the virgin of the sun-第11节

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heard　Lady　Blanche　cry：

〃Oh；　my　hawk！〃　I　looked　round　to　see　that　the　falcon　on　her　wrist　had
in　some　way　loosed　itself；　or　been　loosed；　and　being　hooded；　had
fallen　to　the　ground　where　one　of　the　dogs　was　trying　to　catch　and
kill　it。　Now　there　was　great　confusion；　the　eyes　of　all　being　fixed
upon　the　hawk　and　the　dog；　in　the　midst　of　which　the　lady　Blanche　very
quietly　turned　her　head；　and　lifting　her　hand　as　though　to　see　how　the
hawk　had　fallen　from　it；　with　a　swift　movement　laid　her　fingers
against　her　lips　and　threw　a　kiss　to　me。

As　swiftly　I　bowed　back　and　went　on　my　way　with　a　beating　heart。　For　a
few　moments　I　was　filled　with　joy；　since　I　could　not　mistake　the
meaning　of　this　signalled　kiss。　Then　came　sorrow　like　an　April　cloud；
since　my　wound　which　was　in　the　way　of　healing　was　all　re…opened。　I
had　begun　to　forget　the　lady　Blanche；　or　rather　by　an　effort　of　the
will；　to　thrust　her　from　my　thought；　as　my　confessor　had　bidden　me。
But　now　on　the　wings　of　that　blown　kiss　thither　she　had　flown　back
again；　not　to　be　frighted　out　for　many　a　day。

That　night　I　slept　at　an　inn　at　Tonbridge；　a　comfortable　place　where
the　host　stared　at　the　gold　piece　from　the　bag　which　I　tendered　in
payment；　and　at　first　would　not　take　what　was　due　to　him　out　of　it；
because　it　bore　the　head　of　some　ancient　king。　However；　in　the　end　a
merchant　of　Tonbridge　who　came　in　for　his　morning　ale　showed　him　that
it　was　good；　so　that　trouble　passed。

About　two　in　the　afternoon　I　came　to　Southwark；　a　town　that　to　me
seemed　as　big　as　Hastings　before　it　was　burned；　where　was　a　fine　inn
called　the　Tabard　at　which　I　stopped　to　bait　my　horses　and　to　take　a
bite　and　drink　of　ale。　Then　I　rode　on　over　the　great　Thames　where
floated　a　multitude　of　ships　and　boats；　crossing　it　by　London　Bridge；
a　work　so　wonderful　that　I　marvelled　that　it　could　be　made　by　the　hand
of　man；　and　so　broad　that　it　had　shops　on　either　side　of　the　roadway；
in　which　were　sold　all　sorts　of　merchandise。　Thence　I　inquired　my　way
to　Cheapside；　and　came　there　at　last　thrusting　a　path　through　a
roaring　multitude　of　people；　or　so　it　seemed　to　me　who　never　before
had　seen　so　many　men　and　women　gathered　together；　all　going　on　their
way　and；　it　would　appear；　ignorant　of　each　other。

Here　I　found　a　long　and　crowded　thoroughfare　with　gabled　houses　on
either　side　in　which　all　kinds　of　trades　were　carried　on。　Down　this　I
wandered；　being　cursed　at　more　than　once　because　my　pack　mare；　growing
frightened；　dragged　away　from　me　and　crossed　the　path　of　carts　which
had　to　stop　till　I　could　pull　her　free。　After　the　third　of　these
tangles　I　halted　by　the　side　of　the　footway　behind　a　wain　with　barrels
on　it；　and　looked　about　me　bewildered。

To　my　left　was　a　house　somewhat　set　back　from　the　general　line　that
had　a　little　patch　of　garden　ground　in　front　of　it　in　which　grew　some
untended　and　thriftless…looking　shrubs。　This　house　seemed　to　be　a
place　of　business　because　from　an　iron　fastened　to　the　front　of　it
hung　a　board　on　which　was　painted　an　open　boat；　high　at　the　prow　and
stern；　with　a　tall　beak　fashioned　to　the　likeness　of　a　dragon's　head
and　round　shields　all　down　the　rail。

