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thanked Heaven piously。
〃'Tis the fault of the rich；〃 said a voice； and Hilarius saw； to his
surprise； that there was a second friar in the room； a tall； bullet…headed
man； with a heavy； obstinate jaw ornamented with a scanty fringe of black
hair。
〃The rich grow fat； and the poor starve；〃 he went on； 〃'tis hunger
makes a man kill his brother for a mouthful of mouldy bacon。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the miller； 〃there was no need to kill； Father。 A man
could have taken the meat from two lone women and left them their lives。〃
〃Why take from folk as poor as themselves？〃 said mine host。 〃Let
them rob the rich an they must rob。〃
〃Ay；〃 said the friar； 〃rob the rich； say you； take their own； say I。 God
did not make this world that one man should be over full and another go
empty； nor is it religion that the monks' should live on the fat o' the land
and grind the faces of the poor。 How many manors； think you； has the
Abbat of St Edmund's； and how many on his land lack bread？〃
Hilarius listened； scarlet with indignation； a flood of wrathful defence
pent at his lips； for the blind friar laid a restraining hand on his sleeve。
Mine host scratched his head doubtfully。 The teaching was seditious；
and made a man liable to stocks and pillory； but it tickled the ears of the
common folk and 'twas ill to quarrel with the Mendicants。 Help came to
him in his perplexity： a loud knocking on the barred door made the
guests within start。
〃'Tis eight o' the clock；〃 said the miller； affrighted； for he had a heavy
purse on him。
〃Let them knock and cool their hot heads；〃 said the seditious friar
composedly。
The rest nodded approval。
Then a man's voice threatened without。
〃What ho！ unbar the door。 Is this a night to keep a man without？
Open； open； or； by the Mass； thou shalt smart for it。〃
Mine host shook his head fearfully； and his fat cheeks trembled； he
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moved slowly and unwillingly to the door and took down the stout
wooden bar。 As it swung back the door flew open； and a man burst in； at
sight of whom mine host turned yet paler。
〃Food and drink；〃 said the new…comer sharply； flinging himself on a
bench by the fire。
Hilarius thought he had never seen so strange a fellow。 His hair was
close cropped； ay； and his ears also。 His eyes were very small and near
together； his nose a shapeless lump； his lip drawn up showed two rat…like
teeth。 Silence fell on the company； and the chapman who had been
searching amongst his goods for something wherewith to pay his
hospitality； was hastily putting them back； when the man； looking up；
caught sight of a bundle of oaten pipes among the miscellaneous wares。
He plucked one to him； and in a moment the air was full of tender liquid
notes … a thrush's roundelay。 Then a blackbird called and his mate
answered； a cuckoo cried the spring…song； a linnet mourned with lifting
cadence； a nightingale poured forth her deathless love。
Mine host came in with a dish piled high and a stoop of mead； the man
threw the pipe from him with a rough oath and fell to ravenously on the
victuals。 He held his head low and ate brutishly amid dead silence； then
he looked up and cursed at them for their sorry mood。
〃What！ Hugh pipes and never a word of thanks nor a jest？ Damn
you all for dull dogs！〃
The blind friar rose and fixed his withered eyes on the man's dreadful
face。
〃Piping Hugh of Mildenhall；〃 he said； and at his voice the man leapt to
his feet and thrust his arm out as if for protection。 〃Piping Hugh of
Mildenhall；〃 said the Friar again； 〃I have a message for thee from the Lord
God。 I cried thee damned in my own name once； when thou did'st take
my little sister to shame and death； now I cry thee thrice damned in the
name of the Lord； for the cup of thine iniquity is full and thy hands red
with blood。 Man hath branded thee； now God will set His mark on thee
and all men shall see it。 The Plague will come and come swiftly； but it
shall not touch thee； many shall die in their sins； thou shalt live on with
thine。 A brute thou art； and with brutes thou shalt herd； thou shalt howl
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as a ravening wolf； and as such men shall hunt thee from their doors。
Thou shalt seek death； even as Cain sought and found it not； because of
the mark of the Lord。 Thou art damned； thrice damned； thy speech shall
go from thee； thy sight fail thee； thy mind be darkened； thou art given over
to the Evil One； and he shall torment thee with remembrance。〃
There was dead silence； then with a long shrill howl the man tore open
the door； dashed from the house； and fled； a black blotch upon the
whiteness of the night。
The guests huddled together aghast； and no man moved； until Hilarius；
full of pride at his Friar's powers； stepped forward to close the door。 He
was too late； it swung to with a loud crash like the sound of doom。 The
Friar sank back composedly on the bench； and the company began in
silence to make preparation for the night。 When all was ordered； Hilarius
bade the Friar come； and he rose at the lad's voice and touch。 Then he
crossed to where the others stood apart eyeing him fearfully。
He laid his hand on the miller's breast and said in a clear； low voice：
〃Thou wilt die； brother。〃
He laid his hand on the messenger's breast： 〃Thou wilt die； brother。〃
He laid his hand on the chapman's breast： 〃Thou wilt die； brother。〃
He laid his hand on mine host's breast： 〃Thou wilt die； brother。〃
Then he came to the other Friar who stood at a little distance； his face
dark with anger and fear； and laid his hand on his breast： 〃Thou wilt live；
my brother … and repent。〃
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CHAPTER VI … A DARK FINDING
IT is a far cry from St Alban's to Bungay … which village of the good
ford lies somewhat south…east of Norwich； five leagues distant … and the
journey is doubled in the winter time。 Hilarius and the Friar were long
on the road； for January's turbulent mood had imprisoned them many days；
and early February had proved little kinder。 They had companied with
folk； light women and brutal men； but； for the most part； coarse word and
foul jest were hushed in the presence of the blind friar and the lad with the
wondering eyes。 In every village the Friar preached and called on men to
repent and be saved； for Death's shadow was already upon them。 Folk
wondered and gaped … the Plague was still only a name ten leagues east of
London … but many repented and confessed and made restitution； though
some heard with idle ears； remembering the prophecy of Brother Robert
who had come with the same message half a man's lifetime before； and
that no evil had followed his preaching。
At last St Matthias' Eve saw Hilarius and the Friar at St Edmund's
Abbey。 There were many guests for the Convent's hospitality that night；
and as Hilarius entered the hall of the guest…house … a brother had charged
himself with the care of the Friar … he heard the sound of the vielle； and a
rich voice which sang in good round English against the fashion of the
day。
〃Martin； Martin！〃 he cried。
The vielle was instantly silent。
〃Hole； lad！〃 cried the Minstrel； springing to his feet； he caught
Hilarius to him and embraced him heartily。
〃Why； lad； not back in thy monastery？ Nay； but I made sure the
Plague would send thee flying home； and instead I find thee strayed
farther afield。〃 Then seeing the injured faces round him for that the song
was not ended； he drew Hilarius to the bench beside him and took up his
vielle。 〃Be still now； l