red eve-第20章

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bidden　her。　Then　she　rose；　took　his　hand　and　kissed　it。

〃Yet　one　more　question；　Father；〃　she　said。　〃It　is　of　myself。　That
knave　drugged　me。　I　drank　milk；　and；　save　some　dreams；　remember　no
more　till　I　heard　Hugh's　voice　calling。　Now　they　tell　me　that　I　have
stood　at　the　altar　with　de　Noyon；　and　that　his　priest　read　the　mass　of
marriage　over　us；　andlook！　Oh！　I　never　noted　it　till　nowthere　is　a
ring　upon　my　hand；〃　and　she　cast　it　on　the　floor。　〃Tell　me；　Father；
according　to　the　Church's　law　is　that　man　mymy　husband？〃

Sir　Andrew's　eloquent　dark　eyes；　that　ever　shadowed　forth　the　thoughts
which　passed　within　him；　grew　very　troubled。

〃I　cannot　tell　you；〃　he　answered　awkwardly　after　thinking　a　while。
〃This　priest；　Nicholas；　though　I　hold　him　a　foul　villain；　is　doubtless
still　a　priest；　clothed　with　all　the　authority　of　our　Lord　Himself；
since　the　unworthiness　of　the　minister　does　not　invalidate　the
sacrament。　Were　it　otherwise；　indeed；　few　would　be　well　baptized　or
wed　or　shriven。　Moreover；　although　I　suspect　that　himself　he　mixed　the
draught；　yet　he　may　not　have　known　that　you　were　drugged；　and　you
stood　silent；　and；　it　would　appear；　consenting。　The　ceremony；　alas！
was　completed；　I　myself　heard　him　give　the　benediction。　Your　father
assisted　thereat　and　gave　you　to　the　groom　in　the　presence　of　a
congregation。　The　drugging　is　a　matter　of　surmise　and　evidence　which
may　not　be　forthcoming；　since　you　are　the　only　witness；　and　where　is
the　proof？　I　fear　me；　daughter；　that　according　to　the　Church's　law　you
are　de　Noyon's　lawful　wife〃

〃The　Church's　law；〃　she　broke　in；　〃how　about　God's　law？　There　lies　the
only　man　to　whom　I　owe　a　bond；　and　I'll　die　a　hundred　deaths　before
any　other　shall　even　touch　my　hand。　Ay；　if　need　be；　I'll　kill　myself
and　reason　out　the　case　with　St。　Peter　in　the　Gates。〃

〃Hush！　hush！　speak　not　so　madly。　The　knot　that　the　Church　ties　it　can
unloose。　This　matter　must　to　his　Holiness　the　Pope；　it　shall　be　my
business　to　lay　it　before　him；　yea；　letters　shall　go　to　Avignon　by　the
first　safe　hand。　Moreover；　it　well　may　happen　that　God　Himself　will
free　you；　by　the　sword　of　His　servant　Death。　This　lord　of　yours；　if
indeed　he　be　your　lord；　is　a　foul　traitor。　The　King　of　England　seeks
his　life；　and　there　is　another　who　will　seek　it　also　ere　very　long；〃
and　he　glanced　at　the　senseless　form　of　Hugh。　〃Fret　not　yourself
overmuch；　daughter。　Be　grateful　rather　that　matters　are　no　worse；　and
that　you　remain　as　you　always　were。　Another　hour　and　you　might　have
been　snatched　away　beyond　our　finding。　What　is　not　ended　can　still　be
mended。　Now　go；　seek　the　rest　you　need；　for　I　would　not　have　two　sick
folk　on　my　hands。　Oh；　seek　it　with　a　thankful　heart；　and　forget　not　to
pray　for　the　soul　of　your　erring　father；　for；　after　all　he　loved　you
and　strove　for　your　welfare　according　to　his　lights。〃

〃It　may　be　so；〃　answered　Eve；　〃and　I'll　pray　for　him；　as　is　my　duty。
I'll　pray　also　that　I　may　never　find　such　another　friend　as　my　father
showed　himself　to　me。〃



Then　she　bent　for　a　moment　over　Hugh；　stretching　out　her　hands　above
him　as　though　in　blessing；　and　departed　as　silently　as　she　had　come。

Three　days　went　by　before　Hugh　found　his　mind　again；　and　after　that
for　two　weeks　he　was　so　feeble　that　he　must　lie　quite　still　and
scarcely　talk　at　all。　Sir　Andrew；　who　nursed　him　continually　with　the
help　of　Grey　Dick；　who　brought　his　master　possets；　bow　on　back　and　axe
at　side　but　never　opened　his　grim　mouth；　told　his　patient　that　Eve　was
safe　and　sound；　but　that　he　must　not　see　her　until　he　grew　strong
again。

