red eve-第22节

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！


passes　off　leaving　only　its　divine　essence；　why；　afterward　she'll　love
you　furiously。〃

〃A　powerful　medicine；　truly；　that　can　change　the　nature　of　woman。
Moreover；　I'd　rather　that　she　loved　mewell；　as　happy　brides　do。
Still　I　put　up　with　the　fury　provided　it　be　of　the　good　kind。　And　now
how　is　it　to　be　done？〃

〃Leave　that　to　me；　lord；〃　said　Nicholas；　with　a　cunning　smile。　〃Give
me　a　purse　of　gold；　not　less　than　ten　pieces；　for　some　is　needed　to
melt　in　the　mixture；　and　more　to　bribe　that　woman　and　others。　For　the
rest；　hold　yourself　ready　to　become　a　husband　before　sunset　to…morrow。
Go　see　Sir　John　and　tell　him　that　the　lady　softens。　Send　men　on　to
King's　Lynn　also　to　bid　them　have　our　ship　prepared　to　sail　the　minute
we　appear；　which　with　good　fortune　should　be　within　forty…eight　hours
from　now。　Above　all；　forget　not　that　I　run　great　risk　to　soul　and　body
for　your　sake　and　that　there　are　abbeys　vacant　in　Normandy。　Now；
farewell；　I　must　to　my　work；　for　this　medicine　takes　much　skill　such
as　no　other　leech　has　save　myself。　Ay；　and　much　prayer　also；　that
naught　may　hinder　its　powerful　working。〃

〃Prayer　to　the　devil；　I　think；〃　said　his　master　looking　after　him　with
a　shrug　of　his　shoulders。　〃God's　truth！　if　any　one　had　told　me　three
months　gone　that　de　Noyon　would　live　to　seek　the　aid　of　priests　and
potions　to　win　a　woman's　favour；　I'd　have　named　him　liar　to　his　face。
What　would　those　who　have　gone　before　her　think　of　this　story；　I
wonder？〃

Then　with　a　bitter　laugh　he　turned　and　went　about　his　business；　which
was　to　lie　to　the　father　as　he　had　lied　to　the　daughter。　Only　in　this
second　case　he　found　one　more　willing　to　listen　and　easier　to　deceive。



On　the　following　morning；　as　it　chanced；　Eve　had　no　relish　for　the
food　that　was　brought　to　her；　for　confinement　in　that　narrow　place　had
robbed　her　of　her　appetite。　Also　she　had　suffered　much　from　grievous
fear　and　doubt；　for　whatever　she　might　say　to　Acour；　how　could　she　be
sure　that　his　story　was　not　true？　How　could　she　be　sure　that　her　lover
did　not；　in　fact；　now　lie　dead　at　the　headsman's　hands？　Such　things
often　happened　when　kings　were　wroth　and　would　not　listen。　Or　perhaps
Acour　himself　had　found　and　murdered　him；　or　hired　others　to　do　the
deed。　She　did　not　know；　and；　imprisoned　here　without　a　friend；　what
means　had　she　of　coming　at　the　truth？　Oh！　if　only　she　could　escape！　If
only　she　could　speak　with　Sir　Andrew　for　one　brief　minute；　she；　poor
fool；　who　had　walked　into　this　trap　of　her　own　will。

She　sent　away　the　food　and　bade　the　woman　Mell　bring　her　milk；　for
that　would　be　easy　to　swallow　and　give　her　sustenance。　After　some
hours　it　came；　Mell　explaining　that　she　had　been　obliged　to　send　for
it　to　the　farmsteading；　as　none　drank　milk　in　the　manor…house。　Being
thirsty；　Eve　took　the　pitcher　and　drained　it　to　the　last　drop；　then
threw　it　down；　saying　that　the　vessel　was　foul　and　made　the　milk　taste
ill。

The　woman　did　not　answer；　only　smiled　a　little　as　she　left　the
chamber；　and　Eve　wondered　why　she　smiled。

