red eve-第41节

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who；　after　what　I　have　learned　of　Father　Nicholas　and　others；　love　but
one　priest；　and　he　far　away。〃

〃Yet　it　is　well　to　have　the　blessings　of　Holy　Church　ere　such　a
business　as　ours；　Dick；　that　is；　if　it　can　be　come　by。〃

〃Mayhap；　master。　But　for　my　part　I　am　content　with　that　of　Murgh；
which　he　gave　us；　you　may　remember；　or　so　I　understood　him。　Moreover；
did　he　not　teach　that　he　and　all　are　but　ministers　of　Him　above？
Therefore　I　go　straight　to　the　head　of　the　stair；〃　and　he　nodded
toward　the　sky。　〃I　am　content　to　skip　all　those　steps　which　are　called
priests　and　altars　and　popes　and　saints　and　such…like　folk；　living　or
dead。　If　Murgh's　wisdom　be　true；　as　I　think；　these　are　but　garnishings
to　the　dish　which　can　well　be　spared　by　the　hungry　soul。〃

〃That　may　be；〃　Hugh　answered　dubiously；　for　his　faith　in　such　matters
was　that　of　his　time。　〃Yet　were　I　you；　Dick；　I'd　not　preach　that
philosophy　too　loud　lest　the　priests　and　popes　should　have　something
to　say　to　it。　The　saints　also；　for　aught　I　know；　since　I　have　always
heard　that　they　love　not　to　be　left　out　of　our　account　with　heaven。〃

〃Well；　if　so；〃　answered　Dick；　〃I'll　quote　St。　Murgh　to　them；　who　is　a
very　fitting　patron　for　an　archer。〃　Then　once　again　he　glanced　at　the
helm　and　the　arrow　with　something　not　unlike　fear　in　his　cold　eye。

Presently　they　went　down　to　the　eating　chamber　where　they　had　been
told　that　breakfast　would　be　ready　for　them　at　seven　of　the　clock。
There　they　found　Sir　Geoffrey　awaiting　them。

〃I　trust　that　you　have　slept　well；　Sir　Hugh；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　a
wise　knight　to　go　to　rest　so　early；　having　before　you　such　a　trial　of
your　strength　and　manhood；　and；　so　to　speak；　the　honour　of　our　King
upon　your　hands。〃

〃Very　well　indeed；　thank　you；　sir；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃And　you？〃

〃Oh；　ill；　extremely　ill。　I　do　not　know　what　is　the　matter　with　me　or
Venice　either；　whereof　the　very　air　seems　poisoned。　Feel　the　heat　and
see　the　haze！　It　is　most　unnatural。　Moreover；　although　in　your　bed
doubtless　you　saw　it　not；　a　great　ball　of　fire　blazed　and　burnt　over
the　city　last　night。　So　bright　was　it　that　even　in　a　darkened　room
each　of　us　could　see　the　colour　of　the　other's　eyes。　Later；　too；　as　I
watched　at　the　window；　there　came　a　thin　streak　of　flame　that　seemed
to　alight　on　or　about　this　very　house。　Indeed　I　thought　I　heard　a
sound　as　of　iron　striking　upon　iron；　but　could　find　no　cause　for　it。〃

〃Wondrous　happenings；　sir；〃　said　Grey　Dick。　〃Glad　am　I　that　we　were
not　with　you；　lest　the　sight　of　them　should　have　made　us　fearful　on
this　morning　of　combat。〃

〃Wondrous　happenings　indeed；　friend　Richard；〃　said　Sir　Geoffrey
excitedly；　〃but　you　have　not　heard　the　half　of　them。　The　herald；　who
has　just　been　here　with　the　final　articles　of　your　fray　signed　by　the
Doge　and　Cattrina；　has　told　me　much　that　I　can　scarce　believe。　He　says
that　the　great　galley　from　this　port　which　is　called　/Light　of　the
East/　drifted　up　to　the　quay　at　the　Place　of　Arms　last　night　on　her
return　voyage　from　Cyprus；　filled　with　dead　and　with　no　living　thing
aboard　her　save　the　devil　himself　in　a　yellow　robe　and　a　many…hued
head…dress　like　a　cock's…comb　with　a　red　eye。　He　swears　that　this
fiend　landed　and　that　the　mob　set　on　him；　whereon　two；　some　say　three；
other　devils　clad　in　long　black　gowns　appeared　out　of　the　water　and
drove　them　back。　Also；　it　seems　that　this　same　cock's…combed　Satan
stole　a　boat　and　rowed　about　the　city　afterward；　but　now　none　can　find
him；　although　they　have　got　the　boat。〃