While　I　was　staring　at　this　sign　and　wondering　emptily　what　kind　of　a
boat　it　was　and　of　what　nation　were　the　folk　who　had　sailed　in　her；　a
man　came　down　the　garden　path　and　leaned　upon　the　gate；　staring　in
turn　at　me。　He　was　old　and　strange…looking；　being　clad　in　a　rusty　gown
with　a　hood　to　it　that　was　pulled　over　his　head；　so　that　I　could　only
see　a　white；　peaked　beard　and　a　pair　of　brilliant　black　eyes　which
seemed　to　pierce　me　as　a　shoemaker's　awl　pierces　leather。

〃What　do　you；　young　man；〃　he　asked　in　a　high　thin　voice；　〃cumbering　my
gate　with　those　nags　of　yours？　Would　you　sell　that　mail　you　have　on
the　pack…horse？　If　so　I　do　not　deal　in　such　stuff；　though　it　seems
good　of　its　kind。　So　get　on　with　it　elsewhere。〃

〃Nay；　sir；〃　I　answered；　〃I　have　naught　to　sell　who　in　this　hive　of
traders　seek　one　bee　and　cannot　find　him。〃

〃Hive　of　traders！　Truly　the　great　merchants　of　the　Cheap　would　be
honoured。　Have　they　stung　you；　then；　already；　young　bumpkin　from　the
countryside；　for　such　I　write　you　down？　But　what　bee　do　you　seek？
Stay；　now；　let　me　guess。　Is　it　a　certain　old　knave　named　John　Grimmer；
who　trades　in　gold　and　jewels　and　other　precious　things　and　who；　if　he
had　his　deserts；　should　be　jail？〃

〃Aye；　aye；　that's　the　man；〃　I　said。

〃Surely　he　also　will　be　honoured；〃　exclaimed　the　old　fellow　with　a
cackle。　〃He's　a　friend　of　mine　and　I　will　tell　him　the　jest。〃

〃If　you　would　tell　me　where　to　find　him　it　would　be　more　seasonable。〃

〃All　in　good　time。　But　first；　young　sir；　where　did　you　get　that　fine
armour？　If　you　stole　it；　it　should　be　better　hid。〃

〃Stole　it！〃　I　began　in　wrath。　〃Am　I　a　London　chapman？〃

〃I　think　not；　though　you　may　be　before　all　is　done；　for　who　knows　what
vile　tricks　Fortune　will　play　us？　Well；　if　you　did　not　steal　it；
mayhap　you　slew　the　wearer　and　are　a　murderer；　for　I　see　black　blood
on　the　steel。〃

〃Murderer！〃　I　gasped。

〃Aye；　just　as　you　say　John　Grimmer　is　a　knave。　But　if　not；　then
perchance　you　slew　the　French　knight　who　wore　it　on　Hastings　Hill；　ere
you　loosed　the　three　arrows　at　the　mouth　of　the　cave　near　Minnes
Rock。〃

Now　I　gaped　at　him。

〃Shut　your　mouth；　young　man；　lest　those　teeth　of　yours　should　fall
out。　You　wonder　how　I　know？　Well；　my　friend　John　Grimmer；　the
goldsmith　knave；　has　a　magic　crystal　which　he　purchased　from　one　who
brought　it　from　the　East；　and　I　saw　it　in　that　crystal。〃

As　he　spoke；　as　though　by　chance　he　pushed　back　the　hood　that　covered
his　head；　revealing　a　wrinkled　old　face　with　a　mocking　mouth　which
drooped　at　one　corner；　a　mouth　that　I　knew　again；　although　many　years
had　passed　since　I　looked　upon　it　as　a　boy。

〃You　are　John　Grimmer！〃　I　muttered。

〃Yes；　Hubert　of　Hastings；　I　am　that　knave　himself。　And　now　tell　me；
what　did　you　do　with　the　gold　piece　I　gave　you　some　twelve　summers
gone？〃

Then　I　was　minded　to　lie；　for　I　feared　this　old　man。　But　thinking
better　of　it；　I　answered　that　I　had　spent　it　on　a　dog。　He　laughed
outright　and　said：