A　while　later　she　grew　very　sleepy；　and；　as　it　seemed　to　her；　had
strange　dreams　in　her　sleep。　She　dreamed　of　her　childhood；　when　she
and　Hugh　played　together　upon　the　Dunwich　shore。　She　dreamed　of　her
mother；　and　thought　dimly　that　she　was　warning　her　of　something。　She
heard　voices　about　her　and　thought　that　they　were　calling　her　to　be
free。　Yes；　and　followed　them　readily　enough；　or　so　it　seemed　in　her
dream；　followed　them　out　of　that　hateful　prison；　for　the　bolts　clanged
behind　her；　down　stairs　and　into　the　courtyard；　where　the　sun's　light
almost　blinded　her　and　the　fresh　air　struck　her　hot　brow　like　ice。
Then　there　were　more　voices；　and　people　moving　to　and　fro　and　the
drone　of　a　priest　praying　and　a　touch　upon　her　hand　from　which　she
shrank。　And　oh！　she　wished　that　dream　were　done；　for　it　was　long；
long。　It　wearied　her；　and　grasped　her　heart　with　a　cold　clutch　of
fear。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VIII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TOO　LATE

It　was　past　three　o'clock　on　this　same　day　when　Eve　had　drunk　the　milk
and　some　hours　after　she　began　to　dream；　that　Hugh　de　Cressi　and　his
men；　safe　and　sound　but　weary；　halted　their　tired　horses　at　the　door
of　the　Preceptory　of　the　Templars　in　Dunwich。

〃Best　go　on　to　his　worship　the　Mayor　and　serve　the　King's　writ　upon
him；　master；〃　grumbled　Grey　Dick　as　they　rode　up　Middlegate　Street。
〃You　wasted　good　time　in　a　shooting　bout　at　Windsor　against　my　will；
and　now　you'll　waste　more　time　in　a　talking　match　at　Dunwich。　And　the
sun　grows　low；　and　the　Frenchmen　may　have　heard　and　be　on　the　wing；
and　who　can　see　to　lay　a　shaft　at　night？〃

〃Nay；　man；〃　answered　Hugh　testily；　〃first　I　must　know　how　she　fares。〃

〃The　lady　Eve　will　fare　neither　better　nor　worse　for　your　knowing
about　her；　but　one　with　whom　you　should　talk　may　fare　further；　for
doubtless　his　spies　are　out。　But　have　your　way　and　leave　me　to　thank
God　that　no　woman　ever　found　a　chance　to　clog　my　leg；　perhaps　because
I　was　not　born　an　ass。〃

It　is　doubtful　if　Hugh　heard　these　pungent　and　practical　remarks；　for
ere　Dick　had　finished　speaking　them；　he　was　off　his　horse；　and
hammering　at　the　Preceptory　door。　Some　while　passed　before　any　answer
came；　for　Sir　Andrew　was　walking　in　the　garden　beyond　the　church；　in
no　happy　mind　because　of　certain　rumours　that　had　reached　him；　and　the
old　nun　Agnes；　spying　armed　men　and　not　knowing　who　they　were；　was
afraid　to　open。　So　it　came　about　that　fifteen　minutes　or　more　went　by
before　at　length　Hugh　and　his　godsire　stood　face　to　face。

〃How　is　Eve　and　where？　Why　is　she　not　with　you；　Father？〃　he　burst　out。

〃One　question　at　a　time；　son；　for　whose　safe　return　I　thank　God。　I
know　not　how　she　is；　and　she　is　not　with　me　because　she　is　not　here。
She　has　returned　to　her　father　at　Blythburgh。〃

〃Why？〃　gasped　Hugh。　〃You　swore　to　keep　her　safe。〃

〃Peace；　and　you　shall　learn；〃　and　as　shortly　as　he　could　he　told　him。

〃Is　that　all？〃　asked　Hugh　doubtfully；　for　he　saw　trouble　in　Sir
Andrew's　face。

〃Not　quite；　son。　Only　to…day　I　have　learned　that　Acour　and　his　folk
never　went　to　London；　and　are　back　again　at　Blythburgh　Manor。〃