〃Then　they　should　be　well　satisfied；〃　said　Hugh；　〃since　its　owner　has
lost　nothing　but　the　hire；　which　with　Satan　at　the　oars　is　better　than
might　be　hoped。　Perhaps　he　was　not　there　after　all；　Sir　Geoffrey。〃

〃I　know　not；　but　at　least　the　galley　/Light　of　the　East/　is　there；　for
ever　since　the　dawn　they　have　been　taking　the　dead　out　of　her　to　bury
them。　Of　these　they　say　things　too　terrible　to　repeat；　for　no　doctor
can　tell　of　what　sickness　they　died；　never　having　seen　its　like。　For
my　part　I　pray　it　may　not　be　catching。　Were　I　the　Doge　I　would　have
towed　her　out　to　sea　and　scuttled　her；　cargo　and　all。　Well；　well；
enough　of　these　wild　tales；　of　which　God　alone　knows　the　truth。　Come；
eat；　if　you　can　in　this　heat。　We　must　be　on　the　Place　of　Arms　by　half…
past　eight。　You　and　the　captain　go　thither　in　my　own　boat；　Sir　Hugh；
your　horse　David　Day　takes　on　presently。　Now；　while　you　breakfast；
I'll　explain　to　you　these　articles；　one　by　one；　for　they　are　writ　in
Italian；　which　you　cannot　read。　See　you　forget　them　not。　These
Venetians　are　punctilious　of　such　forms　and　ceremonies；　especially
when　the　case　is　that　of　combat　to　the　death；　which　is　rare　among
them。〃



The　articles；　which　were　lengthy；　had　been　read；　and　the　breakfast；　or
so　much　as　they　could　eat　of　it；　consumed。　At　last　Hugh；　accompanied
by　a　Venetian　squire　of　high　birth　sent　by　the　Doge　to　bear　his　casque
and　other　armour；　stood　in　the　vestibule　waiting　for　the　ambassador's
barge　of　state。　With　him　was　Grey　Dick；　accompanied　by　no　one　and
carrying　the　mail　shirt　in　which　he　was　to　fight；　like　a　housewife's
parcel　beneath　his　arm；　although　he　wore　bow　on　back；　axe　and　dagger
at　side　and　iron　cap　upon　his　head。

Presently；　while　they　lingered　thus；　out　from　a　side…door　appeared
Lady　Carleon；　clothed　in　a　white　garment　such　as　women　wear　when　their
dressing　is　half　done；　down　which　her　grey　hair　hung　dishevelled。

〃I　am　come　thus　unkempt；　Sir　Hugh；〃　she　said；　〃for；　not　feeling　well；
I　could　not　rise　early；　to　bid　you　good…bye；　since　I　am　sure　that　we
shall　not　meet　again。　However　much　that　black…browed　Doge　may　press
it；　I　cannot　go　down　yonder　to　see　my　countrymen　butchered　in　this
heat。　Oh！　oh！〃　and　she　pressed　her　hand　upon　her　heart。

〃What's　the　matter；　madam？〃　asked　Hugh　anxiously。

〃A　pain　in　my　breast；　that　is　all；　as　though　some　one　drove　a　dagger
through　me。　There；　there；　'tis　gone。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　your　goodness；　Lady　Carleon；〃　said　Hugh　when　she　was
herself　again；　then　paused；　for　he　knew　not　what　to　add。

