England to Edward and his race； you from many dangers； your betrothed
from a marriage which she hatesthat is； if you can get safe away
with it from Dunwich。〃
〃Where to； Father？〃
〃To King Edward in London； with another that I will write for you ere
the dawn。〃
〃But is it safe； Father； to trust so precious a thing to me； who have
bitter enemies awaiting me； and may as like as not be crow's meat by
to…morrow？〃
Father Arnold looked at him with his soft and dreamy eyes； then said：
〃I think the crow's not hatched that will pick your bones； Hugh；
though at the last there be crows； or worms； for all of us。〃
〃Why not； Father？ Doubtless； this morning young John of Clavering
thought as much； and now he is in the stake…nets； or food for fishes。〃
〃Would you like to hear； Hugh； and will you keep it to yourself； even
from Eve？〃
〃Ay； that I would and will。〃
〃He'll think me mad！〃 muttered the old priest to himself； then went on
aloud as one who takes a sudden resolution。 〃Well； I'll tell you；
leaving you to make what you will of a story that till now has been
heard by no living man。〃
〃Far in the East is the great country that we call Cathay； though in
truth it has many other names； and I alone of all who breathe in
England have visited that land。〃
〃How did you get there？〃 asked Hugh； amazed； for though he knew dimly
that Father Arnold had travelled much in his youth； he never dreamed
that he had reached the mystic territories of Cathay； or indeed that
such a place really was except in fable。
〃It would take from now till morning to tell； son； nor even then would
you understand the road。 It is enough to say that I went on a
pilgrimage to Jerusalem； where our blessed Saviour died。 That was the
beginning。 Thence I travelled with Arabs to the Red Sea； where wild
men made a slave of me； and we were blown across the Indian Ocean to a
beauteous island named Ceylon； in which all the folk are black。
〃From this place I escaped in a vessel called a junk； that brought me
to the town of Singapore。 Thence at last； following my star； I came to
Cathay after two years of journeyings。 There I dwelt in honour for
three more years； moving from place to place； since never before had
its inhabitants seen a Western man； and they made much of me； always
sending me forward to new cities。 So at length I reached the greatest
of them all； which is called Kambaluc； or Peking； and there was the
guest of its Emperor； Timur。
〃All the story of my life and adventures yonder I have written down；
and any who will may read it after I am dead。 But of these I have no
time to speak； nor have they anything to do with you。 Whilst I dwelt
in Kambaluc as the guest of the Emperor Timur； I made study of the
religion of this mighty people； who； I was told； worshipped gods in
the shape of men。 I visited a shrine called the Temple of Heaven；
hoping that there I should see such a god who was named Tien； but
found in it nothing but splendid emptiness。
〃Then I asked if there was no god that I could see with my eyes；
whereon the Emperor laughed at me and said there was such a god； but
he counselled me not to visit him。 I prayed him to suffer me to do so；
since I； who worshipped the only true God； feared no other。 Whereon；
growing angry； he commanded some of his servants to 'take this fool to
the house of Murgh and let him see whether his God could protect him
against Murgh。' Having said this he bade me farewell； adding that
though every man must meet Murgh once； few met him twice； and
therefore he did not think that he should see me again。
〃Now； in my heart I grew afraid； but none would tell me more of this
Murgh or what was likely to happen to me at his hands。 Still； I would
not show any fear； and； strong in the faith of Christ； I determined to
look upon this idol； for such I expected him to be。
〃That night the servants of Timur bore me out of the city in a litter；
and by the starlight I saw that we travelled toward a hill through
great graveyards； where people were burying their dead。 At the foot of
the hill they set me down upon a road； and told me to walk up it； and
that at dawn I should see the House of Murgh； whereof the gates were
always open； and could enter there if I wished。 I asked if they would
wait for my return； whereon they answered； smiling； that if I so
desired they would do so till evening； but that it seemed scarcely
needful； since they did not suppose that I should return。
〃'Do yonder pilgrims to the House of Murgh return？' asked their
captain； pointing towards those graveyards which we had passed。
〃I made no answer； but walked forward up a broad and easy road；
unchallenged of any； till I came to what； even in that dim light； I
could see was a great and frowning gateway； whereof the doors appeared
to be open。 Now； at first I thought I would pass this gateway at once
and see what lay beyond。 But from this I was held back by some great
fear； for which I could find no cause； unless it were bred of what the
Emperor and his servants had said to me。 So I remembered their words
namely； that I should tarry till dawn to enter the house。
〃There； then； I tarried； seated on the ground before the gateway； and
feeling as though； yet alive； I had descended among the dead。 Indeed；
the silence was that of the dead。 No voice spoke； no hound barked； no
leaf stirred。 Only far above me I heard a continual soughing； as
though winged souls passed to and fro。 Never in my life had I felt so
much alone； never so much afraid。
〃At length the dawn broke； and oh； glad was I to see its light； for
fear lest I should die in darkness！ Now I saw that I was on a hilltop
where grew great groves of cedar trees； and that set amid them was a
black…tiled temple； surrounded by a wall built of black brick。
〃It was not a great place； although the gateway； which was surmounted
by two black dragons of stone or iron； was very great； so great that a
tall ship could have sailed through it and left its arch untouched。
〃I kneeled down and prayed to the blessed Saints and the guardian
angels to protect me。 Then I arose； crossed myself to scare off all
evil things by that holy sign； and set forward toward the mighty
gateway。 Oh； never； never till that hour had I understood how lowly a
thing is man！ On that broad road； travelling toward the awful； dragon…
guarded arch； beyond which lay I knew not what； it seemed to me that I
was the only man left in the world； I； whose hour had come to enter
the portals of destruction。
〃I passed into the cold shadow of the gateway； unchallenged by any
watchman； and found myself in a courtyard surrounded by a wall also
built of black brick； which had doors in it that seemed to be of dark
stone or iron。 Whither these doors led I do not know； since the wall
cut off the sight of any buildings that may have lain beyond。 In the
centre of this courtyard was a pool of still； black water； and at the
head of the pool a chair of black marble。〃
Sir Andrew paused； and Hugh said：
〃A plain place for a temple； Father； without adornments or images。 But
perhaps this was the outer court； and the temple stood within。〃
〃Ay； son； the plainest temple that ever I saw； who have seen many in
all lands； though what was beyond it I do not know。 And yetterrible；
terrible； terrible！I tell you that those black walls and that black
water were more fearsome to look on than any churchyard vault grim
with bones； or a torture…pit where victims quiver out their souls
midst shrieks and groanings。 And yet I could see nothing of which to
be afraid； and hear nothing save that soughing of invisible wings
whereof I have spoken。 An empty chair； a pool of water； some walls and
doors； and； above； the quiet sky。 What was there to fear in such
things as these？ Still； so greatly did I fear that I sank to my knees
and began to pray once more； this time to the blessed Saviour himself；
since I was sure that none else could help me。
〃When I looked up again the chair was no longer empty。 Hugh； a man sat
in it； of whom I thought at first only one thingthat he must be very
strong； though not bigger than other men。 Strength seemed to flow from
him。 I should not have wondered if he had placed his hands upon the
massive sides of that stone chair and torn it asunder。〃
〃What was he like； Father？ Samson or Goliath？〃
〃I never saw either； son； so cannot say。 But what was he like？ Oh； I
cannot say that either； although still I see him in my heart。 My
mortal lips will not tell the likeness of that man； perhaps because he
seemed to be like all men； and yet different from all。 He had an iron
brow； beneath which shone deep； cold eyes。 He was clean…shaven； or
perchance his face grew no hair。 His lips were thick and still and his
features did not change l