〃Pray　that　it　is　not　an　omen　and　that　you　may　not　follow　the　gold
piece　to　the　dogs。　Well；　I　like　you　for　speaking　the　truth　when　you
are　tempted　to　do　otherwise。　Will　you　be　pleased　to　shelter　for　a
while　beneath　the　roof　of　John　Grimmer；　the　merchant　knave？〃

〃You　mock　me；　sir；〃　I　stammered。

〃Perhaps；　perhaps！　But　there's　many　a　true　word　spoken　in　jest；　for　if
you　do　not　know　it　now　you　will　learn　it　afterwards　that　we　are　all
knaves；　each　in　his　own　fashion；　who　if　we　do　not　deceive　others；　at
least　deceive　ourselves；　and　I　perhaps　more　than　most。　Vanity　of
vanities！　All　is　vanity。〃

Then；　waiting　for　no　reply；　he　drew　a　silver　whistle　from　under　his
dusty　robe　and　blew　it；　whereonso　swiftly　that　I　marvelled　whether
he　were　waitinga　stout…built　serving　man　appeared　to　whom　he　said：

〃Take　these　horses　to　the　stable　and　treat　them　as　though　they　were　my
own。　Unload　the　pack　beast；　and　when　it　has　been　cleaned；　set　the　mail
and　the　other　gear　upon　it　in　the　room　that　has　been　made　ready　for
this　young　master；　Hubert　of　Hastings；　my　nephew。〃

Without　a　word　the　man　led　off　the　horses。

〃Be　not　afraid；〃　chuckled　John　Grimmer；　〃for　though　I　am　a　knave；　dog
does　not　eat　dog　and　what　is　yours　is　safe　with　me　and　those　who　serve
me。　Now　enter；〃　and　he　led　the　way　into　the　house；　opening　the　iron…
studded　oak　door　with　a　key　from　his　pouch。

Within　was　a　shop　where　I　saw　precious　things　such　as　furs　and　gold
ornaments　lying　about。

〃The　crumbs　to　catch　the　birds；　especially　the　ladybirds；〃　he　said
with　a　sweep　of　his　hand；　then　took　me　through　the　shop　into　a　passage
and　thence　to　a　room　on　the　right。　It　was　not　a　large　room　but　more
wonderfully　furnished　than　any　I　had　ever　seen。　In　the　centre　was　a
table　of　black　oak　with　cunningly　carved　legs；　on　which　stood　cups　of
silver　and　a　noble　centre　piece　that　seemed　to　be　of　gold。　From　the
ceiling；　too；　hung　silver　lamps　that　already　had　been　lit；　for　the
evening　was　closing　in；　and　gave　a　sweet　smell。　There　was　a　hearth
also　with　what　was　rare；　a　chimney；　upon　which　burned　a　little　fire　of
logs；　while　the　walls　were　hung　with　tapestries　and　broidered　silks。

Whilst　I　stared　about　me；　my　uncle　took　off　his　cloak　beneath　which　he
was　clothed　in　some　rich　but　rather　threadbare　stuff；　only　retaining
the　velvet　skullcap　that　he　wore。　Then　he　bade　me　do　the　same；　and
when　I　had　laid　my　outer　garment　aside；　looked　me　all　over　in　the
lamplight。

〃A　proper　young　man；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃and　I'd　give　all　I　have
to　be　his　age　and　like　him。　I　suppose　those　limbs　and　sinews　of　his
came　from　his　father；　for　I　was　ever　thin　and　spare；　as　was　my　father
before　me。　Nephew　Hubert；　I　have　heard　all　the　tale　of　your　dealings
with　the　Frenchmen；　on　whom　be　God's　curse；　at　Hastings　yonder；　and　I
say　that　I　am　proud　of　you；　though　whether　I　shall　stay　so　is　another
matter。　Come　hither。〃

I　obeyed；　and　taking　me　by　my　curling　hair　with　his　delicate　hand；　he
drew　down　my　head　and　kissed　me　on　the　brow；　muttering；　〃Neither　chick
nor　child　for　me　and　only　thi