red eve-第6节

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As　the　words　left　his　lips　Clavering　fell　sprawling　on　his　back；　for
Hugh　had　caught　his　leg　with　his　left　arm　and　thrown　him；　so　that　they
lay　both　together　on　the　ground。

There　they　closed；　rolling　over　each　other；　but　too　close　to　stab。

〃Now　good…night；　John；〃　said　Dick；　with　his　hoarse　chuckle。　〃Throat
him；　masterthroat　him！〃

The　flurry　in　the　snow　was　at　an　end。　John　lay　on　his　back；　de　Cressi
knelt　on　him　and　lifted　his　short　sword。

〃Do　you　yield？〃　men　heard　him　say。

〃Nay；〃　answered　Clavering。　Then　suddenly　Hugh　rose　and　suffered　his
adversary　to　do　likewise。

〃I'll　not　stick　you　like　a　hog！〃　he　said；　and　some　cried；　〃Well　done！〃
for　the　act　seemed　noble。　Only　Acour　muttered；　〃Fool！〃

Next　instant　they　were　at　it　again；　but　this　time　it　was　Hugh　who
attacked　and　John　who　gave　back　right　to　the　river's　edge；　for　skill
and　courage　seemed　to　fail　him　at　once。

〃Turn　your　head；　lady；〃　said　Dick；　〃for　now　one　must　die。〃　But　Eve
could　not。

The　swords　flashed　for　the　last　time　in　the　red　light；　then　that　of　de
Cressi　vanished。　Clavering　threw　his　arms　wide；　and　fell　backward。　A
splash　as　of　a　great　stone　thrown　into　water；　and　all　was　done。

Hugh　stood　a　moment　on　the　river's　bank；　staring　at　the　stream
beneath；　then　he　turned　and　began　to　walk　slowly　toward　the　dead　swan。

Ere　ever　he　reached　it　Sir　John　Clavering　fell　from　his　horse　in　a
swoon；　and　a　shout　of　rage　went　up　from　all　his　people。

〃Kill　him！〃　they　yelled；　and　leapt　forward。

Now　Hugh　understood；　and　ran　for　the　point　of　land。　One　man；　a
Frenchman；　got　in　front　of　him。　He　cut　him　down；　and　sped　on。

〃What　now？〃　said　Eve；　as　he　joined　them。

He　did　not　answer；　only　pointed　first　to　the　Clavering　folk　and　next
to　the　water；　showing　that　she　must　choose　between　the　two。

〃Swim　for　it！〃　growled　Grey　Dick。　〃I'll　hold　them　back　a　while　and
then　join　you；〃　and　as　he　spoke　his　bow　twanged。

For　an　instant　Eve　paused；　then　threw　off　her　scarlet　cloak。

〃Remember；　I　slew　your　brother！〃　said　Hugh　hoarsely。

〃I　remember　that　he　would　have　slain　you；〃　she　answered；　and　leapt
straight　from　the　point　into　the　icy　flood；　beneath　which　her　head
sank。

When　it　rose　again　there　was　another　head　beside　it；　that　of　dead
John；　who　appeared　for　one　moment；　to　be　seen　no　more　for　ever；　since
ere　morning　the　ocean　had　him。

Now　Hugh　leapt　after　her；　and　presently　the　pair　of　them　were　swimming
side　by　side　to　the　river's　further　shore。　Then；　as　now；　it　was　but　a
narrow　stream。　Yet　they　did　not　reach　it　easily；　for；　cumbered　as　they
were　with　clothes；　and　numbed　by　the　ice…cold　water；　the　fierce　tide
caught　them　and　carried　them　beyond　the　bend。　There　they　were　lost　in
the　gathering　darkness；　so　that　most　of　those　who　watched　believed
that　they　had　sunk　and　drowned。　But　it　was　not　so；　for　after　a　long
struggle　they　came　safe　to　shore　near　to　a　clump　of　willows；　and
clambered　over　the　frozen　mud　to　the　heath　beyond。

〃First　fire；　then　water；〃　said　Hugh；　in　a　mazed　voice。

〃You　have　missed　out　love　and　death；〃　answered　the　girl〃a　full　feast
for　a　day　that　is　not　done。　But　whither　now？〃