So　Hugh　strove　to　grow　strong；　and；　nature　helping　him；　not　in　vain。
At　length　there　came　a　day　when　he　might　rise　from　his　bed；　and　sit　on
a　bench　in　the　pleasant　spring　sunshine　by　the　open　window。　Walk　he
could　not；　however；　not　only　on　account　of　his　weakness；　but　because
of　another　hurt；　now　discovered　for　the　first　time；　which　in　the　end
gave　him　more　trouble　than　did　the　dreadful　and　dangerous　blow　of
Clavering's　sword。　It　seemed　that　when　he　had　fallen　suddenly　beneath
that　murderous　stroke　all　his　muscles　relaxed　as　though　he　were　dead；
and　his　left　ankle　bent　up　under　him；　wrenching　its　sinews　in　such　a
fashion　that　for　the　rest　of　his　life　he　walked　a　little　lame。
Especially　was　this　so　in　the　spring　season；　though　whether　because　he
had　received　his　hurt　at　that　time　or　owing　to　the　quality　of　the　air
none　could　ever　tell　him。

Yet　on　that　happy　day　he　thought　little　of　these　harms；　who　felt　the
life…blood　running　once　more　strongly　through　his　veins　and　who
awaited　Eve's　long…promised　advent。　At　length　she　came；　stately；　kind
and　beautiful；　for　now　her　grief　and　terror　had　passed　by；　leaving　her
as　she　was　before　her　woes　fell　upon　her。　She　came；　and　in　Sir
Andrew's　presence；　for　he　would　not　leave　them；　the　tale　was　told。

Hugh　learned　for　the　first　time　all　the　truth　of　her　imprisonment　and
of　her　shameful　drugging。　He　learned　of　the　burying　of　Sir　John
Clavering　and　of　her　naming　as　sole　heiress　to　his　great　estates。　To
these；　however；　Acour　had　not　been　ashamed　to　submit　some　shadowy
claim；　made　〃in　right　of　his　lawful　wife；　Dame　Eve　Acour；　Countess　de
Noyon；〃　which　claim　had　been　sent　by　him　from　France　addressed　to　〃all
whom　it　might　concern。〃　He　learned　of　the　King's　wrath　at　the　escape
of　this　same　Acour；　and　of　his　Grace's　seizure　of　that　false　knight's
lands　in　Suffolk；　which；　however；　proved　to　be　so　heavily　mortgaged
that　no　one　would　grow　rich　upon　them。

Lastly　he　learned　that　King　Edward；　in　a　letter　written　by　one　of　his
secretaries　to　Sir　Andrew　Arnold　and　received　only　that　morning；　said
that　he　held　him；　Hugh　de　Cressi；　not　to　blame　for　Acour's　escape。　It
commanded　also　that　if　he　recovered　from　his　wound；　for　the　giving　of
which　Sir　John　Clavering　should　have　paid　sharply　if　he　had　lived；　he
and　the　archer；　his　servant；　should　join　him　either　in　England　or　in
France；　whither　he　purposed　shortly　to　proceed　with　all　his　host。　But
the　Mayor　and　men　of　Dunwich　he　did　not　hold　free　of　blame。

The　letter　added；　moreover；　that　the　King　was　advised　that　Edmund
Acour　on　reaching　Normandy　had　openly　thrown　off　his　allegiance　to　the
crown　of　England　and　there　was　engaged　in　raising　forces　to　make　war
upon　him。　Further；　that　this　Acour　alleged　himself　to　be　the　lawfully
married　husband　of　Eve　Clavering；　the　heiress　of　Sir　John　Clavering；　a
point　upon　which　his　Grace　demanded　information；　since　if　this　were
true　he　purposed　to　escheat　the　Clavering　lands。　With　this　brief　and
stern　announcement　the　letter　ended。

〃By　God's　mercy；　Eve；　tell　me；　are　you　this　fellow's　wife？〃　exclaimed
Hugh。

〃Not　so；〃　she　answered。　〃Can　a　woman　who　is　Dunwich　born　be　wed
without　consent？　And　can　a　woman　whose　will　is　foully　drugged　out　of
her　give　consent　to　that　which　she　hates？　Why；　if　so　there　is　no
justice　in　the　world。〃

〃'Tis　a　rare　jewel　in　these　evil　days；　daughter；〃　said　Sir　Andrew　with
a　sigh。　〃Still　fret　not　yourself　son　Hugh。　A　full　statement　of　the
case；　drawn　by　skilled　clerks　and　testified　to　by　many　witnesses；　has
gone　forward　already　to　his　Holiness　the　Pope；　of　which　statement　true
copies　have　been　sent　to　the　King　and　to　the　Bishops　of　Norwich　and　of
Canterbury。　Yet　be　warned　that　in　such　matters　the　law　ecclesiastic
moves　but　slowly；　and　then　only　when　its　wheels　are　greased　with
gold。〃