〃Not　so；　Sir　Hugh；　not　so；　'tis　for　your　sakes　in　truth　since　you
remember　you　never　told　me　what　you　would　wish　doneafterward。　Your
possessions　alsowhere　are　they　to　be　sent？　Doubtless　you　have　money
and　other　things　of　value。　Be　sure　that　they　shall　be　sealed　up。　I'll
see　to　it　myself；　buthow　shall　I　dispose　of　them？〃

〃Madame；　I　will　tell　you　when　I　return；〃　said　Hugh　shortly。

〃Nay；　nay；　Sir　Hugh；　pray　do　not　return。　Those　who　are　gone　had　best
keep　gone；　I　think；　who　always　have　had　a　loathing　of　ghosts。
Therefore；　I　beg　you；　tell　me　now；　but　do　not　come　back　shining　like　a
saint　and　gibbering　like　a　monkey　at　dead　of　night；　because　if　you　do
I　am　sure　I　shall　not　understand；　and　if　there　is　an　error；　who　will
set　it　straight？〃

Hugh　leaned　against　a　marble　pillar　in　the　hall　and　looked　at　his
hostess　helplessly；　while　Sir　Geoffrey；　catching　her　drift　at　length；
broke　in：

〃Cease　such　ill…omened　talk；　wife。　Think　you　that　it　is　of　a　kind　to
give　brave　men　a　stomach　in　a　fight　to　the　end？〃

〃I　know　not；　Geoffrey；　but　surely　'tis　better　to　have　these　matters
settled；　for；　as　you　often　say；　death　is　always　near　us。〃

〃Ay；　madam；〃　broke　in　Grey　Dick；　who　could　bear　no　more　of　it；　〃death
is　always　near　to　all　of　us；　and　especially　so　in　Venice　just　now。
Therefore；　I　pray　you　tell　mein　case　we　should　live　and　/you/　should
die；　you　and　all　about　youwhether　you　have　any　commands　to　give　as
to　what　should　be　done　with　your　gold　and　articles　of　value；　or　any
messages　to　leave　for　friends　in　England。〃

Then；　having　uttered　this　grim　jest；　Dick　took　his　master　by　the　arm
and　drew　him　through　the　door。

Afterward；　for　a　reason　that　shall　be　told；　he　was　sorry　that　it　had
ever　passed　his　lips。　Still　in　the　boat　Sir　Geoffrey　applauded　him；
saying　that　his　lady's　melancholy　had　grown　beyond　all　bearing；　and
that　she　did　little　but　prate　to　him　about　his　will　and　what　colour　of
marble　he　desired　for　his　tomb。

After　a　journey　that　seemed　long　to　Hugh；　who　wished　to　have　this
business　over；　they　came　to　the　Place　of　Arms。　Their　route　there；
however；　was　not　the　same　which　they　had　followed　on　the　previous
night。　Leaving　the　short　way　through　the　low　part　of　the　town
untraversed；　they　rowed　from　one　of　the　canals　into　the　harbour
itself；　where　they　were　joined　by　many　other　boats　which　waited　for
them　and　so　on　to　the　quay。　Hugh　saw　at　once　that　the　death　ship；
/Light　of　the　East/；　was　gone；　and　incautiously　said　as　much　to　Sir
Geoffrey。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　〃one　of　my　rowers　tells　me　that　they　have　towed
her　to　an　island　out　at　sea；　since　the　stench　from　her　holds　was　more
than　could　be　borne。　But　how　did　you　know　that　she　lay　at　this
particular　quay；　Sir　Hugh？〃

〃I　thought　you　said　so；〃　he　answered　carelessly；　adding；　to　change　the
subject：　〃Look；　our　fray　will　not　lack　for　spectators；〃　and　he　pointed
to　the　thousands　gathered　upon　the　great　tilting…ground。

〃No；　no；　all　Venice　will　be　there；　for　these　people　love　a　show；
especially　if　there　be　death　in　it。〃

〃Mayhap　they　will　see　more　of　him　than　they　wish　before　all　is　done；〃
muttered　Grey　Dick；　pausing　from　the　task　of　whetting　his　axe