red eve-第15章

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！


of　the　Claverings　and　the　uncoffined　corpses　lying　on　their　biers　by
the　edge　of　the　yawning　graves；　the　mourners　in　their　mail；　the　low
voice　of　the　celebrating　priest；　a　Frenchman；　Father　Nicholas；
chaplain　to　Acour；　who　hurried　through　the　Latin　service　as　though　he
wished　to　be　done　with　it；　the　deep　shadows　of　the　groined　roof
whereon　the　rain　patteredsuch　were　the　features　of　this　interment。
It　was　done　at　last；　and　the　poor　dead；　but　a　few　days　before　so　full
of　vigour　and　of　passion；　were　left　to　their　last　sleep　in　the
unremembered　grave。　Then　the　mourners　marched　back　to　the　manor　across
the　Middle　Marsh　and　sought　their　beds　in　a　sad　silence。

Shortly　after　daybreak　they　were　called　from　them　again　by　the　news
that　those　who　had　followed　Hugh　de　Cressi　had　returned。　Quickly　they
rose；　thinking　that　these　came　back　with　tidings　of　accomplished
vengeance；　to　find　themselves　face　to　face　with　seven　starved　and
miserable　men　who；　all　their　horses　being　dead；　had　walked　hither　from
Dunwich。

The　wretched　story　was　learned　at　length；　and　then　followed　that
violent　scene；　which　has　been　told　already；　when　Acour　cursed　his
followers　as　cowards；　and　Clavering；　sobered　perhaps　by　the　sadness　of
the　midnight　burial　or　by　the　memory　of　Arnold's　words；　reproved　him。
Lastly；　stung　by　the　taunts　that　were　heaped　upon　them；　Sir　Pierre　de
la　Roche　gave　Hugh's　messagethat　if　they　lifted　hand　against　his
love　or　his　House　he　would　kill　them　like　ravening　wolves；　〃which　I
think　he　certainly　will　do；　for　none　can　conquer　him　and　his
henchman；〃　he　added　shortly。

Then　Sir　John's　rage　flared　up　again　like　fire　when　fresh　fuel　is
thrown　on　ashes。　He　cursed　Hugh　and　Grey　Dick；　he　cursed　his　daughter；
he　even　cursed　Acour　and　asked　for　the　second　time　how　it　came　about
that　he　who　had　brought　all　this　trouble　on　him　was　given　the　evil
name　of　traitor。

〃I　know　not；〃　answered　Sir　Edmund　fiercely；　and　laying　his　hand　upon
his　sword；　〃but　this　I　know；　that　you　or　any　man　will　do　well　not　to
repeat　it　if　you　value　life。〃

〃Do　you　threaten　me？〃　asked　Sir　John。　〃Because；　if　so；　you　will　do
well　to　begone　out　of　this　house　of　shame　and　woe　lest　you　be　borne
out　feet　first。　Nay；　nay；　I　forgot；〃　he　added　slowly；　clasping　his
head　in　his　hands；　〃you　are　my　daughter's　affianced；　are　you　not；　and
will　give　her　high　place　and　many　famous　titles；　and　her　son　shall　be
called　Clavering；　that　the　old　name　may　not　die　but　be　great　in
England；　in　France；　and　in　Italy。　You　must　bide　to　marry　her；　lest
that　cuckoo；　Hugh　de　Cressi；　that　cuckoo　with　the　sharp　bill；　should
creep　into　my　nest。　I'll　not　be　worsted　by　a　stripling　clad　in
merchant's　cloth　who　slew　my　only　son。　Take　not　my　words　ill；　noble
Noyon；　for　I　am　overdone　with　grief　for　the　past　and　fear　for　the
future。　You　must　bide　to　marry　her　by　fair　means　or　by　foul。　Draw　her
from　the　sanctuary　and　marry　her　whether　she　say　you　yea　or　nay。　You
have　my　leave；　noble　Noyon；〃　and　so　speaking　he　swayed　and　fell　prone
upon　the　floor。

At　first　they　thought　that　he　was　dead。　But　the　chaplain；　Nicholas；
who　was　a　leech；　bled　him；　and　he　came　to　himself　again；　although　he
still　wandered　in　his　talk　and　lay　abed。

Then　Acour　and　Nicholas　took　counsel　together。

〃What　is　to　be　done？〃　said　Sir　Edmund；　〃for　I　am　on　fire　for　this
maid；　and　all　her　scorn　and　hate　do　but　fan　my　flame。　Moreover；　she　is
now　very　rich；　for　that　old　hot…head　cannot　live　long。　His　violent
humours　will　kill　him；　and；　as　you　know；　Father；　although　I　have　great
possessions；　my　costs　are　large　and　I　have　still　greater　debts。
Lastly；　shall　de　Noyon　and　his　knights　be　worsted　by　a　wool…merchant's
younger　son；　a　mere　'prentice　lad；　and　his　henchman；　a　common　archer
of　the　fens？　Show　me　how　to　get　her；　Nicholas；　and　I'll　make　an　abbot
of　you　yet。　This　sanctuary；　now？　will　it　hold？　If　we　stormed　the　place
and　took　her；　would　the　Holy　Father　give　us　absolution；　do　you　think？〃

