red eve-第14节

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　　outrance/；　and　his　servant；　Richard　the　Archer；　who　accompanies
　　him；　commonly　known　as　Grey　Dick；　slew　three　men　with　as　many
　　arrows；　two　of　them　being　Normans　whose　names　are　unknown　to　us；
　　and　the　third　a　grieve　to　Sir　John　Clavering；　called　Thomas　of
　　Kessland。　Also；　he　killed　a　horse；　and　when　another　Frenchman
　　tried　to　grasp　his　master；　sent　a　shaft　through　the　palm　of　his
　　hand。〃

〃By　St。　George；〃　said　the　King；　〃but　here　is　shooting！　Were　they　near
to　you；　Grey　Dick？〃

〃Not　so　far　away；　Sire。　Only　the　light　was　very　bad；　or　I　should　have
had　the　fourth。　I　aimed　low；　Sire；　fearing　to　miss　his　skull；　and　he
jerked　up　his　horse's　head　to　take　the　arrow。〃

〃A　good　trick！　I've　played　it　myself。　Well；　let　us　have　done　with　the
letter；　and　then　we'll　come　to　archery。〃

　〃Sire；〃　read　on　Hugh；　〃I　ask　your　royal　pardon　to　Hugh　de　Cressi
　　and　Richard　the　Archer　for　these　slayings；　believing　that　when　you
　　have　read　these　letters　it　will　be　granted。〃

〃That　remains　to　be　seen；〃　muttered　the　King。

　〃Sire；　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　who　has　lands　here　in　Suffolk；　Count　de
　　Noyon　in　Normandy；　and　Seigneur　of　Cattrina　in　Italy〃

〃I　know　the　man；〃　exclaimed　Edward　to　the　Queen；　〃and　so　do　you。　A
handsome　knight　and　a　pleasant；　but　one　of　whom　I　have　always
misdoubted　me。〃

　〃Is　also　enamoured　of　Eve　Clavering；　and　with　her　father's　will
　　seeks　to　make　her　his　wife；　though　she　hates　him；　and　by　the
　　charter　of　Dunwich；　of　which　she　is　a　citizen；　has　the　right　to
　　wed　whom　she　will。〃

〃It　is　well　there　are　not　many　such　charters。　The　old　storybrave　men
done　to　death　for　the　sake　of　a　woman　who　is　rightly　named　Red　Eve；〃
mused　the　King。

　〃My　Liege；　I　pray　that　you　will　read　the　letter　herein　enclosed。
　　Hugh　de　Cressi　will　tell　you　how　it　came　to　my　hand；　since　I　lack
　　time　to　write　all　the　story。　If　it　seems　good　to　your　Grace；　I
　　pray　you　scotch　this　snake　while　he　is　in　your　garden；　lest　he
　　should　live　to　sting　you　when　you　walk　abroad。　If　it　please　you　to
　　give　your　royal　warrant　to　the　bearer　of　this　letter；　and　to
　　address　the　same　to　such　of　your　subjects　in　Dunwich　as　you　may
　　think　good；　I　doubt　not　but　that　men　can　be　found　to　execute　the
　　same。　Thus　would　a　great　and　traitorous　plot　be　brought　to
　　nothing；　to　your　own　glory　and　the　discomfiture　of　your　foes　in
　　France；　who　hope　to　lay　their　murderous　hands　upon　the　throne　of
　　England。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　humble　servant　and　subject；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Andrew　Arnold。〃

〃What's　this？〃　exclaimed　the　King　starting　from　his　seat。　〃To　lay
hands　upon　the　throne　of　England！　Quick　with　the　other　letter；　man！〃

〃I　was　charged　that　it　is　for　your　Grace's　eye　alone；〃　said　Hugh　as　he
unfolded　the　paper。　〃Is　it　your　pleasure　that　I　read　it　aloud；　if　I
can；　for　it　is　writ　in　French？〃

〃Give　it　me；〃　said　the　King。　〃Philippa；　come　help　me　with　this　crabbed
stuff。〃

Then　they　withdrew　to　the　side　of　the　dais；　and；　standing　under　a
lantern；　spelled　out　Sir　Edmund　Acour's　letter　to　the　Duke　of
Normandy；　word　by　word。