〃To　take　sanctuary　at　the　Preceptory　and　raise　my　kin。　Forward；　Eve；
ere　you　freeze。〃

〃I　think　there　is　that　in　me　which　will　not　freeze；〃　she　answered；　and
broke　into　a　run。

Now　night　closed　in；　and　the　snow　which　had　been　threatening　all　day
began　to　fall；　making　their　path　over　the　heath　difficult。

〃We　need　Grey　Dick　to　guide　us；　but　alack；　I　fear　he　is　dead！〃
muttered　Hugh。

〃I　think　others　will　be　dead；　not　Dick；〃　she　answered。

Just　then　they　heard　a　footstep　behind　them。

Hugh　wheeled　round　and　drew　his　sword；　but　almost　before　it　had　left
the　scabbard　a　long　figure　glided　out　of　the　snow；　and　said：

〃More　to　the　left；　master；　more　to　the　left；　unless　you　would　make
your　peace　on　Blythburgh　bridge；　where　some　would　be　glad　to　meet
you。〃

〃How　went　it？〃　asked　Hugh　shortly。

〃Not　well。　I　shot　thrice　and　slew　three　men；　two　of　the　French
knights；　and　Thomas　of　Kessland；　against　whom　I　had　a　score　that　now
is　settled。　But　the　fourth　time　I　missed。〃

〃Who？〃　asked　Eve　between　her　teeth　as　she　ran　beside　him。

〃The　Frenchman　who　means　to　marry　you。　When　the　others　fell　back　he
came　at　me　on　his　horse　as　I　was　setting　a　fresh　arrow；　thinking　to
get　me。　I　had　to　shoot　quick；　and　aimed　low　for　his　heart；　because　in
that　light　I　could　not　make　certain　of　his　face。　He　saw；　and　jerked　up
the　horses　head；　so　that　the　shaft　took　it　in　the　throat　and　killed
the　beast　without　hurting　its　rider。　He　was　off　in　an　instant　and　at
me；　with　others；　before　I　could　draw　again。　So　I　thought　it　time　to
go；　which　I　did；　backward；　as　he　thrust。　Perhaps　he　thinks　he　killed
me；　as　I　meant　he　should；　only　when　he　looks　at　his　sword　he'll　find
it　clean。　That's　all。〃

And　again　Grey　Dick　chuckled。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　III

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FATHER　ANDREW

None　were　abroad　in　the　streets　of　Dunwich　on　that　bitter　winter　night
when　these　three　trudged　wearily　down　Middlegate　Street　through　the
driving　snow　to　the　door　of　the　grey　Preceptory　of　the　Knights
Templar。　In　a　window　above　the　porch　a　light　burned　dimly；　the　only
one　to　be　seen　in　any　of　the　houses　round　about；　for　by　now　all　men
were　abed。

〃'Tis　Father　Arnold's　room；〃　said　Eve。　〃He　sits　there　at　his　books。
I'll　knock　and　call　him；　but　do　you　two　go　lay　hold　of　the　ring　of　the
church　door；〃　and　she　nodded　toward　a　grey　pile　that　stood　near　by。
〃Then　none　can　touch　you；　and　how　know　we　who　may　be　in　this　house？〃

〃I'll　go　no　step　further；〃　answered　Hugh　sullenly。　〃All　this　Temple
ground　is　sanctuary；　or　at　least　we　will　risk　it。〃　And；　seizing　the
knocker；　he　hammered　at　the　door。

The　light　in　the　window　vanished；　and　presently　they　heard　a　sound　of
creaking　bolts。　Then　the　door　opened；　revealing　a　tall　man；　white…
bearded；　ancient；　and　clad　in　a　frayed；　furred　robe　worn　over　a
priest's　cassock；　who　held　a　lantern　in　his　hand。

〃Who　knocks？〃　he　asked。　〃Does　some　soul　pass　that　you　disturb　me　after
curfew？〃

〃Ay；　Father　Andrew；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃souls　have　passed；　and　souls　are
near　to　passing。　Let　us　in；　and　we　will　tell　you　all。〃