〃No；　my　lord；〃　answered　the　fox…faced　Nicholas。　〃The　Church　is　great
because　the　Church　is　one；　and　what　the　priest　does　the　Pope　upholds；
especially　when　that　priest　is　no　mean　man。　This　holy　monk；　Sir　Andrew
Arnold；　has　reputation　throughout　Europe；　and；　though　he　seems　so
humble；　because　of　his　wisdom　is　in　the　counsel　of　many　great　men
whose　fathers　or　grandfathers　were　guided　by　him　long　ago。　Commit　what
crime　you　will；　dip　yourself　to　the　lips　in　blood；　and　you　may　find
forgiveness；　but　touch　not　an　ancient　and　acknowledged　sanctuary　of
the　Church；　since　for　this　offence　there　will　be　none。〃

〃What　then；　Nicholas？　Must　I　give　up　the　chase　and　fly？　To　speak
truth；　things　seem　to　threaten　me。　Why　has　that　Hugh　twice　called　me
traitor？　Have　any　of　my　letters　fallen　into　strange　hands；　think　you？
I　have　written　several；　and　you　know　my　mission　here。〃

〃It　is　possible；　lord；　all　things　are　possible；　but　I　think　not。　I
think　that　he　only　draws　the　bow　at　a　hazard；　which　is　more　than　Grey
Dick　does；〃　he　added　with　a　chuckle。　〃These　brute　English　hate　us
French；　whom　they　know　to　be　their　masters　in　all　that　makes　a　man；
and　traitor　to　their　fool　king　is　the　least　of　the　words　they　throw　at
us。〃

〃Well；　priest；　my　mother　was　English；　as　my　wife　will　be。　Therefore
stay　your　tongue　on　that　matter　and　tell　me　how　I　am　to　make　her　my
wife；〃　answered　Acour　haughtily。

The　chaplain　cringed　and　bowed；　rubbing　his　thin　hands　together。

〃I　thought　you　wished　to　speak　of　the　English；　my　lord；　otherwise　I
should　not　have　venturedbut　as　to　the　lady　Eve；　something　comes　to
me。　Why　does　she　stay　in　sanctuary　who　herself　has　committed　no　crime？
Is　it　not；　such　is　her　madness；　because　she　would　be　out　of　reach　of
you　and　your　endearments？　Now　if　she　believed　you　gone　far　enough
away；　let　us　say　to　France；　and　knew　that　her　father　lay　ill；　why
then〃　and　he　paused。

〃You　mean　that　she　might　come　out　of　sanctuary　of　her　own　accord？〃

〃Yes；　lord；　and　we　might　set　a　springe　to　catch　this　bird　so　rare　and
shy；　and　though　she'd　flutter；　flutter；　flutter；　and　peck；　peck；　peck；
what　could　she　do　when　you　smoothed　her　plumage　with　your　loving　hand；
and　a　priest　was　waiting　to　say　the　word　that　should　cause　her　to
forget　her　doubts　and　that　merchant　bumpkin？〃

〃Ah；　Nicholas；　you　have　a　good　wit；　and　if　all　goes　well　you　shall
certainly　be　an　abbot。　But　would　her　father；　do　you　think〃

〃Lord；　that　beef…eating　knight　is　in　such　a　rage　that　he　would　do
anything。　What　did　he　say　just　before　the　stroke　took　him？　That　you
were　to　marry　her　by　fair　means　or　by　foul。　Yes；　and　he　told　me　an
hour　ago　that　if　only　he　knew　she　was　your　wife；　he　would　die　happy。
Oh；　you　have　his　warrant　for　anything　you　do　to　bring　about　this　end。
Still　there　is　no　need　to　tell　him　too　much　lest　it　should　cause　his
good　name　to　be　aspersed　by　the　vulgar。　Many；　it　seems；　love　this　Red
Eve　for　her　high　spirit；　and　are　friends　to　the　de　Cressis；　an　open…
handed　race　who　know　how　to　bind　folk　to　them。　Listen　how　it　must　be
done。〃



That　day　it　was　given　out　that　Sir　Edmund　Acour；　those　of　his　knights
who　remained　alive　and　all　his　following　were　about　to　leave　for
London　and　lay　their　cause　before　the　King；　having　learned　that　Hugh
de　Cressi　had　gone　thither　to　prejudice　his　Grace　on　his　own　behalf。
It　was　added；　moreover；　that　they　would　not　return　to　Suffolk；　but
proposed　when　they　had　found　justice　or　the　promise　of　it；　to　take
ship　at　Dover　for　France。　Next　morning；　accordingly；　they　rode　away
from　Blythburgh　Manor　and　passed　through　Dunwich　with　much　pomp；　where
the　citizens　of　that　town；　who　were　friends　of　the　de　Cressis；　stared
at　them　with　no　kind　eyes。　Indeed；　one　of　these　as　they　crossed　the
market…place　called　to　them　to　be　careful　not　to　meet　Hugh　de　Cressi
and　Grey　Dick　upon　their　journey；　lest　there　should　be　more　midnight
burials　and　men…at…arms　turned　into　foot…soldiers；　whereat　all　about
him　laughed　rudely。