〃Well；〃　answered　Hugh　with　a　fierce　laugh；　〃there　remains　another　law
which　moves　more　swiftly　and　its　wheels　are　greased　with　vengeance；
the　law　of　the　sword。　If　you　are　married；　Eve；　I　swear　that　before
very　long　you　shall　be　widowed　or　I　dead。　I'll　not　let　de　Noyon　slip　a
second　time　even　if　he　stands　before　the　holiest　altar　in
Christendom。〃

〃I'd　have　killed　him　in　the　chapel　yonder；〃　muttered　Grey　Dick；　who
had　entered　with　his　master's　food　and　not　been　sent　away。　〃Only；〃　he
added　looking　reproachfully　at　Sir　Andrew；　〃my　hand　was　stayed　by　a
certain　holy　priest's　command　to　which；　alack；　I　listened。〃

〃And　did　well　to　listen；　man；　since　otherwise　by　now　you　would　be
excommunicate。〃

〃I　could　mock　at　that；〃　said　Dick　sullenly；　〃who　make　confession　in　my
own　way；　and　do　not　wish　to　be　married；　and　care　not　the　worth　of　a
horseshoe　nail　how　and　where　I　am　buried；　provided　those　I　hate　are
buried　first。〃

〃Richard　Archer；　graceless　wight　that　you　are；〃　said　Sir　Andrew；　〃I
say　you　stand　in　danger　of　your　soul。〃

〃Ay；　Father；　and　so　the　Frenchman；　Acour；　stood　in　danger　of　his　body。
But　you　saved　it；　so　perhaps　if　there　is　need　at　the　last；　you　will　do
as　much　for　my　soul。　If　not　it　must　take　its　chance；〃　and　snatching　at
the　dish…cover　angrily；　he　turned　and　left　the　chamber。

〃Well；〃　commented　Sir　Andrew；　shaking　his　head　sadly；　〃if　the　fellow's
heart　is　hard　it　is　honest；　so　may　he　be　forgiven　who　has　something　to
forgive　like　the　rest　of　us。　Now　hearken　to　me；　son　and　daughter。
Wrong；　grievous　and　dreadful；　has　been　done　to　you　both。　Yet；　until
death　or　the　Church　levels　it；　a　wall　that　you　may　not　climb　stands
between　you；　and　when　you　meet　it　must　be　as　friendsno　more。〃

〃Now　I　begin　to　wish　that　I　had　learned　in　Grey　Dick's　school；〃　said
Hugh。　But　whatever　she　thought；　Eve　set　her　lips　and　said　nothing。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　IX

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CRECY　FIELD

It　was　Saturday；　the　26th　of　August；　in　the　year　1346。　The　harassed
English　hostbut　a　little　host；　after　all；　retreating　for　its　life
from　Parishad　forced　the　passage　of　the　Somme　by　the　ford　which　a
forgotten　traitor；　Gobin　Agache　by　name；　revealed　to　them。　Now　it
stood　at　bay　upon　the　plain　of　Crecy；　there　to　conquer　or　to　die。

〃Will　the　French　fight　to…day；　what　think　you？〃　asked　Hugh　of　Grey
Dick；　who　had　just　descended　from　an　apple…tree　which　grew　in　the
garden　of　a　burnt…out　cottage。　Here　he　had　been　engaged　on　the　twofold
business　of　surveying　the　disposition　of　the　English　army　and　in
gathering　a　pocketful　of　fruit　which　remained　upon　the　tree's　topmost
boughs。

〃I　think　that　these　are　very　good　apples；〃　answered　Dick；　speaking
with　his　mouth　full。　〃Eat　while　you　get　the　chance；　master；　for；　who
knows；　the　next　you　set　your　teeth　in　may　be　of　the　kind　that　grew
upon　the　Tree　of　Life　in　a　very　old　garden；〃　and　he　handed　him　two　of
the　best。　Then　he　turned　to　certain　archers；　who　clustered　round　with
outstretched　hands；　saying：　〃Why　should　I　give　you　my　apples；　fellows；
seeing　that　you　were　too　lazy　to　climb　and　get　them　for　yourselves？
None　of　you　ever　gave　me　anything　when　I　was　hungry；　after　the　sack　of
Caen；　in　which　my　master；　being　squeamish；　would　take　no　part。
Therefore　I　went　to　bed　supperless；　because；　as　I　remember　you　said；　I
had　not　earned　it。　Still；　as　I　don't　want　to　fight　the　French　with　a
bellyache；　go　scramble　for　them。〃

Then；　with　a　quick　motion；　he　flung　the　apples　to　a　distance；　all　save
one；　which　he　presented　to　a　tall　man　who　stood　near；　adding：

〃Take　this；　Jack　Green；　in　token　of　fellowship；　since　I　have　nothing
else　to　offer　you。　I　beat　you　at　Windsor；　didn't　I；　when　we　shot　a
match　before　the　King？　Now　show　your　skill　and　beat　me　and　I'll　say
'thank　you。'　Keep　count　of　your　arrows　shot；　Jack；　and　I'll　keep　count
of　mine；　a