〃So　much　the　better；　Father；　for　now　I　have　the　King's　warrant
addressed　to　the　Mayor　and　all　his　Grace's　subject　in　Dunwich；　to　take
these　Frenchmen；　living　or　dead。〃

〃Ah！　But　I　have　learned　also　that　her　father　holds　Eve　a　prisoner；
suffering　her　to　speak　with　none；　andone　lamb　among　those　wolves
Oh！　God！　why　didst　Thou　suffer　my　wisdom　to　fail　me？　Doubtless　for
some　good　purposewhere　is　my　faith？　Yet　we　must　act。　Hie；　you
there；〃　he　called　to　one　of　the　men…at…arms；　〃go　to　Master　de　Cressi's
house　and　bid　him　meet　us　by　the　market…cross　mounted　and　armed；　with
all　his　sons　and　people。　And；　you；　get　out　my　horse。　Mother　Agnes；
bring　my　armour；　since　I　have　no　other　squire！　We'll　go　to　the　Mayor。
Now；　while　I　don　my　harness；　tell　me　all　that's　passed；　wasting　no
words。〃

Another　half…hour　almost　had　gone　by　before　Hugh　met　his　father；　two
of　his　brothers　and　some　men　riding　into　the　market…place。　They
greeted　in　haste　but　thankfulness；　and　something　of　the　tale　was　told
while　they　passed　on　to　the　house　of　the　Mayor；　who；　as　they　thought；
had　already　been　warned　of　their　coming　by　messengers。　But　here
disappointment　awaited　them；　for　this　officer；　a　man　of　wealth　and
honour；　was；　as　it　chanced；　absent　on　a　visit　to　Norwich；　whence　it
was　said　that　he　would　not　return　for　three　full　days。

〃Now　what　shall　we　do？〃　asked　Sir　Andrew；　his　face　falling。　〃It　is
certain　that　the　burgesses　of　Dunwich　will　not　draw　sword　in　an
unknown　quarrel；　except　upon　the　direct　order　of　their　chief；　for
there　is　no　time　to　collect　them　and　publish　the　King's　warrant。　It
would　seem　that　we　must　wait　till　to…morrow　and　prepare　to…night。〃

〃Not　I；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃The　warrant　is　to　me　as　well　as　to　the　Mayor。
I'll　leave　it　with　his　clerk；　which　is　good　delivery；　and　away　to
Blythburgh　Manor　on　the　instant　with　any　who　will　follow　me；　or
without　them。　Come；　Dick；　for　night　draws　on　and　we've　lost　much
time。〃

Now　his　father　tried　to　dissuade　him；　but　he　would　not　listen；　for　the
fear　in　his　heart　urged　him　forward。　So　the　end　of　it　was　that　the
whole　party　of　themthirteen　men　in　all；　counting　those　that　Master
de　Cressi　brought；　rode　away　across　the　heath　to　Blythburgh；　though
the　horses　of　Hugh's　party　being　very　weary；　not　so　fast　as　he　could
have　wished。

Just　as　the　sun　sank　they　mounted　the　slope　of　the　farther　hill　on　the
crest　of　which　stood　the　manor…house　backed　by　winds。

〃The　drawbridge　is　down；　thanks　be　to　God！〃　said　Sir　Andrew；　〃which
shows　that　no　attack　is　feared。　I　doubt　me；　son；　we　shall　find　Acour
flown。〃

〃That　we　shall　know　presently；〃　answered　Hugh。

〃Now；　dismount　all　and　follow　me。〃

They　obeyed；　though　some　of　them　who　knew　old　Sir　John's　temper　seemed
not　to　like　the　business。　Leaving　two　of　their　people　with　the　horses；
they　crossed　the　bridge；　thinking　to　themselves　that　the　great　house
seemed　strangely　silent　and　deserted。　Now　they　were　in　the　outer
court；　on　one　side　of　which　stood　the　chapel；　and　still　there　was　no
one　to　be　seen。　Dick　tapped　H