But　Acour　did　not　laugh。　He　ground　his　teeth　and　said　into　the　ear　of
Nicholas：

〃Register　this　vow　for　me；　priest；　that　in　payment　for　that　jest　I'll
sack　and　burn　Dunwich　when　our　army　comes；　and　give　its　men　and
children　to　the　sword　and　its　women　to　the　soldiers。〃

〃It　shall　be　done；　lord；〃　answered　the　chaplain；　〃and　should　your
heart　soften　at　the　appointed　time　I'll　put　you　in　memory　of　this
solemn　oath。〃

At　the　great　house　of　the　Mayor　of　Dunwich　Sir　Edmund　drew　rein　and
demanded　to　see　him。　Presently　this　Mayor；　a　timid；　uncertain…looking
man；　came　in　his　robes　of　office　and　asked　anxiously　what　might　be　the
cause　of　this　message　and　why　an　armed　band　halted　at　his　gate。

〃For　no　ill　purpose；　sir；〃　answered　Acour；　〃though　little　of　justice
have　I　found　at　your　hands；　who；　therefore；　must　seek　it　at　the　Court
of　my　liege　lord；　King　Edward。　All　I　ask　of　you　is　that　you　will　cause
this　letter　to　be　delivered　safely　to　the　lady　Eve　Clavering；　who　lies
in　sanctuary　at　the　Preceptory　of　St。　Mary　and　St。　John。　It　is　one　of
farewell；　since　it　seems　that　this　lady　who；　by　her　own　will　and　her
father's；　was　my　affianced；　wishes　to　break　troth；　and　I　am　not　a　man
who　needs　an　unwilling　bride。　I'd　deliver　it　myself　only　that　old
knave；　half　priest　and　half　knight；　but　neither　good〃

〃You'd　best　speak　no　ill　of　Sir　Andrew　Arnold　here；〃　said　a　voice　in
the　crowd。

〃Only　the　master　of　the　Preceptory；〃　went　on　Acour；　changing　his　tone
somewhat；　〃might　take　fright　and　think　I　wished　to　violate　his
sanctuary　if　I　came　there　with　thirty　spears　at　my　back。〃

〃And　no　fool　either；〃　said　the　voice；　〃seeing　that　they　are　French
spears　and　his　is　an　English　sanctuary。〃

〃Therefore；〃　continued　Acour；　〃I　pray　you；　deliver　the　letter。
Perchance　when　we　meet　again；　Master　Mayor；〃　he　added　with　a　venomous
glance　of　his　dark　eyes；　〃you　will　have　some　boon　to　ask　of　me；　and　be
sure　I'll　grant　itif　I　can。〃

Then　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　for　the　mob　of　sturdy　fishermen；
many　of　whom　had　served　in　the　French　wars；　looked　threatening；　he　and
his　following　rode　away　through　the　Ipswich　gate　and　out　on　to　the
moorlands　beyond；　which　some　of　them　knew　but　too　well。

All　the　rest　of　that　day　they　rode　slowly；　but　when　night　came；　having
halted　their　horses　at　a　farm　and　given　it　out　that　they　meant　to　push
on　to　Woodbridge；　they　turned　up　a　by…track　on　the　lonely　heath；　and；
unseen　by　any；　made　their　through　the　darkness　to　a　certain　empty
house　in　the　marshes　not　far　from　Beccles　town。　This　house；　called
Frog　Hall；　was　part　of　Acour's　estate；　and　because　of　the　ague
prevalent　there　in　autumn；　had　been　long　unattended。　Nor　did　any　visit
it　at　this　season　of　the　year；　when　no　cattle　grazed　upon　these　salt
marshes。

Here；　then；　he　and　his　people　lay　hid；　cursing　their　fortunes；　since；
notwithstanding　the　provisions　that　they　had　conveyed　thither　in
secret；　the　place　was　icy　cold　in　the　bitter；　easterly　winds　which
tore　over　it　from　the　sea。　So　lonely　was　it；　also；　that　the　Frenchmen
swore　that　their　comrades　slain　by　Grey　Dick　haunted　them　at　nights；
bidding　them　prepare　to　join　the　number　of　the　dead。　Indeed；　had　not
Acour　vowed　that　he　would　hang　the　first　man　who　attempted　to　desert；
some　of　them　would　have　left　him　to　make　the　best　of　their　way　back　to
Fr