Without　waiting　for　an　answer　he　entered　with　the　others；　pushed　to
the　massive　door　and　bolted　it　again。

〃What's　this？　A　woman？〃　said　the　old　priest。　〃Eve　of　Clavering；　by　the
Saints！〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered　calmly；　though　her　teeth　chattered；　〃Eve　of
Clavering；　Eve　the　Red；　this　time　with　the　blood　of　men；　soaked　with
the　waters　of　the　Blythe；　frozen　with　the　snows　of　Dunwich　Heath；
where　she　has　lain　hid　for　hours　with　a　furze　bush　for　shelter。　Eve
who　seeks　shriving；　a　dry　rag　for　her　back；　a　morsel　for　her　lips；　and
fire　to　warm　her；　which　in　the　Name　of　Christ　and　of　charity　she　prays
you　will　not　refuse　to　her。〃

So　she　spoke；　and　laughed　recklessly。

Almost　before　she　had　finished　her　wild　words　the　old　man；　who　looked
what　he　was；　a　knight　arrayed　in　priestly　robes；　had　run　to　a　door　at
the　end　of　the　hall　and　was　calling　through　it；　〃Mother　Agnes！　Mother
Agnes！〃

〃Be　not　so　hasty；　Sir　Andrew；〃　answered　a　shrill　voice。　〃A　posset　must
have　time　to　boil。　It　is　meet　now　that　you　wear　a　tonsure　that　you　who
are　no　longer　a　centurion　should　forget　these　'Come；　and　he　cometh；'
ways。　When　the　water's　hot〃

The　rest　of　that　speech　was　lost；　for　Father　Arnold；　muttering　some
word　belonging　to　his　〃centurion〃　days；　dived　into　the　kitchen；　to
reappear　presently　dragging　a　little　withered　old　woman　after　him　who
was　dressed　in　a　robe　of　conventual　make。

〃Peace；　Mother　Agnes；　peace！〃　he　said。　〃Take　this　lady；　dry　her；　array
her　in　your　best　gown；　give　her　food；　warm　her；　and　bring　her　back　to
me。　Short？　What　care　I　if　the　robe　be　short？　Obey；　or　it　will　not　be
come；　and　he　cometh；　but　go　and　she　goeth；　and　then　who　will　shelter
one　who　talks　so　much？〃

He　thrust　the　pair　of　them　through　the　kitchen　door　and；　returning；
led　Hugh　and　Grey　Dick　up　a　broad　oak　stair　to　what　had　been　the
guest…hall　of　the　Preceptory　on　its　first　floor。

It　was　a　very　great　chamber　where；　before　their　Order　was　dispersed；
all　the　Knights　Templar　had　been　wont　to　dine　with　those　who　visited
them　at　times　of　festival。　Tattered　banners　still　hung　among　the
cobwebs　of　the　ancient　roof；　the　shields　of　past　masters　with　stately
blazonings　were　carved　in　stone　upon　the　walls。　But　of　all　this
departed　splendour　but　little　could　be　seen；　since　the　place　was　lit
only　by　a　single　lamp　of　whale's　oil　and　a　fire　that　burned　upon　the
wide　stone　hearth；　a　great　fire；　since　Father　Arnold；　who　had　spent
many　years　of　his　life　in　the　East；　loved　warmth。

〃Now；　Hugh　de　Cressi；〃　he　said；　〃what　have　you　done？〃

〃Slain　my　cousin；　John　of　Clavering；　Father；　and　perhaps　another　man。〃

〃In　fair　fight；　very　fair　fight；〃　croaked　Grey　Dick。

〃Who　doubts　it？　Can　a　de　Cressi　be　a　murderer？〃　asked　the　priest。　〃And
you；　Richard　the　Archer；　what　have　you　done？〃

〃Shot　a　good　horse　and　three　bad　men　dead　with　arrowsat　least　they
should　be　deadand　another　through　the　hand；　standing　one　against
twenty。〃

〃A　gallantI　meanan　evil　deed；〃　broke　in　the　old　warrior　priest；
〃tho