The　King　finished　the　letter；　and；　still　holding　it　in　his　hand；　stood
for　a　minute　silent。　Then　his　rage　broke　out。

〃'He　of　England；'〃　he　quoted。　〃That's　your　husband；　Edward；　Lady；　who
is　to　be　overthrown　and　killed　'that　Philip's　son　may　take　his　seat
and　be　crowned　King　at　Westminster；'　which　God　is　to　bring　about
before　this　year　is　out。　Yes；　and　my　cities　are　to　be　sacked　and　my
people　slain；　and　this　French　dog；　Edmund　Acour；　who　has　sworn　fealty
to　me；　is　to　be　rewarded　with　wide　English　lands　and　high　English
titles。　Well；　by　God's　blood　I　swear　that；　dead　or　living；　he　shall　be
lifted　higher　than　he　hopes；　though　not　by　Normandy　or　my　brother　of
France！　Let　me　think！　Let　me　think！　If　I　send　men…at…arms　he'll　hear
of　it　and　slip　away。　Did　not　good　old　Sir　Andrew　call　him　a　snake？
Now；　where's　this　girl；　Red　Eve？〃

〃In　sanctuary；　Sire；　at　the　Temple　Church　in　Dunwich；〃　answered　Hugh。

〃Ah；　and　she's　a　great　heiress　now；　for　you　killed　her　brother；　and
Acour；　although　he　has　wide　possessions　in　sundry　lands；　was　ever　a
spendthrift　and　deep　in　debt。　No；　he'll　not　leave　unless　he　can　get
the　girl；　and　old　Sir　Andrew　will　guard　her　well　with　the　power　of　the
Church；　and　with　his　own　right　arm　if　need　be；　for　he's　still　more
knight　than　priest。　So　there's　no　hurry。　Tell　me　all　you　know　of　this
story；　Hugh　de　Cressi；　omitting　nothing；　however　small。　Nay；　have　no
fear；　if　you　can　vouch　for　your　fellow　there；　all　of　us　in　this
chamber　are　loyal　to　England。　Speak　out；　man。〃

So　Hugh　began　and　told　of　the　de　Cressis　and　the　Claverings　and　their
feud；　and　of　how　he　and　Eve　had　always　loved　each　other。　He　told　of
their　meeting　in　the　reeds　of　Blythburgh　Fen；　and　of　the　death　of　John
de　Clavering　at　his　hand　and　of　the　others　at　the　hand　of　Grey　Dick；
and　of　the　escape　of　Acour　from　the　fourth　arrow。　He　told　how　he　and
Eve　had　swum　the　Blyth　in　flood　though　the　ice　cut　them；　and　hid　on
the　moor　while　Grey　Dick　led　the　Claverings　astray；　and　came　at　last
safe　to　sanctuary。　He　told　how　Acour's　letter　had　been　won　from　his
messenger　by　Sir　Andrew's　loyal　guile。　He　told　of　the　penance　that　Sir
Andrew　had　laid　upon　them　because　of　the　new…shed　blood　of　John
Clavering；　of　the　flight　from　Dunwich　and　the　shooting　of　the　horses
of　the　Clavering　men；　and　of　their　ride　to　London　and　to　Windsor。　He
told　everything；　save　only　the　tale　of　what　Sir　Andrew　had　seen　in　the
House　of　Murgh　in　far　Cathay。

When　at　last　he　had　finished；　and　though　it　was　long　none　there　grew
weary　of　that　story；　the　King　turned　to　the　clerk；　and　said：

〃Brother　Peter；　make　out　a　full　pardon　to　Hugh　de　Cressi　of　Dunwich
and　Richard　Archer　his　servant　for　all　slayings　or　other　deeds　wrought
by　them　contrary　to　our　general　peace。　Draw　it　wide；　and　bring　the
same　to　me　for　execution　ere　I　sleep　to…night。　Make　out　a　commission
also　to　the　Mayor　of　Dunwichnay；　I'll　think　that　matter　over　and
instruct　you　further。　Hugh　de　Cressi；　you　have　our　thanks；　and　if　you
go　on　as　you　have　begun　you　shall　have　more　ere　long；　for　I　need　such
men　about　me。　You　also；　strange　and　death…like　man　named　Grey　Dick；
shall　not　lack　our　favour　if　it　proves　that　you　can　shoot　but　half　as
well　as　you　have　boasted；　and；　unless　you　lie；　both　of　you；　as　it
seems　that　you　have　done。　And　now　to　supper；　though　in　truth　this　news
does　not　kindle　appetite。　Son；　see　that　this　gentleman　is　well　served；
and　that　none　mock　him　more　about　the　fashion　of　his　armour；　above　all
Sir　Ambrose；　for　I'll　not　suffer　it。　Plate　and　damascene　do　not　make　a
man；　and　this；　it　seems；　was　borrowed　from　as　brave；　ay；　and　as
learned；　a　knight　as　ever　bestrode　a　horse　in　war。　Come；　Lady；〃　and
taking　the　Queen　by　the　hand；　he　left　the　chamber。

That　evening　Hugh　ate　his　food　seated　among　the　knights　of　the
Household　at　a　high　table　in　the　great　hall；　at　the　head　of　which；　for
the　King　supped　in　private；　was　placed　the　young　Prince　Edward。　He
noted　that　now　none　laughed　at　him　about　the　fashion　of　his　mail　or
his　country　ways。　Indeed；　when　after　supper　Sir　Ambrose　Lacey　came　to
him　and　asked　his　pardon　for　the　talk　that　he　had　used　to　him　in　the
Windsor　streethe　was　sure　that　some　word　had　been　sent　round　that
his　business　had　brought　him　favour　with　the　King　and　that　he　must　be
treated　with　all　courtesy。　Several　of　those　who　sat　round　him　tried　to
discover　what　that　business　was。　But　of　this　he　would　say　nothing；
parrying　their　questions　with　others　about　the　wars　in　France；　and
listening　with　open　ears　to　the　tales　of　great　deeds　done　there。

〃Ah；　would　that　I　could　see　such　things！〃　he　said。

To　which　one　of　them　answered：

〃Well；　why　not？　There'll　be　chance　enough　ere　long；　and　many　of　us
would　be　glad　of　a　square　built　like　you。〃

Now；　at　lower　tables；　in　that　vast　hall；　Hugh's　servants；　and　with
them　Grey　Dick；　sat　among　the　men…at…arms　of　the　King's　Guard；　who
were　all　chosen　for　their　courage；　and　skill　in　archery。　These
soldiers；　noting　the　strange…faced；　ashen…haired　fellow　who　ate　with
his　bow　resting　on　the　bench　beside　him；　inquired　about　him　from　the
other　Dunwich　men；　and　soon　heard　enough　to　cause　them　to　open　their
eyes。　When　the　ale　had　got　hold　of　them　they　opened　their　mouths　also；
and；　crowding　round　Dick；　asked　if　it　were　true　that　he　could　shoot
well。

〃As　well　as　another；〃　he　answered；　and　would　say　no　more。

Then　they　looked　at　his　bow；　and　saw　that　it　was　old…fashioned；　like
his　master's　mail；　and　of　some　foreign　make　and　wood；　but　a　mighty
weapon　such　as　few　could　handle　and　hold　straight。　Lastly；　they　began
to　challenge　him　to　a　match　upon　the　morrow；　to　which　he　answered；　who
also　had　been　drinking　ale　and　was　growing　angry；　that　he'd　give　the
best　of　them　five　points　in　fifty。

Now　they　mocked；　for　among　them　were　some　famous　archers；　and　asked　at
what　range。

〃At　any　ye　will；〃　answered　Grey　Dick；　〃from　twelve　score　yards　down　to
one　score　yards。　Now　trouble　me　no　longer；　who　if　I　must　shoot
to…morrow　would　sleep　first　and　drink　no　more　of　your　strong　ale　that
breeds　bad　humours　in　one　reared　upon　dyke　water。〃

Then；　seizing　his